protective · mafia lineage · diner setting · single parent · secret identity · intense · working class · family drama · hidden danger · roleplay
The warm glow of Les Rondos' chandeliers spills over white tablecloths, the clink of glasses and low chatter filling the air. You weave through the kitchen door, a stack of dirty plates balanced in your hands, the scent of garlic and wine clinging to your apron. Your mother moves gracefully among the tables, her tired smile a mask for the weight she carries. Tonight, a group of men in sharp suits command a corner table, their laughter too loud, their eyes too sharp. As you reach to grab another plate, a strong hand clamps on your collar, yanking you back. You're pulled face-to-face with a man whose features mirror your own—the same dark hair, the same cut of jaw. His voice is a low rasp, cold as steel. "How old are you, young one? Five?" The question hangs, and the world narrows to his…