Susan stayed silent, letting his words sink in, feeling the pain in his voice as he spoke. She could picture it: a young Leo, tougher than most, hardened by necessity and circumstance. “Over time,” he continued, his tone darkening, “I got deeper into it. I met people who showed me how things worked… who taught me how power worked. And once I got a taste of that, there was no going back. It was like finally being handed a weapon after years of fighting empty-handed. I didn’t have to beg or struggle for scraps. I could control things. And in my world, that control—that power—it’s everything.” His voice softened as he glanced down at her. “I know what you think of this life. It’s dangerous, it’s cruel. And it changes you. There are things I’ve done, Susan, that…” His voice trailed off, the words left unspoken. She looked up, meeting his gaze, searching his eyes for something—regret, vulnerability, anything that made him more than just the cold exterior he showed the world. She reached
Emboldened by the obvious approval in his eyes, she let her hands fall away. Lust flared over his face as left the bed and his hands went to the buttons of his shirt. Halfway down, he lost patience and ripped the remaining buttons. He shrugged out of the sleeves and then tore impatiently at his pants. She sucked in her breath and held it when his boxers, with his pants, slipped down and his turgid manhood came into view. Then it stuttered out, a silent staccato in the quiet as he moved closer to the bed. He spread her knees and fit his body to hers, settling between her thighs as he came down onto the bed. Hot, silken and yet rough in a heady, masculine way, his skin clung to hers, burning her, making her move restlessly underneath him. They kissed again, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, prolonging the mating of their tongues. Soft and wet, clinging and dueling, a precursor to the dance their bodies would yet perform. “I’ve never met anyone who makes me feel so out of co
Leo didn’t answer right away. Instead, he shifted in his seat, adjusting his grip on the wheel as though trying to gather his thoughts. “Because it’s not safe,” he finally said, his tone low. Susan almost laughed, “Since when did you start caring about my safety so much?” she asked. Leo flinched. He couldn’t blame her for asking that question. When they met and he asked her to work for him, her safety had been the least of his concerns, but gradually he started to care, and he didn't want her to get in trouble, especially with the cops who were sniffing around now. “I don't know, but I’ve already pulled you into my world too much. This weekend… You were right. I should have told you what we were there for. You should have been aware, and it also showed me how dangerous this life is for you. I can’t—I won’t—risk you getting hurt, at least not anymore.” Susan’s heart ached at his words. She wanted to argue, to tell him she could handle it, but she couldn’t ignore the truth in his v
Susan’s day had been long but productive. She’d just finished showing a charming two-story house to an eager couple. As she stepped out of the house and into the crisp autumn air, she felt a glimmer of pride at the deal she was confident she’d close soon. It had been a while since she’d allowed herself to feel anything other than heartbreak, and today felt like a small step toward reclaiming herself. It had been two long weeks since she'd seen or spoken to Leo. Samuel was relieved that they were done with Leo and his money. Caroline on the other hand, just felt sorry for her. Susan however, was just trying… And failing… to not think about him. Today she was doing better, but her sense of accomplishment vanished when she spotted two men leaning against a black sedan parked a few steps away from her car. Feeling her heart beat faster, she approached them. “I'm sorry. May I help you?” she asked loudly. They were Justin Beck and Collins Hallman. The same two detectives who had quest
Her patience snapped. “Move, Connor.” Connor sighed, his tone softening, though he didn’t budge. “This isn’t a good time. Trust me.” “I don’t care if it’s a good time or a bad time,” Susan shot back, her voice rising. “I need to talk to him. Now.” Before Connor could say another word, she sidestepped him and started up the stairs. He reached out, his hand brushing her arm, but she shook him off and kept going. “Susan!” Connor called after her, his voice sharp with frustration, but she didn’t stop. When she reached the top, the door to the lounge was slightly ajar, and she could hear the low hum of voices inside, mixed with occasional laughter. Susan hesitated for a moment, her stomach twisting in knots. Then she pushed the door open. Inside, the room was dimly lit, the golden glow of a chandelier casting shadows across the plush leather sofas and glass coffee tables. Leo sat in the center of it all, lounging back with an air of detached authority. On either side of him were two
“Safe?” she interrupted, her voice dripping with disbelief. “I don't know that you care. I don't know anything about you. Safe would’ve been telling me the truth. Safe would’ve been leaving me out of this entirely!” Her voice cracked, as she added softly, “You wouldn't have pushed me away if you wanted to keep me safe” They stood there in heavy silence, both breathing hard. Her last sentence hung like a cloud in their midst. How could she have let herself come to this? Somehow, she'd fallen for a man without a conscience. A man who didn't care what happened to her as far as he got what he wanted. A man who probably didn't even understand how to genuinely care about anyone else. Leo opened his mouth to respond, but Susan shook her head and turned away, unable to look at him any longer. She needed space—space to think, space to feel, space to figure out how she’d ended up here with him. “What did you tell them,” she heard Leo's voice ask. “Nothing,” she replied as she turned to fa
