Valerio's smile faltered. For a moment, he just stared at her — like she was something rare, something unexpected.
"Guess that explains why you turned me down," he muttered.
"Exactly," Leona said, her tone firm but gentle. "I don't do half-hearted."
Valerio huffed a dry chuckle, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah… doesn't seem like you do."
The air between them shifted — less playful, more charged. For the first time, Valerio found himself unsure of what to say next.
The apartment felt smaller now — warmer, too. Valerio sat on the edge of Leona's worn-out couch, his fingers lazily tracing the rim of his empty coffee cup. She had just returned from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel, clearly still confused about why Dante had left so abruptly.
"You okay?" Leona asked, standing a few feet away.
"Yeah," Valerio muttered, his voice low. "Just… thinking."
Leona crossed her arms, tilting her head. "Since when do you get lost in your thoughts?"
He huffed a dry laugh. "Since things stopped making sense."
She smiled faintly and walked closer. "Well, I'd offer you another cup of coffee, but I think you've had enough caffeine for one day."
Valerio looked up at her then — really looked. She was dressed in a loose sweater that swallowed her frame, her hair tucked behind her ears. The soft domesticity of the moment didn't suit the chaos he felt inside. It didn't suit her either — not when she worked nights at a bar where the wrong kind of men noticed her.
"You know…" His voice dropped, rough around the edges. "You're too soft for a place like that."
Leona paused. "Excuse me?"
"That bar," he clarified, standing now. "The kind of men that show up there — late at night — drunk, reckless…" He shook his head. "They're not just leaving you tips because you're pretty, Leona."
She blinked, clearly caught off guard. "I can handle myself."
"Can you?" His gaze darkened as he stepped closer.
"You don't think I can?" she shot back, folding her arms.
"No," Valerio muttered honestly. "I don't."
The tension tightened between them like a wire pulled too thin. Leona barely registered when his hand reached up, fingers grazing her cheek before tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"You're not afraid of me, are you?" His voice dropped lower.
Leona's breath hitched, but she stood firm. "No."
"Good…" His fingers lingered a second too long, trailing down her jaw before dropping to her waist.
The air between them shifted — heavier, charged with something neither of them knew how to name.
"You know…" Valerio's thumb brushed against her waist. "When you turned me down that night… I couldn't stop thinking about why."
Leona's gaze flickered to the floor. "I just…" Her voice faltered. "I'm looking for something serious. Something real."
Valerio scoffed softly — not mockingly, but as if the idea surprised him. His hand still rested on her waist, fingers curling slightly.
"I should go," he muttered, though he didn't move.
"You should," Leona whispered, her voice barely audible.
But neither of them stepped away.
"Tell me to leave," Valerio murmured, his breath warm against her skin.
Leona swallowed hard — then whispered instead, "Stay."
The air between them crackled, like a storm gathering strength. Valerio's hand shifted from her waist to her back, his fingers splaying wide as if anchoring himself — or her. Leona's breath caught in her throat when he leaned in, his lips grazing just beneath her ear.
"You sure about that?" His voice was low, almost a growl.
Leona didn't answer right away. She knew she should step back, put some distance between them — but her feet wouldn't move. Her hand lifted instead, resting against his chest, feeling the steady, powerful thrum of his heartbeat beneath her palm.
"I don't know…" she whispered honestly.
"Then maybe," Valerio murmured, his nose brushing along her jaw, "I should remind you what you turned down."
His lips found her neck, a feather light touch that sent a shiver racing down her spine. His hand slid higher along her back, pulling her closer until there was barely any space left between them.
Leona's fingers curled into his shirt, and for a second — just a second — she let herself lean in.
But then she blinked, her mind catching up with her body.
"I can't…" she breathed, stepping back abruptly.
Valerio let his hand drop, fingers flexing at his side as though resisting the urge to pull her back in. His gaze lingered on her, dark and unreadable.
"Right," he muttered, voice rough. "You're looking for something serious."
His words carried an edge — frustration, maybe disappointment — but he didn't push further. Instead, he grabbed his jacket from the couch, giving her one last look before heading toward the door.
"See you around, Leona," he said, his voice softer this time.
And just like that, the warmth he'd left behind seemed to vanish with him.
Valerio's phone buzzed in his pocket, breaking the tension that still lingered in the air. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen — his mother's name flashing urgently.
"Yeah?" he answered, his voice carried a hit of concern.
"She's awake…" His mother's voice cracked, thick with relief. "Alessia's awake."
Valerio straightened, his breath catching. "I'm coming," he said quickly before ending the call.
He turned back to Leona, who stood by the kitchen counter, her eyes soft with concern.
"Everything okay?" she asked quietly.
"It's my sister," Valerio said, shoving his phone into his pocket. "She's awake."
