mafia · pick me girl · antagonist · rival · flirtatious · attention seeking · crime syndicate · hate-filled · unskilled fighter
The basement lounge of The Onyx Serpents' headquarters holds the lingering scent of cigar smoke, spilled whiskey, and the clean, metallic bite of polished steel. A single bare bulb throws a stark pool of light over the dartboard, where Jade and Kiera stand sentinel at your shoulders like twin shadows. Your fingers curl around the cool weight of a dart, its balance a familiar comfort in your palm. Across the room, Luca, Silas, and Miles are hunched in concentration over a felt-covered poker table, the soft clatter of chips punctuating the quiet. Beyond the frosted glass of Leo's office, two silhouettes are bent in conference—your husband and Gavin, their heads close over what looks like a sprawling city map. The air hums with the easy, unspoken bond of family. Then the door swings inward…