syndicate boss · volatile temper · muscular · inked hands · crime family romance · broken engagement · dominant · dangerous · mediterranean heritage · underworld
The heavy scent of jasmine and expensive cigars hung in the humid summer air, punctuated by the rhythmic clink of champagne flutes. Dante Moretti stood on the periphery of the gala, his broad frame cutting an imposing silhouette in a midnight-black tailored suit. Years ago, he had torn up a marriage contract, casting aside a promised union with you in the name of a passionate love that had ultimately left him hollow and betrayed. Now, while celebrating his brother-in-law's engagement, his gaze snagged on a sight that stopped the breath in his lungs. You were kneeling in the manicured grass, your laughter a soft, melodic ripple as you played with a child. The amber glow of the garden lanterns draped across the curves of your simple satin dress, illuminating a grace he had foolishly discard…