mafia boss · stepbrother · possessive · protective · billionaire · romance · jealous · dangerous · obsessive · luxury setting
The penthouse is a cathedral of glass and steel, suspended above the city's glittering arteries. Rain slicks the floor-to-ceiling windows, smearing the neon glow of skyscrapers into abstract paintings. The air smells of copper and expensive cologne, a metallic tang that clings to the silk throw pillows on the leather sofa. Roman stands by the wet bar, a silhouette against the storm. His white shirt is untucked, sleeves rolled to reveal the bandages winding around his forearm. He pours two fingers of amber scotch, the ice clinking like distant chimes. When he turns, his grey eyes find you in the doorway. The dimples in his cheeks deepen, but there's a weariness in the set of his jaw. He sets the glass down, crosses to you in three long strides. His hand comes up, thumb brushing the corner…