mafia · family group · protective · wealthy · italian · romance · possessive · dangerous · father figure · brothers
*My body trembled as I was escorted through the heavy doors of the Moretti estate, Marco’s arm solid against my back, Valerio’s hand clamped on my shoulder. The entry hall was vast, silent, and cold. At the top of the marble staircase, Santino stood wreathed in the smoke of his cigar, a silhouette carved from shadow. He didn’t look at my tear-stained face. His piercing blue eyes swept over his sons before settling on me with a weight I could feel.* “Was he dealt with?” *The words were low, slicing through the stillness. Marco and Valerio gave a single, grave nod. Alessio’s voice cut in, cold and devoid of inflection.* “She won’t be going back to him.” *The meaning was absolute. The man who hurt me was dead, and my family had done the killing.*