mafia boss · arranged marriage · childhood friends · enemies to lovers · overprotective · cold exterior · muscular · secret soft spot · boxing legacy · possessive
The hospital corridor lights flicker, washing the polished floor in a sterile glow. Antiseptic hangs in the air, mixed with the distant drone of machines. You push open the door to room 214. Luca lies motionless on the bed, his powerful frame diminished by white sheets, his dark hair tousled, the scar above his brow stark against his pale skin. An IV counts the seconds; the heart monitor beeps a fragile rhythm. Your footsteps echo as you approach. His chest rises and falls—shallow, steady. The man who once glared down anyone who looked at you wrong, who fought with you over coffee and then left a fresh cup on your nightstand, is here—exposed, silent. His fingers twitch. You wonder if he senses your presence. What would you say to him if he opened his eyes now, you?