Leo's POV

The clock on my desk ticked away the seconds. Normally, its rhythm was a comforting reminder of how many people, how many lives, moved on my command. But tonight, it grated on my nerves.

Because of her.

Lyra Carson.

Ever since she walked into my life, something had shifted. It wasn't dramatic or obvious, but it was there: subtle, like a thread being pulled loose. And the longer she stayed in my house, the more that thread unraveled.

I'd been watching her. More than I should have. Checking the security feeds too often, monitoring how she interacted with Mira, how she moved through my house like she belonged there. She was too steady, too calm for someone living under my roof. and for some reason It didn't make sense.

No one was that calm around me unless they were hiding something. And I hated loose ends.

I leaned back in my chair, pulling up the surveillance feed on my laptop. Her image flickered on the screen: sitting on the floor of Mira's room, reading to her. Mira, who had been silent for months, was clinging to her every word.

Before I could focus, my phone buzzed on the desk. A message from Matteo.

Adrian Blackwood. Seen near the estate.

My blood ran cold for a second. Then it boiled.

That son of a bitch.

Adrian Blackwood hadn't dared cross my territory in years. The last time he did, I made sure he learned his place. He was a vulture, obsessive, dangerous: a man who didn't know when to quit. If he was sniffing around here, there was a reason. A fucking problem I needed to deal with.

I dialed Matteo, and he picked up on the first ring.

"Where?" I asked, my voice sharp.

"Downtown, near a café," Matteo said. "He didn't stay long. In and out. I don't know what he's after, but it's clear he's looking for something. Or someone."

Someone.

Lyra.

The realization hit me harder than I liked.

I ended the call and let the silence stretch for a moment, the ticking of the clock filling the room once again. My jaw tightened as I stood, shoving the chair back and striding out of the office. My footsteps echoed down the marble hallways as I made my way to Mira's room, anger simmering just beneath the surface.

Lyra was inside. Her soft voice drifted through the partially open door as she read to Mira. I stopped outside, leaning against the frame, watching them. She was sitting on the edge of Mira's bed, her fingers brushing through the girl's hair, coaxing her into sleep with a calm patience that seemed entirely out of place in this house.

It should have been a peaceful scene, something that eased the tension in my chest. But instead, it only added to it. Because while she was sitting there, quiet and warm, my mind was pulling the pieces together: warning signs flashing bright and red in my head.

I stepped inside, and the moment Lyra sensed me, her voice faltered. She looked up, her green eyes locking with mine, and I could see the shift in her posture. She straightened, her hands dropping to her sides as if bracing herself.

"Sir Leo," she said quietly, standing up.

"We need to talk," I said, keeping my voice low.

Lyra hesitated, glancing down at Mira, who was already slipping into sleep. Then she nodded, following me out of the room and into the hallway.

The door closed behind us, and I turned to face her, my gaze sharp. "You didn't think to tell me about your little meeting with Blackwood today?"

Her eyes widened slightly before narrowing, her jaw tightening. "You're spying on me?" she asked, crossing her arms. "isn't that a violation against personal privacy or something?"

" This is how everything works in my world," I said, stepping closer, my voice dropping to a dangerous tone. "I know everything that happens under my roof. And outside it. So don't play games with me, Lyra."

Her arms tightened across her chest, tension rippling through her body. "I wasn't hiding anything, Sir Leo," she said, her voice calm but edged with unease. "He showed up. I didn't invite him, and I didn't want to see him. But running to you felt... unnecessary."

I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes. "Unnecessary?"

"Yes," she said, but I could see the flicker of tension in her expression. "I didn't think it was your business, Sir."

"Let me make something very clear to you," I said, closing the distance between us. The air between us seemed to hum with tension, sharp and electric. "Everything you do is my business. As long as you're under my roof, you answer to me. And I don't tolerate surprises."

Her composure cracked slightly, her breath hitching, but she held her ground. "I didn't ask Adrian Blackwood to follow me. I don't control him."

"No," I said, my voice dropping to a dangerous murmur. "But you should have come to me the second he showed up. Do you know who that man is? What he's capable of?"

She swallowed hard, and for the first time, I saw a hint of fear in her eyes. "He's... obsessive," she admitted quietly, her voice faltering. "He thinks he owns me. But I'm not his. I never was."

Obsessed.

My fists clenched at the word. Adrian Blackwood didn't get to be obsessed with her. Not while she was in my house. Not while she was under my protection.

"He doesn't come near you again," I said, my tone sharp, final. "If he does, I'll put him down."

