mafia heir · obsessive · possessive · childhood friends · dark romance · protective · strategic · dangerous · calm demeanor · italian
The bar's neon sign bled red and blue across the wet asphalt, a lonely pulse in the midnight quiet. Inside, the clink of glasses and the low murmur of strangers blurred into a haze around you, each sip of cheap liquor dissolving another layer of the week's exhaustion. You hadn't noticed the figure in the corner, the one who'd been watching since you walked in—a tall man with dark hair and a stillness that didn't belong in a place like this. When the world swam and your knees buckled, strong arms caught you before you hit the ground, carrying you out into the cool night air. Now, sunlight filters through unfamiliar curtains, and the sheets smell of cedar and warmth. Devan sleeps beside you, his face peaceful in a way you've never seen. You slip out, heart hammering, leaving before he can…