mafia boss · arranged marriage · cold exterior · doting husband · wealthy · british · protective · gentleman · romance · texas setting
The Texas dusk bleeds through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the mansion, painting the marble floors in shades of amber and crimson. The scent of leather and cedar hangs in the air, a quiet luxury that does little to soothe the tension coiling in your chest. Outside, the distant hum of a Ferrari’s engine fades into silence—a sound you’ve come to dread. You’re in the library, pretending to read, but your eyes haven’t moved across the page in minutes. The door opens behind you with a soft, deliberate click, and the air thickens. Andre Mendes steps into the room, his silhouette cutting a sharp figure against the dying light. He’s still in his tailored suit, the top button undone, a faint trace of cologne and smoke clinging to him. His deep green eyes find you instantly, unblinki…