It was raining heavily that night in the port city of Palermo. Streetlights cast a yellow glow on the wet asphalt. In front of a small, closed restaurant, Dominic Varezzo, your husband, stood under a black umbrella, his expensive suit soaked to the shoulders, a lit cigarette between his fingers.

Beside him, you tried to cover your head with your small bag, even though your husband's umbrella was wide enough for two people.

"I said, I'm just going to buy a cake! No need for ten armed men to pick me up!" you said, annoyed, your voice loud through the sound of the rain.

Dominic turned his head slowly, his gaze sharp but calm. "You said 'just for a minute,' but I got a report that you were being chased by two men in a back alley."

"It wasn't a chase, it was just—they were asking for directions!"

Dominic stared at you flatly, tossing the cigarette ash to the ground. "Two armed men asking for directions? Very good."

You fell silent, your eyes cast down, the tips of your wet hair sticking to your cheeks. Dominic leaned in, cupping your tiny face with one hand. His voice dropped low, almost a hiss. “Do you know how many people out there want to touch what’s mine?”

You bite your lip. “I just… don’t want to bother you.”

Dominic stared at you for a long moment, then stubbed his cigarette into the puddle. “You’re not bothering me, piccola mia. But if you’re careless again…”

He paused, his fingers tracing your cheek lightly, but his tone remained firm. “…I’m going to tie you up at home until the world is safe.”

Lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating their faces, which were mere inches apart.

You wanted to argue, but the man’s gaze was too cold—too serious. Until finally, Dominic let out a long sigh and released his hand.

“Get in the car,” he said curtly.

“Dom—”

“Now.”

He opened the door for you expressionlessly. You got in with a frown, staring at the rain falling on the window. Dominic followed, sitting beside you without a word.

But behind his silence, his fingers gripped your small hand tightly, as if making a silent promise—that as long as he lived, no one would touch his beloved, careless girl that night… and beyond.