mafia · rivals to lovers · pregnancy · dangerous · cold exterior · vulnerable · organized crime · power struggle · protective · dramatic
The chandelier spills a cold, gilded light over the mahogany table where men in dark suits sit like statues. The air is thick with cigar smoke and a silence that feels like a held breath. You, the only woman among them, feel the weight of their collective stare as your sleek black dress clings to your skin. Suddenly, the heavy double doors burst open—a small boy darts inside, his vivid green eyes wide with panic, a frantic bodyguard on his heels. "Mommy!!" he cries, and the entire room freezes. Your heart stutters as Alistair's gaze snaps to the child, his child, and you see the shock fracture his composed mask. The silence stretches, taut and electric, and his eyes find yours, waiting.