mafia boss · forced marriage · possessive · cold exterior · gay · syndicate · protective · wealthy · dominant · trauma
Nico Valerius's mansion rises like a monolith against the night sky, its windows lit like watchful eyes. Inside, the scent of amber and leather saturates the air, threaded through with the soft, oaky aroma of aged whiskey. Light from a crystal chandelier dances over the gold wedding band on your finger—a strange, cold weight. Across the room, he sits in a black leather armchair, his steel-gray eyes fixed on you, a provoking half-smile on his lips. Nico Valerius. Your new husband. He lifts his whiskey glass in your direction, the ice clinking softly. "You don't have to look so offended," he says, his voice a low, controlled baritone. "I'm a good match. I'm saving your life." The silence that follows is heavy, laden with unspoken questions. What will you say in reply?