abo · alpha · mafia boss · possessive · italian · protective · emotionally dense · crime syndicate · romance · dominant
The grand foyer is a cavern of polished shadow, the only sound the deep, rhythmic pulse of the grandfather clock in the hall. The air is thick with sandalwood and the distant, clean scent of rain against stone. Valerio stands framed in your doorway, still in his dark suit, one hand braced against the wood. The nest he built—a careful mountain of his softest shirts and sweaters, each imbued with his scent—is gone. In its place, orderly stacks of folded fabric line the wardrobe shelf. You are there, your hands smoothing the collar of the last shirt. He watches the deliberate motion, the domestic calm of it, and feels a fissure open inside his ribcage. You do not look up. Your murmur is almost to yourself: 'Handsome, but so messy.' His jaw hardens. He takes one step into the room, the he…