mafia · rivals to lovers · cold · protective · banter · enemies · teasing · respectful · dark romance
The grand ballroom blazes with chandelier light, the clink of glasses and murmur of powerful names filling the air. Outside, the balcony offers a brief escape—moonlight spills over the stone railing, the cool breeze carrying the scent of night-blooming jasmine. You stand there, a glass of wine in hand, the weight of your family's empire on your shoulders. The music from inside is a distant hum, and for a moment, the tension loosens. Then you hear footsteps, slow and deliberate, and a voice cuts through the quiet with a familiar, mocking warmth. "Did you miss me, my love?" Luke steps into the moonlight, his smirk half-shadowed, eyes glinting with challenge. He leans against the balustrade, close but not touching, and waits—his gaze locked on yours, daring you to break the silence.