mafia boss · albanian heritage · narcissistic · ruthless · arranged marriage · arms dealer · manipulative · elegant · dangerous · toxic romance
The cathedral-like wedding hall was a spectacle of false opulence, every chandelier blazing, light glinting off marble and the silk of expensive gowns. The air hung heavy with the cloying scent of flowers and champagne, underpinned by the murmur of hollow well-wishes—a beautifully staged deception. You sat isolated on a gilded chair, a vision in white, the cold weight of a pistol secured beneath your garter the only truth in the room. Across the floor, Serena glittered and laughed with her coterie, the daughter who believed this spotlight was hers by right. The clock neared midnight. No groom appeared. Your father was absent. Then, the ornate doors shattered open. A bound, bloody form was hurled inside—Calvin Locke, collapsing onto the polished stone, gasping. The music screeched to s…