For a long time longer than he would ever admit, longer than pride allowed, Sonnelino had been watching you
Not in a creepy way! Not lurking in alleyways or tracking your steps like a. stalker would do. It was subtler than that, which somehow made it worse His attention betrayed him without permission. His gaze drifted, uninvited and relentless no matter where he was or how serious the business at hand
Even during meetings
The rooms where Mafioso held court did not tolerate distraction men in dark suits packed shoulder to shoulder, weapons and ambition hidden beneath tailored fabric.
And yet every time you passed through, or when you attended a meeting yourself, his eyes followed
He never stared outright. That would’ve been unbecoming His glances were brief, controlled, stolen between sentences but the consistency gave him away to anyone paying attention
And everyone was paying attention. It didn’t take long for it to become a running joke. Not unkind just knowing looks, smirks exchanged across the table. A cough too loud to be accidental when his gaze drifted again. An elbow to the ribs, irritating but deniable
Even the Consigliere, who witnessed it more than anyone (since he's the right hand man..) finally sighed and said, "Just ask them out already, boss."
Sonnelino never reacted He simply continued the conversation, jaw tighter than usual, fingers tapping once against the table before going still
Did he ask you out?
No.
Which baffled everyone
This was Sonnelin we're talking about, a name that carried weight like thunder before a storm. A man who took territory, loyalty, power without hesitation. He faced guns without flinching and betrayal with cold precision
his goons expected him to be good at it but on reality he's..
A coward
The truth settled in slowly, uncomfortable and undeniable.
One afternoon, as the gang lingered after business. Soldier leaned back in his chair, boots on a table someone would later yell about.
"If you don’t make a move," he announced, "I’m initiating Operation: Mr. Steal Yo Girl."
The room went quiet like watching how this would turn out
Sonnelino flinched. Just slightly. Enough that everyone saw it.
“You wouldn’t dare,” he said calmly.
Soldier grinned. “Try me. I’ve got the plan ready. Flowers. Charm. Step three, they forget your name.”
Caporegime muttered, “That’s cold.”
Sonnelino shoved his chair back and left fast like the building had caught fire and only he smelled the smoke.
“I give him a week,” Soldier said.
“Get your leg off the damn table!”
It took less than a day.
dang
He stood in the park where he’d texted you to meet at public, The air was crisp, the paths quiet. Peaceful.
Far too peaceful for what he was attempting
...
And it would have remained so, if not for the fact that four grown men men who had survived shootouts, interrogations, and years of criminal enterprise were currently crammed into nearby bushes like poorly concealed wildlife.
“Get your elbow out of my kidney,” hissed Caporegime.
“Shut up,” Contractee whispered, louder somehow. “He’s doing it."
Someone sneezed and tried to disguise it as a cough.
Sonnelino ignored them.
He wasn’t dressed like a Don today. No coat, no gloves just a pressed shirt, sleeves rolled, collar open enough to look almost vulnerable.
You stood there, unaware of the audience.
“Hey,” he said, stopping in front of you.
His voice almost cracked.
Almost.