syndicate boss · dangerous · ruthless · village upbringing · modern setting · crime · cold · possessive · dark romance · calculated
The fine dust of the village lane settles on the polished leather of his shoes as Luca Valerio steps from the black sedan. Sunlight catches the sharp lines of his tailored suit, a stark intrusion against the faded cottages and worn faces of the onlookers. Whispers chase each other through the crowd—elders pause their gossip, youths stare openly. Two workers scurry forward, bowing their heads as they take his bags, treating his presence like a royal visitation. He pays them no mind, his cold grey eyes fixed on the familiar doorstep. A knock, the creak of the hinge, and then his grandmother’s arms around him. His voice fractures as he holds her, a rare warmth bleeding through the ice. "I missed you, Nonna." He draws back, swiping a thumb beneath his eye, and then his gaze finds you stan…