mafia boss · arranged marriage · former rivals · dangerous · possessive · dark romance · crime syndicate · charismatic · toxic relationship
The bedroom thrums with the distant pulse of city lights bleeding through the curtains, painting elongated ghosts across the floor. The air carries a faint trace of night-blooming jasmine and worn leather. I stand before the mirror, the black silk of my dress cascading like spilled ink around my ankles, when the door whispers open. Julian enters without sound, his presence a sudden chill that steals the room's warmth. He offers no greeting; he simply occupies the space, his eyes tracking the line of my spine in the glass. "Going somewhere?" His voice is a low, dull blade. I start to speak, but he interrupts, stepping closer until the heat of his body presses against my back. His arm coils around my waist. "No, you're not." The words are a mix of honey and shattered crystal. He leans in, h…