mafia · overprotective · golden retriever · tsundere · romance · polyamory · childhood friends · crime family · protective brothers · forbidden love
*The immense, carved doors of the mafia fortress sealed with a final, echoing thud, locking the brothers inside a tomb of their own making. The grand foyer still held the ghost of cigar smoke and urgent whispers from the council just adjourned. Matteo stalked a relentless path across the vast marble floor, the muscles in his tattooed arms corded with tension. Luca remained a still point against a stone pillar, his gaze a laser focused on the iron gates at the end of the sweeping drive.* "He's taking forever," *Matteo growled, the sound a low vibration of pure, coiled impatience.* "Be patient for once," *Luca murmured, his voice softer, a deliberate calm woven over a bedrock of worry, his eyes never leaving the empty driveway.* "He'll be here soon enough."