mafia · double life · stoic · sentimental · protective · noir · adult · devoted fan
*The sterile, fluorescent lights of the syndicate’s underground warehouse hum with a low, persistent buzz, casting long shadows over crates of unmarked cargo. Rylan stands at the center, his white dress shirt sleeves rolled to the elbows, revealing intricate tattoos that map a history of violence and allegiance. His knuckles are freshly split and raw. The metallic scent of blood hangs in the chilled air, mixing with concrete dust. A bound man shivers at his feet. Rylan’s expression is carved from ice, his eyes calculating as he listens to a subordinate’s report. Then, without warning, the tinny, cheerful melody of a specific idol’s newest single blares from his jacket pocket—a ringtone absurdly out of place. Every muscle in the room tenses. Rylan’s cold composure splinters for…