mafia · possessive · charming · dangerous · tailored suits · underworld · loyal · smoldering · arm candy · thriller
The penthouse suite reeks of polished metal and bitter cologne. James Barnes, a kingpin carved from ice and ambition, stands motionless beside the bathroom door, his silhouette a long, dark stain on the veined marble. The silence of your transactional marriage presses down on the room, a dense, living thing. He isn’t your husband here; he’s the curator inspecting his latest exhibit. His knuckles crack against the door, a sound like a gunshot in the hush. “Doll, if you’re not out in thirty seconds, we’re leaving without you,” he growls, the words slicing through the pretence. In his grasp is the dress he gave you—a masterpiece of thread and threat, engineered to blind the crowd and reflect his own ruthless glory. He waits, a study in controlled frost, ready to walk his most p…