Chapter 1

The wedding bells were never meant for her.

Yet there she stood.

Under golden marigold decorations, wearing a red bridal lehenga too heavy for her trembling shoulders, staring at the stranger beside her.

A stranger who looked more dangerous than death itself.

Killian King.

Tall. Sharp jaw. Black suit. Cold gray eyes that held no emotion at all.

The whispers around the hall never stopped.

“That’s him…”

“The Italian mafia…”

“Why is he here?”

“God save the girl…”

Kasia D’Cruz could barely breathe.

One hour ago, she had been peacefully painting near the church courtyard while humming old Bollywood songs.

Now she was married.

Married.

To a man carrying a gun beneath his coat.

Her eyes slowly shifted toward him.

He looked terrifyingly calm while the priest continued the ceremony.

As if forced marriages happened to him every Tuesday.

Kasia swallowed nervously.

This had to be a nightmare.

A horrible, dramatic, unbelievable nightmare.

And somehow…

It all started because of her cousin’s stupidity.

“YOU DID WHAT?!”

Kasia stared at her cousin Mia inside the church dressing room.

Mia looked seconds away from fainting.

“I-I didn’t know the groom was connected to the mafia!”

“You ran away from your wedding!”

“I panicked!”

“And now they think I’m the bride!”

“Well… technically you do look prettier…”

Kasia grabbed a cushion and threw it directly at her cousin’s face.

“This is not a movie, Mia!”

But unfortunately for Kasia…

It absolutely felt like one.

Because outside the room stood dozens of armed Italian men in black suits.

And in the center of them—

Killian King.

The underground ruler of Italy.

The man nobody dared to cross.

People called him Il Diavolo Nero.

The Black Devil.

Cold-blooded.

Violent.

Untouchable.

A businessman in daylight.

A monster in the shadows.

And somehow…

He had silently decided:

“The wedding will continue.”

Kasia wanted to cry.

Now she stood beside him before the sacred fire, hands trembling.

The priest smiled warmly.

“You may hold the bride’s hand.”

Killian finally looked at her properly.

Kasia immediately looked away.

His gaze was intense enough to burn cities.

Slowly, his large hand reached toward hers.

Warm.

Surprisingly gentle.

Not rough.

Not forceful.

Just careful.

As if he already knew she was scared.

Kasia blinked in confusion.

This dangerous mafia man…

Was holding her hand like she was made of glass.

The rituals continued.

Flowers.

Sacred vows.

Seven circles around the fire.

And finally—

The mangalsutra.

Killian stared at the black-beaded necklace in silence for a moment before placing it around her neck carefully.

His fingers accidentally brushed her skin.

Kasia shivered.

Not from fear this time.

Something else.

Something strange.

Something warm.

Then came the sindoor.

The entire hall fell silent.

Killian picked up the vermillion powder.

His cold eyes rested on her trembling face.

For the first time…

His expression softened.

Just slightly.

Enough for her heart to skip.

And then—

He filled her hairline with sindoor.

The marriage was complete.

Kasia D’Cruz became Mrs. Kasia King.

And the most dangerous man in Italy…

Had just gotten married in an Indian church because the wrong bride showed up.

That night, Kasia sat nervously inside the massive hotel suite.

The silence was unbearable.

She kept staring at the fruit bowl because looking anywhere else felt dangerous.

Especially when Killian King himself stood near the balcony, removing his watch calmly.

Without the wedding crowd around him…

He looked even scarier.

His broad shoulders.

Tattooed hands.

Sharp expression.

A man built for violence.

Kasia clutched her dupatta tightly.

“I-I can explain everything…”

Killian looked at her.

One glance.

That was enough to make her soul leave her body.

“I know,” he said calmly.

She blinked.

“You… know?”

“You were not the original bride.”

“Oh.”

Pause.

Another pause.

“Then why did you still marry me?!”

Killian stared at her quietly before answering something completely unexpected.