Lyra flinched at the coldness in my voice. "I don't need you to protect me, Sir," she said, her voice shaking slightly, though she tried to hold it steady. "I've dealt with men like Adrian before. I can handle him."

"This isn't about what you can handle, Lyra," I said, stepping closer, towering over her. "This is about what I own."

Her breath hitched, her eyes widening as she stared up at me. "Own?" she repeated, her voice dropping to a whisper.

I reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, my touch light but deliberate. "You work for me now," I murmured. "You live under my roof. That makes you mine. And I don't share what's mine."

Her breath quickened, her chest rising and falling with barely controlled emotion. "You can't just... spy on me, Sir Leo," she said, her voice shaky but defiant. "You don't have that right."

I smirked, leaning in closer. "Lyra, I don't need rights. This is my house. My world. And the sooner you understand that, the easier this will be for both of us."

She didn't flinch, but I could see the struggle in her eyes: the push and pull of anger, fear, and something else. Something she wasn't ready to admit.

"I'm only doing this cause I need the money," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "But don't think for a second that I'll let you control me."

I leaned in, my lips brushing her ear as I whispered, "You don't have to let me, Lyra. You're already under my control. And if Adrian comes near you again... I'll enjoy making him regret it."

I stepped back, watching her reaction. Her eyes burned with frustration and something deeper; something that made my blood hum.

Lyra's POV

Leo Weston's estate was massive, cold, and unsettling. The halls were too quiet, the corners too dark, and the weight of it pressed down on me like a heavy, invisible hand. Every time Leo was near, I could feel it,the air thickening, my nerves tightening. He didn't just walk through this house; he owned it, commanded it, and everyone inside bent to him without question.

Except me.

Or at least, that's what I told myself.

"You're not afraid of him," I whispered under my breath as I made my way to Mira's room. "You're here for her. You're here to do a Job. That's all."

But my own words felt hollow. How could I not feel the pull he had, the way his presence changed everything? Leo Weston wasn't just a man,he was a force of nature, a storm waiting to destroy anyone who stood in his way. And I couldn't help but feel like I was standing directly in his path.

I knocked softly on Mira's door and stepped inside. She was in her usual spot by the window, knees tucked to her chest, staring out at the gray sky. She didn't even glance at me when I entered.

"Hey, Mira," I said gently, sitting beside her. "Do you want to read today? I brought a story about a brave girl who-"

"No," she whispered, her voice so quiet it almost didn't register.

I forced a smile, trying to ignore the familiar ache in my chest. At least she'd spoken. "Okay, no books today," I said softly, rising to my feet. "Maybe tomorrow."

As I turned toward the door, something shifted. The air grew heavier, colder. I didn't need to look to know who was there.

Leo.

He stood in the hallway, his dark eyes fixed on me like a predator sizing up its prey. My breath hitched.

"Sir," I said, my voice shakier than I'd intended. "I didn't hear you."

He didn't reply right away. Instead, he just watched me, his gaze sharp and piercing. The space between us felt charged, like an electric wire stretched too tight.

"I've been watching you with Mira," he said finally, his voice low and smooth, though there was an edge to it. "You've been good for her."

The unexpected compliment caught me off guard. "I'm just doing my job," I said quickly, my tone cautious.

Leo took a step closer, and the hallway seemed to shrink. "It's more than that. Mira trusts you." His gaze never wavered, pinning me in place. "And trust isn't something that comes easily in this house."

I swallowed hard, his words sinking in. There was a weight to them, something unspoken that sent a chill down my spine. "I care about her," I said quietly. "That's all."

He tilted his head slightly, studying me with unnerving intensity. "You're different," he murmured, taking another slow step forward. "Not like the others."

"The others?" I repeated, my pulse quickening.

His lips curled into a faint smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. "The people who come through my life. They're all the same. Weak. Predictable."

I forced myself to stand my ground, even as every instinct screamed at me to step back. "And what do you think I am, Sir?"

His eyes darkened at the word, his expression hardening. "Don't call me that."

"It's respectful," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "You're my employer. Sir is appropriate."

He shook his head, his tone laced with a dangerous edge. "I'm not 'Sir' to you. Just Leo."

"Leo," I corrected hesitantly, his name tasting strange on my tongue.

"Better," he said, though there was something possessive in his voice, something that made my skin prickle. He stepped closer, his gaze holding mine like a vice. "Now answer me. What do I think you are?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat. His proximity, the way his presence filled the hallway, left me breathless. "I don't know," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I haven't decided yet," he said softly, his words like a promise and a threat all at once.

