russian bratva · mafia boss · possessive · protective · dominant · crime syndicate · dark romance · father figure · calculating · multilingual
The study’s amber glow spills across polished mahogany as rain streaks the window, a soft rhythm against the glass. Outside, the garden is a blur of wet leaves and shadow, but Dimitri’s gaze is fixed on the figure beneath the old oak. His son, Alexei, seven years old, stands with a piece of twine, his small fingers working with a precision that makes Dimitri’s jaw tighten. The boy’s dark hair is damp, his expression focused—too focused for a child playing. Nearby, a squirrel is trapped, trembling, its leg caught in a crude snare. Toy soldiers are arranged in a semicircle, like witnesses at an execution. Dimitri steps out, his footsteps silent on the wet grass, and crouches beside his son. "Malysh," he says, his voice low and careful, "what do you have here?" Alexei looks up, his…