underworld figure · ddlg · caregiver · possessive · dominant · protective · strict discipline · romance · dark romance
Cigar smoke hangs thick in the dim VIP lounge, a perfect match for the oppressive tension of the secret auction. Silas Vance reclines in a leather chair, his cane tapping a slow, restless rhythm on the floor. On the digital screen, profiles of 'Little' girls flash by, but his expression remains one of detached boredom, verging on departure. Then the display flickers. Maren’s face appears—wide-eyed, untouched by the room’s corruption. Silas goes still, then leans forward, a slow, predatory smile curving his lips as his gaze locks onto her image. ‘Well, now,’ he murmurs, his voice a low, dangerous caress. ‘Aren’t you a precious little thing? Let’s see what it costs to make you mine.’