Leona stood by the large window, arms crossed tightly over her chest. "I can't just sit here all day doing nothing, Valerio," she snapped, her voice firm. "I have a job — a real job — and a life back at my apartment."
Valerio, lounging on the couch like he had all the time in the world, shot her a bored look. "A job? You mean working at my bar where half the guys can't decide if they want to flirt with you or fight someone for looking at you wrong?"
"It's still my job," Leona argued. "I'm not going to sit here playing damsel while you force-feed me salads and act like I owe you something!"
"You don't owe me anything," Valerio said, standing now, his tone low but sharp. "But you're not going back there, not after what happened."
Leona's jaw clenched. "I can take care of myself."
"Yeah?" Valerio scoffed. "You did a great job showing that when you were lying unconscious in the alley."
"That wasn't my fault!"
"I don't care whose fault it was." His voice rose, eyes darkening. "I'm not letting you walk back into a place where someone clearly wanted to hurt you."
"You can't stop me."
"Wanna bet?"
"I don't want your money or your protection," Leona shot back. "I'm not some delicate flower you need to lock away. I have bills to pay. I have a life to get back to!"
"Yeah? And how are you going to pay those bills when you're dead?" His words hit hard, and for a second, silence hung between them.
Leona's eyes narrowed. "I can't live off a stranger… and I sure as hell can't survive on your precious salads either."
"You're not a stranger," Valerio muttered, barely loud enough for her to hear.
Her lips parted slightly, but she shook her head and turned away. "I'm going back to my apartment," she said firmly. "End of discussion."
"We'll see," Valerio muttered, his voice laced with warning.
Leona stormed out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the hallway. Valerio ran a hand down his face in frustration, muttering a curse under his breath.
"Stubborn," he grumbled, pacing back and forth.
Moments later, Dante leaned casually against the doorway, a smug grin tugging at his lips. "So… how's that going for you?"
"Don't start," Valerio warned.
"Oh no," Dante chuckled, stepping inside. "I'm just curious — what's the plan now? You know she's serious about leaving, right?"
"She's not going anywhere," Valerio said firmly. "Not until I know she's safe."
"And how exactly are you going to stop her?" Dante teased. "Lock her in a tower?"
"I'll figure it out," Valerio muttered.
"You sure?" Dante asked with mock concern. "Because from what I saw, she's this close to breaking your face."
Valerio shot him a warning glare. "Don't you have somewhere else to be?"
"Nah," Dante smirked. "I'm sticking around. This is too entertaining."
Leona's voice suddenly cut through the air — sharp and scolding.
"Dante Russo!"
He froze mid-step, eyes wide. For a moment, he genuinely thought his mother had doubled back. Turning slowly, he found Leona standing there, hands on her hips, her expression a perfect match for his mother's infamous glare.
"You— you sound exactly like my mom," Dante stammered, half in disbelief.
Leona jabbed a finger at him. "Then maybe you should start listening when someone yells at you like that!"
Valerio barely held back a laugh as Dante muttered under his breath, "Great… one mother's enough, and now I've got two."
Leona stormed down the hallway, her patience stretched thin. Spotting Dante sprawled lazily on the couch, she stomped toward him.
"Dante Russo!" she shouted, her voice sharp enough to make him jolt upright.
"Oh no…" Dante muttered under his breath, but Leona was already standing over him, her hands on her hips.
"Where. Are. They?" she demanded, her tone cold and furious.
"Where's what?" Dante asked, barely containing his smirk.
"My undergarments, Dante!" she snapped. "They're all gone, and I know it's you."
Dante's grin widened. "You're acting like I've got a drawer full of—"
"You think this is funny?" Leona barked.
Before Dante could answer, footsteps echoed down the hallway. Both families — the Morettis and the Russos — appeared, drawn by the commotion.
"What's going on here?" Valerio's father asked, his sharp gaze flicking between them.
"That's what I'd like to know!" Leona's voice rose. "Dante thought it would be hilarious to—"
"Relax," Dante interrupted, still grinning. "I just… moved them."
"Moved them?" Valerio's voice darkened.
"You hid her clothes?" Dante's mother scolded.
