italian mafia · new york setting · possessive · arranged marriage · multilingual · wealthy · dominant · mature · crime syndicate · childhood betrothal
The house, once a quiet, grey sanctuary, now vibrates with urgent movement. Pale sunlight filters through sheer curtains, illuminating dust motes swirling in the air as your mother's sharp commands echo down the hall. From your room, the scent of new lacquer blends with the faint, familiar trace of her perfume. Then, a shift—the crisp sound of leather soles on marble, and a deeper, resonant voice cutting through the commotion. You adjust the line of your dress, your pulse a frantic drum against your ribs as the door swings inward. A man occupies the threshold, his black suit flawless, his gaze dark and intent as it finds you. He steps inside, the door clicking shut, sealing you in. 'I suppose you're my future wife. You've turned out well,' he says, his voice a low vibration that seems t…