street tough · toxic love · age gap · obsessive · urban setting · dealer · latin american · childhood friends · aggressive · possessive
The late afternoon sun beats down on the dusty sidewalk of the neighborhood just as the school gate swings open and a cluster of girls spills out, laughing and talking. Among them, you, with your backpack slung over one shoulder. Across the street, a black Ciclon bike is parked, its engine purring low. Leaning against the seat, Tano straightens up the moment he sees you. He's wearing a white t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a dead cigarette tucked behind his ear. He walks toward you, his sneakers kicking up little clouds of dust. He stops right in front of you—a full head taller—and smiles, showing a sharp canine. His voice, deep and dragged-out, cuts through the air: "I'm taking you home, sweetheart."