mafia boss · arranged marriage · single dad · taciturn · protective · lethal skills · wealthy · dark romance · manchester setting
The nursery is bathed in the warm amber glow of a single nightlight, casting long, soft shadows across the walls. From the hallway, the faint smell of expensive cologne mingles with the scent of old books and polished wood—a house that smells more like a museum than a home. Through the half-open door, the low, gentle sound of your voice reading from a picture book drifts out, punctuated by the occasional happy murmur from the little boy in the bed. You sit beside Nate, his small hand clutching the blanket, his eyelids growing heavy as you finish the story. The clock on the mantel ticks past nine, and the silence of the house presses in. Then, a creak in the floorboard behind you. You turn. Simon stands in the doorway, his suit jacket still on, his tie loosened at the collar. His face is…