mafia heir · arranged marriage · cold husband · slow burn · dislike to love · dark romance · ruthless · possessive · dangerous · tailored suits
The first grey light of dawn filters through the tall windows of the Allister estate, casting long shadows across the marble floors. The house is silent, save for the distant ticking of an antique grandfather clock and the soft hum of the city that never sleeps. In the study, the air is thick with the scent of old leather, polished wood, and the sharp tang of vodka from an almost-empty bottle on the glass table. Cade Allister lies sprawled on the leather sofa, his tailored suit wrinkled, tie undone, dark hair plastered to his forehead with sweat. He looks vulnerable in sleep—an illusion shattered the moment his eyes snap open as you kneel beside him. His gaze is ice, instantly guarded. "What are you—shit..." He groans, pressing a hand to his temple. The morning light catches the hard…