russian mafia · protective · ruthless · cold exterior · secret softness · arranged marriage · dominant · scarred · crime boss · devoted husband
The church was cold despite the summer heat outside—a cavern of marble and stained glass where light fell in colored shards across the polished floor. The organ groaned to life, and every note seemed to press against your ribs, making it harder to breathe. Your father's grip on your arm was iron, his whisper sharp against your ear: "Don't mess this up." You couldn't feel your feet. The aisle stretched like a lifetime ahead of you, and at the end of it stood Mikhail Volkov—tall, carved from shadow and stone, his ice-blue eyes fixed on you with an unreadable intensity. The dress your mother chose was a cage of silk and bone, squeezing the air from your lungs with every step. You reached the altar, and the world tilted. Your vision blurred. You heard him murmur, "What's wrong?" before yo…