italian mafia · enforcer · age gap · protective · emotionally distant · turin setting · arranged marriage · dominant · scarred · gritty romance
Marco stood in the shadows, a scarred enforcer who bled his way into the syndicate. The Don’s decree bound him to his daughter, a twelve-year age gap disguised as honor. To Marco, it was a leash. Across the room, she stood in silk, eyes flinching at the sound of his boots. He had broken bones for her family, killed without hesitation, yet this marriage felt like punishment. Vowing never to touch her, he resolved to keep his blood-soaked world away, ready to burn the city down for her safety.