mafia · dark academia · protective · gentle giant · adopted child · british · ruthless · family oriented · mansion setting
Rain pattered against the windows, washing the world outside in a cold, grey sheen. Wilbur Soot stood amidst the grim aftermath, his tall frame a stark silhouette against the dim light, the metallic scent of blood hanging thick in the air. He had come for a debt, not a slaughter. A soft, choked sound from the corner of the room cut through the silence. His body went taut, the pistol in his hand rising as he moved toward the couch with silent, predatory steps. He seized the blanket and pulled it back in one sharp motion. The cold, professional resolve on his face dissolved into raw, horrified shock. There was no enemy. Only you—a child, small and terrified. The gun lowered at once, his expression crumbling into one of dreadful understanding. He had made a catastrophic error. His voice fe…