★★Mariella's POV★★



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As she talks to the man, completely unaware that we were closing in, I tilt my head, studying her. Then, with a smirk, I say, "She's cute."

Leon, caught off guard, follows my gaze before snapping his eyes back to me. "Were you planning to actually tell me she was right there, or were you just gonna admire her all night?" he says, irritation creeping into his tone.

I roll my eyes. "I just did, didn't I?"

Leon exhales sharply, pulling out his phone to text Damien. Across the room, Damien catches the message, nudges Antonino, and both of them shift their focus to Elena. Damien nods in our direction, and Leon glances at me.

"Now what?" I ask, crossing my arms.

Leon pockets his phone and shrugs, "We'll just take her when no one's looking."

I stop in my tracks, whipping around to face him. "Wait, what?"

He looks at me, confused. "What?"

I put my hands on my hips. "Dude, does everything have to end in abduction and violence? The poor girl won't even say a single word to you guys about Niko if she's scared out of her mind."

Leon sighs, tilting his head. "Oh, and you have a bright idea? Care to share with the class?"

A slow grin spreads across my face. "Didn't think you'd ask, husband."

Leon freezes. "Hus—"

But before he can question it, I grab his hand and drag him towards Elena. The sultry rhythm of jazz music fills the air, the golden glow of chandeliers casting a warm ambiance over the room. Leon tugs at my grip slightly, leaning in.

"Baby," he mutters through clenched teeth, "what the hell are you doing?"

I don't answer. Instead, once we're close to Elena, I turn abruptly, placing his hands on my hips. His brows shoot up, but a slow, entertained smirk tugs at his lips.

"Dance," I command softly.

He chuckles under his breath but plays along, gripping my waist with one hand while taking my other in his. "This is fun," he mutters, but his movements are effortless, his body leading mine with practiced ease.

I lean in slightly, my lips barely brushing his ear as I whisper quickly, "Play along. We've been married for two years, we argue a lot, you drink too much, and you watch football like it's a damn religion."

His grip tightens slightly, his thumb brushing over my hip as he fights back a laugh. "Football, really? That's the best you could come up with?"

"Shut up and follow my lead."

Then, loud enough to catch Elena's attention, I sigh dramatically. "Honey," I say, exasperation dripping from my voice, "I just told you we won't be home by midnight! You can catch up on your stupid football game when we get back!"

Leon raises a brow, fully slipping into character. "Oh, so now my hobbies are stupid?" he fires back, his voice laced with fake irritation. "Forgive me for wanting to relax after dealing with your dramatics all day."

I gasp, placing a hand on my chest. "My dramatics? Are you kidding me right now, Leon?"

Elena turns slightly, her gaze flicking toward us, curiosity piqued. I bite my lip, playing up my frustration, and let out a shaky sigh.

"Unbelievable," I mutter, shaking my head. "You know what? I just—I need a drink, or I swear I'm going to scream." I pretend to blink back tears, my voice cracking slightly as I turn toward Elena, who is now fully watching us.

She hesitates before stepping forward. "Uh... is everything alright?"

I turn to her, as if just realizing she was there, and let out an embarrassed chuckle. "Oh, God—sorry, I didn't mean to make a scene," I say, lowering my voice. "It's just... marriage is hard, you know?"

She gives me a sympathetic smile. "Trust me, I get it."

Leon snorts under his breath, and I jab my heel into his foot. He barely flinches.

Elena glances between us before stepping closer. "Do you... do you need a minute? There's an office upstairs where you can sit and breathe."

I exhale in relief, clutching her hand like she's my savior. "That would be amazing. Thank you."

She nods, gesturing for me to follow, and I throw a smug glance at Leon before slipping my arm through hers.

"Don't worry, sweetheart," Leon calls after me with a smirk, "we'll finish this argument later."

"Oh, I'm counting on it," I reply sweetly before disappearing into the crowd with Elena.

And just like that, I walked us right into her world.

As we make it upstairs, I pretend to wipe my crocodile tears, sniffling dramatically as Elena leads me into an office. She closes the door behind us, her brows furrowed in concern.

