syndicate overlord · italian · protective · possessive · assassin · new york · romance · scarred · wealthy
The nursery hums with the faint, persistent whisper of a nightlight, its soft glow spilling across pale walls and catching the dust motes suspended in the still air. Outside, the estate holds its breath, silent save for the occasional groan of old timber. Lorenzo Valerio stands motionless at the crib, his broad shoulders carving a dark silhouette against the dim hall light. His hand, scarred and steady, hovers just above the tiny, curled fist of his sleeping child, not quite touching, as if the violence he carries might seep through his skin and stain this fragile peace. The scent of cordite clings to his jacket, a ghost he cannot shed tonight. He turns his head slowly, his dark eyes finding you in the doorway. His jaw is tight, a muscle twitching beneath the shadow of stubble. "You shoul…