Chapter 9: Psychopath Mafia

Chapter 9

Saint Mark Hospital – 10 a.m.

Her blue eyes flew open, a gasp tore through her lips. Her eyes darted around the room. Where… where was she?

Her feet became cold. Memories of her life in the Lorenzo Empire hit her—the cold room, left alone in the darkness after being sedated. It was so terrible that she couldn’t use her limbs for a whole day, and she would be left alone there without food, light, or water.

She quickly sprang up from the bed, her bare feet padding against the cold tiles, and then she flung the door open only to be greeted by a broad chest.

She slowly looked up—Leone. What was he doing here? She gulped.

“Seems like you’re all better now, Miss Runaway Bride,” a not-so-soothing smile rested on his lips, making her heart race.

She didn’t know what came over her, but now that she studied her surroundings, she realized she was in a hospital ward. Her eyes fell back on him. Had he… brought her here?

“Wh—what are you doing here?” she stuttered.

Leone noted that she was all better, unlike the corpse she looked like the previous night. Her face had regained color.

Ignoring her earlier question, he walked inside and slammed the door. And as if feeding on her fear, he also locked the door with the key, placing it in his pocket.

Her blood ran cold, her breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t forgotten how he had aimed his gun at her and even pulled the trigger. Was he here to complete his mission? To kill her?

She took a few steps back, but he easily matched them with just one stride from his long legs. She gasped once her leg hit the bed and then fell on it.

He stood in front of her. She felt so small and helpless in his presence.

His hand held her chin—his grip wasn’t firm, but enough to let her know he had her where he wanted her. “Nowhere to run to now, Annalisa.”

Her insides churned on hearing her full name. Her heart hitched when his large hand easily palmed her throat, making her stare into his gray eyes. Something sinister swirled within them.

His cologne was musky, laced with something dark and expensive.

This man… he had seen her stark naked. Her cheeks burned in embarrassment. No one had ever seen her nakedness before. Her chastity was as good as dead in front of him.

Her lips parted. “Why did you do it?” Her voice was barely audible, but he picked it up quite well.

“I know you’re a bit dimwitted, but you have to be a little specific.”

Her eyes narrowed, glaring at him, ignorant of the fact that one little snap of her delicate neck was all it would take for her to join her ancestors.

“Why did you do that? You saw me in the shower naked, but you still stayed there and stared at—”

“Stared at what exactly, hm?” he cut her off, his eyes livid with mirth. “Don’t tell me it’s those two little moles you have on your chest.”

Her eyes flew wide in shock, color drained from her face at how blunt his words were. How dare he say that?

“What is it, Anna?” He pushed her buttons even more.

Anna’s blood boiled. As much as she wanted to correct his rude remark, he hadn’t pointed out what he was talking about, and if she were to stand up to him, it would sound like she was agreeing with him. That, and his hand was still wrapped around her throat.

This shrewd man! Her brows knotted. “Standing there even after seeing a lady naked is completely wrong! And then you almost shot me—if you hadn’t missed,” she snarled.

“I missed?” he half-questioned sarcastically. “That’s very new information.”

Anna inhaled sharply. He hadn’t missed then? He had simply done it to scare her… but the look she saw in his eyes that night—like a demon ready to slaughter.

And then the question that had been haunting her mind: “Why did you bring me here, Leone?”

He finally let go of her neck, taking a few steps away from her, which she was very thankful for, as she was finally able to catch her breath.

Now that she stared at his full frame, she felt the stark difference between them. One had everything that commanded respect, whereas she was the total opposite—and to crown it all, she wasn’t Lorenzo’s biological child. At least he didn’t know that.

“Why?” he repeated, his voice deep and velvety. “Because you’re mine.”

Hearing this, her mouth flew wide in shock, her eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. Did she hear right?

A wide grin formed on his lips on seeing her reaction. “Mine to kill and dispose,” he deadpanned.

She should have known. She scowled, her lips tightening in frustration. He was obviously insane, and one of these days, she was sure he would infect her with his madness.

“What were you thinking, Peach?” He tilted his head to the side.

Anna shook her head, too exhausted to keep up with his madness. Her eyes began feeling heavy, and she just wanted to go back to bed again.

Thankfully, his phone began ringing, taking his attention from her. She watched him turn his broad back on her, and she took her lips in. Earlier, when she had been trying to get out of the ward, it felt like she had come face-to-face with a wall. How does one achieve such great physique? If he weren’t a psychopath, she’d have called him more than an eligible bachelor.

Even from the sides, she couldn’t lie about how attractive he looked. His sharp jawline and his black tousled hair… it seemed like he was sculpted not by the gods but by the devil.

His eyes snapped back to her, making her heart hitch for a second. “I’m taking my leave now. Be good.” His words were commanding—too commanding—like he owned her.

“The guards will take you back to the mansion after your treatment.” Anna could only nod as she watched his retreating figure, and then his feet suddenly halted. He turned back to stare at her.

“It’d be best if you tame that little mouth of yours. We don’t want poor Rocco dead now, do we?” He flashed her a sinister smirk, and Anna felt the blood drain completely from her body.