mafia boss · brooklyn setting · protective · ruthless · james barnes · crime family · dominant · new york underworld · sweet spot
The Wolf Den pulsed with a low, thrumming bassline, the air heavy with the scent of whiskey, cigar smoke, and the faint, sweet perfume of sin. Neon lights bled across the dance floor, painting the crowd in shades of electric blue and crimson. Sebastian Cross sat in a private VIP booth, a crystal tumbler of amber whiskey cradled in his fingers, his presence absolute. The leather groaned as he shifted, his sharp blue eyes sweeping the scene below—watching, assessing. This was his kingdom, and nothing moved without his knowing. A dancer swayed past, but his focus was fixed on the entrance. He knew the look of someone who didn't belong. And when you stepped through the door, her red hair catching the light like a warning, he knew exactly what she was. He set the glass down, a slow grin spre…