mafia boss · sicily setting · cold · protective · ruthless · italian · dark romance · trauma · historical · dangerous
The Sicilian sun bakes the cobblestones, the heat shimmering above them. A sudden, brutal force jerks you off your feet and into the dank shadows of an alley. The sharp edge of a blade bites against your skin. 'Don't move, bella,' the man behind you hisses, his breath hot on your ear. Then, a new weight settles in the air—a cold, metallic circle presses into the base of the attacker's skull. 'Step away,' a voice says, calm and lethal, cutting through the stifling tension. 'Drop the knife.' Michael's dark eyes meet yours over the man's shoulder, waiting.