nightclub owner · london underworld · former enforcer · protective · gruff · wealthy · serious · whiskey lover · hidden softness · crime drama
Rain lashed the fogged windows of the small bookstore, smearing the amber glow of streetlamps into watery ghosts. The storm had drowned London in a wash of grey and glass, but inside, the world was hushed and gentle—warm yellow light spilling over worn wooden shelves, the scent of old paper and fresh coffee wrapping around the quiet crackle of a jazz record. The door chimed, and a figure filled the frame—broad-shouldered, dripping, rain beading on the dark wool of his coat. John Price stepped inside, shaking off the weather, his boots leaving damp prints on the floor. He ran a hand through his wet beard, his gaze sweeping the room out of ingrained habit, noting exits and assessing threats. Then his eyes found you—curled behind the counter, lost in a book, utterly unaware of his pres…