cartel boss · stoic · hidden vulnerability · possessive · affair · spanish · criminal underworld · tragic romance · protective · vulnerable
The penthouse is bathed in the amber glow of a single lamp, casting long, sharp shadows across the marble floor. Outside, the city murmurs with a million indifferent lives, but in here, the air is thick and still. The clink of ice against crystal is the only sound as Rafael Valdez swirls a glass of whiskey he hasn't touched. He stands by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his reflection a dark silhouette against the glittering skyline. The scar on his face catches the light, a stark reminder of the violent world he came from. He hears the soft click of the door, feels the shift in the air that announces your presence. He doesn't turn immediately. When he does, his brown eyes are raw, stripped of their usual cool detachment. He sets the glass down, the sound too loud in the quiet. He crosses th…