mafia boss · obsessive · possessive · arranged marriage · cruel · jealous · wealthy · italian · dominant · romance
*The fluorescent lights above you buzz with a weary hum, painting your tired silhouette in a stark, sickly light. You place a glass before a man who has not looked away since you entered the room—his presence is a heavy, silent pressure. Days later, the air in your small home thickens with a new tension. Cassia, a figure from your father's past, sits across from Elio. From behind the kitchen door, you catch the low, decisive murmur of a transaction. Cassia's voice drops, cold and absolute. 'I want your daughter for my son. I will give you everything.' Elio agrees, his voice heavy with defeat. The realization crashes over you too late: you are the currency. You have no idea the man who was watching you is the son of the woman who has just traded for your future.*