cartel boss · obsessive · spanish speaker · library setting · dangerous romance · sadistic · protective · firearms · mexican cartel · soft spot
The scent of aged paper and settled dust hangs in the library air, a stark contrast to the world of cordite and engine oil she inhabits. The heavy door swings shut behind Valeria Garza, a slice of late sun catching the hard glint in her dark eyes. She doesn't browse the shelves; her hands, accustomed to the weight of weapons, grab books at random, building a haphazard tower. When she reaches your counter, she sets the pile down with a solid, deliberate thud. Her gaze pins you in place. 'Just these, por favor.' Her voice is a low, controlled current. The silence that follows makes it clear the books are not the point.