~ Chapter 7 ~

The secondary location Matteo had chosen was tucked away in the rolling hills outside Rome.

A secluded villa surrounded by ancient olive groves, it offered a brief respite from the chaos.

As the car pulled into the long driveway, Seraphina couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the place, though her heart remained heavy with questions.

Matteo opened the car door for her, his usual stoic expression softening slightly. "You'll be safe here," he said.

She stepped out and looked around, her gaze lingering on the sprawling villa.

Despite its grandeur, it felt eerily quiet.

"Will he come here?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Matteo hesitated before answering. "He'll come. But first, he has to take care of…business."

Leo's black Maserati tore through the streets of Rome, the engine growling like a predator on the hunt.

His destination: a discreet warehouse near the city's outskirts, a place where secrets were buried and enemies were made to talk.

Inside, two men from the Valenti faction sat bound to chairs, their faces bloodied and bruised.

Leo stepped into the dimly lit space, his presence immediately commanding.

"Do you know why you're still breathing?" He asked, his voice calm but laced with menace.

The men exchanged nervous glances, neither daring to speak.

Leo crouched in front of one of them, his dark eyes boring into the man's soul. "You're going to tell me everything. Who ordered the hit? What's your next move? And why the hell do you think you can target what's mine?"

The man stammered, his voice shaking. "It—it was Vittorio Valenti. He thinks the girl is your weakness. He wants to use her to control you."

Leo's jaw tightened, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "And what's his next move?"

"He's planning something big," the other man blurted, desperate to save his own skin. "An ambush. Tonight. At your club."

Leo straightened, his mind racing. Vittorio was bolder than he'd anticipated, but he'd just made a fatal mistake.

"You're going to deliver a message for me," Leo said, his tone icy. "Tell Vittorio that if he so much as looks in her direction again, I'll dismantle his entire empire—brick by brick, bone by bone."

He turned to Matteo's men, who stood guard nearby. "Dump them where their friends can find them. Make sure the message gets through."

Back at the villa, Seraphina wandered the halls, her unease growing with each passing hour.

She found herself drawn to a small library filled with leather-bound books and the faint scent of aged paper.

She selected a volume at random and sat by the window, trying to distract herself, but her mind kept returning to Leo.

The man was an enigma—a ruthless figure who terrified others, yet he had shown her kindness and protection.

The sound of a car approaching drew her attention.

She stood and moved to the front door, her heart pounding as Leo's car came into view.

He stepped out, his dark suit slightly disheveled, his expression unreadable.

Despite his composed exterior, she noticed the tension in his posture, the faint shadows of exhaustion on his face.

"You're back," she said softly.

He nodded, his gaze meeting hers. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," she said, though her voice trembled slightly. "But you're not."

He smirked, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I've had worse nights."

"Leo," she began, stepping closer, "why are you doing this? Why are you protecting me?"

He looked at her for a long moment, as if weighing how much to reveal. "Because you didn't choose this," he said finally. "You don't belong in this world, and I won't let them drag you into it."

Her eyes filled with unshed tears. "But I'm already in it, aren't I? Because of you."

His expression darkened. "That's why I'm going to end this. I'll make sure they never come near you again."

"Even if it costs you everything?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

He stepped closer, his hand brushing against hers. "Everything," he said simply.

That night, Leo stood in the shadows of his club, Inferno, a high-end establishment frequented by the elite and infamous alike.

It was a perfect hunting ground for someone like Vittorio, who thrived on spectacle and chaos.

Leo had anticipated the ambush, and he was ready.

His men were stationed strategically throughout the club, their weapons concealed but within easy reach.

The Valentis arrived in force, their arrogance on full display.

Vittorio himself strolled in, flanked by his enforcers, his gaze sweeping the room like a predator sizing up its prey.

Leo stepped out of the shadows, his presence like a thunderclap.

The room seemed to hold its breath as the two men faced off.

"Vittorio," Leo said, his tone deceptively casual. "I was wondering when you'd crawl out of your hole."

Vittorio smirked. "You've been making a lot of noise lately, Leo. I thought it was time we settled things."

Leo's smirk matched Vittorio's, though his eyes were cold. "Funny. I was thinking the same thing."

The tension in the room was palpable as the two men squared off.

The crowd began to edge away, sensing the storm about to break.

Vittorio raised a hand, and his men drew their weapons.

But Leo's men were faster.

Within moments, the club erupted into chaos, the sound of gunfire and shouts filling the air.

Leo moved like a predator, his every action precise and deadly.

He took down his enemies with ruthless efficiency, his focus unshakable.

As the dust settled, Vittorio lay on the floor, bleeding and gasping for air.

Leo crouched beside him, his voice calm but deadly.

"This was your last mistake," Leo said, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "You touch her again, and I'll make sure you don't live to regret it."

He rose, leaving Vittorio to his fate.

When Leo returned to the villa, the night was quiet once more.

He found Seraphina in the library, her expression softening when she saw him.

"You're hurt," she said, noticing the blood on his sleeve.

"It's not mine," he said, his voice weary.

She hesitated before stepping closer. "Leo…thank you."

"For what?"

"For protecting me," she said, her voice sincere. "Even when it puts you in danger."

His gaze softened, and for a moment, the devil's mask slipped.

"You're worth it," he said simply.

And in the quiet of the library, with the world outside holding its breath, their fragile bond grew stronger, unspoken but undeniable.