"Is there a threat to kill you?"
"No!"
Charlotte replied quickly and shook her head lightly.
Leonid's expression relaxed, then he said:
"Describe it more precisely, so I can tell you exactly how I'll respond."
"Alright… someone comes out of nowhere and speaks to you with a dry kindness, in a poisoned tone. He whispers most of the time with elegant words… but they're hollow. And his gaze chokes you, just like his hands… exactly."
The light in her dark eyes disappeared as she continued. She exhaled slowly, then leaned her face against his chest again. Her fingers clutched at his shirt as if trying to anchor herself against memories that devoured her in merciless silence.
She said in a soft voice:
"Every time he sees you, he delights in your pain… saying that breaking you makes you more beautiful in his eyes… a person like that how do you deal with him?"
Leonid was silent. He didn't rush to answer.
What Charlotte said wasn't just a question. It was a precise description of what had happened to her in secret… when he was absent, or perhaps blind to truly seeing her.
He looked down at her, watching her trembling fingers clutching his shirt, as if holding on to life itself.
His hand stopped combing her hair, and he slowly drew her in, silently trying to contain her before she overflowed.
This wasn't a question. It was a confession. The gate of silence that had been closed for so long had finally opened. And he had been waiting for that moment with painful patience.
Heavy seconds passed before Leonid whispered in a low voice:
"As for me..."
He was calm, unbothered. He continued without lifting his eyes from her trembling hand:
"No matter who this person is, I'll destroy him, plain and simple. I'll make him taste the same cup of pain, fear, and humiliation, until he realizes that messing with me has the flavor of rust… unforgettable."
Charlotte's chestnut lashes fluttered against his shirt, brushing it with hesitation, before she slowly raised her head and looked at him in disbelief.
"You… what?"
Leonid gave a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes, then said:
"I know that's impossible for you. And I won't ask you to respond the way I do… but do you know why?"
Charlotte silently shook her head.
His smile faded. He slowly pulled her onto his lap. She didn't resist, remained quiet, clinging to him, while he lowered his head and whispered near her ear, holding her gently as if afraid she might shatter under his cold gaze:
"Because… you're different from me."
His voice was soft, but steady… as if reminding himself, too.
He paused for a moment, closed his eyes slowly, then opened them, and gently lifted Charlotte's chin until their eyes met.
"I'm strong. I don't fear. I can crush anyone who stands in my way even with a breath. But you, Charlotte… you're pure, innocent. And people… they enjoy tainting purity, destroying it."
He was right.
That's what that man had told her… but if she was pure and innocent, how could she protect herself?
Charlotte bit her lower lip, a sting spreading across her cheek, almost losing her composure.
"So… how should I act?"
This time she didn't look away. She was searching for a solution, for a way out… and he was the only one offering it.
Leonid smiled calmly, murmuring as if sharing a deep secret:
"You already are acting… I'm yours. And anyone who hurts you, hurts me… so just use me."
"Don't be ridiculous!"
Charlotte protested quickly, shaking her head firmly before raising her hands to cup his face, her expression anxious and serious.
"Leonid… I'm not looking for a superhero. I want a real solution. I don't want to put you in danger every time I get hurt."
His smile faded for a moment, but he didn't look away. He studied her, as if seeing things through her eyes.
"I'm a man, Charlotte… and men don't fear pain, even if it comes with danger."
Then his tone softened a bit, but didn't lose its edge:
"I'm not an ordinary man, maybe a government employee to you. But I'm dangerous by nature, believe me."
"Leonid…"
She whispered his name, between plea and warning, as if she knew his words weren't just empty bravado.
Leonid sighed deeply, then raised his hand to gently touch her swollen cheek, in contrast to the severity in his eyes.
"Just tell me who it is, Charlotte… and he'll never touch you again. I promise."
Charlotte hesitated, her gaze wavering between a desire to confess and a fear of doing so.
She thought for a moment, then whispered, barely audible:
"It was just a question… no need to take it seriously."
She slowly lowered her hands from his cheeks and looked down, as if afraid that prolonged eye contact might betray her.
Then a faint, exhausted smile formed on her lips. She gently placed her hand on his and whispered:
"I feel sleepy now… just, don't overthink it, please."
"That's a hard request."
Leonid muttered with frustration, but he let her slip off his lap quietly.
Charlotte slid gently to the side of the bed, pulled the blanket over herself with some hesitation, and lay on her right side, as if trying to avoid further interrogation.
Leonid remained seated beside her, his eyes following her every move, before he muttered in a low voice:
"I can't force you… I know that. But just in case… let me tell you something."
He lifted the blanket from his side, lay down quietly behind her, and ran his fingers gently through her hair, softly brushing her earlobe, then sliding down the marks of their past embrace still lingering on her skin.
