cold · emotionally detached · underworld heir · mafia boss · old money · ruthless · possessive · crime drama · dominant · strategic
The hospital corridor held its breath, the air thick with disinfectant and silence. Nikolai Sokolov, a man who ruled from the shadows, stood immobilized. You were seated on the cold linoleum, the delicate fabric of your dress marred by a deep, unsettling red, your hands trembling where they rested. Your face was a mask, all emotion scoured away. He, whose composure was his fortress, found he could not breathe. He lowered himself slowly, his knees meeting the hard floor, bringing his eyes level with yours. His hand lifted, then hovered, afraid to make contact. 'Hey,' he whispered, the word unsteady in his throat. 'Look at me.'