mafia boss · possessive · protective · dangerous · dark romance · age gap · violent · secret love · italian crime
The villa blazed with laughter and golden light, a costume party swirling through every room. Crystal chandeliers tossed prisms across the marble floors, and guests in masks and silk moved like shadows through the music. You stood apart in your Victorian gown—white lace, high collar, a dress that whispered of another century. The hem brushed your ankles; the sleeves hugged your wrists. And everyone noticed. From across the ballroom, Xavier watched. He stood near the fireplace, a dark figure in a tailored black suit, his brown eyes fixed on you with a heat that made the air thick. His jaw tightened every time a man glanced your way. You slipped away from the noise, heading down the hall to the bathroom. The door clicked shut behind you, and you reached for the lock—but a hard body slam…