Tangled in the Mafia’s Web

Episode Forty-two

Leandro's eyes blazed with fury as he held the man to a wall, choking him fiercely to the very near edge of death before he shoved him hard to the concrete floor, he tumbled, groaned, and tried to get to his feet.

An angry snort escaped him. “Who the h—”

But Leandro slapped him with his open left hand full across the face. It rocked him and he took a step back and then steadied himself, blinking his eyes and staring at Leandro. His headache must have been a starburst, but Leandro didn't care, and neither did he give him the chance to even form a word again.

Degradedly he was shoved against the wall again, before Leandro’s voice dripped with venom as he spoke, each word filled with icy rage.

"How dare you lay a finger on her," he growled, his grip tightening around the man's throat.

Leandro's voice carried a dangerous edge, sending shivers down the man's spine. The man struggled to speak, gasping for breath, but Leandro's hold remained unyielding.

"You're nothing more than a pathetic excuse for a man," Leandro continued, his voice seething with contempt. "You thought you could harm someone under my protection? You thought you could escape the consequences?"

Leandro's words pierced the air like a chilling augury, his anger radiating from him in waves. Ginevra watched, a mixture of fear and relief swirling within her as Leandro's usually composed demeanor gave way to an untamed rage.

She may have glimpsed it before but that was only a fragment compared to what was going on now.

“L-Leandro,” She tried to call, her fingers trembling slightly around her shopping bag.

With a final push against the wall, Leandro released his grip on the man, letting him slump to the ground, gasping for air. Even though he had let go of him for the sake of Ginevra’s presence, his eyes never wavered from his target, his voice came again, carrying a lethal warning.

"Consider yourself lucky that I don't end you right here and now," Leandro snarled, his voice filled with a dangerous intensity. "But make no mistake, if you ever cross paths with her again, I won't hesitate to put an end to you."

The man disoriented and beaten, scrambled to his feet, stumbling away from Leandro's wrath, and shuffled into his car. Leandro watched him retreat, his eyes burning with a fierce deduction. Alonzo and a few of his escorts standing by the two cars he can come with.

He turned his attention back to Ginevra, his expression softening as he approached her.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. He reached out to touch her, but hesitated, unsure of how she would react.

Ginevra nodded, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. "Yes, thank you, Leandro. I'm fine." She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I never expected..."

Leandro interrupted her, his voice filled with remorse. "It's alright.” He sighed heavily, the anger in his eyes fading into a mix of guilt and care. "I will make sure this doesn't happen again. No one will harm you while I'm around."

She twitched her lips and Leandro's gaze lingered on Ginevra for a moment, his eyes searching her face with a mix of concern and intensity. He broke the silence with a low voice, "Are you really alright?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

Ginevra met his gaze, her expression steady as she nodded, her voice resolute, "Yes, I'm fine."

Satisfied with her answer, Leandro nodded as well, his gaze shifting briefly to Alonzo before returning to Ginevra. "Alonzo will take you back to your apartment," he stated, his tone firm yet reassuring. "I have something to settle before I can join you. I may be a little late."

Leandro's words hung in the air, and Ginevra acknowledged his message with a nod. "That's alright," she replied, mustering a small smile. "Take your time. I'll be fine."

Leandro motioned towards Alonzo, signaling him to drive Ginevra home. With a nod, Alonzo opened the car door for her, and she gracefully entered.

As Ginevra and Alonzo drove away, Leandro turned his attention to the sleek car waiting nearby, where the other two guards awaited him. With a tenacious stride, Leandro joined them, settling into the car.

The vehicle came to a halt, and Ginevra graciously stepped out, closing the door behind her. Alonzo followed suit, ensuring her safety. However, before Ginevra could proceed toward the building's entrance, he calmly called her.

Ginevra paused, turning to face him, curiosity and caution in her eyes. Alonzo's voice broke the silence, his tone laced with concern. "Why was that man after you?" he inquired, his genuine interest evident in his question.

Ginevra scuffed faintly as her eyes met his, a hint of confusion flickering in her gaze at the odd question, if that was from Leandro, she do understand, but him... No, he had no right. "It's none of your business, Alonzo.” she retorted, her voice tinged with a touch of frustration. "If you're so curious, then ask your boss."

Alonzo observed her for a moment, his expression unreadable, before finally nodding. "I see," he replied, his voice calm. "Be careful."

But Ginevra didn't want to hear his word at that moment and turned away, continuing her walk toward the building entrance, leaving Alonzo standing there, watching her until she disappeared from his sight.

Ginevra stepped into her apartment, her shopping bags finding their place on the kitchen counter. With swift motions, she made her way to the bathroom, wishing for a warm bath.

Rolling her hair up and securing it with a hair tie, she splashed water on her face by the sink as she washed off her makeup, cleansing away the day's weariness. She paused for a moment, and leaned closer to the mirror, gazing at her reflection as if searching for something deeper.

