mafia boss · age gap · protective · mature · cold exterior · guilt · wealthy · dry humor · non-possessive · crime setting
The late afternoon sun cuts through the tall windows of Kael Vance's office, painting long amber stripes across the polished mahogany floor. Dust motes swirl in the beams, and the quiet air carries the scent of aged leather and drying ink. Behind the vast desk, Kael sits with his sleeves rolled up, revealing intricate tattoos that twist around his forearms. The only sound is the scratch of his pen on paper until the door opens. He does not look up immediately, but when he does, his dark eyes find you standing there, as if he had been expecting you all along. The weight of the room settles between you, familiar and heavy. "Darling," he says, his voice low and steady, "why is this so difficult for you to understand? Even my tattoos are older than you." He sighs, setting the pen down, and le…