Tangled in the Mafia’s Web

Episode Twenty

Leandro's bare torso held a magnetic appeal that enticed Ginevra's senses. His tanned skin seemed to glow in the ambient light, accentuating the sculpted contours of his chest, igniting a desire within her. Her gaze lingered on the hardened planes of his muscles, tracing their definition with an unconscious longing, but then, an intriguing detail—a knife scar etched below his left side.

She felt it urge her to trace her fingertips, to explore the stories hidden beneath the surface. The desire to touch him, to feel the warmth of his skin, pulsed through her veins–

Ginevra tore her gaze away, a bit embarrassed about her lack of self-esteem, and so she mentally reminded herself of the need to maintain boundaries. Though, his gaze remained fixed on her, the intensity in his eyes undiminished.

Leandro's voice on the phone trailed off as he ended the call, setting the device down on a nearby table, his attention now solely on Ginevra.

A flicker of annoyance crossed his face, and then, he took a step back, creating a bit of distance between them. "Ginevra," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of sternness. "There are places you weren't supposed to be. This room included."

Ginevra swallowed, regaining her composure. "My apologies. But here I am," she replied, her voice steady.

Although Leandro's expression was a bit unreadable, it did appear more like a brew of surprise and faint offence. "So," he says, his voice calm but laced with an underlying pressure as he spoke. "What brings you here?" he inquired, his tone filled with a hint of curiosity.

Suppressing her momentary distraction, Ginevra mustered some courage and met his gaze, her expression steady. "I heard your voice and couldn't resist the temptation to see what you were up to," she replied, her words infused with a touch of playfulness, attempting to diffuse the tension that enveloped the room.

And surprisingly Leandro's lips curved into a half-smile, but that didn't reach his eyes, and there was something else that Ginevra couldn't quite decipher. "Curiosity can be a dangerous trait, Ginevra," he remarked, his voice a low rumble.

Ginevra couldn't deny the truth in his words, but she wasn't going to make the word change how she decided to respond. The air crackled with unspoken tension, and then she found herself taking a step closer to him, her voice barely above a whisper. "Danger can be thrilling," she countered, a hint of defiance in her tone.

Leandro's gaze intensified, but then, they briefly drifted away from her face, only to unexpectedly settle upon the delicate contours of her n*****s, accentuated by the sheer fabric of her gown.

But before he could express any word, the door swung open, breaking the charged atmosphere. Alonzo stood at the threshold, his expression having just a slight flicker. "Sir, sorry to interrupt, but we have an urgent matter that requires your attention," he informed Leandro, his gaze flickering between the two.

Leandro's features hardened, the vigour in his eyes dimming as he shifted his focus to Alonzo. "Come in," he replied curtly, his voice devoid of the earlier heat.

Ginevra took a step back. She straightened her posture, her gaze briefly meeting Leandro's before he turned away, dismissing her presence. But she may have breathed a sigh of relief, at least she could leave without either of them suspecting her.

With a nod, Ginevra acknowledged Alonzo's presence and silently slipped out of the room, leaving Leandro to attend to his business.

Though as Ginevra walked out of the room, she couldn't resist the temptation to linger and eavesdrop on the conversation between Leandro and Alonzo. And so, she left the door slightly ajar, ensuring she could still hear their voices. She knew it was risky, but the urgency in Alonzo's voice piqued her interest– this could lead to something big, she thought.

The muffled tones drifted towards her, and she strained to catch the faint lines of their conversation.

"... Gerardo is making a move. He's taking over the Eastside territory with his new drug called Space," Alonzo's voice conveyed haste.

And then, Leandro's voice responded, his tone measured and composed. "I'm aware of Gerardo's new drug. In fact, I managed to get a sample earlier."

"Since when?" Alonzo's voice came through.

Yet Leandro's voice held a hint of secrecy as he replied, "For now, we'll act like we haven't seen Gerardo's work. We need to gather more information and assess the direction he is charging at."