With a sense of anticipation in her heart, Ginevra emerged from her room and gracefully glided into the kitchen. She appeared to have already showered, and her presence was nothing short of captivating. Clad in a stunning flowering dress that seemed to embody the spirit of spring.

A subtle touch of makeup enhanced her features, adding a hint of allure to her already enchanting appearance. As she stood there, it was evident that she had put considerable effort into her attire. She wanted to be prepared for Leandro's arrival, uncertain of the exact time he would come.

With meticulous precision, Ginevra wasted no time as she stepped into the kitchen, she readied a tantalizing fruit dessert, carefully placing it in the fridge to chill, and then reached for the colorful banquet of flowers she had picked up on her way back from the lecture earlier that day, which she now arranged on the table, infusing the setting with an explosion of colors.

Setting the plates with the utmost care. She returned to the kitchen to first make a pasta dough, and skillfully kneaded and rolled it. While the dough rested, she turned her attention to the preparation of citrus burrata, infusing them with a burst of zesty flavors.

As the pasta boiled to perfection, Ginevra effortlessly assembled the burrata with luscious, vibrant tomatoes, ensuring that the flavors harmonized beautifully.

Tonight, she wanted the dinner to be special, different from the usual one-pot meals they had, and who doesn't like nice cooked pasta and fruit desserts?

She artfully arranged a platter of tantalizing, colorful fruits on a fruit board. Each piece was a work of art, a burst of nature's palette. But Ginevra didn't stop there. She unveiled her pièce de résistance—a dessert that was as visually stunning as it was delicious. Pink lemon and strawberry sorbet were elegantly served within the hollowed-out body of pink lemon, adding a touch of whimsy to the table.

With everything meticulously prepared, Ginevra cast her eyes over the table, admiring the ambiance she had created. Candles flickered, casting a warm glow, and the wine glasses stood poised for a toast.

But at that moment, she realized she had forgotten one crucial element—wine. A groan escaped her lips as a wave of frustration washed over her.

Her eyes flickered at the clock on the wall, determined not to let her oversight dampen the evening, she swiftly retrieved her cell phone, intent on remedying the situation with a hurried request.

With a sense of urgency, Ginevra swiftly ordered two bottles of wine and pleaded with the customer care to deliver them as quickly as possible—and just as soon as she hung up, the doorbell rang, causing her heart to skip a beat.

“f**k,” She remorsefully let escape her lips.

She closed her eyes, taking a calming breath, before making her way to the door. As she opened it, a gentle smile adorned her face as she laid eyes upon Leandro—funny enough, he appeared to be in a different attire. A three-piece suit with an exquisite shade of grey, not the vibrant one. And a long coat.

This may be a not-too-perfect timing if Ginevra may say. If only he would arrive in ten minutes or so.

Her eyes flickered up to meet Leandro's intense gaze, and the brief silence seems to crackle with electricity. His admiration was perceptible as he uttered the words that made her heart soar, "You look absolutely stunning." he says, a ghost smile playing at the corner of his lips.

It may not be the first time Leandro may have complimented her, but this was different because there was no touch or trace of his usual savage hint. Something she may have blindly wanted to hear do badly.

A blush crept onto Ginevra's cheeks as gratitude swelled within her. "Thank you," she replied, her voice laced with sincerity and a touch of coy playfulness.

Leandro stepped inside, his eyes never leaving her, as if she were the center of his universe which made her bright eyes sparkle with tenderness.

In the palm of his hand, Leandro held a humble brown paper bag. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he extended it towards Ginevra, his voice dripping with admiration.

“You shine like a rare, priceless diamond."

Her breath caught in her throat at the words as she accepted the bag, her fingers brushing against his momentarily. She looked up at him, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. "Do you mean just tonight?" she inquired, her voice a mere whisper filled with curiosity and a hint of playful daring.

Leandro's head gently shook, his gaze unwavering. "No, my dear," he confessed, his voice low and filled with sincerity. "You have always been so."

A soft, genuine smile tugged at the corners of Ginevra's lips, a blush spreading across her cheeks like a delicate rose in bloom. Their eyes locked in an unspoken connection, a silent language of longing and affection.

For a moment there she wanted something more than just his intense stares, his eyes were so mesmerizing that she wanted to reach closer.

But then, her eyes blinked, momentarily diverting her gaze, before she found her voice. "The dinner is over there," she gestured towards the meticulously set table, her voice laced with warmth and a touch of playful banter.

Leandro's smirk deepened as he turned to stare at the table, a flicker of desire dancing in his eyes. With a final glance at her, he nodded in appreciation before gracefully making his way toward the enchanting display of culinary delights.

Ginevra's soft chuckle, hummed through her as she watched him before her attention shifted to the paper bag she held.

Carefully unraveling its contents, she felt relief at the sight of two exquisite bottles of vintage wine nestled within.