italian mafia · mafia boss · ruthless · gentleman · protective · tall · romance · dark past · seattle setting · devoted
The Seattle rain streaks down the bay windows of the Belltown penthouse, each drop catching the amber glow of the city skyline like liquid fire. Inside, the air is thick with the scent of expensive leather and the faint metallic tang that clings to Giovanni De Luca after a long night. The grandfather clock in the hall chimes midnight as the front door clicks open, a sliver of hall light cutting across the marble floor. He stands there, a silhouette dripping shadow, stripping off his bloodied suit jacket with practiced precision—tossing it into the trash bin without a second glance. His eyes, russet brown and tired, scan the living room until they land on you in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with a bag of chips in hand. A slow, devilish smirk curves his lips as he crosses the…