Ginevra's curiosity peaked. If Leandro knew about the drug and had been working with it in some capacity. Then what could he be playing at? It was a piece of a puzzle she hadn't expected, and it added a layer of complexity to her mission. But then, Gerardo? The name was quite familiar and just as she tried to catch up– it came clear where she heard the name before.

"But, Sir, do you think it okay to just let Gerardo take over?” Alonzo's voice conveyed a mix of confusion and concern.

But Leandro's voice remained calm and enigmatic. "We won't let him take what's ours. I already set a plan, but we need more information before we can act decisively. Keep an eye on Gerardo's movements, and gather as much intel as possible."

Just as their conversation was coming to an end, Ginevra slowly slipped away and quickly made her way through the grand hall and ascended the stairs, her steps brisk. She navigated the corridor, reaching her guest room without delay. Closing the door behind her, she finally found herself in the privacy of her own space, and so, a relief sigh left her.

Tiredly, Ginevra made her way to the comfortable armchair in the corner of the room, her eyes fixed on her phone. With a calculated decision, she reached for it, realizing it was the ideal moment to check on Chiara, now that Alonzo had returned. She dialled Chiara's number, her fingers moving deftly across the screen.

"Hey, Sweetheart! What's going on over there?" Chiara's cheerful voice rang through the line.

A slight smile tugged at the corners of Ginevra's lips, "None of the things you're imaging, Chiara"

"Oh, come on, Gin. I know I wasn't able to catch what he looks like, but for one with such influence, he must be the devil-looking kind of handsome"

Ginevra rolled her eyes, not because Chiara's words were wrong but the direction Chiara was going. "Well, devil-looking or not, that's not the point, Chiara. I reason I called is to know if you made it home safely.”

"Yeah, of course," She returns.

"Well, I sent you a message earlier. Did you happen to see it?" Ginevra asked, her tone low.

There was a brief pause before Chiara's voice carried a hint of confusion. "Message? I don't recall receiving anything from you. What did it say?"

Ginevra shook her head, trying to dismiss the matter. "It doesn't matter now. Forget about it. By the way, did you mention anything about me to Alonzo?"

Chiara's voice held a mix of intrigue and confusion. "No, why would I? Who is this Alonzo anyway?" she hissed "It was much like I was alone in the car, I was beginning to wonder what kind of person he was. Stiff like ice in winter lake" She grumbled and Ginevra let out a breath she had held since Alonzo had expressed to send her home himself.

"A friend, just as I told you before"

"So why were you in a rush to leave the club then? Was it because of them?"

Ginevra hesitated for a moment, and then her eyes travelled to the closed door, "Partially, yes"

"Gin, you're not making any sense. What kind of partially is there to it? Is there something I should know?" Chiara urged, her voice holding concern and curiosity.

And Ginevra paused for a bit, more like she was contemplating her next words carefully. "I can't go into details at the moment. It's complicated, Chiara. Let's just say I stumbled upon someone unexpected tonight. You see, can't say much on the phone"

She listened to Chiara breathe “Alright, girl." her tone softened, sensing the gravity of the situation. "But you're alright, right?"

Ginevra smiled, "Of course, I am. There's nothing to worry about. Well, catch up soon"

"Stay safe!" Chiara replied before ending the call and Ginevra let out a soft chuckle.

Ginevra let out a deep sigh, her fingertips releasing the grip on her phone as she tossed it onto the plush bed. As she settled back into the inviting embrace of the armchair, her mind replayed the intriguing conversation between Leandro and Alonzo. There was no clarity that the man she had met nights ago was the same as the one they had mentioned– but still, she needed to have a better formation of the situation. And more to know what Leandro was planning–

But then her thoughts began to wander, lured by the irresistible memories of her encounter with Leandro.

The image of his tanned torso lingered in her mind, she may be selfish for not caring to push the image away– but the desire she felt at that moment pulsed through her veins.

With the image tormenting her mind, Ginevra slowly reached to cup her clothed breast, squeezing it just lightly, enough to make her shudder.