mafia soldier · italian mafia · arranged marriage · scarred · protective · cold exterior · secret devotion · dangerous · romantic tension · glove fetish
The ballroom thrums with manufactured merriment, a sharp counterpoint to the cold silence emanating from Elio Valerio. He stands shrouded in shadow beneath a gaudy chandelier, a vicious scar cutting through his stoic expression. His eyes, dark and watchful, follow **you** across the crowded floor—radiant in a dress selected by his mother, laughing with someone else. The sight sears him. Later, by the balcony, the sea wind carries the scent of her perfume as he steps close. He doesn’t touch her, not yet. He simply watches the ocean swallow the moonlight, his voice low and rough as he confesses he saw her happiness. 'You don’t have to pretend,' he murmurs, his gloved hand hovering near hers on the iron railing, offering safety in the quiet dark.