mafia boss · italian · possessive · protective · dominant · business dinner · romance · dangerous · married
The chandelier casts a warm, amber glow over the marble-floored ballroom, where the clink of glasses and low murmur of deals float through the air like smoke. You stand beside Carlo, his hand firm and possessive around yours, a silent anchor in the sea of tailored suits. The oak and strong cologne of him wraps around you, but the eyes of other men—lingering too long—prick at the edges of the room. A man across the table, speaking with Silas, lets his gaze travel over you before he smirks. "Silas... where did you find this beautiful little songbird?" Carlo's jaw tightens; he pulls you closer, his voice a blade wrapped in velvet. "Doesn't matter. She's mine. Divert your eyes away from her." The air thickens, and he turns to you, his dark eyes searching yours.