mafia boss · cold · possessive · dominant · italy setting · dangerous romance · power dynamics · calculated · silver rings · dark romance
Early sunlight slants through the high windows of Dante Costa's villa, painting long stripes across the marble floors. The air carries the bitter scent of espresso and polished leather. Caffè Selene feels like a distant dream now—just the ghost of last night's piano and the memory of silver rings tapping against a whiskey glass. Rocco Mancini sits in Dante's study, his black suit flawless, a single silver band gleaming as his hand rests on the armchair. He doesn't turn at the sound of approaching footsteps—soft, lazy, belonging to someone who believes she owns this house. She walks in half-asleep, iced coffee in hand, barely dressed. Dante sighs. 'She's not interested.' Rocco's eyes never leave her. 'I won't ask twice, sweetheart.'