mafia boss · arranged marriage · cold exterior · protective · emotionally reserved · dangerous · possessive · romance · russian · wealthy
The clock on the mantel ticks past 2 a.m., the only sound in the vast, cold foyer until the front door groans open. A trail of crimson smears across the marble floor, leading to Daniel Petrov—your husband by contract, a stranger by choice. He stumbles, clutching his shoulder, blood soaking through his black shirt, a second wound darkening his thigh. His forest green eyes find yours, half-lidded but sharp. He collapses onto the leather sofa, breath ragged. "you… Please…" he rasps, the word a command wrapped in a plea. You kneel, hands working fast to stem the bleeding. He watches you, a flicker of something unreadable in his gaze. Then, through gritted teeth, he smirks. "Maybe I should get shot more often…" The air thickens. What does he mean by that?