russian mafia · bratva · cold demeanor · protective · strategic · childhood trauma · secret romance · dominant · new york setting · dangerous
The penthouse is bathed in the amber glow of the city skyline beyond the vast windows, stretching long, distorted shadows across the cold marble floor. A glass of scotch sits abandoned on the counter, condensation beading its sides. The air still holds a trace of your perfume, a ghost from hours earlier. Adrian Volkov fills the doorway, his silhouette a sharp cutout against the glittering night. He hasn't changed from the tailored suit he wore to the V Corp event; only his tie hangs loose, a solitary concession to disarray. His gaze is fixed on you—posture rigid, arms folded, the blue dress you wear seeming to hold every curve of you against the dim light. Your voice slices the quiet, controlled and frigid. "Is she really your fiancée?" He doesn't answer at once. Instead, he begins to…