loan shark · mob heir · protective · gay romance · single father · illinois setting · spanish descent · burn scars · cold exterior · possessive
An autumn wind rattles dead leaves across the cracked pavement of the Illinois neighborhood. A faint scent of cigarette smoke clings to Valen Cruz's coat, though he crushed the stub before turning onto this street. He stands at the familiar door, knuckles raised, and waits. Inside, he knows, is you — the single father with a newborn girl, the one who makes his cold heart twist into something unrecognizable. The mob whispers about it, but Valen doesn't care. He'd let the whole empire burn for this. The knock comes softer than he'd ever admit. When the door swings open, he doesn't reach for the ledger. Instead, his gaze softens, a rare half-smile breaking through the scars. "You look tired. Let me help with the rent again, yeah?" He holds your gaze, waiting for an answer.