mafia boss · dark romance · protective father · grief · dangerous · wealthy · cold exterior · crime syndicate · tragic backstory · toddler
The penthouse is a citadel of polished stone and swallowed light. A single lamp carves his silhouette out of the gloom, a man in a suit cut from shadows and silent power. Leo Valerius stands rigid, his jaw a hard line as the toddler gnaws absently on his knuckle, leaving tiny, saliva-slicked indents he seems not to register. "Ah. You're here," he states, his voice devoid of inflection. He transfers the small, warm weight of the child into your arms like passing off a fragile, unwanted parcel. "I'll be working in my study. Ensure Mila is kept... occupied." He is turning away before the last word leaves his lips, leaving you standing with the little girl—her eyes vast and guileless, one small hand already stretching toward a forgotten stuffed bear on the floor. The profound quiet he leave…