Chapter 39.

Chapter 39.
Lexi's POV.

I can't believe I'm kissing this guy. I don’t know what kind of charm he possesses, but I hate to admit he’s irresistible. Finally getting a grip on myself, I buried my fist in his abdomen, making him pull away instantaneously. Seriously, how dare he kiss me after flirting with someone else?

"This is the exact reason you keep coming after me. You just want to get in between my legs, nothing more," I shot.

"You're irresistible, true, but I swear that’s not why I’m after you," he said, doubling over and clutching his abdomen—a rare sight I don't think anyone else has ever seen.

"So the Impenetrable Mafia Don can actually be penetrated? Very interesting!" I smirked, mentally high-fiving myself for getting the upper hand.

"That's because it's you. I'm impenetrable with any other person," he replied, still crouching down, catching his breath.

"Whatever," I rolled my eyes, turning to leave. But before I could step away, he held my hand, standing up straight with an intensity in his eyes that made my heart flutter against my will.

"Where are you going? We still have unfinished business," he said.

"What unfinished business? We never started anything," I replied, trying to break free from his hold, but his grip was firm, unyielding.

"We did... from that very first night we fucked at the bar," he said, and I quickly pressed my palm against his mouth, looking around nervously to see if anyone had heard him, especially Sam.

"Are you crazy?" I whisper-yelled.

“Mmmm,” he mumbled against my palm, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "I think I’ve found your Achilles heel," he chuckled, clearly amused.

"You found nothing. I have no Achilles heel," I defended, though my heartbeat betrayed my bravado.

He chuckled softly, holding my gaze with an intensity that warmed my cheeks in spite of my irritation. 

"They’re beautiful... your eyes," he said, his voice low and genuine, as if he were peeling back layers of a façade I didn’t even know I had.

I shot him a hard glare, but his lips curled into a playful smile. "They're even more beautiful now," he added, tilting his head slightly as if trying to read my thoughts.

"Go say that to your plus one waiting for you inside," I rolled my eyes, finally pulling my hand away from his grip.

"It's confirmed... You're really angry," he said, grabbing my hand again.

I scoffed. "Angry? Why would I be?"

"I'm just wondering how someone who said he has feelings for me can be touched and kissed by a slut," I shot back.

"I really don't have anything to do with that woman you saw me with. She's... let's just say she's my business partner," he explained and I scoffed. Who's he trying to fool?

"Yeah, I could see the business transaction that took place between the two of you." I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm. 

He sighed, his brow furrowed. "I’m telling the truth, Lexi...Yes, she touched me and sort but it meant nothing. Those were empty...no emotion is attached."

I don't believe this guy no matter the measure of sincerity in his gaze. Wait, why the hell am I still even here, listening to him?

"Whatever," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

Without a second thought, I turned and headed back to the hotel. My mind spiraled with thoughts. Sam's love confession echoed in my head, leaving me unsettled. Awkward encounters at the office were now inevitable, and the very workplace romance I’d wanted to avoid had manifested. 

Then there was Leonardo, with his effortless charm. He could make any woman swoon, and unfortunately even me. There's no emotions attached but this guy can make any woman lustful. 

I shook my head, trying to dismiss the thoughts as I reached my hotel room. Fumbling for my keys in my purse, I noticed a strange shadow flickering on the floor.

Cautiously, I retrieved my gun, turning quickly to confront the intruder who turned out to be Leonardo. He followed me? 

He raised his hands in surrender. "Whoa! It's just me, baby."

"What are you doing here? Why did you follow me?" I demanded, keeping the gun trained on him.

"Because we haven’t come to a closure," he replied calmly.

"Closure?" I raised an eyebrow skeptically. 

"Yeah, but can you put that down for a while?" he said, jabbing a finger towards my gun.

"No..." I moved the gun to his forehead, a smirk playing at my lips. "...try anything silly and I’ll blow your head off."

He chuckled softly, amusement flickering in his eyes. "I don’t think you can."

"Really?" I challenged, raising an eyebrow. "Dare me and see."

He met my gaze steadily for a few heartbeats before the corners of his lips tilted up in a sly grin. "I wouldn’t dare."

"Good choice," I said, lowering my gun and tucking it back into my purse with a flick of my wrist.

I turned to the door, fumbling with the lock. As I swung open the door, Leonardo buzzed inside quickly before I could process anything. My irritation surged like a tide, washing over the last remnants of calm.

I stepped into the room and shot him a hard look. "Get out," I spat, annoyance lacing my voice.

He stood his ground. "We'll decide that after you hear me out."

"Leonardo, what’s wrong with you? Why do you keep acting like a rebellious kid?" Frustration bubbled beneath my facade.

"Call it whatever you want, but I’m not leaving this place until we talk," he said, confidently striding toward my bed, as if he owned the space.

"We’re talking now, so take your leave." My voice was a command, resolute and edgy.

"No, it's that ‘talk talk’ kind of talk I want," he replied, plopping down on my bed with a defiant air.

I stared at him, disbelief washing over me like ice water. Shaking my head, I muttered under my breath, “You’re insane.”

"Fine... I’m listening," I finally relented, my resolve wavering. If appeasing him would get him out of here, so be it.

I crossed the room and perched on the edge of the bed but maintained a considerable distance between us, a physical reminder of our unbridgeable gap.

"You keep doing this," he said, gesturing at the space between us.

"What?" I shot and he gestured to the space between us.

"That's to remind you that we can never be together. We'll always be miles apart," I said, my voice steady.

He heaved a heavy sigh, the kind that echoed with unspoken emotions. "Alright," he replied, standing up and starting to walk toward the door.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"Out," he answered plainly, avoiding my gaze as if it were a weight he couldn’t bear.

"What about the 'talk talk' kind of talk you wanted to have with me?" I pressed and he halted.

He turned to face me, his expression a mix of frustration and resignation. "I don't think there's a need for that anymore," he said, the finality in his voice slicing through the air like a knife.

God knows how hard I struggled to keep a composed face. Inside, though, I felt a burst of joy welling up—my wish was finally coming true. He was leaving.

But just as I allowed myself a glimmer of hope, he started walking back toward me. Confused, I raised an eyebrow. "What?" I asked, uncertainty flooding my chest.

As the words left my lips, an unexpected shattering sound erupted from the window behind me. I turned, eyes wide, but before I could comprehend the chaos, Leonardo closed the distance between us, pushing me aside with an urgency that caught me off guard. 

In that instant, the ground beneath us vibrated violently, and a deafening explosion thundered through the air, shaking everything in its path. I fell to the floor with a painful thud, Leonardo's body pinning me down, shielding me from whatever horrors lurked just beyond our sanctuary.