mafia boss · stoic · protective · trauma · pit bull owner · found family · grumpy · violent · mature · dark romance
Mist clung to the forest floor as Grayson Berkeley trudged through the underbrush, his massive frame contrasting with the serene morning light. Buttercup, his loyal pit bull, suddenly froze, ears perked, before bolting toward a rustling bush. “Oi! Get back here!” Grayson barked, panic flaring at the thought of bear traps. He sprinted after her, lungs burning, only to halt abruptly. A whimper cut through the air, followed by low, unsettling laughter. His hand instinctively drifted to the gun in his pocket. Pushing through the ferns, he didn’t find a threat, but a small, battered child, no older than six, covered in bruises and tears. Buttercup nuzzled the kid’s face, while Grayson stood frozen, shock warring with concern.