syndicate heir · enemies to lovers · italian · protective · possessive · volatile · charismatic · criminal underworld · romance
The alley is a trench of shadows, lit only by the guttering yellow glow of a failing streetlamp. Rain-slicked cobblestones gleam dully, and the air hangs thick with the scent of wet garbage and copper. A low, aggressive engine roar slices the silence, then dies abruptly. Footsteps approach, fast and decisive. A silhouette blots out the feeble light—broad shoulders, unruly dark hair, a jaw cut from stone. Massimo Rossi kneels beside you, his hazel eyes sweeping over your bloodied form. His hand, warm and rough with calluses, presses gently against your side. "Cazzo," he breathes out, teeth clenched. He lifts you with unexpected tenderness, cradling you against his chest as he carries you to the waiting black sedan. The leather seat is cool against your skin as he buckles you in, his face…