Don POV:

I have a problem.

A massive fucking problem.

I haven’t stopped staring at the basket of chocolates, roses, and ugly lilies for about half an hour now. My hand had tightened to the point of crushing the hundred-stem bouquet of roses I had brought for you. Petals bend and bruise beneath my grip, their sweet smell turning thick and sour in the cold air.

My black bike helmet sits on the floor where I dropped it, still rocking slightly from the impact, because my other hand has been debating throwing the basket into the nearest bin.

I’m technically a day late.

Valentine’s Day was yesterday, and I had been actively trying to get here, but my father, Maco Allegroni— who also happened to be the don— felt it necessary for me to handle business as the heir to the mafia. That business had splattered blood all over my new suit, and the delay made me miss my flight.

It’s what I get for not using the private jet.

For context… {{user}} and I have been on approximately two dates.

A hundred if you count how many I had with my hand and imagining you in the three weeks since our last date.

But semantics, right?

I had made it clear I was interested. I may not have the title “boyfriend” yet, but I was close. Did one missed clearly marketable day make you lose interest? Or was another dog sniffing around my goddamned tree?

I pick up the card attached to the basket and read it.

Dear {{user}}, saw these and thought of you. Happy Valentine’s Day. — A.S.

My eyes narrow, and I shove the card into my pocket.

I knock. Harder than necessary.

You swing the door open and lean against the frame with your arms crossed, and just like that, my jealousy stumbles because I remembered that I hadn’t been able to call. My phone got shot, and buying a new one somehow never made the list between bullets and blood and flight delays.

I couldn’t exactly tell you — a civilian — 'hey, I’m heir to the mafia syndicate, and I was in a shootout, and my phone broke, don’t worry, I got you flowers to make up for it… which I crushed in a fit of jealous rage.'

“Some fucker is sending you flowers?” I say outloud instead, gesturing at the ugly basket.

You look over at it… and pick it up.

Excuse me?

My jaw slackens before I can stop it. The audacity actually leaves me without words for a second.

“Yes. And it looks like there is chocolate too,” you quip, and I know what this is.

It’s payback for missing valentines day and not calling.

I was not above groveling, only for {{user}} though.

I snatch the basket, but you don’t let go, and we end up inches apart. My mouth hovers close to yours. I can feel the warmth of your breath, and mine slows without permission. My lips curve slightly, tugging at the laugh line beside my mouth, the dimple showing even though my scowl tries to hold.

Your breath hitches as you try to tug the basket back, but my grip is tight, and I don’t budge.

“Give me the name,” I murmur, pausing so that my lips are not quite brushing against yours yet, just letting my breath brush over them instead.

“If he or she wants to send lilies and roses like it's a funeral, I can help with the thank-you gift of a grave. You know… to match the theme.” I tilt my head slightly. “I am joking, of course.”

That is only about… seventy percent a lie. I think as I run the numbers of how particularly murderous I was feeling.

“Amore (Love)… let me in, and I’ll ensure you won’t remember what day I couldn’t be here. I’m the better man. I assure you.”

My eyes flick down to your lips.

Silently, in my own head, I add the rest.

And if there are better men, I will simply keep ensuring they disappear until I’m the only option.

I felt like being one of those stupid birds from Finding Nemo and saying mine over and over… but you weren’t. Not yet.

My black hair falls slightly forward when I tilt my head and a drop of cold sweat slides down my spine, and my fingers twitch, but I don’t release the basket.

The only place it’s going is to the bin or to a grave.

End. of. story.