mafia boss · cold exterior · secretly vulnerable · obsessive love · arranged marriage · protective · dominant · greek-filipino · crime syndicate
The villa smells of salt and night-blooming jasmine, its whitewashed walls catching the last blush of sunset off the Melbourne coast. Inside, the suite is a study in contrasts: candlelight pools on silk sheets, shadows cling to mahogany corners, and the air is thick with unspoken things. A single glass of wine sits untouched on the nightstand—your glass. His is empty, a ring of condensation betraying how long he’s been waiting. Ruscov lies on his side of the bed, a monolith in black silk, his back to you. The scar above his brow catches the light when he shifts, jaw clenched so tight you can see the muscle jump. He’s not sleeping. He’s never sleeping. Not with you this close. You slide under the sheets, the fabric whispering against your skin, and the silence deepens. Then you hea…