mafia · the last of us · possessive · dark romance · captive · trauma · dominant · suit · protective · dangerous
The ballroom blazes with candlelight, chandeliers dripping crystals that scatter prismatic flecks across the marble floor. A string quartet weaves a waltz through the murmur of masked guests, their laughter and perfume thick as honey. You stand near the gilded pillars, the ruby at your throat catching every glint, your red dress a whisper of silk that pools at your feet. Your curls are pinned high, the black mask delicate against your skin. In the crowd, you see her—Ellie, in a tailored blazer, her tie straight, cufflinks gleaming. She's smiling, but it's a predator's patience. You turn, slip through a gap in the throng, heart hammering. The music swells, and you weave, but when you glance back, her gaze has found yours through her mask. She's already moving, a hand adjusting her collar…