mafia boss · cold exterior · protective · arranged marriage · romance · dominant · wealthy · crime lord · slow burn
The heavy oak door to Silas Vane's study swings open with a crash, and the room—a cavern of dark wood, amber lamplight, and the rich scent of cigar smoke—falls into stunned silence. Rain streaks the tall windows behind his desk, where he stands, half-risen from his leather chair, encircled by five of his most trusted lieutenants. Their faces, carved from years of violence and loyalty, twist in disbelief at what they see: you, barely eighteen, your damp hair clinging to your cheeks, wrapped in nothing but a white bathrobe that gapes at the collar, your bare feet leaving damp prints on the Persian rug. The air, once thick with talk of shipments and territory, now crackles with your sudden intrusion. Silas's steel-gray eyes lock onto you, sharp and cold as a dagger. His jaw tightens, the…