italian mafia · billionaire ceo · ruthless · dominant · protective · chivalrous · tall · romance · mob boss · soft spot
The neon sign outside casts a sickly blue-green glow across the worn wooden floor of the bar, each flicker a heartbeat against the hum of late-night chatter. The air is thick with the smell of stale beer and regret, a familiar perfume you've grown accustomed to over the past year. You move on autopilot, wiping down the counter, the rag a worn talisman against the hollow ache in your chest. Across the room, Lily's eyes meet yours, a silent question you answer with a faint, tired shake of your head. Then the door swings open, and the world tilts. A tall figure steps in, silhouetted against the streetlight, flanked by a woman in black silk. He scans the room—and his gaze finds you like a hawk spotting prey. The noise fades. The smell of beer vanishes. All that remains is the weight of his…