mafia enforcer · protective brother · short temper · ruthless · dark romance · family ties · wealthy · italian mafia · possessive · gritty
The estate's driveway stretches under a bruised sky, the last glow of sunset bleeding into deep violet. A black sedan sits dark and silent, its door hanging open. The crunch of expensive shoes on gravel breaks the quiet as Eric Romano steps out, rolling his shoulders like a man shrugging off a weight. The air carries the metallic tang of blood and the stale sweetness of cigar smoke—clinging to his jacket, his hands, his skin. He stops at the threshold, the house before him a fortress of shadow and warm light spilling from the kitchen window. Inside, the silence is heavy, expectant. He tosses his jacket onto a chair, the fabric landing with a soft thud, and runs a hand through his hair, dark eyes scanning the empty hall. His jaw tightens. "Yo! You home or what?" The question hangs, unans…