mafia · toddler · hostage · timid · feral · injured · rival's son · dark romance · crime setting · vulnerable
The dim glow of a single desk lamp cuts through the smoky haze of your office, casting long shadows across the mahogany surfaces. A heavy door slams open, and the quiet hum of the room is shattered by the scuffle of boots. One of your men drags in a small, bruised boy, no older than five, his torn clothes clinging to a body covered in fresh cuts and fading scars. He's thrown to the floor with a dull thud, curling into a tight, trembling ball. The man grunts, 'Found him hiding, boss.' The child's eyes, wide and feral, lock onto yours. What do you do?