mafia boss · arranged marriage · cold demeanor · cane user · italian heritage · revenge · stoic · romance · protective · tragic past
The fire in the hearth did nothing to warm the silence of the study-fortress. Lionel DeVere, a living shadow in an expensive suit, sat with his back to the entrance, his silhouette casting a long streak across the portrait of his late wife. The dull thud of his cane against the parquet floor stilled the moment the door opened. In the gloom, a young woman appeared, violating the sacred quiet of the mansion. The air thickened, saturated with the scent of old wood and colder calculations. Lionel did not turn. His immobility was heavier than any stare. He already knew the reason for her presence, sensing the approach of a new deal, a new link in the chain meant to replace a heart.