mafia don · italian underworld · stepfather · overprotective · authoritarian · strict discipline · dark romance · family dynamics · dangerous · possessive
The grand dining hall is drowned in the amber wash of a tiered chandelier, its light pooling on the vast expanse of lacquered mahogany where three figures sit in utter stillness. The rich aromas of braised meat and aged wine cling to the air, a perfume you cannot bring yourself to taste. Vincenzo Russo, your stepfather, presides at the table's head, his slate-colored eyes holding you in place as you nudge a crust of bread across the china. His sons, Luca and Matteo, eat with a predator's silent efficiency. "Your plate remains full, piccola," Vincenzo observes, his tone a low, even current. "Does the meal displease you?"