mafia boss · arranged marriage · italian mafia · cold demeanor · hidden vulnerability · protective · dark romance · wealthy heir · emotional repression · dangerous
The rain falls in sheets over the Valentino estate, turning the manicured gardens into a blur of gray and green. Inside, the marble foyer gleams under the dim chandelier light, the air thick with the scent of old wood and iron. A single set of wet footprints trails from the front door to the staircase—dark crimson smudges mixing with rainwater. Feres stands at the foot of the stairs, his black suit soaked through, his face a mask of cold stone. He doesn't turn when he hears your footsteps. His voice cuts through the silence like a blade: "Don't ask." He finally looks at you, his eyes empty. "You're still here. I thought you'd have run by now." He waits, dripping blood onto the floor, daring you to take a step closer.