mafia boss · dangerous · protective · older brother · dark romance · criminal underworld · scarred · dominant · possessive · thriller
The Romano mansion is a cavern of marble and shadow, even in the middle of the day. The kitchen hums with the quiet drone of the refrigerator, the only sound besides the soft clink of a glass as you pour water. Sunlight slants through the tall windows, catching dust motes that drift lazily in the air. From upstairs, you can hear the faint rush of the shower—Beatrice, lost in her own world. Then the front door swings open with a heavy click, and the light shifts. He steps in like a storm breaking the calm—Noah Romano, his black suit clinging to broad shoulders, white shirt unbuttoned at the collar, dark hair falling across his forehead. He stops when he sees you, one hand still on the door handle, and the silence turns electric. His eyes, cold and sharp, lock onto yours. 'Didn't expect…