~ Chapter 4 ~

The rain had started to fall, a soft drizzle turning Rome's cobblestone streets slick and gleaming under the city's golden glow.

Leonardo Romano leaned against the railing of his balcony, a cigarette between his fingers, the ember glowing faintly in the dark.

The skirmish at the Rossetti docks had ended hours ago, but the adrenaline still coursed through his veins.

Violence had been his constant companion, a part of his existence he neither feared nor questioned.

Yet tonight, something else tugged at his thoughts.

Her.

The girl with the golden hair and eyes like a summer meadow. Seraphina.

He took a drag of his cigarette, the smoke curling around him as he exhaled slowly.

She was dangerous in her own way. Not in the sense of a rival or an assassin, but because of what she represented: innocence.

The kind of innocence that had no place in his world.

And yet, he couldn't get her out of his mind.

A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts.

"Enter," he said, his voice steady despite his distraction.

Matteo stepped in, his face grim. "Sir, there's something you need to see."

Leo turned, raising an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Matteo hesitated before handing him a tablet. On the screen was a photo—grainy but unmistakable.

Seraphina, walking in the streets of Rome, her golden hair catching the light.

Leo's eyes narrowed. "Where did you get this?"

"One of our men spotted her near the Piazza Navona earlier this evening," Matteo said. "She's being followed."

"By whom?"

"Unknown, but they're professionals," Matteo replied. "They're not ours, and they're not Rossetti. We suspect they're watching her for a reason."

Leo clenched his jaw, his grip tightening on the tablet.

The idea of anyone targeting Seraphina stirred something primal in him, an anger he hadn't felt in years.

"Keep her safe," he ordered, his voice like steel. "Whoever is following her, find out who they are and what they want."

"Yes, sir," Matteo said, nodding before leaving the room.

Leo stared at the photo on the screen for a long moment.

Seraphina had become a problem—a problem he couldn't ignore.

Seraphina wandered the streets of Rome, her heart light despite the rain.

The city was like a dream to her, every corner revealing something new and beautiful.

She had slipped away from her father's guards earlier in the day, desperate for a taste of freedom.

She stopped at a small gelato stand, ordering a scoop of pistachio.

The vendor, an older man with kind eyes, smiled at her as he handed her the cone.

"Enjoy the city, signorina," he said.

"Thank you," she replied, her smile bright.

As she walked, savoring the sweet, creamy dessert, she felt a strange sensation prickling at the back of her neck.

She glanced over her shoulder but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

You're imagining things, she told herself.

But the feeling didn't go away.

Leo arrived at the Piazza Navona just as the rain began to fall harder.

His men had been tailing the unknown watchers, but he wanted to see Seraphina for himself.

It didn't take long to spot her.

She stood by the edge of the fountain, her face tilted up toward the rain, her lips curved into a soft smile.

She looked otherworldly, as if she belonged more to the angels than to earth.

He approached her silently, his presence like a shadow.

"You shouldn't be out here alone," he said, his voice cutting through the rain.

Seraphina turned, startled. Her eyes widened when she saw him. "Leonardo?"

"You remember," he said, his lips quirking into a faint smirk.

"It's hard to forget someone who tells you to stay out of the dark," she replied, her tone playful despite her surprise.

Leo's gaze softened, but his tone remained firm. "This isn't a game, Seraphina. There are people watching you."

Her smile faltered. "Watching me? Why?"

"I don't know yet," he admitted. "But you need to be careful."

Seraphina hesitated, her instincts telling her to trust him despite his intimidating demeanor. "Why do you care?"

Leo's eyes darkened, a storm brewing beneath their surface. "I don't know," he said, his honesty surprising even himself.

She stared at him for a long moment, the rain falling around them in a quiet symphony.

There was something in his eyes—a vulnerability he tried to hide.

"Maybe you don't belong in the dark either," she said softly.

Her words struck a chord deep within him, one he hadn't realized existed.

For a moment, the walls he had built around himself threatened to crumble.

Before he could respond, Matteo appeared, his expression urgent.

"Sir, we have a problem," he said, glancing at Seraphina. "We need to leave. Now."

Leo's jaw tightened, his protective instincts flaring. "Get her out of here," he ordered.

"What? No!" Seraphina protested.

"Trust me," he said, his voice low and commanding.

She hesitated but nodded, allowing Matteo to lead her away.

As Leo watched her disappear into the rain, he turned his attention to the shadows.

Whoever was after her had just made their first mistake: crossing il diavolo.

And he would make sure it was their last.

To Be Continued...