Healed (Kindle Published)

Chapter 7 - A Dangerous Game

Kia

I stared at the ceiling for hours, trying to figure out how to work out my plan. Several days had passed, and I was still glued to this house. I was supposed to be with Vivian. I had to do something bold. If I couldn't even meet him, how could I possibly trap him?
This plan felt ridiculous. How could I make him fall in love with me if I couldn't even breathe in the same room as him?

A soft knock sounded on the door before it opened.
"Yes, come in," I called out.

Leo stepped inside. He was a good man, he was different from what I had first judged. Respectful and disciplined. Barely twenty years old, yet tangled up with such a dangerous mafia group. Honestly, I pitied him.

He walked over and placed a brown bag on the couch. "Hey, good morning," he said with a shy smile, two dimples appearing on each side of his cheeks.

I nodded, glancing at the bag. "Good morning. What's in the bag?"

He hesitated, threading his fingers together nervously. "I... brought this dress for you. Since you don't have your own clothes and have been wearing mine. I don't know if you'll like it, but I tried my best to pick something you might like."

I smiled softly at his innocence. How generous he was.

I eagerly grabbed the bag. "Thank you, Leo. I'd love to try it. And don’t worry about whether I like it or not. The fact that you're trying to make me comfortable means more than anything."

I had never spoken so sweetly to anyone before... but desperate times called for desperate measures. This was for the sake of my revenge.

Leo's smile widened again. His happiness didn’t annoy me but it made me jealous. How could someone still smile so easily?

"Leo, have you asked your boss?" I asked carefully.

"Yeah," he said, scratching the back of his neck. "I tried to talk to him, but he was busy. Said he'd call me later. First, he ordered me to find out about your place and send you back." He sighed. "I tried to explain your situation, but he didn't listen. He doesn’t like people around his territory. I told you... this place is a safe haven for innocents but a nightmare for offenders. And my boss always assumes people are criminals. Convincing him otherwise is... difficult."

I narrowed my eyes. "So you’re trying to say I’m an offender?" I snapped.

"No!" Leo rushed to explain. "I'm just saying it's hard to convince him you're innocent."

I stared into his eyes, searching for any sign of doubt but all I saw was sincerity.

I sighed deeply. For a moment, I thought he mistrusted me. But no, not yet. Still, I needed to do something bigger, something that would truly make him believe in my innocence.

"Leo," I said sweetly, "can you take me somewhere? Please? I'm going crazy sitting in this house. I need to breathe some real air." I dropped my gaze dramatically. "Guarin’s men kept me locked up for a week... and now it feels like I’m back in the same nightmare."

Leo looked torn. "Kia, without the boss’s permission, I can’t. It’s risky. You know that."

I reached across the table and placed my hand on his. "Come on. You’re not a coward. You’re stronger than you think."

His eyes lit up, like a boy being praised for the first time. "You see me as strong?"

I gave him my biggest, most convincing fake smile. "Of course I do."

"Thank you," he mumbled, cheeks turning pink. But then his expression shifted. He broke eye contact, his voice heavy.
"But... I can’t betray my boss. He has my loyalty."