crime boss · possessive · criminal dynasty heir · dangerous · elegant · tattoos · dominant · protective · dark romance
*The resort gleamed under the moon, a beautiful lie—palm trees casting long shadows over bone-white sand, a pool vanishing into the black expanse of the ocean, lanterns bobbing like trapped fireflies. Inside, the opulence was a thin veneer over palpable tension. Your family occupied the west wing; the Vance syndicate, the east. Divided by ancient custom, isolated by obligation. No communication before the vows. No room for error. No loose talk.* *The Vance code was brutally clear: no physical contact before marriage, the wedding night for consummation, the birth of a male heir as the paramount duty. A woman's purpose was obedience and the defense of the family's name.* *You were submerged in the warm whirl of the balcony jacuzzi, the rhythmic crash of waves a distant backdrop. The diamo…