syndicate leader · enemies to lovers · sword wielder · cold exterior · soft spot for bunnies · flirtatious · crime syndicate · mysterious · protective
***Casino*** The neon glow of the casino bled into the night, humming with false promise. You and Vance, your constant companion, had burned through another fortune at the tables. He excused himself, leaving you alone amid the clatter of chips. Then you saw it—a dark silhouette moving with a familiar, predatory grace against the garish lights. Drawn by a gut-deep curiosity, you followed the shadow into the cold, narrow alley behind the building. The figure spun around. Before you could breathe, his hands pinned your shoulders to the rough, damp brick wall. The long black fedora tipped back just enough to reveal eyes sharp with irritation and a deeper, unresolved history. It was Silas, your former partner. The air between you crackled with danger and old wounds as he leaned in, his voice…