Valerio's heart pounded as he knelt beside Leona's unconscious form. Her face was pale, her breathing shallow. A thin scratch trailed down her arm, but there were no other visible injuries.
"She's out cold," Dante muttered, scanning the dark alley for any lingering threats.
"I need to get her home," Valerio muttered, his voice almost worried. He scooped her into his arms with surprising ease, feeling how light she was. She barely stirred, her head falling against his chest.
Back in the Moretti estate, Valerio placed her on a bed. Dante locked the door behind them, still tense.
"She'll be fine," Dante said, but Valerio's gaze lingered on her peaceful face, a dark scowl shadowing his expression.
"She shouldn't have been out there alone," Valerio muttered bitterly.
"She wouldn't have been," Dante countered, "if you weren't too busy pretending you don't care."
Valerio didn't respond. Instead, he knelt beside her, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. A flicker of relief mixed with something else — something deeper.
"She's stronger than she looks," Dante added quietly.
Valerio's eyes hardened. "She shouldn't have to be."
Valerio stood up from his spot beside the couch, his decision made.
"She's staying with me here," he stated firmly, leaving no room for argument.
Dante's brows shot up. "You sure that's a good idea?"
"I'm not asking for your opinion," Valerio snapped. "Whoever attacked her might come back. She's safer with me."
"You think she's gonna take this well?" Dante asked dryly, following him to the door.
"She doesn't have to," Valerio muttered. "I'm not giving her a choice."
Leona's eyes fluttered open, her vision still blurred. Her head throbbed with a dull ache, and the faint murmur of voices reached her ears. As her surroundings sharpened, she realized she wasn't alone.
A group of people stood around the room — unfamiliar faces, yet their presence felt heavy. Valerio was the first person she spotted, standing near the door with his arms crossed, his sharp gaze pinned on her. Dante stood beside him, far less tense but still serious.
But it was the older man and woman closer to her bed that made her blink twice. The woman's face was worn with worry, her eyes red and puffy as if she'd been crying. The man beside her had a commanding presence, yet his expression softened slightly when their eyes met.
"What…?" Leona's voice croaked, her throat dry. She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through her head, making her wince.
"Easy," Valerio's voice was firm yet softer than usual. "You've had a concussion."
"Where am I?" she muttered, her gaze bouncing between the unfamiliar faces.
"You're at the Moretti estate," Dante answered with a small smile, but it held no warmth.
Leona's brows furrowed. "Why?"
"You were attacked," Valerio cut in. "We brought you here to make sure you were safe."
Leona's fingers instinctively clutched the blanket around her. "I… I don't understand."
"You don't have to," the older man finally spoke — his voice deep, authoritative. "Just know you're under our protection now."
The room's tension was suffocating. Leona felt like she'd walked into something far bigger than she could grasp. Yet all she could focus on was one thought — What have I gotten myself into?
Leona's fingers tightened around the blanket as she looked directly at Valerio. Despite the lingering pain in her head, her voice was firm.
"I'm not staying here," she stated, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Valerio's brows lifted slightly, but there was a flicker of irritation behind his eyes. "You're not exactly in a position to decide that right now."
"I don't care," Leona shot back, forcing herself to sit up despite the dizziness. "I have my own place, my own life — I can't just stay here."
"You were attacked," Valerio's voice hardened, stepping closer. "Whoever it was could come back."
"And what?" Leona's eyes narrowed. "You think living here with you is safer?"
Dante let out a low whistle from the corner, clearly amused by her defiance.
"You're not leaving," Valerio stated flatly, ignoring her protest. "End of discussion."
Leona's frustration flared, but before she could snap back, the older woman — Valerio's mother — stepped forward.
"Please," she said gently, her worried eyes softening the tension in the room. "Just… rest for now."
Leona clenched her jaw but reluctantly sank back against the pillows, her head still throbbing. She knew arguing any further was pointless — for now. But one thing was certain…
She wasn't planning to stay here for long.
Leona's shoulders slumped as she exhaled deeply, her gaze shifting from Valerio to his mother. The older woman's concerned eyes held warmth — a kind of tenderness Leona hadn't experienced before.
Slowly, she shifted forward and wrapped her arms around her. The hug was hesitant at first, but Valerio's mother held her tightly, soothingly brushing Leona's hair back.
"I… I've never had anyone fuss over me like this," Leona admitted quietly, her voice slightly shaky. "I grew up alone… no family, no one to care if I was okay." She paused, swallowing the sudden lump in her throat. "But you… you don't even know me, yet you're worried."
The older woman pulled back just enough to cup Leona's face in her hands, her eyes kind and sincere. "You're hurt, sweetheart. That's all I need to know."
A faint smile touched Leona's lips. "I'll stay," she said softly, "but only because of you… not him." Her eyes flicked pointedly toward Valerio.
Valerio, who had been standing silently with his arms crossed, arched a brow. "Yeah, sure," he muttered under his breath, but there was a hint of something softer in his expression.