"Are you okay?" she asks gently.

I let out a shaky breath, rubbing my arm like a broken woman. "Yes... I just—" I sniff, voice trembling. "I just can't take it anymore. With him."

Elena sighs, rubbing my back in comfort. "I totally get it. All my friends are married, and they're always talking about their husbands—drama, fighting, affairs. Honestly, it makes me not want one," she admits, giving me a small, knowing smile.

I exhale sharply, placing a hand over my chest. "Thank you. You're actually so sweet," I say, my voice laced with fake vulnerability.

She smiles, a little less guarded now. "Of course. I'm just looking out for other women. Anyway, that old man wouldn't leave me alone back there."

I let out a soft laugh. "Well, I'm glad I could rescue you."

She grins, but a pang of guilt tightens in my chest. Lying to her like this—it almost feels wrong. Almost.

Then, footsteps echo from outside the door. My stomach tenses. Show time.

"Elena," I say softly, my expression shifting. "I'm sorry."

Her smile falters. Confusion flickers across her face. "Sorry? How do you kn—"

Before she can finish, the door swings open, and in stride Leon, Damien, and Antonino.

Elena stiffens, her eyes darting between them and me. "Uh... what the hell is going on?"

Leon smirks, leaning against the doorframe. "Elena, I see you've found my beautiful wife." His voice drips with amusement.

I roll my eyes and cross my arms. "He's not my husband. We're not married."

Leon scoffs. "That's debatable."

Elena raises her hands slightly, backing away. "Look, I don't know what's happening here, but I don't know you people. So, if you don't mind, I'd like to leave."

She turns toward the door, but Damien steps in front of her, towering over her as he crosses his arms. "What? You don't like our company?" he asks, tilting his head.

Elena squares her shoulders, defiant despite the nervous flicker in her eyes. "Please move, or I'll call the cops."

Damien lets out a slow chuckle, shaking his head. "Wow. I'm shaking in my boots."

Antonino snickers beside him, while Leon steps forward, cutting through the tension. "Alright, let's skip the pleasantries." His gaze sharpens as he studies her. "Do you know me?"

Elena glances at me before looking back at him. "No."

Leon exhales through his nose, unimpressed. "I'm sure the name Leon Laurent rings a bell."

Her entire body locks up. Her breathing hitches.

Yeah, she knows exactly who he is.

She takes an instinctive step back but bumps into Antonino. Panic flashes across her face. "Please... don't hurt me."

I step forward, hands up in a calming gesture. "No one's touching you, Elena," I say softly. "We just need to ask you a few questions."

Elena looks at me, hesitant, before shifting her gaze back to the men surrounding her. Slowly, she exhales. "You're the French mafia?" she murmurs. "I've heard of you."

Then her eyes land on me, scrutinizing me more closely. A shadow of recognition flickers in them.

"And you... I think I've seen you before."

I tilt my head. "From where?"

She doesn't break eye contact. "Serpente."

Silence thickens the air. My stomach clenches.

How the fuck does she know that name?

I step toward her, voice low. "Come lo sai?" (How do you know that?)

Elena swallows hard before answering, "Sei piuttosto conosciuta negli Stati Uniti per i tuoi omicidi. (You're quite known in the States for your killings) ."

I blink. Well, damn. I'm famous.

Leon pinches the bridge of his nose, sighing. "Mari, not everyone here speaks Italian."

I smirk, crossing my arms. "She just said I'm pretty well-known in the States. Guess I'm a celebrity."

Antonino snorts. "Famous? What, like an influencer?"

I shoot him a glare. "No, jackass. For killing."

Leon's eyes narrow slightly. "Wait... you're Serpente?"

I give him a look. "Seriously? This is what's shocking you right now?"

He leans back, clearly taking it in. "Huh. That explains a lot."

"Yeah, yeah, we can unpack that another time," I say, turning my attention back to Elena.

Leon steps forward again, cutting straight to the chase. "You know a guy? Fucker, stupid piece of shit named Niko Zervos?"

