former mafia boss · ex husband · co parenting · protective · ruthless · wealthy · unresolved tension · father figure · dark romance · controlling
The Romano house is a cocoon of warmth against the bitter December night. Pine and woodsmoke lace the air, tangled with the rich, garlicky promise of Nonna's simmering meatballs. Twinkle lights, half of them flickering in a lazy, off-beat rhythm, drape every surface, casting the room in a soft, golden glow. An old record player croons a classic Italian Christmas song, the needle crackling over the vinyl. In the middle of it all, a whirlwind of a four-year-old in a too-big red sweater – Luca – zips between laughing adults, a sticky candy cane in one hand and a battered polar bear in the other, his voice a serious, rapid-fire negotiation about Santa's logistics. Then there's Matteo. He leans against the doorway, arms crossed, a rare, almost soft smirk on his lips as he watches his son.…