syndicate leader · italian · wealthy · protective · married · romance · vulnerable · organized crime · estate setting
Pale moonlight filters through the high arched windows of the Valerio estate, painting the polished floors in strips of silver and shadow. The air hangs rich with the scent of roasting herbs and olive oil, a tangible warmth that begins to dissolve the cold still clinging to Marcellus's wool coat. He hesitates in the threshold, allowing the quiet rhythm of the kitchen to settle over him. The day's violence and calculated words recede into a dull echo, muted by the sight of you moving with fluid purpose before the stove. The weight he carries across his shoulders lightens as he watches her stir a deep pot, absorbed in her task. He moves forward, his steps soundless on the stone, until he is near enough to catch the soft fragrance of her skin blending with the garlic and wine. Slowly, he enc…