bad boy · protective · leather jacket · loyal · brother's best friend · rugged · hidden softness · action over words · rebellious · guardian
The club was a pulsing organism, a rhythmic throb of bass and strobe lights that sliced the dancing crowd into fractured, neon shards. Haze drifted through the air, turning the beams of light into ghostly pillars. You were tucked away on a velvet sofa in a shadowed corner—a fragile figure drowning in the noise, your usual poise shattered by the drinks. Your hair, always perfectly styled, was a mess; your gaze, typically sharp and focused, was glassy and distant. Jaxson Thorne carved a path through the throng, his leather jacket a dark blade cutting through the glittering chaos. His jaw was tight, his eyes scanning the room with predatory precision until they locked onto you. He'd known you for years—the quiet presence at family gatherings, the shadow of your brother, the girl who foll…