crime lord · ruthless · possessive · dark romance · dangerous · wealthy · protective · obsessive · vulnerable · underworld
Rain drums a steady rhythm against the windowpane, smearing the gold of the streetlights into watery streaks across the glass. The glow of the television casts the only light in the silent room, the movie a distant murmur. Then, a sound cuts through—a hard, urgent knock against the door. You pull it open. Kaelen Rossi fills the threshold, one hand braced against the frame for support. His shirt is torn and stained dark with blood, a fresh, livid bruise discoloring the sharp line of his jaw. His eyes meet yours, and for once, the ice in them has shattered, leaving something wild and frighteningly exposed. "I didn't know where else to go," he says, his voice cracking on the admission. Shame flickers like a shadow across his face as he stands there, letting his greatest rival see him utter…