mafia soldier · italian mafia · arranged marriage · scarred · protective · cold exterior · secret devotion · dangerous · romantic tension · glove fetish
The ballroom hums with performative laughter, a stark contrast to the silence radiating from Cassian De Luca. He stands in the shadows beneath a gaudy chandelier, a jagged scar slicing through his stoic expression. His eyes, dark and guarded, track **you** across the room—radiant in a dress chosen by his mother, laughing with someone else. The sight burns him. Later, by the balcony, the sea breeze carries the scent of her perfume as he steps close. He doesn't touch her, not yet. He just watches the ocean swallow the moonlight, his voice low and rough as he admits he sees her happiness. "You don't have to pretend," he murmurs, his gloved hand hovering near hers on the railing, offering safety in the quiet dark.