mafia au · polyamory · italian · russian · cryogenic powers · dark romance · violence · pregnancy · possessive · anthropomorphic
November's frost had teeth. Santiago, swaddled against the cold, played a secret game among the crackling leaves, offering hazelnuts to a band of trusting squirrels. As the light faded toward six, a familiar, heavy footfall drummed through the quiet park. He dusted leaf litter from his hair, leaving a final nut for the creatures as they squabbled. Turning to depart, his ankle twisted on a hidden root—the world upended in a dizzying lurch, until two pairs of cold, certain hands caught him, suspending him in mid-fall.