“Because you looked at me without greed.”

Kasia froze.

His voice remained calm.

“Everyone looks at me with fear. Or money in their eyes.”

“But you looked angry.”

“…I was furious.”

A tiny smirk appeared on his lips.

Tiny.

But devastatingly handsome.

Kasia immediately looked away.

Oh no.

Why was the mafia husband attractive?

This was bad.

Very bad.

Three weeks later—

Italy.

Kasia stood outside Killian’s enormous mansion with wide eyes.

Or rather…

Fortress.

There were guards everywhere.

Men carrying rifles.

Black luxury cars.

Security cameras.

Even the gardeners looked dangerous.

Kasia slowly turned toward her husband.

“…Do your flowers also carry guns?”

One of the guards accidentally coughed trying not to laugh.

Killian looked at her blankly.

Then—

“They only attack on Sundays.”

Kasia stared at him.

“…That was a joke.”

“Yes.”

“You’re horrible at joking.”

“But you smiled.”

She immediately stopped smiling.

Killian’s eyes softened slightly.

He loved when she smiled.

More than he should.

More than a dangerous man like him deserved.

That night, thunder echoed across the mansion.

Kasia quietly walked downstairs searching for water.

But the moment she saw armed guards changing shifts in the hallway—

She panicked.

Her breathing became uneven.

Too many guns.

Too many unfamiliar faces.

Too much fear.

Suddenly—

A warm hand gently held her wrist.

Kasia gasped softly.

Killian stood behind her.

Still awake.

Still wearing his black shirt with sleeves rolled up.

His expression immediately changed seeing her frightened face.

Without saying anything, he guided her closer carefully.

“You’re safe with me.”

His deep voice was calm.

Steady.

Protective.

Kasia looked up at him slowly.

“Promise?”

Killian rested his forehead lightly against hers.

A dangerous mafia king lowering himself only for her.

“I would burn this entire world before letting anyone hurt you.”

And for the first time since arriving in Italy…

Kasia stopped feeling afraid.

Because somehow—

The most dangerous man alive…

Loved her gently.

...****************...

Chapter 2

Living with Killian King was confusing.

Terrifying.

And deeply unfair for Kasia’s poor heart.

Because how was she supposed to survive when her mafia husband looked like that every morning?

Kasia stood frozen near the dining table, holding a glass of orange juice while staring at Killian across the room.

Black shirt.

Rolled-up sleeves.

Messy dark hair.

Tattooed fingers adjusting his expensive watch.

And that dangerous face looking like he walked straight out of an Italian crime movie.

Meanwhile—

He was calmly feeding strawberries to her pet rabbit.

Kasia blinked.

The giant underground mafia king looked down at the fluffy white rabbit sitting in his lap.

“Eat properly.”

The rabbit ignored him.

Killian narrowed his eyes.

“I own half of Italy.”

The rabbit continued chewing lettuce.

Kasia accidentally laughed.

A real laugh.

Soft and musical.

Killian immediately looked toward her.

And just like that—

The coldest man in Italy forgot the entire business call happening in his earpiece.

Every guard around the room noticed it.

Their boss.

The feared Devil King.

Staring at his wife like she personally invented happiness.

Kasia quickly stopped laughing and looked away awkwardly.

“Sorry…”

Killian leaned back in his chair.

“Do it again.”

“What?”

“Laugh.”

Her cheeks turned pink instantly.

“You’re weird.”

“And you’re cute.”

The spoon slipped from her hand.

One of the guards silently walked out of the dining room because he physically could not watch this anymore.

Italy was beautiful.

Kasia discovered that slowly.

The mornings smelled like coffee and rain.

The evenings glowed golden beside the sea.

And Killian—

Despite being terrifying—

Never forced her into his world.

He let her paint.

Dance.

Sing around the mansion.

Even when the guards looked confused watching their boss’s wife spinning barefoot through the hallway while old Bollywood music played loudly.

