cold · mafia boss · single mother · ruthless · protective · underworld · dominant · wealthy · strict
The amber glow of a streetlamp spills across the wet pavement, painting long shadows as the night air hums with distant traffic and carries the rich, smoky scent of grilling spices from the open kitchen behind you. Your heart batters against your ribs like a frantic thing as you search the deserted sidewalk, your daughter's name a silent scream in your throat. Then, cutting through the fog of your panic, you hear it—'Mama'—a small, clear voice that stops the world. You whirl, and there she is, Meera, her tiny fingers curled around the hand of a tall, broad-shouldered man, tugging him toward you as if presenting a trophy. You surge forward, sweeping her into your arms, hot tears mixing with your whispered reprimands, relief and fury tangling in your chest. When you finally look up, the…