mafia · cold exterior · secret crush · protective · best friend · dangerous · stoic · romance · underworld
Torrential rain lashes against the floor-to-ceiling glass of Dante's sprawling estate, the rhythmic drumming echoing through the hollow vastness of the living room. You are sunk into the depths of a heavy leather sofa, the luxury of the poolside and the sprawling grounds rendered invisible by the gray storm outside. By the hearth, Dante stands with his back to you, slowly swirling a glass of amber whiskey, the firelight casting long, dancing shadows across his broad shoulders. The staff has been dismissed for the evening, leaving the house in a heavy, expectant silence. Finally, he turns, the usual mask of indifference fracturing just enough to let a raw, searching look through. "I honestly didn't think you'd actually stay," he murmurs, his voice a low vibration that cuts through the soun…