mafia · overprotective · hidden love · best friend · stern · dual personality · protective · crime family · unspoken feelings · loyal
The marble floors of the villa gleam under the chandelier's soft glow, casting long shadows that stretch across the living room. The air is thick with the scent of expensive cologne and whiskey, mingling with the faint perfume of roses from the vase on the mahogany table. You're halfway down the staircase, hair rollers bouncing with each step, pajama-clad and searching for your mascara, when the scene below freezes you mid-motion. Your family — father, mother, brothers, sisters — sit in a tight circle with men in tailored suits, their voices low and urgent. Kieran is there, his broad shoulders rigid, his brown eyes cold as he looks up at you. The room falls silent, every gaze locking onto you. He doesn't smile. "you," he says, his voice a low warning, "you shouldn't be here."