Elena stiffens. The hesitation lasts only a second before her expression shifts—anger simmering beneath the surface.

Her jaw clenches. "Niko?" she spits. "Yeah, I guess you could say we know each other very well."

The venom in her voice tells me everything I need to know. This just got interesting.

I hop onto the desk, crossing my legs, leaning back on my palms. The room is thick with tension, but Leon? He's watching me like he's already won some kind of game. He smirks, his dark eyes glinting with amusement before he winks at me.

I bite my lip, warmth creeping up my cheeks as I quickly look away.

You're not helping, baby.

Damien, who's completely unfazed by our little moment, tilts his head, arms crossed. "Very well?" he echoes, his voice dipping with curiosity. "What do you mean by that?"

Elena exhales sharply, glancing between us before finally deciding to speak.

"On the surface, I'm just a rich politician's daughter," she starts, voice steady but edged with something darker. "My father is well-connected in Greece, has friends in high places. People assume I'm nothing more than a privileged brat, coasting through life on his name. That's what I let them believe."

She takes a deep breath, her fingers clenching slightly. "But for the last few years, I've been digging. Uncovering the filth that rots this city from the inside out. I've been collecting dirt on the criminal underworld in Greece—names, accounts, shipments, bribes. At first, I was just an observer. An outsider looking in."

Leon watches her closely, his expression unreadable. "But then you became a target," he guesses.

Elena nods. "The deeper I dug, the more dangerous it became. Then I got too close. And Niko—" she swallows hard, her eyes flashing with something between fury and fear. "He found out."

Damien lets out a low whistle, shaking his head. "Sweetheart, you didn't just test the fire—you walked straight into the flames."

She huffs a dry laugh. "Yeah, and now I'm the one left with the scars."

Antonino raises an eyebrow. "If you've got dirt on the underworld, why haven't you used it?"

Elena scoffs. "Because it's not enough. Niko doesn't leave loose ends, and I've been trying to get close enough to him for years. Every time I think I have something solid, it slips through my fingers. Either someone disappears, or they end up dead."

Leon hums, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully. "So you've been trying to dig his grave but can't get close enough to finish the job?"

She nods. "Exactly."

He smirks, a slow, dangerous thing. "Then maybe it's time we help you."

Elena looks at him warily. "And why would you do that?"

I swing my legs idly, playing with a loose thread on my glove. "Because, darling, we despise Niko just as much as you do."

She studies me carefully before flicking her gaze back to Leon. "And what's your plan, Laurent?"

Leon leans in slightly, his voice smooth but laced with something sinister. "Simple. We put you exactly where you need to be—inside his circle. You keep playing your role, but with us backing you up. You get closer, and we make sure no one 'disappears' before we're done."

Elena exhales sharply. "You make it sound easy."

Damien grins. "It's not. But it's better than running in circles."

She hesitates, her mind working through every possibility, every risk. Then she looks at me, as if searching for something.

I hold her gaze and say, "You want him gone? Then work with us. I know it's a gamble, but you're out of options."

A long silence stretches between us. Then, finally, she nods.

"Alright," she says. "I'm in."

Leon leans back, exuding his usual effortless confidence. "Then it's settled," he says smoothly. "Damien and Antonio will give you our contacts. Pleasure to meet you, Elena." His voice is calm, but there's an unmistakable weight behind his words—like a deal has just been sealed, whether she realizes it or not.

Elena gives him a polite but wary nod, her sharp gaze flicking from Leon to Damien and Antonio. "Pleasure to meet you all," she says, her voice steady, but there's a guardedness beneath it, like she knows she's just stepped into something far bigger than she anticipated.

She reaches for the door, pushing it open with deliberate ease. Damien and Antonio exchange glances before following her out, their footsteps fading as the door swings shut behind them with a soft click.

Silence settles in the room.

I exhale, finally turning back to Leon. He's already watching me, leaning lazily against the desk, arms crossed, a glint of something unreadable in his dark eyes.

I raise an eyebrow. "What?"

