Chapter 223 Whoa– slow down, Princess

Chapter 223 Whoa– slow down, Princess
♡Leila♡

“Hey, what’s going on here?”

Another huge man stepped forward, his face hidden behind a dark mask. Several men followed behind him, moving like shadows that only existed to protect him.

“Stay out of this, Fernando,” Jose snapped.

My eyes darted to Xavi.

I saw his hand slowly sliding toward the back of his pocket.

My heart dropped.

I followed his movement and then looked up at Cain.

He was staring at Jose like he wanted to tear him apart with his bare hands.

The air felt thick.

Heavy.

Like one wrong word would make everything explode.

“Come on,” Fernando said calmly, spreading his hands like he was speaking to a restless crowd. “This is a party, not a butcher shop.”

Murmurs rippled through the room.

Slowly, hesitantly, the music started playing again.

“And Fernando from Snipers saves the day again,” he added in a playful tone.

He grabbed a glass from a passing waiter’s tray and drained it in one gulp.

Cain let out a deep, irritated sigh.

Then he turned to me.

Before I could react, his hand closed around my wrist.

“Let’s go,” he growled under his breath.

Relief washed over me.

Yes.

Please. Take me away from here.

But before we could move—

“Not so fast, Cain.”

Fernando stepped right in front of us.

My body trembled just a little, but enough that I noticed.

Enough that I hated myself for it.

These men were terrifying.

Their voices were low, sharp, dangerous.

And the masks didn't make it better.

There was like monsters hiding behind pretty disguises.

“I’m not in the mood, Fernando,” Cain replied coldly.

His grip on my wrist tightened.

I winced. Pain shot up my arm, but I swallowed it down.

I didn’t say anything or complain, because I just wanted him to get me out of this place.

What was I thinking? Wanting to see his world and understand it.

This wasn’t exciting or thrilling.

This was fear. This was freaking danger.

This was death waiting patiently in expensive suits and beautiful masks.

I was foolish.

“But it’s time for the dance,” Fernando announced, spreading his arms again like he was hosting some twisted royal ball. “And as per tradition, the butterflies are exchanged and passed around.”

My head snapped up.

Butterflies?

What the hell did that mean?

I prayed—honestly prayed—that he was talking about real butterflies in general, or something symbolic.

Anything but me.

To be exchanged?

Passed around?

Like I was some object?

Like I didn’t exist?

My fear burned into anger.

Before I could stop myself, I stepped forward.

“Excuse me,” I said sharply. “I hope you aren’t referring to me as some butterfly to be passed around?”

The words flew out of my mouth before my brain could censor them.

Cain turned to look at me.

His face was hidden, unreadable.

But the slight twist of his lips whispered a guess.

He was surprised, maybe even impressed.

Even with his mask on, I could tell Fernando stiffened.

“Uh—” he hesitated. “I didn’t expect your belle to be so outspoken. I like her already.”

He reached for my hand.

Before he could touch me, Cain stepped in front of me, blocking him.

“Don’t,” Cain said flatly. “We’re not dancing tonight.”

My heart thudded hard and fast.

But somehow, his words wrapped around me like armor.

I was still angry, scared and still shaking inside, but I felt protected.

“You cannot disobey the law,” Jose said from behind us.

I turned and that’s when my eyes meet hers.

The blonde woman. Tracy.

Her eyes through the flashy mask, was staring at me like it wanted to tear my face apart.

Confusion ripped through me.

What did they think I was to Cain?

“We signed a treaty, remember?” Jose continued.

Then he grabbed Tracy’s arm and pushed her slightly toward Cain.

“Dance with her.”

My stomach dropped.

He glanced at me slowly, but calculated.

“I’ll take her,” he added, pulling on his mask.

My breath caught.

What?

“No, hey, I asked first,” Fernando protested.

I stood there, frozen.

Trying to understand what was happening.

Cain’s hand was still holding mine, not tight as before.

Fernando and his men stood on one side. Xavi and the others behind us.

Jose and his men too, and Tracy—smiling, as though she had just won a prize, and Cain was her trophy.

That’s when Mia’s words came back to me.

The Hunters. The Snipers. The Black Axe.

Jose. Fernando. Cain.