One afternoon, Kasia sat in the garden painting sunflowers peacefully.

She dipped her brush into yellow paint carefully.

“You missed a spot.”

She jumped.

“Jesus Christ!”

Killian stood behind her holding two coffees.

“How do you walk so silently?!”

“I kill people for a living.”

Kasia stared at him.

Killian calmly handed her coffee.

“…That is not comforting.”

He sat beside her anyway.

For several quiet minutes, he simply watched her paint.

Not judging.

Not interrupting.

Just watching her with soft eyes that nobody else in the world ever saw.

Kasia finally looked at him carefully.

“You really like watching me paint.”

“I really like watching you breathe.”

Her entire soul left her body.

“What kind of line was that?!”

“The truth.”

“That was illegal.”

Killian’s lips twitched slightly.

Kasia pointed at him dramatically.

“There! You smiled again!”

“You notice?”

“Because it’s rare! Like solar eclipse rare!”

Killian looked at her for a long moment.

Then quietly—

“You make me want to smile.”

Kasia immediately grabbed her paint palette and hid her burning face behind it.

This man was dangerous.

Not because of guns.

Not because of mafia power.

But because every sweet thing he said reached directly into her chest.

And he didn’t even realize it.

Unfortunately…

Peace never lasted long around Killian King.

That evening, the mansion atmosphere suddenly changed.

Guards rushed through the hallways.

Phones rang nonstop.

The air turned tense.

Kasia slowly came downstairs wearing her soft pink pajamas.

“What happened?”

Nobody answered.

Which made her panic more.

Then she saw Killian entering the hall.

His face looked colder than usual.

Deadly calm.

The kind of calm that frightened people more than anger.

Blood stained his knuckles.

Kasia froze.

“…Killian?”

Every guard instantly lowered their heads respectfully.

Killian looked at her.

And immediately—

His expression softened.

Like darkness itself stepped back for her.

He walked toward her slowly.

“You should be sleeping.”

Kasia ignored that completely.

“You’re bleeding!”

“It’s not mine.”

THAT DID NOT HELP.

She dragged him toward the sofa before anyone could stop her.

The guards watched silently in horror.

Nobody.

Absolutely nobody—

Dragged Killian King anywhere.

Yet here he was.

Following his tiny wife obediently.

Kasia disappeared for a moment before returning with a first-aid box.

Killian sighed quietly.

“It’s unnecessary.”

“Be quiet.”

The entire room went silent.

One guard looked ready to pray for her soul.

But Killian simply sat there while Kasia cleaned the cuts on his hand carefully.

Her fingers were gentle.

Warm.

Soft enough to calm the storm inside him.

“You need to stop getting hurt,” she whispered.

Killian watched her quietly.

For years, blood never bothered him.

Pain never mattered.

Violence was normal.

But now—

One worried look from her made him hate every wound on his body.

Kasia suddenly noticed the guards staring.

“…Why is everyone looking at me like I committed a crime?”

One old bodyguard answered carefully.

“Because, Madam… nobody tells Boss to ‘be quiet.’”

Kasia slowly looked toward Killian.

“…Should I run?”

Killian pulled her lightly closer by the wrist.

“No.”

His gray eyes locked onto hers.

“You stay with me.”

Her heart betrayed her again.

Stupid heart.

Later that night—

Kasia couldn’t sleep.

Rain tapped softly against the giant bedroom windows while distant thunder echoed outside.

She turned slightly on the bed.

Killian wasn’t beside her.

Instantly worried, she got up quietly.

After walking downstairs—

She found him alone in his office.

Dark room.

Dim lamp.

Gun on the table.

Files spread everywhere.

And Killian sitting silently with exhaustion in his eyes.

For the first time—

He didn’t look dangerous.

He looked tired.

Lonely.

Kasia’s chest tightened.

She slowly walked inside.

Killian looked up immediately.

“What are you doing awake?”

“I should ask you the same thing.”

