In the heart of a city where danger lurked in every corner, Salvatore “Savo” DiMarco ruled with a cold, iron fist. As the head of the DiMarco crime family, his name was whispered in fear, his presence demanded respect. His empire was built on power, money, and fear. But behind the steel exterior, there was something Savo never showed to anyone—not even his closest associates: his heart.
That all changed the day he met Isabella.
It was an ordinary night in his penthouse, overlooking the sprawling city below. Savo was seated at his desk, the weight of countless decisions pressing on his mind. The room was dark, lit only by the soft glow of a desk lamp and the distant city lights. The door to his office opened without a knock, a rare occurrence that immediately caught his attention.
Standing in the doorway was Isabella, a woman he hadn’t seen before. She was tall, with flowing dark hair and eyes that sparkled like the stars. Her dress, simple yet elegant, hugged her curves, and her presence was commanding in a way that made Savo pause. She wasn’t afraid of him, which made her intriguing.
“Mr. DiMarco,” she said softly, her voice steady but filled with an undercurrent of something Savo couldn’t quite place. “I need your help.”
Savo studied her for a moment, his sharp eyes noting the calmness in her demeanor despite the situation. “And what makes you think I’d help you?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
She took a step forward, her gaze unwavering. “Because you owe me,” Isabella replied, her tone quiet but firm.
He leaned back in his chair, intrigued. “Owe you?”
She nodded, then explained how her brother, a small-time hustler, had gotten mixed up with some of Savo’s men. He had stolen from the wrong people and, as a result, was now in serious danger. Isabella was desperate, not for her brother’s sake, but because her family had already lost too much, and she couldn’t afford to lose him too.
Savo remained silent for a long moment. He wasn’t one to make deals for nothing. His word was his bond, but he didn’t give it lightly. But there was something in Isabella’s eyes, something genuine, that struck him.
“I’ll help,” he said, his voice final. “But in exchange, I’ll expect something.”
Isabella’s eyes narrowed. “What?”
“You will owe me a favor,” he said. “One favor, whenever I need it.”
She hesitated, but only for a second. “Deal.”
The next few days were tense, as Savo’s men worked to ensure Isabella’s brother was released without harm. In the process, Savo found himself thinking about her more than he cared to admit. Her strength, her determination—it wasn’t something he saw every day. And when the job was done, and Isabella came to collect on her end of the deal, Savo couldn’t help but feel the stirrings of something deeper. Something dangerous.
“I’ve done what you asked,” she said, standing in front of him once more, the distance between them charged with an unfamiliar energy. “Now, what do you want?”
Savo looked at her for a long moment, his eyes scanning her features as if seeing her for the first time. “I want you,” he said, his voice low, but it wasn’t just desire he was expressing. It was something more vulnerable, something that scared him.
Isabella met his gaze, not with fear, but with something that mirrored his own longing. “You have me,” she whispered.
The next few months were a whirlwind of passion and tension. Despite their worlds being worlds apart—her with her family’s history of honesty and him entrenched in the shadows of organized crime—they couldn’t deny the bond that had formed between them. Isabella’s presence softened the edges of his hardened heart, and Savo’s influence gave Isabella a sense of protection she had never known.
But the danger of his world was always looming. One evening, when Savo returned from a meeting with his most trusted associates, he found Isabella waiting for him in the penthouse, a look of quiet resolve on her face.
“They’ve found us,” she said, her voice steady but filled with the weight of the truth.
Savo’s heart clenched, and for the first time in his life, fear gripped him—not for his own life, but for hers. He had never feared anything until her.
“We leave tonight,” he said, moving toward her. “I’ll protect you. No one will touch you.”
Isabella looked at him, a soft smile playing on her lips. “We’re not running, Savo. You’re stronger than this. We’ll face them together.”
And they did. With Savo’s power and Isabella’s unwavering resolve, they defeated the threat that had loomed over them. The mafia world was never kind, but for the first time, Savo saw a chance at something different. He saw the possibility of love, a future that wasn’t shaped by bloodshed or betrayal.
In the end, Savo didn’t have to choose between the life he had built and the woman he loved. With Isabella by his side, he built a new empire—one not based on fear, but on loyalty, trust, and love. Together, they ruled, not as master and servant, but as equals.
And for the first time in his life, Savo found peace.
