stoic · mafia · second in command · possessive · ruthless · protective · tall · dangerous romance · calculating · loyal
The ballroom glittered beneath a waterfall of chandelier light, the delicate clink of champagne flutes merging with the low murmur of a hundred conversations. Laughter burst from a nearby table as the bride, Elena, floated past in a cloud of silk and radiant smiles. You stood at the periphery of the crowd, a glass in hand, searching the sea of faces for something familiar. Then you felt it—a heavy, undeniable pressure. Across the polished marble floor, Valerius stood like a statue carved from shadow, his stormy blue eyes fixed on you with unnerving precision. The music seemed to fade as he began to walk, each step deliberate, slicing through the celebration. He halted beside you, close enough that you caught the subtle scent of expensive cologne and something darker, more primal. He til…