~ Chapter 8 ~

The days following the ambush were a blur of tension and fleeting moments of peace. The villa, though serene in its isolation, felt like a prison to Seraphina. She couldn't shake the weight of what had happened—or the deeper realization of how entwined her fate had become with Leo's. The walls that had once protected her from the world now seemed to confine her, and though she tried to fill her time with books and quiet contemplation, her thoughts kept returning to him.

Leo was always present in the background, a shadow that never fully receded. His cold exterior remained, but in the moments they shared, when their eyes met in passing or their hands brushed in the quiet of the villa, she saw something else—something more human, more vulnerable.

Yet, despite the connection that seemed to grow between them, Seraphina couldn't rid herself of the feeling that she was living on borrowed time.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the sky in a fiery glow, Seraphina found herself standing by the balcony overlooking the olive groves. The cool breeze tousled her hair as she stared into the distance, her thoughts swirling.

She hadn't heard Leo approach, but his presence was unmistakable. The air seemed to shift as he stepped into her space, the familiar scent of his cologne mingling with the fresh night air.

"I didn't expect to find you out here," he said, his voice low and soft.

Seraphina turned, meeting his gaze. "I needed a moment alone," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Leo nodded, his expression unreadable. He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "I can give you space, if that's what you want," he said, his words carrying an undertone of something unspoken.

For a moment, Seraphina considered retreating into herself, as she had done for most of her life. But something in Leo's presence made her hesitate, a spark of vulnerability igniting in her chest. She didn't want to shut him out—not anymore.

"No," she said quietly, her voice steady. "I want to understand."

"Understand what?" Leo asked, his voice a mixture of curiosity and caution.

"Why you're doing this. Why you're risking everything to protect me."

Leo's gaze flickered, a flash of something darker passing through his eyes. He took a step closer, his hand brushing hers lightly. "Because you don't belong in this world, Seraphina," he said, his voice rough. "You're not like them."

She looked up at him, her heart racing. "And you are?"

His lips twisted into a bitter smile. "I've been made into something else. A killer. A devil. But you—" He hesitated, searching for the right words. "You remind me of what I used to be before all of this. Before the blood and the lies."

She could feel the weight of his words, the raw honesty buried beneath his hardened exterior. But it only left her with more questions. "And yet you're still here, in the heart of all of it. Why?"

Leo's expression softened, but the edge of tension remained. He stepped back slightly, giving her space, though his eyes never left hers. "Because I have a debt to pay. To myself. To my family. To the people I've hurt."

His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Seraphina swallowed, trying to make sense of the turmoil she saw within him.

"What kind of debt?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Leo ran a hand through his hair, his gaze shifting toward the horizon. "It's not something I can explain easily. I've made choices—horrible ones—that I can't take back. But what I can do is protect you. Make sure no one can hurt you the way I've hurt others."

There was a finality in his tone that made Seraphina's heart ache. She stepped closer to him, her hand reaching for his. For a moment, their fingers brushed before she gripped his hand firmly, as though grounding herself in that connection.

"You don't have to carry it all alone," she said softly, her voice unwavering.

Leo's gaze locked with hers, his jaw tightening. For a moment, it seemed as though he might pull away, but instead, he squeezed her hand gently. "Maybe that's true," he said, his voice rough. "But the world we live in doesn't allow for weakness."

Seraphina shook her head. "You're not weak, Leo. You're just human."

He gave a low, humorless laugh. "Human?" he repeated, almost as if testing the word. "Maybe. But I've forgotten what that feels like."

The quiet of the villa was shattered the following morning by the sound of an approaching vehicle. Matteo's face hardened when he saw the car pull into the driveway.

"It's them," he muttered, his hand instinctively reaching for his weapon.

Leo was already on his feet, his gaze narrowing as he stepped into the hallway. "Who?"

"The Valentis," Matteo said grimly. "They've found us."

Seraphina felt her pulse spike as the sound of footsteps echoed through the villa. "What do we do?" she asked, her voice tight with fear.

"We fight," Leo said, his tone steady despite the tension. He turned to her, his eyes softening slightly. "Stay inside. Don't come out unless I say so."

But Seraphina wasn't one to stay hidden away. She moved toward the door, her resolve hardening. "No, Leo. I'm not going to hide."

He turned to her, his gaze sharp. "This isn't a game, Seraphina. You don't understand what's at stake."

"I understand more than you think," she replied, her voice unwavering. "I'm not going to run from this. Not anymore."

Leo's eyes searched hers, as if looking for some sign that she wasn't just playing with fire. But there was no hesitation in her expression. She was resolute.

He exhaled slowly, his expression unreadable. "Fine. But stay close. I won't let anything happen to you."

The villa's gates creaked open as a convoy of black SUVs pulled onto the grounds. The Valentis were here, and they weren't here for peace.

Leo moved swiftly, his men flanking him as they positioned themselves in strategic places around the villa. Seraphina stayed close to him, her heart racing, but her mind focused. She had never faced anything like this before, but she wasn't going to be the damsel in distress.

Vittorio Valenti stepped out of one of the SUVs, his tall, imposing figure casting a shadow over the ground. His sharp eyes locked onto Leo, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.

"Leo Romano," Vittorio said with a sneer. "Still playing the devil? How cute."

Leo's eyes burned with cold fury, but his voice was calm. "This ends tonight, Vittorio. Leave. Now."

Vittorio laughed, a low, cruel sound. "You think you can stop me? You've never been in control, Leo. Not once."

"I am now," Leo said, his voice laced with finality.

And as the first shot rang out, the battle for Seraphina's future began, with Leo at the center of it all, determined to protect the one thing that mattered—her.

The world was about to burn.

To Be Continued...