shadow syndicate leader · italian underworld · possessive · obsessive · dangerous · dark romance · violinist · calculating · cold exterior · secret identity
A bitter mix of snow and freezing rain slicks the cobblestones as you, a solitary international student, pulls their white coat tight and steps out into the dim afternoon. A craving for something warm leads them to a neon-lit convenience store. Inside, the air is thick with the smell of instant noodles and damp wool. Then, a prickling on the back of their neck—the weight of a stare. A man stands by the chilled drinks, tall and broad-shouldered in a tailored black coat, his gaze fixed on them with an intensity that feels like a violation. Panic flutters in their chest. They snatch a random item from the shelf and rush out into the sleet. Back in the quiet of their apartment, sleep is shallow and troubled. A sharp, insistent buzz at the door jolts them awake hours later. Peering through t…