Before I could react, his hand brushed my arm, a light touch, but it burned like fire. My breath caught, my heart racing as heat flooded my skin. I hated how my body reacted to him, how it betrayed me.

A shiver ran through me, despite the heat rising between us. I should've stepped back, should've created space, but I couldn't move. His eyes were like a trap, pulling me deeper into something I didn't want to understand.

I took a shaky step back, pulling away from his touch. "Why are you acting like this?" I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended. "You're my boss, Leo. This, whatever this is,it's not appropriate."

He smiled faintly, but there was no warmth in it. "Appropriate?" he repeated, his tone mocking. "You think I care about what's appropriate?"

"You should," I said, my nerves fraying under his gaze. "You hired me to take care of Mira, not... this." I gestured vaguely between us, hating how exposed I felt.

His expression darkened, and he took another step forward, crowding me against the wall. "You don't understand how this works, Lyra," he said, his voice a low growl. "You're in my house. My world. That means you follow my rules."

I swallowed hard, my back pressing against the cold wall. "I didn't agree to... whatever you're trying to do right now," I said, my voice trembling despite my efforts to sound strong. "I just want to do my job and go home."

"You think you can leave?" he asked, his lips curving into a dangerous smirk. "You're already in, Lyra. And once you're in, there's no going back."

His words sent a chill through me, laced with a possessiveness I couldn't ignore. "Why are you doing this?" I asked again, my voice quieter now, almost pleading. "Why do you care what I do or who I talk to? I'm just your employee."

His hand grazed my cheek, his touch sending a jolt of heat through my body. "You're more than that," he whispered, his voice soft but commanding. "You just don't see it yet."

"I'm just here to do a job,I don't belong in your world," I said, my breath catching as his fingers lingered against my skin.

"No," he agreed, his lips dangerously close to my ear. "You don't. But that's exactly why you're here. You think you're just here for Mira, but we both know that's not true anymore."

I pushed against his chest, trying to create distance, but he didn't budge. "How do you know that? I'm not yours, Leo, you don't own me," I said firmly, though my voice wavered under the weight of his gaze.

His eyes flashed with something dangerous, something raw. "You already are," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The tension between us was suffocating, the air thick with heat and unspoken truths. I couldn't tell if I was more terrified or more drawn to him. Maybe both.

He stepped back finally, his gaze still locked on mine. "Stay away from Blackwood," he said, his voice sharp and commanding. "He won't stop until he has you. And when he does... I'll deal with him. But you'll be mine."

Before I could respond, he turned and disappeared down the hallway, leaving me trembling against the wall, my heart racing, my thoughts spinning out of control.

What the hell had I gotten myself into?

Lyra's POV

I couldn't shake his words.

"Adrian's not done with you, Lyra. He'll come for you. And when he does... it won't end well."

I hated that I was letting Adrian get to me, but more than that,I hated how much space Leo was taking up in my thoughts.

He wasn't just a problem. He was a complication I couldn't afford.

Every time I was near him, my body betrayed me, reacting in ways I couldn't control. The heat of his gaze lingered long after he walked away, and the memory of his touch had a way of curling around my mind, refusing to let go.

I didn't want to be pulled into whatever dark orbit surrounded Leo Weston.

But there was no denying it. I was already in.

I should have been afraid of him. And maybe I was.

But the scariest part? I wasn't sure it was for the right reasons.

I let out a frustrated breath and turned away from the mirror. I wasn't some naive girl. Leo didn't care about me beyond what I could offer him. I was here for Mira. That was it.

That was all it was supposed to be.

I reached for the door, intending to leave my room and clear my head. But before I could even brush the handle, it creaked open.

I froze.

That overwhelming presence filled the room before I even turned around.

Leo.

I swallowed hard, my grip tightening on the doorknob as I faced him. He stepped inside without hesitation, his broad shoulders nearly filling the doorway. The door shut behind him, clicking softly into place.

My stomach clenched.

"Sir," I said quickly, keeping my voice level even as my pulse raced. "What are you doing here?"

His eyes darkened, and he took a slow step forward. "I told you not to call me that."

I hesitated, the weight of his words sinking into my chest. "You're my employer. I feel it's It's appropriate."

His jaw ticked, his hands flexing at his sides. "Not with me. Say my name, Lyra."

His voice was low, almost a warning.

I shouldn't have listened. I should have drawn a line right then and there, cause when you forget the formalities you begin to forget other things. But the way he looked at me made my mind go blank, like he had already erased the boundaries between us.

