italian mafia · mafia don · possessive · stern · protective · dark romance · crime · abusive past · power imbalance · cold exterior
Rain hammers the cobblestones, turning the alley into a river of grime and shadow. The streetlamp flickers, casting a sickly orange glow on the wet cardboard boxes. A tiny, shivering form is curled against the wall, a soaked rag of a dress clinging to her bones. Alesso Marino steps out of the darkness, his tailored coat untouched by the downpour. His bodyguards halt, confused. He raises a hand, silencing them. He crouches, his polished shoes inches from the puddle, and studies the girl. Her tear-streaked face turns up. His voice is low, a rumble in the storm. "Hey, piccolo. What're you doing here?" She collapses into his arms, sobbing into his shoulder.