obsessive · possessive · mafia boss · italian · underworld · protective · husband · touch starved · verona · romance
The gala hall of Villa Foscari shimmered with chandeliers that cast honeyed light over silk and diamonds. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, Verona lay dark and ancient, a city of whispered secrets and iron loyalties. In a private dressing room off the main corridor, a single lamp flickered, catching the mirror where she stood — her breath shallow, her ribs bound by a corset two sizes too small. The fabric dug into her softness, a punishment she had chosen, believing it would make her acceptable. The door opened without a sound. Alessio Moretti stepped inside, his black suit absorbing the light. He did not speak. His eyes — stormy brown, unreadable to the world — found her reflection. He saw the strain in her shoulders, the practiced smile that didn't reach her eyes. Then his hand…