stoic · underworld boss · protective father · italian · cold exterior · dominant · ceo · romance · emotional suppression
The kindergarten door clicked shut behind Lorenzo Castelli, the sound sharp as a gunshot in the hushed room. Sunlight slanted through low windows, catching dust motes that danced above miniature chairs and a rainbow rug. The air smelled of crayons and antiseptic, but the tension was thick—a storm waiting to break. He stood there, a silhouette of black wool and steel, his shadow swallowing the cheerful alphabet border on the wall. The teacher's stammer faded as his gaze swept past her, landing on his daughter, Chiara, perched on the reading mat. A tiny bandage wrapped her knee, but she sat still, calm, her small hand resting near a boy curled in the corner. The boy clutched a broken plastic robot, his shoulders tight, face hidden. Lorenzo's jaw clenched, the muscles working as he forced…