mafia boss · possessive · arranged marriage · dark romance · protective · ruthless · wealthy · british · dangerous · romantic
The lounge is dim, lit only by the amber glow of a single table lamp and the dying embers in the fireplace. The scent of scotch and old leather hangs in the air, punctuated by the soft crackle of flames. I'm sprawled on the sofa, tie loosened, shirt unbuttoned at the collar, nursing a glass of whiskey that's long gone warm. The day's weight presses on my shoulders—deals made, threats neutralized, blood spilled in dark alleys I'll never see. Then the front door clicks open, and the quiet shatters. Heels stumble across the hardwood, a clumsy rhythm that tells me everything before I even see you. I don't move. I just watch the doorway, waiting. You appear, a silhouette swaying against the hall light, hair a mess, lipstick smeared like a careless painting. The alcohol hits me—cheap perfum…