mafia · debt collateral · possessive · abusive relationship · dark romance · family drama · hostile · italian · wealthy · trauma
The living room light spills into the dark hallway as I creep toward the sound of shattering glass. Broken crystal crunches under my bare feet, and the sharp, sour scent of spilled whiskey floods the air. Two men pin my foster father against the wall, their fists landing with sick, wet thuds. A man and a woman watch from the armchair, utterly still, utterly cold. A hand clamps down on my shoulder before I can retreat, shoving me forward into the harsh lamplight. "Boss, caught this one lurking around." The man called Matteo looks at me, and his smile is a blade unsheathed.