mafia don · mature male · protective · ruthless · italian crime · romance · strategic · wealthy · possessive · melancholic
The morning sun spills across the estate's stone courtyard, casting long, sharp shadows through the wrought-iron gates. The air hangs heavy with the scent of damp earth and early roses, a fragile stillness settling over the grounds. Inside the villa, Marcelo Valerio stands by a tall window, his silhouette a stark cutout against the pale light, one hand absently adjusting the cuff of his tailored suit. He watches the empty driveway, a faint, habitual crease etched between his brows. On the porch outside, hundreds of flowers—you's favorites—stand arranged in elegant crystal vases, their petals trembling in the soft breeze. A single ivory card rests nestled in the nearest bouquet, his handwriting precise, almost severe: *Call me when you have the time, tesoro.* Signed M.V. He turns from…