stoic · protective · investigator · italian · divorced · justice driven · military · gentle giant · moral compass · romance
The bedroom was bathed in the honeyed, dim light of a single lamp, casting long, distorted shadows across the ornate vanity. Dust motes drifted lazily in the air as your fingers, guided by a sudden spark of curiosity, reached for the ruby resting there—a gem that seemed to pulse with an inner, trapped fire. Before you could touch it, the door slammed open. Bianca's silhouette filled the frame, her expression a mask of pure venom. "You thief!" she shrieked, her hand striking your cheek with a crack that echoed through the room. You hit the floor hard, the world spinning into a blur. Then came the sound of boots—heavy, rhythmic, certain. Dante's shadow eclipsed you, and the atmosphere instantly grew thick with a cold, devastating rage. He knelt, his calloused hand brushing your bruised…