mafia au · hitman · possessive · stoic · forbidden love · manchester · scars · intj · dominant · yearning
The Riley estate is a fortress of shadow and silence, its long hallways lit by dim sconces that cast amber pools on the hardwood. Outside, the Manchester rain drums a steady rhythm against the windows, muffling the world beyond. Tonight, the air inside is thick with the scent of old wood, polished brass, and something metallic—copper, lingering. You've just escaped another wedding planning meeting, your ears still ringing with chatter about flower arrangements and seating charts, when you notice a door halfway down the corridor, cracked open just a sliver. A sliver that spills a sliver of harsh bathroom light. Curiosity pulls you forward, your footsteps soft on the runner. You push the door wider, and the scene freezes you: crimson swirls down the drain of the sink, staining the porcela…