Chapter 27 Leo's Enemy
The silence stretched.Leo didn’t push.
He seemed to read her hesitation easily.“You can tell me whenever you’re ready, Liv,” he said gently.
“I don’t want you to think I’m pretending to be someone else.” He paused, then added quietly, “What you see now—that’s still me. Just… not all of me.”
Olive looked away, her chest tight, trying to steady her breathing.
The weight of what he was offering—truth without disguise—felt heavy in her hands.
Sensing the shift in her mood, Leo stood up.“I should go,” he said softly. “You need rest. You still have a duty tomorrow.”
She nodded, grateful for the space.
As he turned to leave, she spoke—her voice barely above a whisper.
“Thank you… for everything.”
She hesitated, then added firmly, “And I’ll pay you back. For all of it.”Leo stopped.
He turned back toward her, clearly about to argue—but she lifted a hand slightly, stopping him.“No arguments,” she said, her tone steady despite the tremor in her chest.
He studied her for a moment, then smiled.
And as he walked away, Leo found himself thinking the same thing again—This woman isn’t afraid of him.
And that, more than anything else, unsettled him… and drew him in all the more.
Leo had barely stepped past the gate when something felt wrong.
Too quiet.
The midday air felt strangely still, like the street had paused for a second too long.
Then—A van screeched to a stop just a few meters away.
The sharp sound cut through the noon silence.Leo stiffened instantly.
Before the engine had fully shut off, the doors slid open.
Eight men stepped out.
Not his men.
Leo took a slow step back, his body reacting before his mind could catch up.
His eyes followed them as they spread out with practiced ease, boots hitting the pavement in unhurried, confident steps.
They weren’t rushed.
They weren’t nervous.
They were used to this.
Behind him, Olive frowned, sensing the shift even before she understood it.
“Leo…?” she called softly.
She took a step toward him.
“Don’t—” Leo started.
Too late.
One of the men slammed his palm against the gate and shoved it open.
Bang.
The metal rattled loudly, echoing through the quiet neighborhood.
Olive gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.
Her eyes widened as the men walked onto their property in broad daylight, bold and unafraid—like they didn’t care who saw.
For half a second, she tried to convince herself they were Leo’s people.
Then Leo moved.
He stepped in front of her—fast and deliberate—placing himself between her and them without hesitation.
Protective.
Instinctive.
That single movement told her the truth.
They weren’t his men.
A tall man broke away from the group and stepped forward.
He had broad shoulders and thick arms covered in dark tattoos.
His black shirt clung tightly to muscle, and a heavy beard shadowed his face.
But his eyes were sharp—cold and cruel.
“So,” the man said, his voice low and rough, “this is really your hiding place.”
His gaze locked onto Leo.“This is where you lay low now, Leonardo Vescari.”
Olive’s breath caught in her throat.
Leo’s expression changed instantly.
The gentleness disappeared.
What remained was hard, controlled, dangerous.“Not here,” Leo said calmly, but there was steel beneath his voice.
“If you want something from me, we deal with it outside.”
The big man chuckled and slowly scanned the area—the small garden, the modest house, the quiet street under the afternoon sun.
Then his eyes landed on Olive.
“So this is your girl, huh,” he said slowly, a cruel smile spreading across his face.
“Someone you care about now?”He took a step toward her.
Olive stumbled back, fear flashing across her face, her heart racing.
“Don’t,” Leo said sharply.
His voice dropped—deep, commanding, unmistakably dangerous.
“Stay away from her,” he warned. “Don’t touch her.”
The tension tightened, thick and heavy under the bright daylight.
Then—The front door opened.
“Olive?” Celeste’s voice called out, worried.
“What’s going on?”Chris stepped out beside her.
The moment they saw the men standing in the yard, both of them froze.
Fear crossed Celeste’s face.“Who are you?” she demanded, her voice shaking despite her effort to stay strong.
“What are you doing here?”Olive’s heart dropped.
“Mom—Chris—go back inside!” Olive rushed toward them, panic spilling into her voice.
She gently but firmly pushed them toward the door. “Please. Go inside. Now.”
“But Olive—are you in trouble?” Celeste asked, trembling.
“Are we in danger?”“Please,” Olive begged, tears burning her eyes.
“Just go inside.”Leo heard Celeste’s fear clearly now, sharp and real in the open daylight.
The questions of Celeste cut deep.
Then, the door closed.
The house fell silent again.
Leo exhaled slowly.
He turned back to the big man.
“I’ll give you what you want,” Leo said evenly. “Just follow me.”
The man smirked.
“Smart choice.”
Before moving, Leo glanced back at the house.
For a brief moment, he saw Olive through the window—hands pressed against the glass, eyes wide with fear, refusing to look away.
Their eyes met.
Something unspoken passed between them.
Then Leo turned and walked away from the gate.
After a moment’s hesitation, the men followed.
And Olive—heart thumping, hands shaking—stood frozen behind the window, finally realizing, this is the dark part of Leo’s world.