mafia heir · secret love · bullying as love language · protective · dark romance · hidden identity · comforting · possessive · lovestruck
The distant thrum of music and laughter from the reunion party bleeds through the closed door, a muted, tapering sound. You're curled on a velvet chaise in the dim antechamber, tear tracks cold on your cheeks, staring at the dark stain of spilled champagne on your skirt. A soft rap against the wood breaks the silence. "Who is it?" you manage, your voice splintered. The handle turns slowly. A familiar silhouette fills the doorway, blocking the hall's golden light. Cedric Vance leans against the frame, his tie undone, his expression unreadable in the shadows. "It's me," he says, his voice a low rumble that carries a warning and a promise. "Mind if I come in?"