Chapter 7
Adelia was instantly on her feet. She rushed to the side of the massive, silk-draped bed. The soft, elegant warmth of the bedside lamps illuminated Leonidas’s face. He was shifting restlessly, his broad shoulders tensing as pain broke through the haze of the medication.
"Mr. Ashcombe?" Adelia whispered, leaning over him. "Sir, are you awake?"
Leonidas’s dark eyes fluttered open. It took a moment for them to focus on the beautiful, worried face hovering above him.
"Adelia," he breathed, his voice a low, raspy rumble. He blinked, looking around the familiar, luxurious confines of his master suite. "We are home."
"Yes, sir," she answered, a profound wave of relief washing over her. "Marcus secured the estate. You are safe."
Leonidas closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a long, shuddering sigh. "The pain," he muttered, his jaw clenching.
"Nurse Grant left instructions," Adelia said quickly, moving toward the medical tray. "I can administer a dose of the painkiller through the IV. It will help you sleep."
"No," Leonidas commanded sharply, his eyes snapping open. "No more narcotics. I need a clear head. The northern families will not sit idly by after I dismantled their transport team. I need to be awake."
"But the doctor said..."
"Do you believe a doctor understands the necessity of survival in my world?" Leonidas asked, his voice gaining strength despite the physical agony. He reached out with a trembling, tattooed hand and grabbed her wrist gently. "Do not sedate me, Adelia."
Adelia looked down into his cold, observant eyes and saw the fierce, unyielding willpower that defined him. She nodded slowly, setting the syringe back down on the tray.
"I won't," she promised.
"Bring me some water," he requested, his grip on her wrist lingering for a fraction of a second before he let go.
Adelia moved gracefully to pour a glass of water from a crystal carafe. She returned to the bed and gently supported the back of his neck, helping him lift his head just enough to drink. His skin was warm, his dark hair messy against the pillows. For a moment, the terrifying mafia boss was entirely dependent on her, and the intimacy of the act made her heart race.
"Thank you," he murmured as she lowered him back down.
He stared at the ceiling, the silence stretching between them.
"Why did you do it, Adelia?" Leonidas asked quietly into the dim room. "Why did you risk your life for a man you barely know? The men surrounding Domenic would have killed you without a second thought."
Adelia sat back down in the plush armchair, her hands folding over her white apron. "I couldn't watch them erase you," she answered honestly. "You have always treated the staff with respect. You never looked at us like we were invisible. I saw what they were trying to do, and I just reacted."
"You possess a fierce loyalty," Leonidas observed, turning his head to look at her. "It is a rare commodity in this house."
"It isn't a commodity to me, sir," Adelia whispered, her expressive eyes locking onto his. "It is freely given."
Leonidas stared at her, the profound truth of her words striking him harder than a bullet. The quiet, mutual affection they had harbored in stolen glances over the past few months had just been thrust violently into the open.
"Are you aware that by staying in this room, you are painting a target on your own back?" Leonidas asked, his deep voice softening into a quiet, vulnerable register.
"I know," Adelia answered, her voice steady. "I am not afraid."
"Will you come here, Adelia?" Leonidas asked, holding his hand out toward her.
Adelia hesitated for only a second before standing up. She walked to the edge of the bed and placed her small, delicate hand into his large, rough one. His grip was surprisingly gentle as he pulled her slightly closer.
"Do you think I am a monster?" Leonidas asked quietly, his thumb tracing the back of her hand.
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"I think you are a man surrounded by vipers," Adelia answered, echoing a truth she had known for a long time. "And I think you will tear this city apart to protect what is yours."
"Will you stand by my side while I burn it down?" Leonidas asked, his voice dropping to a terrifying, deadly whisper that promised absolute ruin for his enemies.
