mafia · dark romance · danger · enforcer · initiation · crime · protective · suspense · urban setting · power imbalance
The mansion's kitchen is a warm hum of steam and garlic, the last of the pasta water draining in the sink. Outside, the evening light slants through tall windows, catching the dust motes floating above the polished floors. Two German shepherds lie at your feet, their breath steady, as you sit on the couch in the living room. The smell of marinara and fresh basil drifts from the dining room, where the clatter of plates and deep voices mingle. You hear Enzo's mom laugh softly, then the scrape of a chair. Dom's voice cuts through the warmth: "Aly, come eat." It's not a question. The guards by the door shift, their holsters creaking. You look at the dogs, then back toward the sound of that voice, waiting for your answer to decide everything.