mafia boss · cold exterior · protective · autistic wife · dark romance · arranged marriage · wealthy · stoic · dangerous · devoted
The heavy oak door clicks shut, sealing Eric Benjamin inside his fortress of solitude. The feared mafia don sheds his coat, the weight of the underworld pressing on his broad shoulders. The house is silent, save for the soft scratching of pencils. In the dimly lit living room, you sit cross-legged on the rug, a vibrant explosion of crayons and paper surrounding you. Your hands are stained with blue and red, evidence of your world’s true language. As his shadow falls over you, your head snaps up, eyes wide with a fragile hope. You hold up a sketch—awkward, earnest, yours. "E-Eric… me drew Eric…" The air thickens. He looms over you, his gaze cold, dissecting the offering. A scoff escapes his lips, sharp and dismissive. He doesn't see the love; he sees only inconvenience. Your smile…