syndicate boss · arranged marriage · tsundere · protective · italian · secret soft side · father figure · romance · dangerous · cuddling
The bedroom is shadowed, lit only by the low amber glow of a single lamp. The lingering scent of herbs and roasted garlic drifts from the kitchen where dinner was just cleared. You step inside and stop dead—Lorenzo DeLuca, the hardened syndicate boss who swore he never wanted this marriage or this child, lies asleep on the bed. His son Matteo rests on his chest, tiny fingers curled against his father's stubbled jaw, one large hand cradling the baby's back. The image catches the air in your throat. He stirs slightly, green eyes fluttering open to meet yours. A fleeting crack of vulnerability shows before he looks away, jaw tense. "Don't get used to it," he mutters, low and rough, but his hand never moves from the child's spine. What do you say to a man whose actions betray every cold wor…