He leaned back tiredly.

“Work.”

Kasia walked closer carefully before placing a warm mug of coffee near him.

Then—

Without thinking too much—

She gently touched his hair.

Killian froze.

Completely froze.

Kasia smiled softly.

“You look stressed.”

No one touched Killian King casually.

Ever.

Men feared him.

Enemies hunted him.

The world treated him like a weapon.

But this girl—

This sweet Indian artist—

Touched him like he was human.

Killian slowly held her wrist.

Not to stop her.

Just to keep her there longer.

His voice became quieter.

“You’re not scared of me anymore.”

Kasia looked at him honestly.

“A little.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“A little?”

“You still look like you could murder someone with a spoon.”

“…Fair.”

She laughed softly again.

And God—

Killian would have destroyed kingdoms just to keep hearing that sound.

Kasia gently squeezed his hand.

“You should sleep.”

Killian stared at her for several silent seconds before pulling her carefully into his lap.

Kasia gasped.

“K-Killian!”

“You smell like paint and vanilla.”

“That is not an answer.”

He buried his face lightly near her neck.

For the first time in years—

The Devil of Italy sounded peaceful.

“Stay.”

And she did.

...****************...

Chapter 3

Kasia had officially decided something very important.

Living with Killian King was impossible.

Not because he was dangerous.

Not because he was a mafia boss.

But because the man kept doing romantic things accidentally.

And then acted completely normal afterward.

Which was criminal behavior.

---

“Kasia.”

“Hm?”

“You’re staring again.”

Kasia immediately choked on her coffee.

“I was not!”

Killian sat across from her at the breakfast table wearing a black shirt freshly unbuttoned near the collar.

Which honestly felt illegal for public viewing.

His gray eyes stayed on her calmly.

“You were.”

“I was looking at the toast.”

“The toast is beside me.”

“…Maybe I like toast emotionally.”

One of the guards quietly turned away to hide his laughter.

Killian leaned back slightly.

“You think I’m handsome.”

Kasia gasped dramatically.

“The audacity!”

“So that’s a yes.”

She pointed at him accusingly.

“Who taught you confidence?!”

“You.”

Kasia froze.

Killian took a slow sip of coffee while watching her struggle to breathe normally.

This man enjoyed bullying her.

Emotionally.

---

Later that afternoon, Kasia explored one of the mansion’s giant hallways while humming softly.

The place still amazed her.

Expensive paintings.

Crystal chandeliers.

Golden walls.

And enough security guards to protect an entire country.

Suddenly—

A beautiful woman entered through the main doors.

Tall.

Elegant.

Wearing a fitted red dress and dangerous high heels.

She walked confidently toward Killian’s office while the guards immediately stepped aside respectfully.

Kasia blinked.

“…Who is that?”

One maid answered nervously.

“Miss Bianca.”

“Bianca?”

“She works closely with Boss.”

Kasia stared toward the office doors.

The woman walked inside without knocking.

WITHOUT KNOCKING.

Kasia felt something strange twist inside her chest.

Annoyance.

Tiny annoyance.

Very tiny.

Absolutely microscopic.

She crossed her arms.

“…Oh.”

---

Inside the office—

Killian looked up from his paperwork.

“Why are you here?”

Bianca smiled casually.

“You missed yesterday’s meeting.”

“I was busy.”

“With your wife?”

“Yes.”

Bianca nearly rolled her eyes.

The feared mafia king who once ignored emotions completely now canceled business meetings because his wife wanted homemade pancakes.

Unbelievable.

Bianca placed documents on the table.

“There’s another issue in Naples.”

Killian nodded once.

But before the conversation continued—

The office door suddenly opened dramatically.

Kasia entered carrying a tray of coffee.

Very aggressively.

Killian immediately softened seeing her.

“You brought coffee.”

“Yes.”

Her eyes slowly moved toward Bianca.

Bianca smiled politely.

Kasia smiled politely back.

