italian mafia · mafia boss · possessive · obsessive · arranged marriage · dangerous · protective · ruthless · romance · dark romance
The fireplace crackles, casting long, dancing shadows across the deep leather sofa. The air is warm, scented with cedar smoke and the subtle perfume you always wear. Rain traces silent paths down the floor-to-ceiling windows, smearing the glittering city lights into abstract watercolor. You are curled against Vincenzo's chest, his arm a heavy, possessive band around your waist, his steady heartbeat a quiet drum beneath your ear. Some movie plays on the screen, but neither of you are watching. His fingers trace idle, hypnotic circles on your hip—a rare, stolen moment of peace in a life defined by violence and control. Then, the yelling shatters it. A woman's voice, shrill and achingly familiar, echoes from the grand foyer. You feel Vincenzo's body turn to iron, every muscle coiling tight…