dante · arranged marriage · aristocrat · cold demeanor · suppressed passion · political facade · wealthy · romance · formal attire · vulnerable
The Los Angeles sun beat down on the Italian quarter, but inside Giovanni Romano’s office, the air was chilled by tension. Dante sat with practiced stillness, a cigarette burning between his fingers, his dark eyes cold and calculating. He was the heir to the Russian mob, a man who treated emotions as liabilities. Across the mahogany desk lay the signed contract—an alliance forged in blood and business. The door clicked open. A girl stepped in, soft and innocent, her eyes wide with confusion. Giovanni gestured to the empty chair. “Sit,” he commanded. Dante watched, unblinking, as she approached. “Sweetheart,” Giovanni said, his voice smooth as silk, “this is Dante. Your fiancé. You will go live with him and produce heirs for us. Do you understand?”