"That's great!" Leona's face lit up, but Valerio was already grabbing his keys.
"I've gotta go." His voice was distant now, his mind already racing ahead.
"Wait—" Leona called as he reached the door. "Tell her… tell her I hope she's okay."
Valerio paused just for a second, his fingers tightening on the doorknob. Without turning around, he nodded.
"Yeah," he muttered. "I'll tell her."
The Moretti estate was buzzing with movement when Valerio arrived. Security stood more alert than usual, their sharp gazes tracking every shadow. Inside, the atmosphere felt heavier — tense but hopeful.
In Alessia's room, his mother was perched beside the bed, her hand clutching her daughter's tightly. Dante stood by the window, his arms crossed but his expression noticeably softer than usual.
Alessia looked fragile, pale against the stark white sheets. Her eyes fluttered open when she heard Valerio enter.
"Val…" her voice rasped, barely above a whisper.
"I'm here," he said, his voice softer than it had been in days. He sat beside her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I'm right here."
She tried to smile but winced instead. "I… I don't remember much," she admitted. "Just… a man — I think — and then nothing."
Valerio's jaw clenched. "It's okay," he assured her. "Don't push yourself."
His mother exhaled shakily, her free hand covering her mouth as she fought back tears.
"Just rest," Valerio added, his fingers curling protectively around hers. "I won't let anything happen to you again."
After midnight, Valerio found himself back at the bar, a glass of whiskey in hand — though the drink barely held his attention. His gaze kept flicking to the far corner, where Leona stood balancing a tray of empty glasses, her soft smile brightening the dimly lit room.
He hated how easily she blended into this place — how her warmth seemed almost out of place among the murky crowd of drunks, gamblers, and men who stared too long.
Leona's laughter rang out, light and carefree as she chatted with a coworker. Valerio's fingers tightened around his glass. She didn't belong here.
"You're starting to look obsessed," Dante's voice drawled beside him. He hadn't even noticed his friend show up.
Valerio scoffed, taking a slow sip. "Shut up."
Dante chuckled, giving him a knowing look before his attention turned to Leona as well. "She's trouble, you know."
"She's not trouble," Valerio muttered defensively, gaze never leaving her.
"She will be," Dante warned. "Girls like her? They make you forget who you are… what you're a part of."
Valerio didn't answer. He knew exactly what Dante meant — and yet, he couldn't look away.
Just then, Leona's eyes met his across the room. Her smile faltered slightly, and for a brief second, she seemed… hesitant. Nervous, maybe.
But then she straightened, flashing him her usual bright smile and turning back to her work.
Valerio's chest tightened. Dante was wrong. She wasn't trouble — at least, not in the way he meant.
But there was something about her… something that made him feel like no matter how hard he tried, he'd keep coming back — drawn to her warmth like a moth to a flame.
Dante smirked over the rim of his glass, swirling the amber liquid lazily. "So…" he drawled, "What exactly did you two do after I oh-so-conveniently left you alone at her apartment?"
Valerio shot him a warning glare, but Dante just grinned wider. "Don't look at me like that. I know you didn't just sit there and sip coffee."
"I should've kicked you out sooner," Valerio muttered, taking a slow sip of his drink.
Dante chuckled. "Right… because you looked real disappointed when I left. Don't tell me you sat there like a saint?" His grin turned devilish. "Did you finally take your shot?"
Valerio exhaled sharply, setting his glass down harder than necessary. "Nothing happened."
"Nothing?" Dante raised a brow. "That's hard to believe. The tension in that room was thick enough to choke on."
Valerio stayed silent, but his mind betrayed him — recalling the way Leona had looked at him before he leaned in, the warmth of her breath on his skin, the way her gaze flicked to his lips…
"Oh…" Dante's eyes widened knowingly. "Something almost happened, didn't it?"
"Drop it," Valerio muttered, but Dante was grinning like he'd won a bet.
"Looks like our ice queen might've melted you a little," Dante teased. "I didn't think you'd get so riled up over a girl."
Valerio's jaw clenched. "She's different," he said before he could stop himself.
Dante's smile faltered slightly, but he masked it with another sip of his drink. "Yeah…" he murmured, almost to himself. "I can see that."
Leona stepped into the dimly lit alley, the cold air prickling her skin. The distant hum of city life barely reached her ears when a shadow moved.
Before she could react, a rough hand grabbed her arm.
"Let go!" she yelped, her scream sharp and panicked.
Moments later, heavy footsteps thundered from inside. Dante and Valerio bolted out, finding Leona crumpled on the ground, unconscious.
"Leona!" Valerio's voice broke through the silence as he dropped beside her, checking her pulse.
"Who the hell did this?" Dante growled, scanning the alley, but whoever it was had vanished into the night.