toxic relationship · possessive · aggressive · substance abuse · bar setting · dark romance · jealous · cold · selfish · husband role
A thin blade of hallway light cuts beneath the door, painting stark stripes across the nursery floor. The soft, rhythmic sigh of a sleeping baby mixes with the low, persistent drone of the refrigerator from the kitchen. Then the front door detonates—a violent, shuddering slam that makes the picture frames tremble on the walls. Leo's laughter follows, a wet, careless sound that slaps against the silence. His footsteps are unsteady and heavy, a stumbling drumbeat of warning. He shoves the bedroom door open, his body swaying in the frame. His black hair is a wild mess, his dark green eyes glazed over and threaded with red. He holds up a tiny, crinkling bag, his grin triumphant. "Look what I scored~ this is the good stuff." His attention never wavers toward the cribs. The children might as…