The familiar tightening at his groin infuriated him, for he had spent half of the previous night in a cold shower after seeing her again for the first time since their trip to Atlantic City, his hunger for her refusing to abate. It incensed him that he should still lust after her to that extent. It didn’t make sense after the way she had spoken and walked away from him either. He wanted to walk away and turn his back on her without a thought, something he had contrived to do with every other woman he had ever known. He didn’t want her to be different or exceptional in any way, but he'd tried to walk away already, and yet here he was. Susan gritted her teeth in the heavy silence. “After our conversation and the way we parted yesterday, I’m sure you can understand my surprise to see you here. Shouldn't you be busy working on something? Or have you forgotten already?” “You didn’t answer my calls this morning,” he replied, his tone even but tinged with frustration. Susan raised an ey
“Oh, poor you,” Susan said sarcastically. “Meanwhile, I’m the one getting cornered by detectives and having my life ripped apart. You don’t understand how I feel, Leo,” “Naturally not. I’m not as emotional as you are,” Leo responded, his voice softening, fascinated by the fluctuating feelings that shimmered across her highly expressive face as fast as clouds in a stormy sky. That he had recognised the depth of emotion that currently controlled her unnerved Susan. The heights and depths of feeling attacking her usual equilibrium and swinging her first one way and then to the opposite extreme were unfamiliar to her and horribly unwelcome. She collided with smoldering dark eyes and her tummy flipped, her heartbeat accelerating. That fast she wanted him with a ferocious longing that she had not known it possible for her to feel. The atmosphere crackled. Her entire skin surface prickled, her nipples tightening into straining prominence, liquid heat flowering between her slender thighs. E
Leo’s lips twitched, but he didn’t dare smile. Instead, he leaned closer, his free hand brushing a stray strand of hair from her damp forehead. “You’re doing great, Susan. You’ve got this.”The hours dragged on. The contractions came faster and harder, and each one seemed to drain Susan’s strength. Leo stayed with her the entire time, holding her hand, whispering reassurances, even snapping at a nurse when she wasn’t quick enough with the ice chips.Finally, the doctor returned, checking Susan again. “You’re fully dilated. It’s time to push.”Susan’s heart raced. She looked up at Leo, fear flickering in her eyes.“You can do this,” he said firmly, his hands cradling her face for a moment. “I’m right here.”The room transformed into a flurry of activity. Nurses positioned themselves, the doctor gave instructions, and Susan braced herself.“Okay, Susan, with the next contraction, I need you to push,” the doctor instructed.The pain was overwhelming, but Susan gritted her teeth and pushe
An hour later, Leo’s men drove Vince, unconscious, to an abandoned warehouse on the edge of town. They positioned him in a chair surrounded by stacks of counterfeit bills, the bag of drugs on the table, and the pistol in his lap.Leo observed every detail, ensuring there was enough evidence to connect Vince to the stolen money and illegal activities. He even had Connor take pictures of the setup to send to an anonymous tip line.“Make sure it looks like he was working alone,” Leo instructed. “The last thing we need is this tying back to us.”Asher nodded and set about wiping down any trace of their presence.Once everything was in place, they made the call to the police, disguising their voices as concerned neighbors reporting suspicious activity.Hours later, Leo sat alone in his study, a glass of whiskey in hand as the news played on the television. The headline read: “Local Man Arrested in Connection to Counterfeit Money Operation.” Vince’s mugshot appeared on the screen, his face
There was a brief pause on the other end before Asher replied, “Understood. We’ll keep him... comfortable until you arrive.”Leo ended the call without another word, slipping the phone back into his pocket. He downed the last of his whiskey, the burn of it barely registering as his mind focused on what needed to be done. Vince had made a fatal mistake, and Leo was about to remind him—and everyone else—why crossing him was a mistake no one survived. He'd let Vince go the first time, and now he was going to finish the job. He flicked the cigarette over the balcony railing, watching the ember fall until it vanished into the night. He turned toward the door, ready to head inside, when he froze at the sight of Susan standing there. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and her eyes were filled with anger and something else—disappointment.“How long have you been standing there?” he asked, his voice flat, though his jaw tightened.“Long enough,” Susan snapped, stepping onto the balcony. Th