His lips twitch, amused. "You tell me, Princess."

Something about the way he says it makes my pulse skip, but I roll my eyes, refusing to give him the satisfaction.

Oh, we are not doing this right now.

Leon's eyes gleam with mischief as he leans against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. His smirk is pure arrogance, like he's got me exactly where he wants me.

I raise a brow, matching his energy. "Hi, handsome." My voice drips with playful teasing, but I know damn well I'm in trouble.

He chuckles, low and deep. "Hi, wife."

Shit.

My stomach flips. I knew that little roleplay would come back to bite me. I shake my head, rolling my eyes like I'm unaffected, but my pulse betrays me. "That was just for show, Laurent. Like I said—we're not married."

Leon pushes off the wall, stalking toward me with slow, deliberate steps. The heat in his gaze makes my throat dry, my body tense. I swallow hard as he stops right in front of me, his hands landing on my knees. His grip is firm, teasing, and then—he spreads my legs apart, stepping between them.

"Roleplay?" His voice is softer now, almost disappointed. His hands slide up my thighs, and my breath hitches. "That's a damn shame, sweetheart. Here I was thinking you were finally proposing to me."

His fingers curl around my waist, and in one smooth motion, he pulls me up against him. Instinctively, my legs wrap around his waist, locking him in place. His smirk deepens, satisfied.

"You gonna deny it, baby?" he murmurs, his lips brushing dangerously close to mine. "Or should I get down on one knee and make it official?"

Oh-

As I stood there, my voice trembled as I tried to form words, "Please, Leon... we've only known each other for a couple of months. I don't even know your favorite color." I looked up at him, my eyes locking onto his, and he gazed back at me with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. His fingers brushed against my lips, sending shivers down my spine, and I felt like I was melting into his touch.

"Red," he said, his voice low and husky, and I felt a jolt of surprise at how quickly he responded. But before I could react, he he tilts his head slightly, his smirk full of mischief as he drops a bombshell: "And you're not denying it. Do you want to marry me, Mariella?" His words were laced with a teasing tone, but his eyes told a different story - they were burning with a desire that made my cheeks flush.

My stomach tightened. My breath hitched.

I pushed him away, trying to play it cool, and said, "Not funny, asshole." But he just chuckled and leaned in, his lips grazing my neck, sending trails of fire down my skin.

"I'm not laughing." His breath is hot against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine. "Fine, we'll take it slow. Start from the beginning." His lips trail lower, pressing teasing kisses along my collarbone. As he kissed my neck, I closed my eyes, letting the sensation wash over me, and moan.

"Uh..favorite season?" I asked, trying to focus on the conversation, but his lips on my skin made it hard to think straight. "Winter," he replied, his voice low and smooth, and I felt a shiver run down my spine as he kissed my collarbone again.

I grabbed his jacket, steadying myself as I moaned, and he groaned in my ear, his warm breath making me tremble. "Continue," he whispered, his lips tracing the curve of my neck, and I tried to swallow, but my mouth was dry.

As I struggled to think, I couldn't help but notice the bulge in his pants, and my mind went blank. But then, somehow, I managed to say, "Favorite meal?" The words tumbled out of my mouth, and he groaned, his fingers slipping into my dress, tracing the curve of my back, and down my ass.

His fingers brushed against my inner thigh, and I felt a spark of electricity run through my body. He lifted his hand, his fingers trailing up my thigh, and stopped at the edge of my pussy. His fingers hovered, teasing me, and then his gaze lifted to mine, dark with satisfaction "You," he murmured, his voice gravel and sin. "I could feast on you for days." His voice was husky, and his eyes locked onto mine, burning with desire.

Then his lips crashed against mine—possessive, hungry, claiming me in a way that left no room for second thoughts. His fingers found my clit, circling, pressing, drawing out a sharp moan that he swallowed greedily, and I moaned, my lips parting to let him in. His tongue roamed my mouth, claiming me, as his fingers curled and uncurled, hitting my sweet spot. His fingers curled inside me, and I gasped his name, as he worked his magic, his fingers sliding in and out of me, making me ride the wave of pleasure.

