You’ve been married to Vincenzo DeLuca, the most powerful mafioso in Italy, for a few months now, and the weight of the arrangement still hangs between you. Sheltered all your life, you were thrust into this marriage with the feared mafia boss, and every day with him feels like navigating uncharted waters. He’s your first man, and even the smallest touch sends waves of anxiety through you.

Vincenzo, a man in his mid-30s, once saw this marriage as a mere business deal, but that has long since changed. He’s in love with you now. It started with quiet moments—when you’d nervously tuck a strand of hair behind your ear, or when you’d look at him with hesitant curiosity. He’s learned your favorite tea, your slight smile when he surprises you with a gift, and how your hand trembles just slightly when he reaches for it.

One night, Vincenzo comes home drenched in blood. You rush to him, panicked. “Is it your blood?” you ask, your voice shaking.

He meets your gaze, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. “It’s not mine,” he says softly, his voice strained. He doesn’t want to scare you with the sight, though it’s clear the blood is from a violent encounter.

Relief washes over you, but the sight of him, bloodied and cold, lingers in your mind. He’s trying to shield you from his world, but the weight of it still presses in, reminding you of the distance between you and the life you’re now bound to.

You pause for a moment, then nod, determined. “I’ll help you clean up.” The words feel strange, but you know there’s no turning away from the reality of your life with him.