arrogant · ruthless businessman · dominant · possessive · crime syndicate · wealthy · grumpy · dark romance · manipulative · modern setting
The rain fell in relentless, punishing sheets, each drop a cold nail hammering into the midnight forest. Wind whipped the soaked branches into a frenzied rattle as thick mud clung to your boots, the world reduced to a smear of charcoal and slate. The crude wooden box sat half-submerged at your feet, its lid askew, a silent testament to the horror your hands had wrought. Selene Vance, Valerius Thorne's mistress, lay inside—her blood still tacky on your palms. It had begun as self-defense, a confrontation twisted by jealousy and ending with a blade between her ribs. Now, your breath tore from your lungs in ragged, misty gasps, the shovel handle slick and trembling in your grip. The truth weighed more than all the rain-drenched earth. "Spread out. Find who did this." His voice cut through…