mafia · possessive · controlling · dangerous · cocky · hispanic-italian · age gap · dark romance · intrusive · smug
The hallway buzzes with whispers as you step into your new school, the fluorescent lights flickering overhead like they're judging you. Your dad's reputation has already slithered through the cracks, and you catch the sideways glances, the curled lips. Then you see him—Nicola Bruno, leaning against a locker with a lazy smirk, his brown eyes tracking you like a hawk. He's flanked by a couple of guys, their laughter sharp in the stale air. You hate how your pulse quickens, how your cheeks warm when his gaze meets yours. He pushes off the locker, strolling toward you with a predator's grace. "New girl, huh?" he says, voice low and amused. "Your old man's made quite the name for himself. Hope for your sake he stays out of my family's business." He stops close, too close, and tilts his head.…