Under His Protection

Chapter 4: Lines Blurred

It was well past midnight by the time Dante and Leo returned to the Ricci estate. The mansion sat high on the hills above the city, a symbol of power and wealth, but tonight it felt more like a fortress—a place where they could regroup and process what had happened. The gunfight at Il Lupo had been a clear message: the Costas weren't backing down, and someone else had joined the game. Someone willing to kill.

Leo had barely said a word since they left the restaurant. He was methodical, going through the motions of checking Dante's security, calling in backup, and securing the perimeter of the house. Dante watched him from the study, the low glow of the fire casting long shadows across the room.

There was something gnawing at him, something that wouldn't let him rest. The way Leo had reacted tonight—the way he had moved to protect him without hesitation, how he had looked at Dante afterward. It was more than just a professional reaction, Dante was sure of it. He had spent years learning to read people, and Leo's face, normally a mask of calm, had given him a glimpse of something raw.

The whiskey in Dante's glass swirled as he brought it to his lips, eyes still following Leo's movements. When Leo finally finished his rounds, he returned to the study, his figure framed by the dim lighting as he closed the door behind him.

"We're secure," Leo said, his tone neutral, though his gaze lingered on Dante a little longer than usual. "No signs of immediate threat. We'll need to reassess security for the next few days."

Dante nodded, setting his glass down. "You've been on edge since the attack."

Leo's eyes flickered with something, but he remained stoic. "It's my job to be on edge."

"No, it's more than that." Dante stood and crossed the room, his gaze locked on Leo. "You were different tonight. More...intense."

Leo didn't respond right away, but Dante could see the slight shift in his posture, the tightening of his jaw. The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words. Finally, Leo spoke, his voice low. "I take my job seriously."

Dante smirked, but there was no humor behind it. "So seriously that you'd throw yourself in front of bullets for me? Come on, Moretti. I know loyalty, and I know devotion. What I saw tonight was something more."

Leo's jaw clenched. He stayed rooted to the spot, but his eyes betrayed him, flickering with the same intensity Dante had seen during the gunfight. Dante took a step closer, his heart thudding in his chest.

"You don't have to pretend with me," Dante said, his voice quieter now, almost a whisper. "I've seen how you look at me when you think I'm not paying attention. The way you tense up when anyone gets too close. It's more than just business for you."

Leo's gaze snapped to his, and for a moment, the cool facade cracked. His hands balled into fists at his sides, tension radiating from every part of him. "You're the boss. It's my job to protect you."

"And that's all it is?" Dante challenged, his eyes narrowing. "Just a job?"

The words hung in the air between them, and for the first time, Leo looked away, breaking their stare. That was all Dante needed to confirm what he had suspected. He took another step forward, close enough now to feel the heat radiating from Leo's body.

"You saved my life tonight," Dante murmured, his voice low and dangerous. "And it wasn't just because you're paid to."

Leo's fists tightened, the knuckles turning white. "I protect you because it's my duty."

Dante shook his head, his eyes softening. "No. You protect me because you care."

Leo's breath hitched, and for a split second, Dante saw the war going on behind his eyes. The internal struggle between duty and something far more personal. His stoic mask had cracked, and Dante wasn't going to let it close back up. He stepped closer, invading Leo's space, their faces inches apart now.

"I see you, Leo," Dante whispered. "You can't hide from me."

For the first time, Leo seemed to lose control. His hand shot out, gripping Dante's arm, pulling him closer. Dante's breath hitched at the sudden contact, but he didn't pull away. Leo's grip was firm, his expression a mix of frustration and something deeper—something darker.

"You don't understand what you're doing," Leo growled, his voice low and rough.

Dante's pulse quickened, his body reacting to the intensity between them. "Then make me understand."

There was a long, tense pause as Leo stared into Dante's eyes, his grip still tight. The air between them crackled with electricity, the tension that had been building for weeks finally reaching a breaking point. Dante didn't move, didn't even breathe, waiting for Leo to make the next move.

Then, without warning, Leo let go of Dante's arm, stepping back as if he had been burned. His eyes flickered with turmoil, and he clenched his fists at his sides again, fighting for control.

"I can't," Leo said, his voice rough. "You don't know what this would mean."

Dante's heart pounded in his chest, but he refused to back down. "I know exactly what it means."

Leo shook his head, backing away toward the door. "I'm here to protect you. That's all. Anything more than that... it's dangerous."

Dante took a step forward, his voice soft but firm. "We live in danger, Moretti. You and me, this entire world we're in—it's nothing but danger. But I'd rather face it with someone who cares about me."

Leo's eyes met Dante's again, the vulnerability in them barely masked. For a moment, Dante thought he might stay, that the walls between them would finally come down. But then Leo's expression hardened again, and he turned away, walking out of the study without another word.

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving Dante standing alone in the dim room, his heart still racing. He had pushed Leo, but it wasn't enough. Not yet.

Dante knew one thing for certain: Leo was more than just his guard. He was the one person Dante could trust—maybe even the only person he could care about in a world where trust was a luxury.

And he wasn't going to let Leo walk away from that.