"Leon," I moaned, nails digging into his shoulders.

"Fuck," he growled against my lips. "So tight. My fingers can barely fit."

His words alone made my body shudder, made my thighs tremble. Then he pressed closer, his voice thick with desire.

"Imagine my cock buried deep inside you," he whispered, his breath hot against my skin. "Stretching your pretty little pussy until all you can do is scream my name."

My body clenched around his fingers, the tension coiling tighter, hotter.

His fingers curled again, hitting that spot—oh, God—hitting it just right, and I shattered. My moan broke into a sharp cry as pleasure flooded through me, my body pulsing around him.

Leon watched, drinking in every second, his lips parted slightly as he dragged his fingers out, slick and glistening. He held my gaze as he brought them to his lips, his tongue slowly, deliberately licking them clean.

"Sweetest thing I've ever tasted," he murmured, smirking as he closed the distance between us again.

Before I could even catch my breath, he kissed me—hard, deep, his tongue tangling with mine.

And just like that, I knew I was in trouble. Because Leon wasn't the kind of man you walked away from. He was the kind of man who took what he wanted.

And right now, I was what he wanted.

Leon pulls back just enough for our breaths to mingle, his forehead resting against mine. My legs tremble, barely able to hold me up, and my fingers cling to his jacket like he's the only thing keeping me upright. His dark eyes are hooded, heavy with something raw, something possessive.

Then, in a voice so low it's nearly a growl, he whispers, "Tu es à moi pour toujours. (You are mine forever.)"

My heart stutters. I blink up at him, my breathing uneven. "What does that mean?" I murmur, my voice unsteady.

Leon smirks, that dangerous smirk, and presses a soft, lingering kiss to my forehead. "Don't worry about it," he says, voice smooth, effortless—like he didn't just brand me with words I don't understand.

I tilt my head, suspicion creeping in, but before I can push, he grabs a tissue and kneels slightly, his movements deliberate. I shiver as he wipes my thigh, his touch slow, teasing, as if he's memorizing every inch of my skin.

Then I say it, my voice laced with meaning. "Hai ragione, non l'ho negato, (You're right, I didn't deny it.)"

Leon freezes. His eyes snap to mine, sharp and searching. "What'd you just say?" His voice is low, laced with something unreadable as he pulls my dress back into place.

I smirk, biting my lip as I watch his gaze flicker to my mouth, darkening with hunger. Then, I throw his words right back at him.

"Don't worry about it," I murmur, my tone dripping with challenge.

His expression shifts, the amusement in his smirk turning into something far more dangerous. Before I can react, his hand moves—fingers wrapping around my throat, his touch firm but not yet applying pressure.

My breath catches instantly. My pulse pounds against his palm.

"The smart mouth of yours needs to be taught a lesson, huh?" he murmurs, tilting his head as his fingers flex slightly against my skin, just enough to remind me he's in control.

I swallow hard, my entire body burning at the implication. What does he mean by that? My mind races, but the way he looks at me—predatory, knowing—tells me he already has his answer.

A satisfied smirk tugs at his lips as he sees my reaction. Then, just as quickly, he releases me, smoothing a hand through my hair, fixing me up like nothing just happened.

I'm still staring at him, wide-eyed, lips slightly parted, trying to catch my breath.

He chuckles, shaking his head. "Fix your face," he mutters, smirking as he brushes his thumb against my bottom lip.

I blink, snapping my mouth shut, heat rushing to my cheeks.

His hand finds mine, fingers lacing through with effortless possession. Then, like nothing happened, he says, "We need to head back. We've been gone for thirty minutes."

Shit that long?

And just like that, he leads the way back to the charity event, like he didn't just wreck me against a table, like he didn't just leave my mind spinning with everything he's promised—and everything he hasn't said yet.

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Well well well...

Things just got interesting. So much is going on AH!

Bye, lovies! (っ◔◡◔)っ

Maddie♡

"This is Elena's character, but you are more than welcome to envision her however you like."