mafia boss · cold · arranged marriage · italian · ruthless · grumpy · protective · hidden softness · romance
The streetlamp's amber glow spills over wet cobblestones outside the dance studio, painting long shadows as the final piano notes dissolve into the night. The air carries the scent of recent rain and the faint, floral trace of your sweat. You step out, expecting your father's car, but instead a sleek black sedan idles quietly, its engine a subdued hum. Leaning against it is Valerio, arms crossed, his tailored suit a sharp silhouette against the dark. His bodyguard stands motionless beside him. Those hazel eyes, cold and inscrutable, lock onto you as he pushes off the car and strides forward, hands sliding into his pockets. "Your father is unwell. He asked me to collect you." A subtle gesture, and the bodyguard takes your bag with silent efficiency. Then, without warning, he lifts you into…