~ Chapter 6 ~

The following morning brought a stillness to the city, the rain having given way to a misty calm.

Inside the safe house, the tension lingered like a heavy fog.

Seraphina sat at the small dining table, tracing patterns on the chipped surface with her fingertip, her thoughts restless.

Leo stood by the window, his back to her, his gaze fixed on the streets below.

He hadn't slept—she could tell by the dark circles under his eyes and the faint stiffness in his movements.

She broke the silence, her voice tentative but curious. "What is your connection to these people? The ones after me?"

He turned slowly, his sharp features unreadable.

For a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer, but then he spoke.

"They're part of the underworld," he said simply. "Rivals who want control, power, and leverage. They'll use anything to get it."

"And you?" she pressed gently.

His jaw tightened. "I keep the balance," he said, his voice colder now. "I don't let them go too far."

"But you're part of it too," she said, her words more an observation than an accusation.

He didn't deny it, his silence speaking volumes.

Seraphina's heart ached with the weight of the truth she was piecing together. "Is that why they call you il diavolo?"

His gaze snapped to hers, something dangerous flickering in his eyes.

But her expression held no judgment, only quiet curiosity.

"Yes," he said, at last, his voice low. "That's what they call me. The devil."

She studied him, searching for the man beneath the title. "You don't seem like the devil to me," she said softly.

Leo huffed a humorless laugh. "Then you don't know me at all."

"Maybe not," she admitted, her voice steady. "But I know you're not as cold as you want people to believe."

Her words disarmed him, leaving him feeling exposed in a way he hadn't expected. He turned back to the window, needing the distance.

~~~

Miles away, Eogeum Joon-soo paced the length of his penthouse suite, his phone pressed to his ear.

"What do you mean she's missing?" He barked, his tone sharp enough to cut glass.

Hana's voice crackled through the line. "She slipped away during the night. I'm doing everything I can to track her down, but—"

"No excuses," he interrupted. "Find her. Now."

Hana hesitated. "Sir, there's something you should know. We've intercepted information that suggests Seraphina maybe with someone."

"Who?"

"Leonardo Romano," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Joon-soo froze, his mind racing.

The name was infamous, even in his circles.

He knew of Leonardo Romano, the so-called devil of Rome, a man who commanded fear and respect in equal measure.

"If he's involved," Joon-soo said, his voice low and dangerous, "then this is more serious than I thought."

He ended the call abruptly, his hands clenching into fists.

His daughter had unknowingly stepped into the lion's den, and he would do whatever it took to get her out.

~~~

Back at the safe house, the quiet was shattered by the sound of a phone vibrating on the table. Matteo, who had been keeping watch in the other room, rushed in to answer.

"It's from one of our men," Matteo said, glancing at Leo. "There's movement near the safe house. They're closing in."

Leo's entire demeanor shifted, the calculating predator taking over. "How many?"

"Two cars, heavily armed," Matteo replied.

Leo's mind raced. The Valentis weren't wasting time.

"Get her out," he ordered, his voice sharp.

"What about you?" Seraphina asked, rising to her feet.

"I'll buy you time," he said, already moving toward the door.

"No!" she protested, grabbing his arm. "You can't just leave me like this!"

He turned to her, his gaze fierce but not unkind. "Seraphina, listen to me. I need you to trust Matteo. He'll keep you safe."

Her eyes filled with worry, but she nodded reluctantly.

Matteo placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Come on, miss. We have to move."

As Matteo led her out through the back entrance, Leo stepped into the hallway, his gun drawn.

The approaching footsteps echoed closer, and his grip tightened on the weapon.

Matteo drove through the narrow streets of Rome with practiced ease, the car weaving between traffic as the sound of engines roared behind them.

"Who are they?" Seraphina asked, clutching the seatbelt tightly.

"Valentis," Matteo said grimly. "They're one of the most dangerous families in the underworld."

"And Leonardo?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"He's the only one they fear," Matteo replied, glancing at her briefly. "That's why they want to get to him through you."

Seraphina's mind swirled with questions and fears, but she forced herself to stay calm.

"What will he do?" she asked quietly.

Matteo hesitated before answering. "Whatever it takes to protect you."

~~~

The Valentis' men stormed the safe house, their movements coordinated and precise.

But Leo was ready for them.

He moved like a shadow, his every shot precise and deadly.

The narrow hallways worked to his advantage, forcing the attackers to come at him one by one.

As the last man fell, Leo wiped the blood from his cheek, his breath steady despite the chaos.

He stepped outside into the misty morning air, his phone already in hand.

"Matteo," he said when the line connected.

"We're safe for now," Matteo replied. "Heading to the secondary location."

"Good," Leo said. "I'll meet you there."

But as he ended the call, he couldn't shake the unease settling in his chest.

The Valentis wouldn't stop.

They had made their move, and now it was his turn to strike back.

For Seraphina's sake, he would bring hell to their doorstep—and they would learn why he was called il diavolo.