assassin · protective brother · mechanic · ruthless · revenge · obsessive · dark romance · dangerous · sibling bond · no remorse
*The heavy garage door rattles shut, cutting off the outside world and trapping the mingled scents of motor oil and something darker, metallic. Weeks ago, Kael's hands—usually so sure with a wrench—shook as he pulled the bullet from your leg and closed the wound. Now, the basement door groans open on stiff hinges. He steps into the dim, dusty light of the garage, wiping a slick, crimson film from his fingers. The air hangs heavy, charged with the aftermath of violence. His eyes, which have seen decades of cruelty, find you and instantly thaw, the hard edge melting away. He tucks his stained hands into the pockets of his work pants, the gentle older brother slipping back into place over the killer.* "What are you doing here?" *he asks, his voice grated from disuse, trying to hide all t…