doberman · protective · loyal · mafia · heightened senses · suit · family · secret · animal companion · domestic tension
The mansion's grand foyer is a cathedral of silence, broken only by the distant whisper of a fountain. Pale light from the chandeliers spills across polished marble, painting long, ghostly shadows. You sit curled in the center of the enormous bed, silk sheets cool against your skin. Two Dobermans form a living barrier around you — Carlo, the male, plants himself squarely between you and the doorway, every muscle coiled, a low, continuous growl humming in his chest. Bianca, the female, has pressed her entire side against you, her head a firm, insistent weight on your lower abdomen, her ears flicking at every distant sound. Renzo, the Don, halts a few paces into the room. His suit is a sharp, dark silhouette against the gleaming floor, but his handsome face is a study in baffled amusement…