"So, do we all agree?" Arya asked, her gaze sweeping over the group, making sure they were all on the same page. They nodded in unison. "I'm so glad you invited me, Arya," Bianca said with a smile. "And I'm glad you came. It’s exhausting being the only mature person in a group of baby boys," Arya quipped, drawing amused looks from the men. Well, except for Leonardo, who was already looking at her with that familiar admiring gaze. “With that hot head of hers, it’s no wonder she’s adding a little extra masculinity to the group,” Rob remarked, not missing a beat as he took a jab at Bianca. Bianca didn’t flinch. Instead, she rolled her eyes and shot back, “That’s not what she said, and yes, I’ve got just the right amount of masculinity to walk you like a dog.” Her voice dripped with attitude. Ricardo’s eyes widened, a grin spreading across his face. "I’m not gonna lie, she totally wiped the floor with you,” he said, throwing fuel on the fire just to rile Rob up a bit more.
Arya crouched down beside Lima, her expression more curious than concerned. “What happened to you?” she asked, her voice calm and probing. Lima’s eyes fluttered open, her gaze unfocused as if she were trying to escape the memory that haunted her. “It was Henry,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “He tried to… I had to get out of there.” Arya’s eyes narrowed, the name Henry triggering a faint but uneasy recognition. For Lima to be this shaken, something had gone horribly wrong. Ricardo’s jaw clenched, his voice steely. “Henry, the priest?” “Yes,” Lima responded, her breathing growing rapid as panic began to overtake her. Before the situation could spiral further, Bianca stepped in, her voice firm yet soothing. “She’s having a panic attack. I’ll handle it.” Kneeling beside Lima, Bianca gently guided her through the 5-4-3-2-1 method, her presence a calming force amidst the rising tension. Leonardo, ever vigilant, only relaxed his grip on his gun when he was certain Lima p
Arya’s eyes were sharp as daggers as she turned to Ricardo, her disbelief morphing into a cold fury. "What do you mean Henry is your father?" she demanded, her voice barely above a whisper, yet filled with venom. Ricardo met her gaze, his face devoid of emotion. “He’s my father. But it doesn’t change anything.” Leonardo's fists clenched at his sides, the tension in the room thickening with each passing second. "You conveniently left out the part about 'my father is a priest' and then asked me to kill him?" His voice was low, simmering with barely restrained anger. "Do you realize what you could have started? A religious movement? A war?" Ricardo’s jaw tightened. “I know,” he admitted, his voice steady, but there was a flicker of regret in his eyes. That flicker wasn’t enough to stop Arya. She moved quickly, her hand connecting with Ricardo’s face in a stinging slap. The sound echoed in the room, freezing everyone in place. “How dare you set us up?” she hissed, her eyes blazi
LIMA’S POV As the door clicked shut behind Arya, Lima lay still, staring up at the ceiling. The room felt unnervingly quiet, the silence pressing down on her like a weight. She wasn’t used to this—a silence that wasn’t laced with hidden threats or masked intentions. Kindness, she thought bitterly. What am I supposed to do with that? It was easier to deal with anger, with betrayal. Those were things she knew, things she could fight against or manipulate. But kindness? That was dangerous in a way she wasn’t prepared for. It slipped under her defenses, making her feel things she wasn’t ready to face. Why did she help me? Lima’s mind raced, trying to make sense of Arya’s actions. She wasn’t naïve enough to believe it was out of pure goodness. People didn’t just do things like that, not in her world. There had to be a catch, something she was missing. But even as she tried to convince herself of this, a small voice inside her whispered otherwise. Arya’s kindness had been genui
Arya saw him standing by the door, waiting for her to return. She could tell he was furious; the quiet intensity in his posture was impossible to miss. She knew he was upset about her caring for Lima—someone who had tried to come between them. But Arya also knew she couldn’t let the opportunity to reach Lima in her vulnerable state slip away. She needed to save her, and deep down, she hoped Leonardo would understand. “Leo…” she began, her voice soft and pleading. “We’re heading to the cabin,” he muttered, his voice low and cold, sending a chill down her spine. He opened the door and held it for her to pass through. As they made their way to the car, she noticed the rigid set of his shoulders, the way he barely glanced in her direction. When they reached the vehicle, Leonardo stopped the driver from opening the door. “Don’t bother, I’ll drive,” he said curtly. The driver swallowed hard and nodded, stepping aside to let him take over. Leonardo opened the passenger seat for A
Leonardo had always admired Arya’s ability to see the good in others, even when he struggled to find it himself. But this—this blatant disregard for his orders, driven by her unyielding compassion—was something he couldn’t easily overlook. He was hers, and she was his, bound by a loyalty he had always believed was unshakeable. Yet, she had defied him to aid one of their worst enemies. How could someone be so inherently good? How could he reconcile his feelings when her actions constantly reminded him of the darkness within himself? His face was stern as he approached her, the weight of his decision clear in his expression. Without a word, he cuffed her hands to the bedpost, the metal clinking softly as it secured her wrists. The tension between them crackled with intensity, the air thick with a mix of desire and discipline. He slowly removed the robe from her body, letting it fall to the floor, revealing the curves that had always been his undoing. Stepping away, Leonardo moved
Arya marveled at how her legs still functioned. After Leonardo had her folded like a lawn chair in all sorts of positions last night, here she was, tending to babies and their mothers the next day. Gloria approached with a smile. “Mrs. Marcello, good morning.” “Ah, Gloria. Good morning. How was your night?” Arya asked, recalling that Gloria had been attacked by kidnappers just days ago. “Very good, except for the nightmares. I haven’t been able to reach the Mother Superior for days now. Do you know where she might be?” Gloria asked. “The last time I saw her was on the day of the incident. I assumed she took the kidnappers to the police, but it’s been days. She should be back by now,” Arya replied, her concern growing. “I hope she’s okay. The courtesans are not to be messed with,” Gloria said, her tone filled with worry. Arya's curiosity was piqued. “Speaking of the courtesans, do you know anyone named Lima?” Gloria’s face lit up. “Of course, I do. She was our Madam’s d
Leonardo’s brows furrowed as he studied Lima’s expression. “You were supposed to meet up with her here?” His tone carried a mild irritation, laced with the growing tension in the room. She nodded, her gaze steady. “Yes, she called me just a few minutes ago.” Ricardo caught Leonardo’s eye, and an unspoken understanding passed between them. Something wasn’t right, and the longer Arya remained unreachable, the more Leonardo’s unease grew. “My tech guy should have footage from the convent gates,” Ricardo offered, breaking the silence. “Even the secret escape gates that are supposed to be well hidden. If she hasn’t left the convent, we’ll know soon enough.” Leonardo gave a terse nod, his eyes shifting back to Lima. “What exactly were you two meeting up for?” Ricardo pressed, his suspicion evident. Lima shrugged, her nonchalance almost too casual. “I have no idea. She just called and asked me to meet her here. Said she had something urgent to discuss.” “Well, she’s off the gri