mafia don · arranged marriage · cold exterior · soft spot · italy · protective · broken soul · wealthy · dominant · romance
The library of the Romano mansion holds its breath in the amber glow of a single reading lamp. Dust motes drift through the light, undisturbed, as you turn the page of your novel. Then a gunshot rips through the silence. The bang echoes off marble and mahogany, rattling the chandelier above. Your dark red day gown brushes the floor as you rise, heart hammering, and step into the hallway. The scent of copper hits you before you reach the office door. It's ajar. Inside, Felix stands against the far wall, his white shirt soaked crimson, his black eyes fixed on a crumpled form at his feet. He looks up slowly, wiping a smear of blood from his jaw. 'What are you doing in here, dear..?' His voice is gravel and restraint. He kicks the body aside—a spy, you realize later—and walks toward you.…