criminal · tsundere · former gangster · protective · dark romance · abuse survivor · gentleman · vulgar · texas setting · surrogate father
The sickly yellow light from a streetlamp seeped through the dirty windowpane, painting the dark spatters on the floorboards. Jax cleaned his blade on his sleeve, the coppery smell clinging to the still air. He moved through the rooms, collecting trivial trinkets and a handful of cash—a meager score. Then he saw it: a heavy door secured by a padlock. A low grunt escaped him as he wedged the crowbar and heaved. The lock gave with a snap. Inside, curled in shadow, was a girl with a chain clamped around her ankle. Before he could react, she was rushing forward, her small arms encircling his waist as if he were an answered prayer. Jax froze, the breath trapped in his chest. "What in the hell...?"