"Oh, come on!" Dante defended himself, throwing his hands up. "She ratted me out! I just… may have had the maids hang them in the backyard."
Leona's face turned crimson. "You what?"
"I knew they'd be dry before anyone noticed," Dante chuckled, but the glares from both families wiped the smugness off his face.
"Dante," his father said firmly, "Apologize. Now."
"I swear," Leona muttered under her breath, "when I'm done with you…"
"Okay, okay!" Dante groaned. "I'm sorry!"
"You should be," Leona hissed. "Next time you touch my things, I'll—"
"Leona," Valerio interrupted, fighting a smirk. "I think you've made your point."
"I'm not done," Leona grumbled, glaring daggers at Dante.
Leona turned her glare to Valerio next, her face still flushed with frustration.
"You do realize," she started, her voice tight, "that apart from the Morettis and Russos, your goddamn place is filled with men?" She paused, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of red before snapping her gaze back to Dante. "And they aren't for you or anyone else to see!"
Dante couldn't resist a grin. "Relax, Leona. No one's out there staring at your—"
"Don't finish that sentence," Valerio warned coldly, his eyes narrowing.
Dante raised his hands in surrender, mumbling something under his breath.
Leona scoffed, shaking her head. "Unbelievable," she muttered, before turning on her heel and storming back toward her room.
Leona's face was practically crimson as she stormed off, her frustration radiating from her like heat. Behind her, both Valerio's dad and Dante's dad shot sharp glares at Dante, their disapproval heavy in the air.
"You've got some nerve," Valerio's father muttered darkly.
Dante's father shook his head in disappointment. "I've raised you better than this," he grumbled.
Meanwhile, their mothers stood frozen, exchanging helpless glances. Neither had a word to defend Dante's antics this time — even they knew he'd crossed a line.
Dante, feeling far too smug for his own good, leaned back in his chair and shot Valerio a teasing grin.
"What's got you all worked up, huh?" Dante smirked. "Jealous? 'Cause if her bras were hanging out, I'm pretty sure half your men already got a good look."
The room went still.
Valerio's expression darkened instantly, his fingers curling into a tight fist on the table. "Watch your mouth," he warned, his voice low and dangerous.
"Oh, come on," Dante chuckled, lifting his hands in mock surrender. "I'm just saying… maybe you should've kept her in your room longer."
That was it. Valerio shot out of his chair, and before anyone could blink, Dante found himself shoved hard against the wall, Valerio's arm pressed firmly across his chest.
"You think this is funny?" Valerio growled, his voice like ice. "You think I'd let anyone — anyone — look at her like that?"
Dante winced but still had the nerve to grin. "Looks like I hit a nerve."
"Keep talking, and I'll break your damn nose," Valerio snapped.
"Boys," Valerio's father warned from across the room. "Enough."
Valerio glared at Dante a moment longer before finally stepping back, shoving him roughly as he let go.
Dante rubbed his chest, still smirking. "Geez, Val… you're no fun."
Valerio shot him one last murderous glare before storming out of the room.
"Jealous," Dante muttered under his breath, chuckling to himself.
Later that evening, Leona found herself in the kitchen, quietly sipping tea when Dante strolled in, looking far too pleased with himself.
"You know," he started, grabbing an apple from the counter, "for someone who claims you're not interested in Valerio, he sure acts like a jealous boyfriend."
Leona shot him a dry look. "He's just… being protective," she muttered, clearly trying to convince herself as much as Dante.
"Sure," Dante snorted, taking a bite of the apple. "Next thing you know, he'll be locking you in his room just to keep you safe."
Leona nearly choked on her tea. "Don't be ridiculous."
"I'm being ridiculous?" Dante grinned. "I'm not the one who had my underwear stolen because someone couldn't take a joke."
Leona's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, about that…" She set her cup down and crossed her arms. "Don't think I've forgotten, Russo. You owe me new ones."
"Relax," Dante laughed, backing away toward the door. "I'll get you something fancy… maybe red lace? Val would love it!" He winked and bolted before Leona could throw her cup at him.
"You're impossible!" she yelled after him, her face heating up.
From down the hall, Dante's laugh echoed back. "Love you too, sunshine!"