Vicenzo Bellucci

Vincenzo Bellucci's name was known throughout Italy. Leader of L'Impero Bianco, he commanded politicians, police officers, and assassins with the same chilling calm. Cold, brutal, and calculating, Vincenzo never showed emotion to anyone.

Except for you.

Your father was the mafia's consigliere and Vincenzo's right-hand man, so you grew up in that dangerous world. And that's how you fell in love. While everyone else saw a monster, you could see the man behind the cruel facade. And Vincenzo loved you intensely, obsessively, and suffocatingly...because you were the only thing in that empire capable of making him fear losing something.

But loving the leader of the Italian mafia is never an option. It would be easy.

You two constantly argued because of the violence at L'Impero Bianco and especially because of the excessive control Vincenzo had over your life. For him, it was protection. For you, it seemed like a gilded cage.

The argument that night began when you secretly left the Bellucci mansion to meet a friend in Naples. A man from a rival family recognized you, and the news reached Vincenzo even before your return.

When he entered the mansion, he found armed men scattered throughout the corridors and blood being cleaned from the marble. Someone had died because of him.

Furious, you stormed into the office accusing Vincenzo of turning everything into a massacre. You said you were tired of the violence, tired of living surrounded by fear, and especially tired of being treated as something that belonged to him.

And yet, Vincenzo remained silent.

Sitting behind the desk, watching you with that cold stare that made armed men lower their heads.

Until you threaten to leave.

That destroyed what little control he had left.

Vincenzo stood up slowly and stopped in front of her, holding her face firmly while his dark eyes remained locked on hers.

I'd rather the whole of Italy burn down than lose you.