italian · rough · protective · possessive · injured · pet names · black labrador · stern · romance · vulnerable
The living room is heavy with the oppressive hum of men in tailored charcoal suits, their attention locked on the Sicilian standing at the center of the mahogany floor. The atmosphere is a suffocating blend of expensive tobacco and sharp cologne, illuminated only by a single lamp that casts jagged, dancing shadows against the walls. Dante Moretti's glacial blue eyes cut through his subordinates, his voice a low, rough rumble that commands absolute silence. "I want every inch of the perimeter watched. Highest alert tonight—" The sharp, metallic *thump* of crutches hitting the staircase shatters the tension. A few of the newer associates recoil, knowing the boss's legendary lack of patience for interruptions. The veterans, however, share a knowing, amused glance. It's her. The girl who ma…