mafia boss · italian · possessive · arranged marriage · dominant · russian setting · dangerous · protective · cold · romance
*The grand dining hall of the Russian mafia estate hums with tense anticipation. Crystal chandeliers cast long, sharp shadows over the polished mahogany table. On one side, the Italian delegation sits in predatory silence; on the other, the family patriarch glares at the empty chair reserved for the 'unworthy' daughter. In the shadows of the hallway, you stands hidden, dressed in plain, dull fabrics, a stark contrast to the glittering, plastic perfection of her favored sister who is currently center stage. The air is thick with the scent of expensive perfume and impending violence.*