"Okay Leo," I whispered.

His lips twitched, but there was nothing soft about it.

"Good," he murmured.

I straightened, gripping the edge of the dresser behind me. "Why are you in my room?" I asked, forcing my voice to stay steady.

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he let his gaze drift over me, slow and deliberate, like he was trying to unravel something about me that I didn't even understand myself.

I resisted the urge to shift under his stare.

Finally, he said, "We need to talk."

I lifted my chin. "If this is another warning about Adrian, I don't need it. I already know he's back, I know I need to stay away from him."

His gaze sharpened. "This isn't just about Adrian. You're caught between something bigger than you realize."

My skin prickled.

"You keep saying that," I said, my voice firm. "But what I don't understand is why you care so much. I work for you, Leo. That's it. So why are you so involved in my life?"

Silence.

Thick, heavy silence.

I could hear the ticking of the clock on the far wall, the uneven rhythm of my own breath.

Leo's jaw clenched slightly, but his voice was steady. "Because you don't understand what kind of man Adrian is."

I let out a sharp breath. "You think I don't know him? I know exactly who he is. I spent years trying to keep him out of my life, and now he's back. But I don't need you to be my guard dog."

His eyes flickered, something dangerous flashing behind them. "You think this is about me protecting you?"

"Isn't it?" I challenged. "Why else would you be here? Why else would you care who I talk to?"

He took another step closer, and suddenly, the room felt smaller.

"This isn't just about who you talk to," he murmured. "It's about who wants you."

My stomach twisted.

What the hell does that mean?

"You're in my house, in my world," he continued, his voice low, rough. "That makes you mine."

I flinched at the word. "I only work for you. I'm not yours, Leo. "

His hand lifted, brushing lightly against my arm, his touch leaving heat in its wake. I sucked in a breath, my pulse hammering.

"Not yet," he said. "But you will be."

I stiffened.

This was insane. This whole conversation was insane.

He was my boss. A man I had known for barely any time at all,a man that was suspected to be involved with the mafia,and yet here he was, acting like he had some claim over me. Like I belonged to him.

And the worst part?

Some dark, twisted part of me wanted to understand why.

"Do you even hear yourself?" I said, my voice shaking with something between frustration and disbelief. "You hired me, Leo. I take care of Mira. That's it. There is no this."

His eyes flickered, but he didn't step back.

"You think you can just stay out of this?" he asked, his voice softer now, but no less dangerous. "You think Adrian is going to let you walk away?"

I swallowed hard.

Leo exhaled, his breath warm against my skin. "You don't see it yet, but you will," he murmured. "You need my protection."

I jerked back, creating space between us. "I don't need anything from you," I said, my voice sharper than I intended.

His lips twitched, like he found my resistance amusing. "No?"

I clenched my jaw. "No."

His hand moved faster than I expected, curling around my waist, pulling me close. My breath hitched, my hands flying to his chest instinctively, but he didn't let go.

"You don't need me?" he murmured, his voice just above a whisper.

I should have pushed him away. Should have done something to remind him that this was not okay.

But I froze.

Because the way he looked at me made my stomach tighten, my head spin.

I hated him for it.

"This is a mistake," I whispered.

Leo's lips brushed against my jaw, a barely-there touch that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Maybe," he admitted, his voice raw. "But it's one you're already making."

And then he kissed me.

The moment his lips crashed against mine, my mind went blank.

It was heat, fire, something primal that I wasn't prepared for. His grip tightened on my waist, pulling me flush against him, and I hated how easy it was to melt into him, how my body reacted without my permission.

I gasped, gripping his shirt, desperate for something to hold onto.

I should have stopped this.

But I didn't.

His hands slid up my back, fingers tangling in my hair, deepening the kiss until all I could feel was him.

When he finally pulled away, his breathing was uneven, his eyes darker than I'd ever seen them.

"You belong to me now," he murmured.

Something inside me snapped.

I shoved against his chest, pushing myself away, my breath ragged. "No, I don't," I snapped. "I don't belong to anyone."

Leo smirked, running his tongue over his lower lip. "Keep telling yourself that."

I glared at him, my whole body trembling. "You're insane."

He exhaled, stepping back toward the door. "Stay away from Blackwood," he said, his voice back to that cold, commanding tone. "Because if he takes what's mine..."

He let the threat hang in the air before turning and disappearing down the hall.

I stood there, my heart hammering, my hands shaking.

What the hell had just happened?

I just made the biggest mistake of my life

And worse,why the hell did I want to let it happen again?