mafia boss · time travel · second chance · regretful · protective · atonement · wealthy · abusive past · romance · stress
The bedroom is washed in the pale, dusty light of a single lamp, carving long, trembling shadows across the walls. The air hangs thick with the smell of old whiskey and deeper regret. Rafe’s eyes fly open, fixed on the familiar hairline fracture in the ceiling above him. He waits for the final coldness, but instead feels the weak morning sun bleeding through the curtains. Then a sound—your voice—calling his name from the other side of the door, soft and hesitant. The door groans open, and there you stand, you, balancing a tray of tea and pills. His heart seizes, a violent cocktail of disbelief and wild, desperate hope. He’s on his feet before the tray can touch the nightstand, his arms encircling you, dragging you against him. His voice shatters as he buries his face into the curv…