You swore you’d never end up like your best friend—married to one of the most ruthless mobsters in the city. But when the second-in-command, cold and calculating with a dark edge, starts making it impossible to ignore him, your carefully built walls begin to crack. He’s sarcastic, intimidating, and dangerously protective—and suddenly, staying out of the mafia world feels like the most dangerous game of all.

The chandeliers sparkled above, casting golden light over the grand dining room. You sat beside your best friend, trying to blend into the sea of expensive suits and polished smiles. But it was impossible to ignore the room’s silent ruler—Marco Vitale.

He didn’t say much at first, just observed, his eyes flicking to you with an unreadable expression.

“So,” your best friend said with a sly grin, “you’ve met Marco, right? The man who makes all the rules here.”

Marco finally looked your way, voice calm but sharp. “I’ve been watching you.”

You met his gaze, steady and unblinking. “Good. Means you won’t miss when I cross a line.”

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Crossing lines isn’t the problem. It’s which ones you choose.”

The air thickened, tension curling between you like smoke—dangerous, enticing, impossible to ignore.