Forever, Amore

8.

Monroe's P.O.V

"I. Fucking. Hate. You." I spoke between pants as I stopped and arched my back, resting my hands on my knees. Leo chuckled as he turned to face me, still running but really slow so he could stay near me.

"Get your ass moving, Winter!" He yelled, clearly amused by my suffering. "You wanted to help, that means training. Lots of it. So move your ass, we still have another two miles!"

And with that, he started running again as I gasped in shock. "Two more!? I've already been running for miles!" I yelled, folding my arms over my chest. He yelled back at me, still running forward. "Finish this run and I'll buy you whatever food you want when we get home!"

I immediately sprinted to catch up, now running by his side. "I guess I could use the fresh air." I stayed causally as he gave a hearty laugh at my reaction.

When reached back to the mansion, I fell dramatically onto the front lawn. "That w-was, fuck!" I panted as Leo towered over me stretching out his forearm across his chest, looking completely unfazed by the fact we just ran six miles.

"Aren't you tired?!" But he laughed. "Amore, that was just a light jog compared to what we normally do round here. Now stretch or you'll feel it later."

So I did. I stretched out with him on the grass whilst he kept making jokes about how unfit I was. Looking out the corner of my eye, I noticed Kat stood watching us with a smile on her lips as Noah's arm snaked round her waist. "What's the deal with Kat and Noah, anyway?" I enquired to Leo who rolled his eyes with a smile. "Go give her a hand shake."

What the fuck?

"What do you mean? Did you not hear my question?"

He chuckled at me before repeating himself. "Hold out your left hand and shake hers."

So we walked over to the two of them. Leo spoke as we approached. "Now, amore, now you know a bit more I want to officially introduce you. This is Noah Valentino, he works in our IT department. The best in the business." Noah held out his hand and I shook it, realising that Leo was trying to make it subtle for me.

Smart.

"And this is Katerina Rodriguez, our best fighter and my right hand man." I held out my left hand as Kat giggled, shaking my hand. I glanced down and instantly shot my eyes over to Leo.

"Holy fuck!" I exclaimed as I saw a large diamond laying on her finger. Everyone laughed as I stood shocked. "You're engaged? To Noah!?" I smiled at them both as Noah kissed Kat's forehead. "Yupp!" She giggled as I hugged them both.

After taking for a long time about it all, my stomach growled loudly. After all, Leo did take me out on a run at five am. Neither of us could fall asleep again so he told me to get changed and we left.

He laughed before telling the others we'd catch up with them soon. "Come, amore, ill make you some breakfast. You go shower if you want."

I nodded at him before going to shower, lathering myself in coconut body wash. Walking into the closet, I was just noticing all the clothes Kat got me were navy. I only saw certain people wearing it in the house. They all worked closely with Leo, who told me they were his elites. Those were the people who were the best, but also his closest friends and family.

I was curious as to why I had to wear it too but I pulled out an outfit anyway. It was a pair of black high waisted shorts with a black laced crop top. I threw on a navy jacket with some black combat boots and untied my hair, letting the brown locks cascade down my back, before heading downstairs.

I walked into the kitchen to see Leo cooking pancakes. He always used to make me those every morning. And the sight of him cooking them again for me made my heart flutter. "Smells good!" I said, grabbing a glass from the cabinet and walking to the sink.

"Tha-" he started to speak until his words were cut short. I turned to look at him, only to see his eyes wandering all over my body. I smirked at him and started posing, flicking my jacket back to show off the short outfit I pulled out. "Take a good look, Valentino!" I laughed as he smirked at me. "Don't worry, amore, I was planning on it."

His husky words made me flush a light pink, his turn to now laugh at me. He held out a plate of pancakes topped with strawberries and honey.

He remembered.

Giving him a toothy grin, I took them and sat down at the island. "Thank you."

He sat opposite me, not eating but just watching me. I ignored his glares for a few minutes until I finished eating. "You gonna sit and stare all day?" I enquired, lifting my gaze to meet his. His eyes were filled with something I'd not seen in his eyes for a long time.

Lust. Hunger.

I squirmed under his intense stare as he leant over, wiping the corner of my mouth with his thumb. "Honey." Was all he said before he licked the honey off his thumb casually and took my plate to the sink.

Damnnnn. This man still knows how to play with my heart like that. I knew he was teasing me from his low chuckle as he walked away.

But since when did I lose at this battle with him?

Buckle up, Valentino. Because it's game time!