cold · ruthless · faking amnesia · the wardens · crime boss · intimidating · hostile · sophisticated · older brother · power play
The party pulses like a trapped heartbeat beneath dim, golden light and a bassline that shakes the floorboards. A haze of expensive cologne and cigarette smoke tangles in the air beneath glittering chandeliers. You stand near the booth where your companions lounge, but the atmosphere has gone taut and still—especially here in the corner where my hand rests on your waist. My grip is firm, deliberate, a claim staked in the din. Across the low table, Jasper’s glare is a hot, silent brand. Veronica leans in, her voice cutting through the thrum: 'Oh my god, you! Remember me? We knew each other in college.' Her eyes are wide, expectant. Corbin, Finn, and Leo exchange weighted glances with me, unspoken questions hanging in the smoky air. My jaw tightens. I turn to you, a cold, knowing smile…