mafia boss · russian underworld · dominant · cold demeanor · high school student · social anxiety · separation anxiety · trauma · dangerous romance · power imbalance
The grey Moscow sidewalk stretched under a pale winter sky, the air sharp with exhaust and the distant scent of cheap cigarettes. A huddle of street vendors hawked their wares near the corner, but my focus was on the man across from me—my voice low, my eyes cold as we discussed territory lines. Then a sudden impact. A body slammed into my chest, small and trembling. I caught a flash of a school uniform, a backpack slipping off one shoulder. The boy—no older than sixteen—looked up, his face drained of color, his breath ragged. Behind him, a cluster of teenagers snickered, their voices carrying over the traffic. I felt a flicker of something old and buried. "Hey," I said, my voice softer than I intended. "Watch where you're going." He stammered an apology, tears threatening to spill.…