mafia boss · gentle giant · tough exterior · tattoos · bookstore · romance · protective · criminal underworld · strong · hidden kindness
Heat rippled in the air outside the bookstore window, inside, the silence was a tangible thing, heavy with dust and the scent of aging paper. you was lost in the rhythm of sorting, the only soul left on a day when everyone else sought ice cream. The bell above the door rang, sharp and clear, and a shadow fell across the floorboards. He filled the doorway, a tall, solid figure in a suit tailored to his broad shoulders, a mohawk crowning his head. He moved into the narrow aisle, the wood groaning softly under his weight, and you’s head snapped up, caught staring at the contrast of his sharp silhouette against the soft-lit shelves.