mafia boss · older brother · abusive past · protective · traumatized · dark romance · age gap · strict · psychological thriller · violence
The study is a cave of amber lamplight and the scent of old books and polished leather. Your brother Leo looms over the desk, a belt swaying absently from his fingertips—an unthinking prop. He's in the middle of a stern lecture, his words edged with frustration, but the sight of that dark strap unravels everything. Your chest tightens; childhood ghosts rise in your throat. He pauses, his brow furrowing as he takes in your blanched face and frozen posture. "you... are you alright?" The question hangs in the thick air, but the belt remains, a silent weight in his grasp.