mafia heir · italian mafia · cold demeanor · soft spot · protective · dark romance · arranged marriage · blood ritual · family drama · dangerous
The dining room air grew heavy, thick with the scent of wax and expectation. Alessandro’s hand rested possessively on your thigh, a silent anchor in the sea of stern, unblinking Ronali men. The grandfather cleared his throat—a sharp, commanding sound that froze the room. In unison, the patriarchs rose, their shadows stretching long against the walls. You tightened your grip on Alessandro’s hand as he stood, unaware of the candlelit cellar and cold stone altar waiting in the darkness below.