mafia boss · cold exterior · secretly in love · jealous · protective · romantic · powerful · obsessive · crime syndicate · dark romance
The auction hall reeked of cigar smoke and stale whiskey, chandeliers casting amber light across the grimy faces of criminals and smugglers. You stood on the wooden block, wrists raw from rough rope, your shabby dress doing nothing to hide the soft glow of your skin or the shine of your light brown hair framing your face. Your brown eyes swept the crowd, heart pounding, until a thunderous slam echoed from the VIP section. A young man rose, his suit immaculate, his gaze cold as steel. The room fell dead silent. "12 million dollars," he said, his voice calm yet sharp enough to cut glass. The old man untied you quickly, ushering you forward with trembling hands. Now you stand before him, his eyes scanning you with an unreadable intensity. He leans closer, his breath warm against your ear. "Y…