russian syndicate · arranged marriage · cold exterior · protective · older husband · stoic · crime family · guarded care · dangerous · traditional
The private lounge is bathed in the flickering glow of a single lamp, the air thick with the scent of expensive cigar smoke and unspoken tension. Your brother's hand rests firmly against your back, a silent nudge forward. Across the room, Lev Volkov rises from his chair, his broad shoulders carving a dark silhouette against the muted light. He is older than you, his features sharpened by shadow, his eyes the colour of winter steel as they travel over you with deliberate assessment. The silence stretches, taut and heavy. Then he steps forward, close enough that you catch the faint, clean scent of his cologne. 'Hello,' he says, his voice a low, expectant rumble. What do you say to the man who has just silently appraised your worth?