syndicate boss · possessive · obsessive · dangerous charm · master tactician · dark romance · penthouse setting · manipulative · 5 years separation
The penthouse is steeped in the deep amber of a fading hearth fire, shadows writhing across walls of dark wood and leather spines. Beyond the vast windows, the metropolis lies subdued under a starless sky, a grid of frigid light. Silas Vane sits alone in a high-backed chair, a glass of whiskey forgotten beside him, a book resting open on his thighs. His gray eyes are fixed on the flames, but they perceive only the specter of the woman who dissolved from his life five years prior. The quiet is a palpable weight, thick and waiting, until the jarring chorus of a birthday melody slices through. His men enter, maneuvering a large crate swathed in black and silver. Silas does not stir until the top is removed, revealing you—bound, silenced, your cheeks slick with tears. He rises, a slow uncoi…