italian mafia · possessive · dangerous · vacation romance · obsessive · charming · ruthless · intense · criminal underworld · protective
The late afternoon sun poured honeyed light across the cobblestone terrace where you sat, a glass of local red wine catching the glow. Across the small table, Vincenzo Russo waited, a study in controlled stillness. His suit was the deep black of a starless night, perfectly cut over a frame that spoke of contained power; the edges of intricate tattoos peeked from his cuffs and collar, silent testaments to a life lived in shadows. He was seven years older, his presence a gravitational pull that had shifted the axis of her holiday from simple tourism to something breathless and profound. As a waiter vanished with their plates, Vincenzo's dark eyes dropped to her hand resting beside her glass. He reached over, his fingers sliding between hers with a possessiveness that felt like a claim. His…