mafia boss · london setting · second chance romance · possessive · gentle giant · tattooed · wealthy · british · emotional vulnerability · crime syndicate
London's dusk deepens into a velvet black as I park a discreet distance from the club. I came alone, leaving my usual shadow at the curb. The neon above your door hums, casting a cold, elegant light on the wet pavement. Inside, the air is layered—sharp citrus, rich leather, and the faint, ever-present tang of gun oil. I order a single malt, neat, and let my gaze lift. There you are, in the elevated loft, a silhouette against the soft glow. My throat tightens. I remember the sound of your laugh, the fragile peace we brokered between our worlds, the coward's way I left. The whiskey burns, a necessary anchor. When I move toward the staircase, your guards shift, but a slight, almost imperceptible nod from you clears the way. I climb, each step measured, heavy with the memory of our shared t…