The Mafia's Jewel (BWWM)

10

I wake up to the soft light of early morning filtering through the curtains. My first instinct is to reach for my phone on the nightstand. It's around 11 in the morning. I lay back on the pillow, staring at the ceiling, my mind replaying the events of the previous night—the party, the shooting, and finally, finding myself in this room with Leone.

The memory of Leone's presence, his protective yet intimidating demeanor, makes me shiver slightly. I sit up and look around the room, my eyes landing on the couch where Leone was supposed to be sleeping. It's empty. He must have left sometime during the night. A small wave of relief washes over me, knowing I'm alone and don't have to face him just yet.

I sink back into the pillows, deciding to enjoy the moment. The room is filled with the gentle sounds of birds chirping outside, and the warmth of the morning sun seeps through the window, creating a serene atmosphere. I close my eyes, letting the tranquility soothe my frazzled nerves.

For a while, I simply lie there, absorbing the peace. It's a stark contrast to the chaos and fear of last night, and I want to savor every second of it. The soft rustle of leaves in the breeze and the distant hum of the city feel almost therapeutic.

After a few moments, I decide to get up and explore the room a bit more. I find a small balcony attached to the room and step outside, feeling the warm morning air on my skin. The view of the city is beautiful, a mix of historic charm and modern energy. I lean against the railing, taking it all in.

As I stand there, my thoughts wander back to Leone. Despite everything, there's a strange pull towards him—a mix of curiosity and something deeper that I can't quite place. Shaking my head, I push those thoughts aside, deciding to focus on the present.

I head back inside and make myself comfortable on the bed again, enjoying the rare moment of calm. I know that soon enough, I'll have to face the reality of our situation, but for now, I let myself bask in the warmth and stillness, grateful for this brief respite.

I decide it's time to get up and face the day. The comfort of the bed has been soothing, but the events of last night are still fresh in my mind, and I need a shower to clear my head. I swing my legs over the side of the bed and stand, stretching out the stiffness.

I head to the bathroom, hoping to wash away the remnants of stress. As I push the door open, a scream escapes my lips. I quickly turn away, my face burning with embarrassment. I had caught a glimpse of Leone's bare body as he stepped out of the shower.

Seconds later, Leone emerges from the bathroom, a short towel wrapped around his waist, water still glistening on his skin. "Sleeping beauty is awake," he says, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

"What are you still doing here? I thought you left," I snap, trying to regain my composure.

Leone raises his eyebrows at me, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Why would I leave?"

I cross my arms over my chest, trying to appear nonchalant. "Are you done with the bathroom? I need to wash up," I say, carefully avoiding looking at his bare chest.

Leone smirks, stepping closer. "You like what you see?" he asks in a seductive tone, his voice dripping with confidence.

"Don't flatter yourself," I retort, my cheeks heating up even more. I force myself to meet his gaze, refusing to let him see how flustered I am.

Leone steps closer, his presence filling the space between us. "Your words say no, but your eyes say yes," he murmurs, his voice low and teasing.

I let out a sigh, knowing there's no use in denying it. "Okay, I have to admit you have a really nice body for a mafia guy."

Leone raises his brows as if offended. "What does that mean?"

"Mafia guys usually have a dad bod," I admit, trying to keep a straight face.

Leone just chuckles, the sound warm and surprisingly genuine. "Good thing I'm not a daddy anytime soon," he says with a wink.

I roll my eyes at him and start to walk past, but he catches my arm, his grip gentle yet firm. "Are you alright?" he asks, his tone serious now, referring to the events of last night.

"I'm fine," I tell him, though the memory still makes my heart race. I meet his gaze, trying to convey confidence and assurance.

Leone looks at me for a moment longer, as if assessing my sincerity. Finally, he nods. "You should get ready. I'll take you home."

I pull my arm from his grip, the warmth of his touch lingering on my skin.

~

We travel back home in a car Leone had called. Michael, Leone's right-hand man, came to pick us up from the hotel. Leone is in the passenger seat, talking on the phone in rapid Italian, discussing the events that took place in the club. His voice is tense, a stark contrast to the usual calm demeanor he shows around me.

I meet Michael's gaze in the rearview mirror. "I hear there was a shooting," he says, his tone laced with concern.

"Yeah, it's no big deal," I reply, trying to downplay the chaos from the night before.

"Lucky nothing happened," he says, his eyes flicking to me with a hint of reproach.

The car drives on for a while, the city streets gradually becoming more familiar as we approach my neighborhood. The tension from the night's events slowly begins to lift as I see the familiar sights of home.

We finally pull up in front of my residence. I open the door and step out, feeling the cool morning air on my skin. Leone is still on the phone, his conversation sounding heated, but he looks at me, his eyes softening slightly as they meet mine.

"Well, thanks for the ride," I say, offering a small smile before turning to head inside.

As I walk towards my front door, I can feel Leone's gaze on me, a silent promise that he's still watching out for me. The weight of the night lingers, but there's also a strange comfort in knowing he's there, even if from a distance.

I unlock the door and step into the safety of my home, closing the door behind me with a sense of relief. The familiarity of my surroundings brings a soothing sense of normalcy. I lean against the door for a moment, taking a deep breath, trying to process everything that's happened.

Despite the chaos, despite the danger, a part of me can't shake the feeling that this isn't the last time I'll see Leone. And as much as I might try to deny it, there's a part of me that doesn't want it to be.

Just as I begin to relax, I hear a knock at the door. I hesitate for a moment, then walk over and open it to find Leone standing there, looking as composed as ever.

"What is it?" I ask, trying to keep my tone neutral.

"I forgot to tell you," he begins, his voice smooth. "I need you to be my assistant for a business meeting I have. The man is from Sweden, so his English is not that great. I need you to be my second pair of ears."

I blink, taken aback by the request. "Um, okay," I say, not sure how else to respond.

"Thank you, my dear," he says in Italian, his eyes lingering on mine.

We stand there for a moment, the silence thick with unspoken words. "You want a kiss or something?" I blurt out, the words escaping before I can stop them.

He smirks, leaning in slightly. "I would like that, actually."

"Goodbye, Leone," I say, quickly closing the door in his face, my heart pounding.

I lean against the closed door for a moment, trying to steady my breath. Shaking my head at the absurdity of it all, I grab a bottle of wine from the table and head to the hot tub. I slip in, still wearing my dress from yesterday, the warm water enveloping me as I take a sip of my drink.

The wine soothes my nerves, and I let myself sink deeper into the water, the events of the past 24 hours swirling in my mind. Despite everything, a part of me can't help but feel drawn to Leone—his confidence, his protectiveness, the way he seems to see right through me.

For now, though, I let the warmth of the hot tub and the wine relax me, savoring this rare moment of peace.