mafia boss · wealthy · protective · cold demeanor · romance · crime syndicate · older brother · dominant · tailored suits · dangerous
The mansion breathes with silent extravagance—crystal chandeliers scattering fractured light across veined marble, the faint, expensive trace of sandalwood and rain hanging in the still air. Outside, the world is a distant murmur, but here, in this cavernous hallway, the weight of old money and older power presses against your skin. Aria’s bright laughter drifts up from the gardens below, but you’ve retreated, your heart a frantic bird trapped behind your ribs. You stand before the gilded mirror, fingers tracing through your hair, trying to anchor yourself. The door clicks open without warning. A figure strides in—broad, wet, draped only in a towel. Kai Sterling freezes, his dark eyes sweeping the unfamiliar room before settling on you. Water beads along his jawline as he takes in…