Asher hesitated for a split second, then gave a curt nod. “Understood.”Without another word, Asher turned and left the room, closing the door behind him. Leo sat in silence for a moment, his thoughts swirling. Susan’s rejection, Abruzzi’s attack, Vince’s betrayal—it was all fuel for the fire already raging inside him. He glanced at the gun in his hand, then set it down carefully on the table.His empire was under attack, and Leo Spencer wasn’t the kind of man to let that go unanswered. The game had just changed, and he was going to make sure everyone involved understood one thing: no one crossed him and got away with it.____________The muffled thud of footsteps echoed in the dimly lit parking lot as Asher and Connor moved quickly, their eyes scanning the deserted space. Vince was leaning casually against his car, a cigarette dangling from his lips, utterly oblivious to the trap closing in around him.“Stay sharp,” Asher whispered to Connor, his hand resting lightly on the gun holst
The routine was the same every morning—he’d come in, announce he was leaving, and then disappear for the day. It irritated her to no end, and today, the irritation boiled over.“Got it. Please leave,” she said bluntly, pulling the duvet up to her chin as if to shield herself from his indifference.Leo frowned, his calm demeanor cracking slightly. “Excuse me? I’m only trying to be helpful.”Susan let out a humorless laugh. “Helpful? This is helping? Leaving me here every day while you run off to your club to play crime boss? Doing things that could put you in danger… How exactly is that supposed to help?”Leo’s eyes narrowed. “I’m surprised you care so much about my safety,” he retorted, his tone sharp.“I don’t,” she shot back, throwing the duvet off her legs. She swung her feet to the floor, determined to storm past him, but her body betrayed her. Moving was harder than she’d anticipated, and she struggled to push herself up.Before she could protest, Leo was at her side, his hands f
“So... when do you think we should tell Susan about us?” Samuel asked as he casually buttoned up his shirt.Caroline froze mid-motion, his question hitting her like a ton of bricks. She turned to stare at him, her expression a mix of shock and incredulity, as if he’d just suggested something completely absurd. “Why would we tell her anything?” she asked, her tone sharper than she intended.Samuel frowned, clearly caught off guard. “Why wouldn’t we?” he countered, his voice tinged with confusion.Caroline turned away, unable to meet his eyes. She felt her pulse quicken as she muttered, “Because there’s nothing to tell.”For a moment, Samuel stood there, stunned into silence. But as her words sank in, the weight of what she was saying hit him hard. He recognized this feeling—an ending he hadn’t been prepared for. And if it was going to happen, she’d have to face him when she did it.He crossed the room in a few swift steps and placed his hands firmly on her shoulders, gently but insiste
He didn’t know how to process the ache twisting in his chest. He wanted to hold her, to wipe away her tears, but his own frustration and hurt held him back. Instead, he stepped away, his expression unreadable.After a long, heavy pause, he said, “Will you at least consider moving in? Just until the baby comes. You shouldn’t be alone during this last month. After the birth, you can find your own place when you’re ready.”She hesitated, the thought of being alone during labor and the final stretch of her pregnancy weighing heavily on her. She didn't want to be alone. Finally, she nodded. “Okay. Until the baby comes.”“Good,” he said curtly. “I’ll have my driver take you home. You should start to pack your things tomorrow.”Without another word, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Susan standing there, her arms wrapped protectively around herself, tears streaming silently down her cheeks._______________Samuel felt warmth and soft against him. He shifted his weight toward the
Susan stepped closer to the crib, running her fingers over the smooth wood. “This must have taken so much time. I didn’t even know you were doing this.”“I wanted it to be a surprise,” he said, moving to stand beside her. He rested a hand lightly on her lower back, his touch grounding her as she took it all in.Susan turned to him, her heart full. “Leo, this is the most thoughtful, amazing gift anyone has ever given me.”His lips curved into a small smile, his eyes softening as he looked at her. “I just wanted you to know that I’m all in, Suzy. For this whole parenting thing. I want to give it a try… And do it right.”She didn’t know what to say, so she simply stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered into his chest.Leo held her close, resting his chin lightly on her head. That close to his lean, powerful body, Susan could smell the distinctive scent of his skin, an intoxicating mixture of citrus overlaying husky male, and as she
“You didn’t have to get me anything,” he said softly, though there was a flicker of curiosity in his expression. “You're already giving me enough,” Susan shrugged lightly, sitting back down in her armchair. “I wanted to. Just open it.”Leo pulled at the ribbon, unwrapping the paper with surprising care, as if he wanted to savor the moment. When he lifted the lid of the box, his expression froze for a second before softening.Inside was a sleek wristwatch—silver with a black leather strap. The minimalist design was elegant but not ostentatious, exactly his style. Beside it, nestled in a small compartment, were cufflinks engraved with his initials: L.S..For a moment, Leo said nothing, his eyes fixed on the gift. Susan began to fidget, suddenly unsure of herself. “I wasn’t sure if you’d like it,” she said quickly, her voice tinged with nervousness. “I just thought… well, you always wear cufflinks when you're dressed all ‘bossy’ you know, and I noticed you liked them so—”“I love it,” L