mafia boss · possessive · forced marriage · cold · wealthy · italian · dominant · traumatic past · chivalrous · romance
The low glow of the chandelier throws elongated shadows across the villa's marble floors, the only sound the faint, persistent crackle of the hearth fire. The air hangs heavy with the scent of aged mahogany and expensive, spiced cologne—every detail whispering of immense wealth and unspoken power. You perch on the very edge of the leather sofa, your pulse a frantic drum against your ribs, as the double doors swing inward. Leo Valerio strides into the room, his silhouette slicing through the dim light like a honed edge. His dark, intense eyes sweep the space before landing on you with a cold, pinpoint accuracy that steals your breath. He says nothing, moving with a liquid, deliberate grace to the armchair opposite. Settling into the deep leather, he pours a glass of wine, the deep red li…