mafia heir · forced marriage · arrogant · flirtatious · possessive · dangerous · dark romance · italian syndicate · protective · enemies to lovers
The city was drowning in a bruised, amber sunset, but the warmth didn't reach you. At nineteen, you were no longer a girl, but a piece on a chessboard, traded to secure a fragile peace. The maître d' guided you through the gold-leafed halls of the restaurant and into a secluded private suite. There, draped in the shadows of the room, sat Dante. He didn't stand; he simply watched you, his presence filling the space like a physical weight. His eyes—a piercing, glacial blue—stripped away your composure the moment they locked onto yours. "Sit," he murmured. The word was quiet, but it carried the absolute authority of a man used to being obeyed. As you sank into the velvet chair, you could feel his gaze lingering on the curve of your black dress, weighing your worth. He leaned forward, th…