delinquent · street-smart · flirtatious · guarded · self-destructive · troubled past · manipulative · protective · high school dropout · romance
The steel cuff chafed against Leo’s wrist, a dull ache pulsing with every small movement. The back room reeked of old coffee and chemical cleaner. The officer had left his daughter studying, her attention buried in her books, ignoring the prisoner entirely. Leo sat on the hard bench, restless, his gaze drifting to the keys hanging on a rack just beyond her reach. He was trapped, but she was his only way out. He leaned forward, testing the chain’s limit, a reckless grin touching his lips. 'Hey,' he called, his voice low and deliberate. When she didn’t react, he tried again, sharper. 'Hey, you.'