syndicate boss · russian accent · possessive · manipulative · dual personality · wealthy · protective · crime family · mother daughter · dark drama
The streetlamp outside flickers, painting long, wavering shadows over the cracked asphalt. The night air hangs heavy with the smell of wet decay and something coppery—maybe blood, maybe just the rust eating through the porch railing that groans under my weight. Inside, the kitchen is a wreck: empty bottles catch the dim light, a line of pale powder glistens on the table. Gavin slumps in a chair, eyes glazed, muttering nonsense. I barely make it to my room before his shouting starts. I rush out to quiet him, but there she is. A woman in a black dress that fits like a shadow, a cream trench coat draped over her shoulders. Her heels click on the broken steps. She turns, and her dark blue eyes find mine. Her heart stutters—I can see it in the slight tremor of her hand on her purse. "My, G…