Matteo, Leonardo, and Alessandro, the powerful owners of De Angeli Enterprises, are in their early thirties and have built a fearsome reputation worldwide. Known for their ruthlessness and ambition, these men have amassed wealth and influence by tak...
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Leonardo gently settled Yulia onto his bed, tucking her in with care and placing a pillow into her arms. She instinctively buried her face into the softness, curling into herself in a way that made him smile. He chuckled quietly, careful not to wake her. She was exhausted, and it showed. The dark circles beneath her eyes told the story she wouldn't speak—Alessandro's sudden departure had weighed heavily on her. She had tried to hide it, but Leonardo knew better.
He stood by the bed for a moment, watching her sleep, his chest tightening with a mixture of protectiveness and admiration. Yulia was strong, but she wasn't used to their lifestyle yet, to the unpredictability that came with being part of their world. She was learning, adapting, but Alessandro's absence had hit her harder than she let on. She's tougher than she knows, he thought, but he also knew they had to ease her into this life.
Leonardo turned and quietly left the room, his mind already shifting to the conversation that awaited him. Walking into his office, he found Matteo and Alessandro already there, sitting in silence. The air was thick with the scent of cigars and whiskey, the glow from the fireplace casting shadows across their faces, making them look darker, more dangerous.
Leonardo felt his pulse quicken, a wave of arousal building inside him at the sight of them. The contrast between his earlier tenderness with Yulia and the raw, masculine energy in the room now stirred something deep within him. These are my men, he thought with a sense of pride and possession. Even now, he could feel his body responding to their presence, the weight of their shared history and desire hanging in the air.
He took a seat, allowing himself a moment to enjoy the sight before speaking. "How was Italy?" he asked Alessandro, his voice smooth, switching to their native Italian to keep the conversation easier for him.
Alessandro sighed, his face hardening with the weight of his response. "Eline told Xander about Yulia. He wants to meet her as soon as possible," he replied, his voice thick with frustration. Leonardo could hear the tension, and he nodded in understanding, though his mind raced at the implications.
They continued their conversation in Italian, the flow of words easier, more natural. Alessandro's concern was palpable, and Leonardo felt a surge of protectiveness rise again. Yulia was becoming part of their world, but introducing her to Xander—someone she had no context for—complicated things.
"Why does he care?" Matteo asked, his voice gruff as he swirled his whiskey. "You're not part of it anymore." His tone was pointed, a reminder that Alessandro had distanced himself from certain parts of his past.
Alessandro shook his head. "It's not that simple. He's still family, and he knows I care about Yulia. That's enough for him to be curious."
Leonardo's mind flickered between the past and the present. Xander's curiosity wasn't something they could ignore, but the thought of Yulia being drawn into more complexities unsettled him. She was strong, yes, but still vulnerable. Would she be ready for that world? he wondered.
