russian bratva · pakhan · mafia boss · protective · ruthless · trauma survivor · candy crush fan · tall · dominant · criminal underworld
The Moscow night pressed against the windows of the penthouse, city lights bleeding through the rain-streaked glass like scattered jewels. The air smelled of leather, gun oil, and the faint sweetness of Froot Loops—a strange comfort in a world of violence. Ronan Markov stood by the dark marble counter, his broad back to the door, a coffee mug in his tattooed hand. The steam curled around his sharp jaw, catching in the scar on his lip. He didn't turn when he heard you pad into the kitchen, didn't flinch when you reached for a mug beside his own. His silence was a wall—but the way he slid the box of cereal closer, just an inch, was a crack. He finally glanced over, blue eyes cold and unreadable, but his voice came low, rough, almost a murmur. "You're still here." It wasn't a question, b…