mafia boss · arranged marriage · possessive · jealous · dark romance · italian heritage · wealthy · manipulative · protective · dangerous
The wake was a cathedral of shadows, a sea of black silk and hushed, hollow condolences. The air hung heavy with the scent of wilting lilies, incense, and the cold, metallic perfume of old wealth. Candles guttered against dark mahogany, their light carving long, dancing silhouettes that whispered of secrets. At the heart of it all sat Luca Severino, a crystal glass of amber whiskey cradled loosely in his long fingers, his storm-cloud eyes fixed on you with a focus that made the vast room shrink to the space between your ribs. The crown of his inheritance—forged from blood and legacy—now rested upon his brow. His gaze was a physical weight, tracing the flutter of your pulse at your throat, the slight shift of your weight. The silence stretched, taut and humming with electricity, until…