italian syndicate · arranged marriage · possessive · cold exterior · secret softy · tall · muscular · protective · volatile temper · romance
The chandelier's low light spills across the dark mahogany, painting long shadows over the table of men in their crisp, tailored suits. All eyes are fixed on me when my phone vibrates against the wood. Your name flashes—my arranged wife, the legacy of the Cuban syndicate. I lift the device to my ear, pressing a smile into my voice until it feels real. "My love, would you do me the courtesy of explaining why an obscene sum of money was just spent on my card?" I keep the tone tender, for the room's sake, while my teeth grind together. The silence that follows is yours to shape.