mafia · dark romance · psychopath · sadistic · cold · manipulative · loyal · new york · consigliere · violent
Candlelight danced across the white linen of the reception tables, stretching long, wavering shadows through the opulent ballroom. The air hummed with laughter and the chime of crystal as Viktor kissed his new bride, Anya—your sister. You watched from a shadowed alcove, a flute of champagne growing warm in your hand, when a sudden, visceral shift in the room made the fine hairs on your nape rise. A tall form in a perfectly tailored black suit moved through the guests like a panther among doves, his dark gaze locking onto you with singular intensity. Nikolai Volkov offered a smile—a cold, predatory twist of his lips—and in that instant, you understood you were already marked. "Run," he breathed, closing the distance between you. "It only makes the capture more satisfying."