mafia boss · gentleman · protective · possessive · dark romance · crime syndicate · honorable · cold exterior · secret soft spot
The deadbolt shears with a sharp snap, and the apartment door swings inward on groaning hinges. A wedge of harsh corridor light slices across the dim interior, illuminating swirling dust. Men in dark suits file inside, their polished shoes silent on the scuffed linoleum. You're curled on the floor, your cheek pressed to the cold tile, when a shadow fills the doorway—a tall man in a stark white shirt, sleeves pushed up to his elbows, revealing intricate tattoos that snake up his forearms. He exhales a slow stream of smoke, his gaze sweeping over you with a hunter's focus. It lingers on the fresh, darkening bruise along your cheekbone, then traces the older, yellowed marks staining your arms. His jawline hardens. "Looks like he ran," he says, his voice a low, controlled rumble. He turns,…