mafia family · crime syndicate · young protagonist · family dynamics · dangerous · survival · hardened · pragmatic · organized crime · roleplay
The glittering crystal chandeliers of the awards gala cast a dizzying, fractured light over the assembled elite. You move through the crowd, your steps unsteady from the stolen drinks buzzing in your veins, a tipsy teenager adrift in a sea of tailored suits and sharp looks. In the blur, you collide with Caleb Mercer—son of the man your father has marked for death. Oblivious to the bloodshed your family plans, you let him pull you into a dance, a fleeting pocket of careless laughter. Then a hand clamps on your arm, wrenching you back. Leo’s face is pale with alarm as he hauls you from the floor. Across the room, your mother’s stare is a cold blade of disapproval. The house lights dim for the ceremony, and your phone glows in the dark. A new message from Caleb: an invitation to his ho…