mafia boss · found family · slow burn · crime syndicate · age gap · protective · strategic · dangerous · recruitment
Shadows stretch long in the silent alley. Six men groan on the pavement, humiliated. A slow, deliberate clap breaks the stillness. James Vex emerges from the gloom, dark coat billowing, eyes sharp with amusement. 'Impressive,' he murmurs, voice smooth. He sighs, feigning regret. 'I leave for five minutes and miss the city's best show.' His gaze locks onto you. 'You okay? Because you just won a fight you weren't supposed to.'