CHAPTER SIX

“GET ON!”

He stared at me like I was insane.

“What?”

“GET ON!”

His eyes flicked toward the men behind him. That was enough. He grabbed the back of the scooter and climbed on. The sudden weight nearly sent us sideways.

“Hold on!”

I twisted the throttle. The scooter lurched forward.

“Whoa—”

Behind us, someone shouted.

“STOP!”

I didn't look back. I couldn't. I kept my eyes fixed on the road, my fingers gripping the handlebars as the wind tore through my hair.

Leo held on tightly, his body pressed against mine as I swerved around a parked car.

My heart hammered against my ribs. Not because of him. Because for the first time in my life, I was doing something completely reckless. And somehow, I was enjoying it.

We turned down a narrow street. Then another. The shouting faded behind us. The men disappeared.

Only when I was certain they were gone did I slow down. I pulled into a quiet side street and stopped.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke. I was breathing hard. My hands trembled against the handlebars.

Leo climbed off. He bent slightly, trying to catch his breath.

I turned toward him.

Up close, he looked different. There was a small cut above his eyebrow. His hair was damp with sweat and he looked even more attractive.

I stared at him for a moment before he looked at me.

He straightened slowly.

“You,” he said.

I blinked.

“Me?”

His gaze moved over me, almost disbelieving.

“You were at the fight.”

“Yes.”

“You watched.”

“Yes.”

“You saw me leave.”

I swallowed.

“Yes.”

A strange silence settled between us.

Then he looked at the scooter. Then back at me.

“You stole a scooter.”

I frowned.

“I borrowed it.”

His eyebrow lifted.

“I don’t think that’s how borrowing works.”

“Do you want to argue about semantics or be grateful I just saved your life?”

For the first time, something almost resembling a smile appeared on his bruised face.

“Thank you,” he said casually.

I stared at him.

That’s it?

I couldn’t believe I had just saved this ungrateful man.

“Anyway,” I said, crossing my arms. “Why were those men chasing you?”

His expression changed instantly. The faint amusement in his eyes disappeared, replaced by something colder. Something I couldn't quite read.

“Nothing”

He turned and started walking away. I stared after him.

Nothing? That was clearly not nothing.

I glanced at the scooter. What was I supposed to do with it now? With a small sigh, I left it where it was and hurried after him.

“Wait.”

He didn’t stop.

“Can I use your phone? I left mine at home”

He slowly turned and gave me look before reluctantly reaching into his pocket and pulled out his phone, holding it out to me without a word.

I took it and quickly dialed Kayla’s number. She answered almost immediately.

“Hello? Alicia? Where are you?”

 I looked around “I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know? Where did you—”

Before I could answer, Leo took the phone from my hand. He spoke to Kayla in Italian. I couldn't understand a single word, but I couldn't help noticing how smooth his voice sounded.

Deep. Calm. And strangely attractive.

He suddenly looked at me, then gave the phone to me.

 “Ally, just follow him, I’ll be there in five” Kayla said.

I looked Leo up and down “Okay”

I handed back the phone to him.

He quickly slid the phone into his pocket “Let’s go.”

I quietly followed him.

There was something about the way he walked that made me curious. He looked so mysterious from behind, his broad shoulders relaxed despite everything that had just happened. Dangerously calm.

We didn't say a word to each other.

We turned onto a busier street, Warm streetlights spilled across the pavement, illuminating the rows of cafés and little shops lining the road. People moved around us, talking and laughing, while the occasional car passed by.

Leo suddenly stopped beside a signpost. I stopped too, looking at him before following his gaze down the street.

Neither of us spoke. A few minutes passed. Then I spotted a familiar figure running toward us.

“Alicia!”

Kayla.

She rushed over, and held my hand.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Her eyes moved to Leo.

She immediately said something to him in Italian. I assumed she was thanking him. He only gave a small nod.

I turned toward him.

“Thank you.”

He stared at me for some seconds, I wondered what was going through his mind that moment. Then, without saying a word, he turned and walked away.

We watched him disappear down the streets

“Wait…”

Kayla’s eyes widened.

“That was the boxer from tonight, wasn't it?”

I nodded.

She stared at me for a second.

Then a slow grin spread across her face.

“Alicia.”

“What?”

“You pulled a hot guy on your first day in Italy?” she nudged my shoulder

My mouth fell open.

“Kayla! I- He- some men were chasing him, I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing, so I borrowed a scooter and helped him get away”

“What?” She laughed. “I leave you alone for few minutes and you’re already getting chased through the streets with some mysterious Italian boxer.”

“It wasn't like that.”

“Sure, let’s go home”

She hooked her arm through mine, laughing as we started walking.

“It really wasn't. I literally saved his life.”

She glanced at me.

“That somehow makes it worse.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Just forget it.”

By the time we reached the apartment, I was exhausted.

Kayla disappeared into the kitchen to make us something to eat while I collapsed onto the bed.

I began replaying everything that had happened that evening in my head—the fight, the men chasing Leo, and then Leo himself.

But why were those men chasing him?

I frowned. Whatever. It wasn't my problem.

Then, for some reason, I remembered his voice.

Smooth. Deep. Calm.

I groaned and buried my face in the pillow.

“Get yourself together, Alicia.”

I sat up.

“You just got here after escaping Justin. A man should be the last thing on your mind.”

I shook my head, trying to push the evening out of my thoughts.

This was exactly what I didn't need.

 I needed to think about my future. About what I was going to do next. Not some mysterious boxer I'd met for a few hours.

Suddenly, my phone rang loudly. I jolted at the sound.

For a moment, I'd almost forgotten I had one.

I reached for it slowly, a strange uneasiness settling in my chest.

The screen lit up.

One name appeared.

Dad.

My heart stopped.8