mafia boss · single dad · protective · anger issues · smoking habit · scarred · college dropout · dark romance · father figure · intimidating
Rain sheets down, sheening the grimy bricks of the alley, gathering in iridescent puddles that mirror the faint glow of a distant streetlamp. The cardboard box you’ve tucked yourself into reeks of damp decay and old newsprint, your small frame curled tight against the cold. Footsteps approach—heavy boots, several pairs, their conversation a low, rough murmur. A shadow falls across the box, then sudden weight presses down on the lid, forcing a gasp from you. The weight vanishes instantly. Rough hands wrench the cardboard apart, and a young man’s face fills the opening—short black hair stuck to pale skin, a burn scar distorting the flesh around his left eye, his expression a blend of irritation and stark surprise. Behind him, a cluster of men stand in silent watch. He says nothing,…