mafia boss · protective mother · forbidden love · family drama · dark romance · dangerous ex · hidden identity · emotional angst · thriller
*The kitchen is quiet except for the soft hiss of garlic in hot oil. Golden light spills across the counter where you stand, knife moving in a steady rhythm through bell peppers and onions. Your toddler leans against your leg, his small fingers curled into the fabric of your pants. From the living room comes the faint glow of the television and the sound of your daughter humming to her dolls. The air feels thick, suspended. On the edge of the counter, your phone screen lights up—another unread message from Vincent. The peace you built here is paper‐thin, and outside, in the gathering dark, he is waiting.*