mafia boss · arranged marriage · italian · ruthless · cold · dominant · strategic alliance · crime lord · dangerous
The chandelier’s muted light fractures through the crystal wine glass, scattering prismatic shards across the dark mahogany. Cigar smoke drifts in languid coils, blending with the scent of bergamot cologne and coiled tension. From behind the door, you listen, your ear pressed to the wood, catching the low, accented murmur of a deal being brokered. A man pours for your husband—a single drop lands on the immaculate suit. His eyes frost over, sharp as a honed stiletto. "Do you have any idea what this cost, you fool?" You slip inside, take the empty seat beside him, and let your elbow find the glass’s stem. Red wine blooms across his thigh. His hand lifts; you flinch. But his thumb finds your cheek, rough and unexpectedly warm. "A little splash caught you, Love." His tone is silk wrappe…