The air instantly became dangerous for absolutely no reason.

Killian noticed immediately.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Kasia placed the coffee tray down.

“Am I interrupting?”

Bianca answered smoothly.

“No.”

“Yes,” Killian said at the same time.

Both women looked at him.

Killian calmly closed the file in front of him.

“We’re done.”

Bianca stared at him in disbelief.

“We are?”

“Yes.”

Kasia tried very hard not to smile.

Very hard.

Bianca finally left the office with a suspicious expression.

The moment the door closed—

Killian looked toward his wife.

“You were jealous.”

Kasia nearly dropped the coffee pot.

“I WAS NOT!”

“You walked in here like an angry kitten.”

“She was very pretty.”

Killian blinked once.

“…That bothered you.”

“No!”

“Yes.”

Kasia covered her face dramatically.

“This is so embarrassing.”

And then—

Killian laughed.

Actually laughed.

Deep.

Warm.

Real.

Kasia stared at him in shock.

Because his laugh was unfairly beautiful.

The mighty Devil of Italy looked almost human while smiling like that.

Killian stood from his chair slowly before walking toward her.

“You’re cute when jealous.”

“I’m going home.”

“You are home.”

Her heart instantly melted again.

Absolutely useless heart.

---

That evening, Kasia sat on the bedroom floor painting quietly.

Rain tapped softly outside while Italian music played from her phone.

She dipped her brush into blue paint carefully.

Killian entered the room silently.

His eyes immediately softened.

She looked peaceful.

Wearing oversized pajamas.

Hair loosely tied.

Tiny paint stains on her fingers.

His wife.

His safe place.

Kasia looked up suddenly.

“Oh! Don’t step there—”

Too late.

Killian looked down.

Wet paint covered his expensive black shoe.

Silence.

Complete silence.

Kasia slowly stood up.

“…I can explain.”

Killian stared at the ruined shoe.

One of the guards outside the room prepared mentally for World War III.

But Killian simply looked at her calmly.

Then—

“What color is this?”

Kasia blinked.

“…Blue?”

“Hm.”

“That’s all you have to say?!”

“It matches your eyes.”

She froze completely.

This man flirted like he carried poetry in his pockets.

Kasia turned around quickly to hide her burning cheeks.

“I don’t like you.”

“Liar.”

“Shut up.”

Killian walked closer slowly.

“So aggressive.”

“You started it!”

“You walked into my office jealous.”

“I WAS DELIVERING COFFEE!”

“With violence.”

Kasia grabbed a pillow and threw it directly at him.

Unfortunately—

Killian caught it easily.

Because apparently mafia bosses could do everything.

“You’re annoying,” she muttered.

“But you smile around me the most.”

That soft statement immediately silenced her.

Killian stepped closer again.

Too close.

Close enough for her heartbeat to betray her completely.

His voice lowered gently.

“You know what scares me?”

Kasia looked up slowly.

“What?”

“One day…”

“You’ll realize you deserve someone softer than me.”

Her expression changed instantly.

Killian rarely sounded uncertain.

But now—

The powerful mafia king looked almost vulnerable.

Kasia placed her paintbrush down carefully.

Then softly—

“I think soft people are overrated.”

Killian stared at her.

Kasia smiled shyly.

“And anyway… I like you.”

Silence.

The entire world felt silent.

Killian looked at her like she had just handed him the universe itself.

“You like me?”

Kasia immediately panicked realizing what she said.

“I MEAN—”

Too late.

Killian suddenly pulled her gently against him.

Kasia squeaked.

“K-Killian!”

He buried his face near her hair, holding her carefully like she was precious.

His voice sounded rougher now.

“Say it again.”

“No!”

“Please.”

The mighty mafia king.

Begging.

For affection.

Kasia laughed softly against his chest.

And God—

Killian decided right there—

He would spend the rest of his life protecting this girl and her beautiful laughter.

Even if the whole world burned for it.

...****************...