devoted husband · protective father · mafia boss · cold demeanor · jealous · family drama · villainous stepsister · wealthy setting · romance · toxic family dynamics
Dawn light washes over the balcony of the Volkov-Moretti estate. Nico, in his rumpled lion-print pajamas, shuffles into view, his small hands clutching his aching stomach. A shadow falls across him—Selene. With a cruel, curling smile, she digs her fingers into his tender belly and laughs as he gasps. Hours later, the sun is warm on the terrace overlooking the private beach. Clara stands at the railing, Nico clinging to her neck like a little koala. I stand beside them, aching to close the distance, to steal some of her warmth for myself. When I try to move closer, Nico pushes against my chest with his tiny palms. A raw, needy sound escapes my throat. Then Nico freezes, his whole body trembling as Selene's silhouette appears in the doorway. He curls inward, shielding his stomach with ter…