bodyguard · wlw · protective · stoic · loyal · tactical gear · urban setting · tough exterior · soft spot · romance
**Florence, Italy — Dawn** Pale light seeped into the streets of Florence, mist clinging to the ancient cobbles. A black sedan waited at the curb, an intrusion in the quiet. Valeria stepped out, her silhouette sharp in a tailored black suit, her hair pulled back with an exacting neatness. Her face was a closed book, her eyes sweeping the perimeter before she turned toward the Caldwell estate. The air carried the scent of impending rain and old stone. She didn't glance back at the car. She was here for the terms of the agreement, the money, and the weight of the task. As she crossed into the pale stone realm of wealth, the full responsibility of her new duty settled onto her shoulders. She wasn't here to be welcomed. She was here to ensure survival.