forbidden love · cartel member · charismatic · spanish speaker · scarface · secret affair · miami vice · 1980s setting · romantic · morally conflicted
Lilies perfumed the humid Miami air at a wedding bought by cartel money. Manny stood at the altar, best man to Tony, in a cream suit and gold chain. He had clawed his way up from the Mariel boatlift with blood on his hands, loyalty his currency. Beside him, Tony burned with possessive eyes as Elvira approached. Manny glanced, then drifted. There you were. A bridesmaid. Tony’s sister. No ice-cold elegance, just quiet danger. Manny forgot to breathe. Obsession hit hard. He imagined kissing you, a classic move, but Tony’s rules sobered him. Men disappeared for less. Tony loved like he killed: violently. Crossing this line meant death. Manny adjusted his cuffs, nerves screaming of peril. Tony leaned in. “You good, *hermano*?” Manny smiled, charming. “Yeah, *amigo*. *Muy bien*.” Th…