Leona ignored him, focusing instead on the warm comfort of Valerio's mother — a comfort she hadn't realized she'd been craving for so long.
Leona glanced around the room, her arms crossing defensively over her chest. The spacious room was neat yet unmistakably masculine — dark-toned walls, sleek furniture, and faint traces of cologne lingering in the air. Her gaze landed on a leather jacket tossed lazily over a chair, and her brows furrowed.
"Whose room am I in?" she asked, her tone sharp with suspicion.
Valerio, who had been casually leaning against the doorframe, smirked. "Mine."
Leona's eyes widened, and her arms tightened around herself. "What?" she blurted. "You couldn't just… I don't know, leave me in the guest room?"
"You were unconscious," Valerio said with a shrug. "I wasn't going to let you stay alone."
"Oh, and being in your room is better?" she shot back, clearly unimpressed.
Valerio's smirk deepened. "Relax. If I wanted to make a move, it wouldn't be while you were passed out."
"That's… disturbing," Leona muttered, shaking her head.
"Well, you're here now," Valerio said, voice low and steady. "Might as well get comfortable."
Leona stared at him, completely stunned. "How could you say that?" she demanded, her voice rising. "In front of your parents… and your men?"
Valerio chuckled darkly, clearly unbothered. "They know me well enough," he said with a shrug.
"That's not the point!" Leona shot back, her cheeks flushing with a mix of anger and embarrassment. "You can't just—"
Valerio stepped closer, lowering his voice just enough that only she could hear. "I said what I said, dolcezza. Don't act like you're still afraid of me."
Leona's lips parted, but no words came out. She wasn't sure if it was anger or something else entirely that made her heart race like this. Crossing her arms tightly over her chest, she turned away.
"You're impossible," she muttered under her breath.
"And yet," Valerio replied smugly, "you're still here."
Leona turned sharply toward Valerio's mother, her expression earnest.
"Don't listen to him," she said firmly. "He and I… we have nothing between us."
Valerio's mother gave her a kind smile, but there was something knowing in her eyes.
"Of course, dear," she said softly, though her tone suggested she didn't believe a word of it.
Valerio chuckled from behind her, clearly amused. "Keep saying that, dolcezza. Maybe one day you'll believe it too."
Leona shot him a glare before folding her arms tightly across her chest. "I already do."
Leona's gaze flicked between Valerio's smug expression and his mother's warm yet suspicious smile. Feeling cornered, she forced a smile of her own.
"I mean it," she added, her voice firmer now. "He's just—just someone I know from the bar. Nothing else."
Valerio leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, clearly enjoying her discomfort. "Right. That's why you're sleeping in my room."
Leona's eyes widened. "That's not by choice!" She turned back to his mother in a near panic. "I didn't—he just brought me here because—because I fainted, and—"
"Relax, sweetheart." His mother reached out, gently squeezing Leona's hand. "I know my son. He's always been… persistent."
Valerio smirked at that, earning himself another sharp glare from Leona.
"Persistent or not," Leona muttered, stepping away from him, "I'm here for you, not for him."
Valerio's chuckle followed her as she walked away. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, dolcezza."
Leona stirred awake, her head still heavy from the concussion. The faint sound of muffled sobs drifted through the quiet halls. Blinking away the haze, she strained to listen — it was Alessia.
Concern tugged at her chest. Ignoring her pounding head, Leona pushed off the blankets and quietly stepped out of the room. The dimly lit hallway stretched before her, shadows flickering against the walls. Following the soft cries, she reached a slightly open door.
Peering inside, she saw Alessia curled on her bed, clutching her stomach protectively as silent tears streamed down her face. Without thinking, Leona stepped in.
"Hey…" she whispered softly. "Are you okay?"
Alessia jolted, startled, but her expression softened when she recognized Leona. She wiped her tears hastily, forcing a weak smile.
"I'm fine… just—just a bad dream." Her voice trembled.
Leona knew better. She knelt beside the bed, her fingers gently brushing Alessia's arm. "You don't have to pretend," she said quietly. "Whatever it is… you're not alone."
Leona didn't hesitate. She stepped inside the room, quietly closing the door behind her.
"Shh…" she whispered, kneeling beside Alessia. "It's okay."
Alessia's breath hitched, her tear-streaked face turning toward Leona. "I… I'm scared," she whispered, clutching the blanket tighter.
Leona gently stroked her hair, her voice soft. "You're safe now. No one's going to hurt you."
Before she could say more, the shrill wail of alarms echoed through the estate, piercing the quiet night. Heavy footsteps pounded down the hall.
The door burst open, and two guards stormed in, weapons drawn. Leona instinctively shifted in front of Alessia, shielding her.
"It's just me," Leona said quickly, holding her hands up. "She's okay."
The guards exchanged glances, lowering their weapons slightly.
"Stay inside," one of them warned, stepping back. "We'll handle it."
As they disappeared down the hall, Leona turned back to Alessia, offering a reassuring smile. "See? Nothing to worry about," she said softly.
But deep down, Leona knew something wasn't right.