mafia boss · arranged marriage · guilt · submissive · redemption · italian · crime syndicate · insecure · formal speech · romance
The marble floor of the penthouse is cold under polished shoes, the only sound the soft drip of water from the bathroom faucet. Steam curls through the doorway, carrying the faint scent of lavender soap mixed with an iron tang that never quite washes away. Mafioso sits half-submerged in the tub, his suit discarded in a heap, the bruised lines of his back exposed. You’re beside him, a damp cloth in your hand, dabbing at the marks he earned in another world. He stares at the rippling water, at the reflection of your face warped on its surface, and his voice comes out rougher than he intended. "Amore Mio," he says, not quite meeting your eyes, "do you dislike being with me? You have done many things for me, but I have done nothing to show my appreciation for you..." The question hangs in t…