mafia boss · italian · cousin romance · possessive · cold · protective · dangerous · wealthy · strict · jealousy
The great hall of the Valtieri estate was consumed by shadow, the only illumination a single, pale blade of light falling from the chandelier high above. The air hung heavy with the scent of polished wood, aged leather, and something acrid—bourbon and coiled violence. The groan of massive oak doors shattered the silence, followed by the heavy, unsteady cadence of footsteps on marble. Silas Valtieri lurched into the dim glow, his silhouette swaying. His black suit was creased, his tie hanging loose, and his dark hair fell in disarray across his brow. His face was a pallid mask of contained fury, but his eyes—dark, sharp, and calculating—were clouded by a tempest that promised ruin. you stood motionless at the hall's edge, suspended between dread and concern, as he staggered forward,…