~ Chapter 9 ~

The villa was silent again, though the echoes of the confrontation lingered in the air like a ghost.

The Valentis had retreated, licking their wounds after Leo's men outmaneuvered them, but everyone knew it wasn't over. A storm was brewing, and it was only a matter of time before it erupted again.

Seraphina sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her reflection in the ornate mirror. Her thoughts raced, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't banish the memory of the chaos.

She had seen Leo in his element—commanding, ruthless, and unyielding. It was terrifying and mesmerizing all at once.

The knock on her door startled her. Before she could respond, Leo stepped in, his presence filling the room like a dark tide.

"Can't sleep?" he asked, his voice low.

She shook her head. "How could I, after all that?"

He crossed the room and leaned against the doorframe, his gaze fixed on her. "You handled yourself well."

Seraphina gave a humorless laugh. "I stayed out of the way. That's not exactly impressive."

Leo tilted his head, studying her. "You didn't panic. That's more than most people can say."

She looked up at him, her eyes searching his. "Is this what your life is always like? Fighting, danger, death?"

A shadow crossed his face. "It's the life I've chosen. Or maybe the life that chose me. Either way, it's what I know."

"But you're trying to protect me from it," she said softly. "Why?"

He hesitated, the mask of confidence slipping for a moment. "Because you deserve better than this," he admitted. "You don't belong in my world, Seraphina. You're…pure."

The word hung in the air between them, and for a moment, neither of them moved. Then, as if compelled by something beyond them, Leo stepped closer.

"You should hate me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You should be afraid of me."

"I'm not," she replied, her voice steady. "I don't think I ever could be."

The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with unspoken emotions. Leo took another step closer, and Seraphina felt her breath hitch.

He was so close now that she could see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes, the slight curve of his lips as he fought against whatever internal battle raged within him.

"You don't know what you're saying," he murmured, his voice low and gravelly.

"I know exactly what I'm saying," she countered, her own voice gaining strength.

Leo exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "You're playing with fire."

"Maybe I am," she said, standing. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she refused to back down. "But so are you."

For a moment, they stood there, inches apart, the electricity between them almost tangible. Then, without warning, Leo reached out, his hand brushing against her cheek.

"I can't," he said, though his voice lacked conviction.

"Can't or won't?" she asked, her voice soft but unyielding.

Leo's hand lingered for a moment before he stepped back, putting distance between them. "You don't understand," he said, his tone strained. "If I let myself… If I give in, I'll destroy you."

"You won't," she said, her voice filled with quiet certainty. "I trust you."

The words seemed to pierce through his defenses, and for a moment, Leo looked at her as if she were something he couldn't quite believe. Then, without another word, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving her alone with the weight of their unfinished conversation.

The following day, Matteo arrived with news that cast a shadow over the brief reprieve they had found.

"They're regrouping," he said grimly, his eyes meeting Leo's. "Vittorio won't let this go. He's planning something big."

Leo's jaw tightened. "Let him. I'll be ready."

"It's not just the Valentis," Matteo continued. "There's talk of others getting involved. Old alliances, debts being called in."

Leo nodded, his mind already working through the possibilities. "Then we'll need to strike first. Find out who's backing him and take them out before they can move."

Matteo hesitated. "And the girl?"

Leo's gaze flickered to Seraphina, who was sitting quietly on the other side of the room. She had insisted on being present during the discussion, refusing to be kept in the dark.

"She stays here," Leo said firmly.

"She's a target," Matteo pointed out. "Keeping her here puts her in more danger."

"Then I'll make sure they can't touch her," Leo said, his voice hard.

Matteo sighed but didn't argue further.

That evening, Seraphina found herself wandering the villa's gardens, the moon casting a silver glow over the landscape. She had always found solace in nature, and tonight, she needed the quiet to process everything.

She wasn't surprised when Leo appeared, his footsteps silent on the stone path. He had a way of finding her, as if he could sense when she needed him.

"Can't sleep again?" he asked, his voice breaking the stillness.

She shook her head. "Too much to think about."

He nodded, falling into step beside her. They walked in silence for a while, the tension from earlier still lingering between them.

Finally, Seraphina broke the silence. "Do you ever wish things were different?"

"Every day," Leo admitted.

"Then why not change them?"

He gave a bitter laugh. "It's not that simple. This life…it doesn't let you go. Not without a fight."

"Then fight," she said, stopping and turning to face him. "You're already fighting for me. Fight for yourself, too."

Leo looked at her, something unreadable in his expression. Then, slowly, he reached out, his hand brushing against hers.

"I don't know if I can," he said softly.

"You can," she said, her voice filled with quiet conviction. "You're stronger than you think."

For a moment, they stood there, the world around them fading away. Then, with a hesitation that spoke volumes, Leo leaned down, his lips brushing against hers.

It was tentative at first, as if he were afraid of breaking her, but when she didn't pull away, he deepened the kiss, his hands coming to rest on her waist.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless.

"This is dangerous," Leo said, his voice rough.

"So am I," she replied, a small smile playing on her lips.

And for the first time in a long time, Leo found himself smiling, too.

To Be Continue...