Three monsters ruling different parts of Manhattan.

Each of them controlled their own territory, their own businesses, their own darkness.

But the Black Axe and the Snipers shared borders that was why they were always clashing.

Always fighting and looking for excuses to tear each other apart.

Mia had told me all that.

She had explained the history, but she hadn’t explained this.

She hadn’t warned me about the tension that could choke a room.

About traditions that treated women like currency.

About stupid dances that felt more like deals than celebrations.

Cain tapped my hand lightly.

“Focus,” he muttered.

I blinked, pulled out of my thoughts.

He turned back to the men.

“Fine,” he said calmly. “You can dance with her, Jose.”

My heart shattered.

“Hey—”

“Cain—”

Fernando’s voice and mine overlapped.

But he didn’t look at me.

He released my hand.

And the moment he did—

I felt empty.

Like something had been ripped out of me.

I turned to Xavi.

He avoided my eyes. His body language said everything.

He was backing off.

It was official.

I was on my own.

What the hell?

There was no way—

No way—

I was about to dance with this scary man with a twisted smile and dangerous eyes.

Not in a million years.

Cain lifted his hand before I could even open my mouth.

Just like that, he silenced me.

“But I don’t want your sister, José,” he said calmly, cruelty sitting right on his tongue. “I want your fiancée.”

My heart skipped.

I frowned. Sister?

The blonde… was his sister?

Jose tilted his head, amused. “Ah, too bad. Mary didn’t come with me. She’s not feeling well.”

Cain scoffed softly. “Is she now?”

“Yes,” Jose replied, pretending to be irritated. “Unfortunately.”

Cain’s gaze shifted past him. “Looks like your wish just came true.”

Jose turned sharply.

So did I.

And my breath stopped.

Three steps away from us stood a woman who looked like she had walked straight out of a myth.

She was… unreal.

Her mask only covered her eyes, leaving the rest of her face exposed—smooth golden skin, high cheekbones, full soft lips, eyes that shimmered like starlight. Her long dark hair fell down her back like silk, framing her perfectly sculpted face.

She looked like Aphrodite herself.

Like beauty had chosen one body and settled there.

My jaw dropped before I could stop it.

Mary was stunning.

Painfully stunning.

If I weren't straight, I would have probably fallen in love on the spot.

Wait.

Was that why Cain had chosen Jose as an exchange partner instead of Fernando?

So he could dance with her? Did he preplan this?

Something sharp twisted in my chest.

Was he really putting me in danger… just for that?

Was I angry?

Jealous?

Feeling small?

No.

I was annoyed. Deeply annoyed.

Jose muttered something under his breath—probably a curse—before storming off toward her.

“I’ll be back,” he snapped.

Without thinking, I grabbed Cain’s arm.

“I need to talk to you. Now.”

My voice was tight with anger.

I dragged him toward a quiet corner before he could protest.

“What the fuck are you doing, Cain?” I hissed. “I’m not dancing with that man. If you want to dance with his fiancée, then fucking do it. But leave me out of it. I want to go back home.”

The words spilled out of me like a flood.

He blinked.

“Whoa—slow down, Princess—”

“Don’t fucking call me that,” I snapped. “I’m not doing it.”

He studied me for a moment, then nodded slowly.

“You’re right,” he said quietly. “I should’ve explained the tradition to you earlier. But you were so excited, and I didn’t think it through. I thought it was just a dance. Thirty seconds, done.”

He loosened his grip on my hand, turning slightly away.

Then he stopped.

And looked back at me.

“You wanted to see my world, remember? Now you’re running from it. I knew this would happen.”

My chest tightened.

“If you want the truth about Tobias tonight,” he continued, “you have to dance. You have to cooperate so this plan works. It’s just a dance, Leila.”

His eyes locked with mine.

“And if he tries anything stupid, that toy under your dress isn’t for decoration. You know that.”

Silence fell between us.

I stared at him. Listened and took a breath.

He was right.

I was being emotional. Too emotional.

I didn’t even know why.

But this was my choice. I had asked for this.

I had walked into his world. And I wasn’t a quitter.

I straightened my shoulders.

“Fine,” I said quietly. “I’ll do it.”

I inhaled deeply.

“But next time, inform me about these stupid traditions.”