~ Chapter 3 ~

The night air was crisp, carrying with it the scent of rain that threatened to fall over Rome.

Leonardo stood at the edge of the Rossetti docks, his sharp gaze sweeping over the scene.

The moon hung low, casting silver streaks over the water, but the serene beauty was lost on him.

In the distance, the Rossetti men were unloading crates—likely weapons smuggled from Eastern Europe.

They thought they owned this dock, this city. But they had underestimated him.

Leo adjusted the cufflinks on his sleeves, his movements slow and deliberate.

Behind him, Matteo and the rest of his men waited in tense silence, armed and ready.

"They have no idea what's coming," Matteo said, a hint of dark amusement in his voice.

"Good," Leo replied coldly. "They'll learn soon enough."

With a curt nod, he gave the signal. His men moved swiftly, their footsteps silent against the wooden planks.

The Rossetti guards were taken out in seconds—no screams, no alarms.

Leo approached the dock, his presence commanding.

The remaining Rossetti men froze, their eyes widening in recognition.

"It's il diavolo," one of them whispered, his voice trembling.

Leo smirked, a predator toying with its prey. "Did you think you could encroach on my territory without consequence?" he asked, his voice low but lethal.

Before they could respond, chaos erupted. His men surged forward, guns drawn, and the sound of gunfire shattered the night.

Across the City...

Seraphina stood on the balcony of her temporary residence in Rome.

Her father had brought her here under the guise of business, but she knew better.

He was hiding something, as he often did.

The city stretched out before her, vibrant and alive.

She felt a pang of longing as she watched the streets below.

The world was so vast, so full of life, yet she had always been kept on the edges, a mere observer.

A shadow of movement caught her eye, and she looked down to see a figure darting through the alley below.

It was a man, his coat billowing behind him as he moved with purpose.

Something about him seemed familiar, but she couldn't place why.

"Miss Seraphina?"

She turned to see Hana standing behind her.

"Your father wishes to speak with you," Hana said, her tone cautious.

Seraphina sighed. "Of course he does."

She followed Hana to the grand study where her father waited.

Eogeum Joon-soo was a formidable man, his presence as commanding as the empire he ruled.

"You wanted to see me, Father?" she asked, keeping her voice calm.

Joon-soo looked up from his papers, his expression unreadable. "You were out last night," he said, his tone sharp.

"I was careful," she replied, trying to placate him.

"Careful is not enough," he snapped. "You don't understand the dangers of this world, Seraphina.

You think it's all beauty and wonder, but it's not. It's filled with men who would use you, destroy you."

She frowned. "Is that why you keep me locked away? To protect me from a world you think I can't handle?"

"Yes," he said bluntly. "And I'll continue to do so, whether you like it or not."

Seraphina clenched her fists, frustration boiling within her.

She wanted to argue, to demand her freedom, but she knew it would be futile.

"Goodnight, Father," she said curtly, turning to leave.

The fight was over within minutes.

The Rossetti men lay scattered, some unconscious, others too injured to move.

Leo stood amidst the carnage, his suit immaculate despite the chaos.

He stared down at the Rossetti leader, a man named Vittorio, who was kneeling before him, blood dripping from his lip.

"This is your one warning," Leo said, his voice icy. "Stay out of my territory, or the next time, you won't leave alive."

Vittorio nodded frantically, his fear palpable.

Satisfied, Leo turned and walked away, his men following silently.

As they drove back to his estate, Leo leaned his head against the cool glass of the car window.

He should have felt victorious, but his mind kept drifting back to Seraphina.

She was a distraction, a weakness. And yet, he couldn't stop thinking about her.

Later That Night...

Seraphina lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Sleep eluded her, her thoughts consumed by the mysterious man she had met days ago.

What was it about him that intrigued her so much?

He was dangerous, that much was clear. But there was something else—a depth to him that called to her, like a moth to a flame.

She didn't know why, but she felt certain their paths would cross again.

And when they did, she would uncover the truth about Leonardo Romano.

Whether it led to salvation or destruction, she was willing to find out.

To Be Continued...