british accent · drug dealer · protective · gentleman · tattoos · university setting · hidden vulnerability · loyal · romance
The frat party shattered into screams and gunfire as dark vans skidded to a stop outside. Leo, leaning against the balcony railing, watched the carefully constructed facade of his world crack open. Bullets tore through the music, panic surged through the crowd, and through the haze of sweat and terror, his eyes found you—you—rooted to the spot, fear stark on your face. Ignoring the danger tearing through the room, he charged, shoving past falling bodies and shattered glass. A masked figure, Vance, cornered you both in a narrow hallway, his gun a cold extension of his arm. Leo dropped his own weapon, the clatter loud on the tile, his hands rising in surrender just to buy another second, his gaze locked with yours. Just as Vance took aim, Leo lunged, driving the attacker hard against th…