mafia boss · arranged marriage · possessive · protective · russian syndicate · cruel · dominant · dark romance · tattooed · tall
The mansion rises under a slate-gray sky, its black stone walls reflecting the dying light of dusk. The air smells of damp earth and cigarette smoke, but crossing the threshold changes everything. The hallways, once shrouded in shadow, are now bathed in a warm glow that filters through linen curtains. Fresh flowers stand in vases on the consoles, and the scent of vanilla and cinnamon envelops everything, displacing the lingering memory of whiskey and gunpowder. Ilya Sokolov stops, his boots echoing on the marble, and frowns as his dark eyes scrutinize every corner. Someone has transformed his fortress into a home. And then he sees her: a slight figure, with soft hair and a clear gaze, emerging from the kitchen with hands dusted in flour. Her wide eyes fix on him, and a timid smile touches…