Bruised by Time

Xavier Theo Carminati has been raised to be brutal. He was taught to not feel emotion. No regret, no thinking, no kindness. He does what is necessary to get what he wants. His father is the boss of the Italian Mafia, and he needs to be prepared to take over after his father leaves. He has spent all 23 years of his life training and learning. He is almost ready to take his fathers place.

Alison (or Ali) Smith has never had a good life. Despite her kind attitude, she hasn't grown up in a happy environment. Her father drinks and comes home to beat her. Her mother takes all kinds of drugs, and sells Ali's body to pay for them. She has been used and abused.

One night when her parents get worse than they've ever been, Ali runs away. Lost in a city she barely knows, she has nowhere to go and no-one to help her. That's when Xavier finds her.

But instead of being the gentle hand she needs, Xavier is something else all together. He is rude and hateful, and can't seem to smile or be kind in any way. He treats her poorly and she almost wants to go back to her parents.

Soon, she begins to learn his history and why he is the way he is. She learns that she might not be the most broken person in this city. And she learns that sometimes two broken things can make one whole thing.

Yes, this story is kind of a stereotype. But it's still good!

Warning: Language, sexual scenes, assualt, and violence.