Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting golden lines across the bed. Ayla stirred beneath the sheets, her body still tingling with the memory of the night before. Her limbs were draped over Leon's, his arm curled protectively around her waist as if he feared she'd vanish.
She tilted her head and watched him sleep—calm, strong, and somehow more human in the early morning quiet. Her fingers traced a lazy path along his chest, stopping at the scar near his ribs.
"Bullet wound," he said sleepily, eyes still closed.
She blinked. "You're awake."
"Hard to sleep when you're staring at me like I'm a painting."
Her lips curved into a smile. "You are kind of art, Leon Moretti."
He opened his eyes at that, catching her wrist gently and pulling her closer until their foreheads touched. "Last night… was it okay?"
"It was more than okay," she whispered. "You made me feel like I was something worth holding onto."
"You are."
Their kiss was slower this time—familiar, soft. Not hungry with need, but heavy with meaning. Ayla breathed him in like peace. But even wrapped in warmth, a chill lingered beneath her skin.
"I don't want this to end," she said softly. "But it feels like something's coming."
Leon tensed slightly. "It is. And when it does, I'll handle it."
"I want to help."
He stared at her a moment longer. "Then stay close. Don't disappear on me again."
"I promise."
But promises, she knew, were fragile things.
⸻
Daniel
The door shut with a hollow click behind him.
Daniel Monroe descended into the hidden basement, where the walls were lined with old weapons, faded maps, and confidential files — including the only picture ever taken of Leon Moretti as a teenager. That photo sat beneath a cracked glass, surrounded by red marker notes.
He lit a cigarette and stared at the photo.
"She's still with him," a voice said behind him. Harris, one of the few left in his inner circle.
"I know."
Daniel's jaw clenched as he exhaled smoke. "I warned her. I gave her a chance to stay loyal."
"And now?"
Daniel's eyes narrowed. "Now, I remind her who she buried that night."
Harris hesitated. "You think that's enough to break her?"
"No. But I'm not trying to break her." He turned slowly, eyes cold. "I'm going to shatter everything around her. Including him."
A beat passed before he added, "Start with the boy."
Harris raised a brow. "The brother?"
Daniel nodded once. "He's her weakness. And every war begins with leverage."