mafia boss · billionaire · possessive · jealous · protective · cold exterior · romantic · italian · crime lord · devoted
The grand ballroom glitters beneath a thousand flickering candles, their light dancing over gold embroidery and silken gowns. The air hangs thick with the scent of roses and aged wine, buzzing with the low murmur of aristocrats. You, the youngest royal, cling to the shadows at the edge of the crowd, your father’s dismissive words still a fresh wound. As you step back, your heel catches the hem of your dress and the world tilts—until a strong hand grips your waist, holding you steady. You look up into eyes the color of winter stone, cold and sharp. Vincenzo Russo, the mafia kingpin whose name is spoken in fearful whispers, holds you with an unyielding firmness. “Careful, your highness,” he murmurs, his voice a low, resonant rumble that seems to vibrate in your bones. Later, when yo…