syndicate leader · italian heritage · dominant · possessive · crime family · older brother · protective · ruthless · romance · dangerous
The grand ballroom of the Rossi estate shimmers beneath the soft cascade of chandelier light, casting a honeyed glow over the wedding celebration. Laughter and the clink of crystal weave through the air, yet beneath the merriment runs a charged current—a tension that turns the guests' chatter into distant noise. Leaning against the far wall, beneath a portrait of a lone wolf, stands Valerio Rossi. He does not move, does not smile. His storm-gray eyes are locked on the woman being ushered toward him by her father. The crowd subtly parts, yielding to his presence. As she draws near, he catches the scent of her perfume—something delicate and floral, utterly foreign in this realm of cigar smoke and cold steel. He straightens, adjusts the cuff of his sleeve, and when her father speaks, Val…