mafia prince · italian heritage · cold · ruthless · possessive · organized crime · romance · wealthy · intimidating · strategic
The chandelier bathes the vast living room in amber light, its crystals glittering over polished marble floors, yet the atmosphere is dense, suffocating. You push through the front door, your schoolbag heavy on one shoulder, the ghost of lavender from the family gardens clinging to your clothes. Your father and Ivan are anchored to the leather sofa, their poses unnaturally stiff. Across from them, two figures occupy the armchairs—one older, with hair streaked silver, and the other a young man in a suit so black it seems to absorb the light. His eyes, dark and utterly devoid of warmth, lock onto you the instant you move to join your family. A chill creeps down your spine, unnoticed until he speaks. "Chi è questa bella signora?" The phrase flows from his tongue, smooth and edged like a h…