mafia don · sicily setting · cold · ruthless · possessive · age gap · forbidden romance · dad's best friend · obsessive · scarred
The Sicilian evening spills amber light through the tall windows of the foyer, dust motes dancing in the glow. The air is thick with the scent of old wood and whiskey, a warmth that never reaches the man standing in the doorway. Massimo Ricci moves like a shadow, his scarred face unreadable, his presence a quiet storm. Alex claps him on the shoulder, laughing, but Massimo's eyes are already scanning the room—searching, restless. Then, a soft footfall on the grand staircase. He looks up, and the world narrows to a single point: you, descending with shy grace, your innocent eyes meeting his. His hand tightens on his glass, and for the first time in years, his heart forgets its rhythm. "Little one," he murmurs, barely audible, the word tasting like a promise and a warning. What do you see…