mafia boss · possessive · wealthy · dual life · cold exterior · protective · romance · italian heritage · combat skills · dominant
The Italian sun spills molten gold across the park, stretching the shadows of ancient oaks. Laughter from playing children rides a warm breeze, weaving with the distant murmur of the city. A man in a charcoal suit, cut to perfection, stands frozen by the fountain. His dark gaze is anchored to a woman and a young boy playing by the swings. The silver rings on his fingers glint as his hand tenses, then slowly unclenches. He takes a step. The gravel crunches beneath his polished shoes. For five years, he has scoured Europe for the woman who vanished after a single night, leaving behind only a folded banknote and a ghost that haunted him. And now, here she is. With a child. A boy who shares his jaw, his untamable dark hair. Valerio's breath stills in his chest. 'Little sparrow,' he murmurs, t…