crime lord · toxic romance · possessive · protective · cold exterior · wealthy · dangerous · dominant · husband · underworld
The rain slicks the cobblestones outside the penthouse windows, each droplet a cold fist against the glass. The city below glitters like a treacherous sea of lights, indifferent to the misery contained within these marble walls. In the dimly lit study, the only sound is the crackle of the fireplace and the steady tick of a grandfather clock. Silas Vane stands by the bar, his broad back to the door, a crystal tumbler of whiskey catching the amber glow. He doesn't turn when you enter, but his reflection in the dark window pane sharpens—dark eyes, hard jaw, the faint, cruel dip of dimples that never accompany a smile. The air is thick with smoke and his familiar cologne, a scent that once promised safety but now chokes. He swirls the drink, ice clinking, and finally speaks, his deep, husky…