Chapter 6

Alessia's Pov

I stood at the window of my new office, staring at the city below. Just yesterday, I had been planning a future as Leo Moretti's wife. Today, everything has changed as I stared at the space before me

"This isn't what we agreed on," I said without turning around, feeling Leo's presence behind me.

"Plans change, Alessia," he replied with that infuriating calm tone that made me want to scream. "Most people would kill for this opportunity."

I spun around with my eyes flashing. "Let's call it what it really is—you want me to be your spy in the International Crime Department as your insurance policy? You're fucking insane."

Leo approached my desk, that half-smile playing on his lips. "I need someone I can trust in that department. They've been investigating my operations for months."

"And instead of going legitimate like you promised, you're planting me as your mole?" I laughed bitterly. "I thought I was going to be planning dinner parties, not becoming an accessory to your crimes."

"You're being dramatic," Leo said, adjusting his perfect suit. "This position gives you protection and influence. You monitor their investigations, alert me to problems, and occasionally redirect their attention to me. Simple."

"There's nothing simple about betraying everything I've ever stood for," I whispered, anger rising inside me.

His expression hardened. "You don't have a choice anymore. Unless you want your face on every newspaper as the woman who seduced a 'dangerous criminal' only to become his accomplice." He moved closer until I could smell his cologne. "How long would you survive without my protection? How many of my enemies would love to get their hands on you?"

The threat hung between us, suffocating me. I felt trapped, but beneath my fear, something else stirred— determination.

"Fine," I said flatly. "I'll do it."

The satisfaction on Leo's face made my stomach turn, I'm pinning this bastard to the wall.

---

Three weeks into my new role and I had already established a system. Each morning, I reported to Leo what I'd learned, carefully omitting details that might actually help him. Each day, I worked with Ramirez, my new boss and gradually earned his professional respect.

And each night, I gathered evidence against Leo—evidence I planned to use to free myself from his grasp forever.

It was dangerous because If Leo discovered my true intentions, he would destroy me. If Ramirez caught me withholding information, I'd face federal charges.

But everything changed on a rainy Thursday when an encrypted file appeared in my work email. The sender was anonymous, but the contents were unmistakable: photos of Leo meeting with an arms dealer, accompanied by banking records showing massive transfers to offshore accounts and an address where a blood bath had taken place to get evidence.

"What are you looking at?" Ramirez's voice behind me made me jump.

"Nothing important," I said, heart racing. "Just reviewing some case notes."

Ramirez's eyes narrowed. "You're a terrible liar, I know you're working on something. I see you work so hard so I believe you cracked the safe.” He told me with a hint of pride in his tone and I almost rolled my eyes.

“I can call your husband about this new development and see if he would agree for your new promotion, it's just that it takes a lot of time and effort “

Panic flared in my chest. If this became official about my extra work efforts, Leo would know something was wrong. He'd trace it back to me, and then...

"Wait," I said, grabbing Ramirez's arm. "We need to verify it first. What if it's a trap? I'm not sure it's what I'm looking for yet "

The doubt on his face gave me the opening relief I needed. "Give me twenty-four hours to authenticate these documents. If they're legitimate, we'll take them to the Boss together. We win a case and I get that promotion"

Reluctantly, he agreed and smiled. The moment he left, I copied the files to a secure drive. That night, instead of meeting Leo, I contacted a journalist I trusted—one known for exposing corruption regardless of consequences.

The media exposure would force the department to act publicly, giving Leo no chance to escape using his connections. It would also protect me from becoming his scapegoat. At least, that was my plan.

What I didn't know was that someone else was watching my every move—someone who had sent those files deliberately, setting events in motion that neither Leo nor I could control because the moment I sent it to the Journalist, something else came up.

---

"You treacherous bitch!" Leo's voice echoed through his penthouse as he hurled a tablet across the room. On its screen, the evidence I'd leaked played on the evening news.

Ah, that's good. It went well after all.

I stood my ground, though my heart hammered against my ribs. "It's over, Leo. You can't touch me now without confirming everything. Just get prepared to go to court.”

"You think exposing me protects you?" Leo asked with his voice suddenly, terrifyingly quiet. "You're implicated in every operation I've run for months. Every meeting you attended, every document you signed."

"I've been working with the ICD," I countered. "They know I've been gathering evidence."

Leo laughed coldly. "Do they? Or will Agent Ramirez testify that you've been obstructing justice, feeding me information? He knew what you were up to even before he asked you today, I wonder what Director Chen would say if she knew you withheld that evidence for twenty-four critical hours."

A chill ran down my spine as I realized how stupid I was. I was caught between two worlds, trusted by neither. So they were all working for Leo?

The lights suddenly cut out, sending us into darkness except for the city glow through the windows. Distant gunfire echoed from somewhere below and Leo grabbed my arm, pulling me close down to the floor with his body wrapped around me. "We're not finished Lischka, you and I," he whispered harshly muttering curse words on who the hell was trying to attack him and the only thing ringing in my mind was how finished I was.