Under His Protection

Chapter 1: The New Guard

Dante Ricci sat in his dimly lit office, watching the city below through tall glass windows. His world was one built on fear and power, but even for a man as ruthless as him, betrayal was always just a breath away. His latest security detail had proven unreliable. Men he trusted with his life had failed to protect him when it mattered most.

He needed someone better. Someone smarter.

The door opened softly, pulling him from his thoughts. In walked Leo Moretti, the man who came highly recommended from outside the usual circle. Former military, they said. Honorable, disciplined, and unfazed by the kinds of dangers most men would flee from. Exactly what Dante needed.

Dante leaned back in his leather chair, eyes narrowing as he took in the man standing before him. Leo was tall, broad-shouldered, and radiated a calm intensity. His short, dark hair was neatly cut, and his posture was that of a man who was always in control, always alert. His dark eyes scanned the room quickly before resting on Dante, unwavering and steady.

"Leo Moretti," Dante said, his voice smooth but edged with the authority of a man who expected obedience. "I've heard a lot about you."

Leo gave a single nod. "I'm here to do the job, nothing more."

Dante's eyes flicked over Leo once more, intrigued by the man's coolness. He was used to seeing fear or admiration in the eyes of the people who worked for him. But Leo...he was different. He wasn't intimidated by Dante, nor did he seek to impress. He was simply there, a rock in a sea of chaos, and it unnerved Dante in a way he couldn't quite place.

"I need someone I can trust," Dante said, leaning forward slightly, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk. "You'll be with me everywhere. You protect me, no matter what. You disappear, you're dead. Do we understand each other?"

"Perfectly," Leo replied, his voice steady, almost cold.

For a moment, neither man spoke. Dante studied him, waiting for something, but Leo gave nothing away. He was a wall of control, his expression unreadable. Dante almost smiled. He liked that.

"I have many enemies, Moretti," Dante continued, his voice lowering. "The kind of enemies who would like to see me dead."

Leo's gaze didn't falter. "I've handled worse."

Dante's lips curled into a small smirk, amused by the man's confidence. He stood up, crossing the room to stand closer to Leo, sizing him up. Dante wasn't used to people being so unaffected in his presence, and it stirred something unfamiliar in him. He prided himself on his ability to read people, but Leo remained a mystery.

"Good," Dante finally said, stepping back. "We'll see how long that lasts."

Without another word, Leo nodded and left the room. Dante watched him go, his mind already turning over the possibilities. Something about Leo intrigued him. His calm demeanor, his quiet strength—it was different from the others who had come before. There was no fawning, no attempts to curry favor. Just pure focus and professionalism.

Dante returned to his desk, though his thoughts lingered on Leo longer than they should have. He wasn't a man easily distracted, but something about this new guard unsettled him.