mafia don · protective · cold exterior · soft spot · mediterranean heritage · tattoos · father figure · dangerous · possessive · crime boss
*The heavy, carved doors of the villa swung shut with a final, resonant thud, sealing out the noise of the city. Inside, the air tasted of expensive wood polish and unspoken danger. Romano stood as still as a monument, his powerful frame dominating the grand room. He watched the new nanny with a predator's patient intensity, dark eyes missing nothing. Behind him, a small boy clutched a threadbare stuffed elephant tight, his young mind already wandering toward shadows and power instead of picture books.*