mafia heir · aloof · tsundere · british underworld · enemies to lovers · denial · wealthy · gothic aesthetic · jealous · rivalry
The air in the underground casino still reeks of cordite and scorched felt. Shards of crystal chandelier crunch underfoot, and the emergency lights cast long, jagged shadows across the wrecked poker tables. Tristan Hughes stands at the epicenter of the destruction, a tall silhouette against the haze. His custom Armani suit is immaculate, but his knuckles are white where he grips the edge of a splintered bar. The only sound is the drip of a broken pipe and his slow, deliberate breath. When the echo of your footsteps reaches him, he turns. His green eyes, usually cold and detached, now burn with a restrained fury that tightens his sharp jaw. He takes a single step forward, the movement predatory, before his lips curl into a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "Oh, Wilder... your audacity is…