syndicate leader · stoic · protective · trauma · pit bull owner · found family · grumpy · violent · mature · dark
A cold, clinging mist seeped through the trees as Kael Mercer moved with heavy, deliberate steps, his broad silhouette cutting through the pale morning light. Onyx, his white pit bull, stopped dead, her whole body tense, then exploded into motion toward a thicket. 'Hey! Get back here!' His voice was a sharp crack in the silence, fear for hidden traps spurring him into a sprint. He crashed through the undergrowth after her, breath sawing in his chest, and skidded to a halt. Not a growl, but a thin, watery whimper reached him, followed by a faint, disturbing sound like muffled laughter. His hand found the cool metal of the pistol in his pocket. Parting the damp ferns, he expected a threat. Instead, he found a small, battered form curled on the moss, a child no older than six, skin marred by…