"A tip… or maybe a method. For facing those who delight in seeing you suffer."
"If it's running away, then don't tell me."
Charlotte grumbled, burying her face under the blanket, trying to keep his fingers off her skin.
"Running away?"
Leonid chuckled softly, lifted the blanket gently, and whispered near her ear:
"I don't hand out recycled advice from self-help books. I said face them, and I meant it, in every sense."
Since she refused to rely on him, he wouldn't force her.
But he would turn her into a woman who cannot be broken who returns harm with twice as much.
Charlotte felt a spark of seriousness in his tone. Was he truly planning to teach her how to fight back?
She hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and turned on her back to face him, her gaze calmer than ever.
"I'm… listening."
After two hours of conversation followed by silence, Leonid was certain that Charlotte had fallen completely asleep. He gently wrapped the blanket around her, then carefully leaned up from the bed without making a sound.
Leonid left the apartment with measured steps, closing the door quietly behind him. He walked silently through the hallway until he reached the elevator, pressed the button, and waited without haste.
When the doors opened, he was surprised to see Daniel standing there, staring at him with a neutral expression, tinged with a hint of lazy curiosity.
"Where are you going at this hour?"
Daniel asked in a calm tone as he stepped out of the elevator, standing in Leonid's way. His eyes narrowed slowly, as if trying to detect a suspicious answer.
"To work."
Leonid replied coldly, though his monotone tone didn't stop Daniel from immediately asking the next question:
"Work? What kind of work exactly? And why now?"
Leonid raised an eyebrow, sensing Daniel's sudden and excessive interest. He asked sharply:
"Is this an interrogation?"
Daniel pursed his lips for a moment, then said bluntly:
"I just want to make sure you're not a womanizer... and that you're not playing with Charlotte's feelings, that's all."
Leonid gave a calm smile and replied in a cool tone, emphasizing one word in particular:
"Relax, good boy… my heart has barely gotten attached to your sister Charlotte, and I doubt it ever will to another woman."
Leonid deliberately used the word "your sister," fully aware there was no blood relation between them. It stirred his jealousy somehow, because Daniel was deeply attached to Charlotte.
Daniel's jaw tightened briefly, but he replied indifferently, ignoring Leonid's intimidating tone:
"Well… let's keep it that way, always."
"Or else?"
Leonid raised his brow, his voice now barely a whisper, soaked in challenge.
"Or else?"
Daniel murmured softly, trying to gather his thoughts, then hesitated before saying:
"Do you want me to—"
Leonid interrupted him, smiling slyly, his eyes gleaming with mocking defiance.
"Yes, exactly as you're thinking, go ahead and threaten me. I want to see how bold you really are, kid."
"Me? Threaten you?"
"Yes. Why not."
Leonid nodded calmly, his eyes openly daring, clearly waiting to see if Daniel would have the courage to follow through.
Daniel took a deep breath, searching for a suitable threat, but the words wouldn't come. He didn't understand why Leonid chose to mess with him now. Damn it, he shouldn't have spoken to him like that or interrogated him in the first place.
"Look, I don't have much time, and I'm still waiting for your threat," Leonid murmured as he glanced at the time on his phone screen, adding pressure.
His voice was calm, but it carried an underlying menace, as if every moment of hesitation was a test Daniel was failing.
"Alright, alright."
Daniel waved his hands nervously, then added in a tense tone:
"I get it. Just go."
"It wasn't a lesson I was giving you a chance to show your side."
"I don't want to show any side of me. Just leave."
Daniel brushed past Leonid quickly, stood behind him for a moment before pushing him toward the elevator. He pressed the button, and the doors opened. He shoved him again until he was inside.
"Be careful. And don't go looking at other women."
He waved at him casually in farewell, then added mockingly:
"Goodbye."
"Good boy... ridiculous."
Leonid muttered with sarcasm, a crooked smile forming on his lips as he watched the doors close and Daniel turn back toward the apartment.
After getting into his car, he made his way toward headquarters. Before reaching halfway, he sent Vladimir a brief text.
The reply came shortly after:
[Vladimir: Yes.]
Leonid raised his brow confidently, closed his phone, and stepped on the gas pedal, speeding toward his destination.
Minutes later, he arrived.
He parked his car, lit a cigarette with his lighter, and closed the door without rushing.
He walked slowly through the dim parking lot, his gaze passing over everything without interest until he stopped in front of a gray car.
He took a deep drag from his cigarette, held it between two fingers, and exhaled the smoke slowly before gesturing coldly to the driver to step out.
He waited a few moments until the driver opened the door slowly, a foot emerging first.
A threatening smile curled on Leonid's lips as he watched the driver reveal himself. Then, without looking away, he dropped the cigarette and crushed it underfoot.