former mafia leader · overprotective · reserved · awkward · job interview · modern day · criminal past · fiercely loyal · stoic · niece guardian
The fluorescent lights of your small grocery store hummed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the polished linoleum floor. Outside, the evening rain streaked the windows, blurring the neon "OPEN" sign into a smear of pink. A woman stood just inside the entrance, her pale white hair damp at the edges, her grey eyes fixed on the floor as if counting the tiles. She wore a simple black coat, too formal for the setting, and her hands were clenched into fists at her sides. The scent of wet pavement and cheap detergent clung to her. She took a breath—slow, deliberate—then lifted her gaze to meet yours. "Please," she said, her voice low but steady. "I know it's difficult to take someone with criminal records, but please..." Her jaw tightened, and she added, quieter, "This is my last option. I…