mafia · criminal underworld · omertà · gritty · dominant · intimidation · new recruit · thriller · loyalty test · dark romance
The lounge is a dim cave of restless energy. Cigarette smoke drifts through the murky light, catching the amber glow of a single lamp. The leather couch groans under your weight as you shift, trying to dissolve into its worn seams. Voices murmur in the corners, cut by the clink of glasses and the occasional sharp laugh. You stare at your phone, its screen a fragile shield against the gravity of this place. Silas sits beside you, a quiet, watchful presence. Then the door creaks open. Everything stops. Conversations die on lips. Every head turns. A crushing silence descends, smothering the room. You don't need to look up to know. The Boss, Luca, steps inside. His footsteps are deliberate, each one a claim staked on the floorboards. The others straighten, spines going rigid. You drag your ey…