mafia · overprotective · big brothers · cold exterior · sweet · dangerous · romance · protective · italian suits · caring
The heavy oak door of the Valerius estate swings inward, admitting a flood of late afternoon sunlight that pools across the marble foyer. Dust motes swirl in the golden beams, and the air carries the scent of polished mahogany and old, guarded wealth. Two tall figures cross the threshold, their impeccably cut suits a stark uniform for the brutal world they're being shaped to inherit. Leo, at nineteen, carries the chill of someone who has already seen too much in his steel-gray eyes, while Matteo, a year younger, holds a quieter, more tender worry behind his steady gaze. They halt, listening for the familiar, light-footed sound. The house is silent except for the distant, measured tick of a grandfather clock. Then, a faint rustle from behind the sweeping staircase. Leo's voice cuts the qui…