LOGINDeliaThe next morning, I woke up against my will.The heavy curtains were pulled open abruptly, sunlight flooding the room like an attack.I groaned and buried my face deeper into the pillow.“Good morning, Miss Delia,” a soft but insistent voice said.I made a sound somewhere between a whine and a growl, hoping it would scare the voice away.It didn’t.“Miss Delia,” the maid continued politely, “Mr. Cavalli has requested that you join him for breakfast.”That did it.My eyes snapped open.“What?” I croaked.The maid stood near the window, hands folded neatly in front of her, eyes respectfully lowered. “Breakfast has already been prepared. Mr. Cavalli is waiting.”Of course he was.I sighed and rolled onto my back, staring at the ceiling. “Tell him I’m—”The maid cleared her throat delicately. “He asked me to make sure you didn’t refuse.”I glared at her, but she was immune. Professional. Calm. Probably trained to survive worse than my morning attitude.“Fine,” I muttered. “Give me a
LeandroSitting in my chair in my office, I leaned back. I couldn’t concentrate on the files on my table. Matteo had informed me that I had some papers to sign for some shipment that would need to arrive urgently.But my mind was wandering somewhere else.Closing my eyes, I tapped my pen at my temple and tried to avoid thinking about the way Delia had responded to my touch in the elevator.The way she had surrendered for me to do whatever I wanted. My mind began to recall our first night together when I brought her to my house after that dinner night we met again.When I saw her, I was pissed that after I had threatened her that if I ever see her again, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill her, she had the nerve to show up right in front of me.I realized that she had some guts and seemed fearless of my threats, but also…a little attractive.When I brought her closer, I felt her nipples hard against my chest and those delicious lips of hers made me go crazy.“What’s happening to me?”I hadn’t
DELIAWhen we returned to the mansion that evening, while brushing my teeth and preparing for bed, my mind wouldn’t slow down.It replayed everything.The stalled elevator.The darkness pressing in.The way my lungs had betrayed me.And then..Leandro.I stared at my reflection in the mirror, toothbrush paused at my lips, foam forgotten.I could still feel him.Not just his arm around my waist but the steadiness of him. The way his chest had risen and fallen against my back like an anchor I hadn’t known I needed. The way his voice hadn’t demanded or commanded, but guided.I rinsed my mouth and leaned both hands on the sink, breathing slowly like he’d taught me.In for four.Hold.Out.It worked.That terrified me.Because fear has always been my enemy. And Leandro Cavalli of all people had silenced it without even trying to.I changed into a silk nightdress and crawled into bed, but sleep didn’t come at first. My ceiling blurred as my thoughts drifted, uninvited, to her.The woman.
Leandro's povIf she passed out, it would complicate things.“I should warn you,” I said dryly, breaking the silence, “if you pass out, I’ll be very annoyed.”A short, breathless laugh escaped her before she could stop it.There it was. Proof she was still anchored.“That’s better,” I said, more quietly.She slid down the wall and hugged her knees to her chest, making herself smaller, like the steel box might spare her if she took up less space.“I hate this,” she whispered.“I know.”I did. I could see it in the tightness of her shoulders, the way her breathing was shallow and uneven, her fingers clenched like she was bracing for something that already lived in her head.The silence stretched but it wasn’t sharp anymore. It wasn’t trying to cut us.“Count with me,” I said suddenly.She looked up at me, confused, panic flickering behind her eyes.“What?” she asked, breath coming too fast, too shallow.“Your breathing,” I said quietly, keeping my voice steady on purpose. “Listen to me
Delia’s POVThe glass doors closed behind us. The woman was outside, still screaming. The elevator doors opened with a quiet sound. Leandro got in first, looking calm like nothing had happened. Matteo got in next and pressed the button for the top floor. The elevator went up smoothly.Silence.The kind that pressed against your ribs.Leandro lifted his phone and took a call as if nothing had happened. His voice dropped into Italian, calm and lethal, discussing shipments, numbers, timelines. I leaned against the mirrored wall, arms crossed, my reflection staring back at me with too many thoughts in my eyes.The woman’s words replayed in my head.Crazy. Wild night.I haven’t been the same since.I broke up with my boyfriend.I didn’t laugh.I couldn’t.Because I knew exactly what that was.Hope.The most dangerous thing Leandro Cavalli ever gave anyone.I also knew something else something she didn’t.Leandro Cavalli had a rule.A motto.I don’t sleep with women twice.It wasn’t about
Delia's Pov The man lifted his head when I stepped closer, chains rattling softly as he shifted in the chair.“Please,” he croaked before I’d even spoken. “I’ll tell you anything.”Leandro didn’t move. Didn’t interrupt. He leaned against the railing like a king watching a trial, dark eyes fixed on me instead of the prisoner.“Good,” I said, forcing my voice to stay level. “Then start talking.”I pulled a chair and dragged it closer, sitting directly in front of the man. Close enough that he could see my face clearly. Close enough that he’d understand this wasn’t a performance.“What’s your name?” I asked.“L…Luca,” he stammered.“Luca,” I repeated calmly. “Who told you to tamper with the shipment?”He swallowed hard. His eyes flicked past me to the tank. To the shadows circling slowly beneath the water.“I…I didn’t know who he really was,” he said quickly. “I swear. I was contacted through a burner. Just instructions. Coordinates. Timing.”“That’s not an answer,” I said softly. “Name







