18
1138 Words
LEOANDRO'S POV
Adrian looked at her then looked at the way she held the gun.
Then widened dramatically.
“Well, damn.”
I immediately felt irritation crawl up my spine.
Adrian stopped in front of her and pressed a hand dramatically against his chest.
“You must be the woman making our dear Leoandros miserable.”
Esmeralda laughed instantly.
Traitor.
“And you are?” she asked.
“Adrian Knight. Professional bad influence.”
He grabbed her hand before I could stop him and kissed her knuckles theatrically.
I stared at him.
“Touch her again and lose the hand.”
Adrian smirked without even looking at me.
“You’re so emotional these days.”
Esmeralda was openly laughing now.
I narrowed my eyes at her.
“You’re encouraging him.”
“He’s funny.”
“He’s annoying.”
“Both can exist.”
Adrian looked delighted by her response.
“Oh, I like her already.”
“No,” I said flatly. “You don’t.”
He ignored me completely.
“So tell me, bella, how did Leo convince you to come into this lovely paradise of violence and illegal activities?”
Esmeralda tilted her head thoughtfully. “He invited me.”
"Oh really?"
"Yes"
“That sounds accurate.”
I rubbed a hand over my face.
“Adrian.”
“What?”
“Leave.”
“No.”
“Before I shoot you.”
Esmeralda gasped softly. “Do you threaten everyone you love?”
Adrian burst out laughing while I stared at her.
Love?
The word lodged itself somewhere deep inside my chest like a bullet.
Before I could respond, Giovanni cleared his throat awkwardly.
“The drug inventory still needs inspection.”
Right.
Business.
I grabbed the rifle from Esmeralda gently and handed it back to one of the men.
“Come with me,” I told her.
Adrian immediately followed.
I glared over my shoulder.
“Why are you still here?”
“Because your wife is entertaining.”
“She’s not your entertainment.”
Esmeralda raised an eyebrow at me.
Possessive.
That look said it all.
And the worst part?
I didn’t care.
—
The drug section sat beneath the warehouse in a temperature-controlled lower level.
Unlike upstairs, this area was quieter.
More guarded.
More dangerous.
Large bricks wrapped in plastic sat neatly stacked inside crates while armed soldiers monitored every corner.
Cocaine.
Heroin.
Methamphetamine.
Enough narcotics to destroy thousands of lives.
Esmeralda wrinkled her nose slightly.
“It smells weird down here.”
“Because drugs aren’t supposed to smell pleasant.”
She looked at the packages carefully.
“That’s cocaine?”
“Yes.”
“Huh.”
I immediately pointed at her.
“Do not touch anything.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not a child.”
“You’re curious, which is worse.”
Adrian snorted beside us.
“She absolutely looks like the type to accidentally snort cocaine.”
Esmeralda gasped dramatically. “Excuse you.”
“She passed out after half a bottle of wine once,” I muttered.
“That was different.”
Giovanni approached with another clipboard, forcing my attention back toward work.
“Colombian shipment weighs heavier than expected,” he explained. “We think—”
As he spoke, I moved farther toward the tables where several men were counting product.
Adrian wandered off somewhere behind us.
And for fifteen stupid minutes—
I forgot about Esmeralda.
That was my mistake.
Because suddenly laughter echoed through the lower level.
Loud laughter.
Uncontrolled laughter.
My entire body stiffened instantly.
I turned sharply.
And froze.
Esmeralda stumbled directly into my chest.
Her cheeks were flushed pink.
Her pupils blown wide.
And there was white powder smeared beneath her nose.
Oh, f**k.
“Leoandros,” she whispered dramatically, staring up at me like I was the most fascinating thing she’d ever seen. “You’re so pretty.”
The warehouse went silent.
I stared at her.
Then at the powder.
Then back at her.
Pure fury exploded inside me.
“What the f**k did you do?”
She blinked slowly.
“I think the floor moved.”
“Esmeralda.”
She burst into laughter.
Actual helpless laughter.
“Oh my God, Giovanni has two heads.”
Giovanni looked horrified.
Adrian started choking from trying not to laugh.
I grabbed Esmeralda by the shoulders.
“How much did you inhale?”
She stared at me very seriously.
“You smell really good.”
One of my soldiers raised his hand nervously.
“Boss…”
I snapped toward him.
“What?”
“I told her not to touch it.”
Esmeralda pointed accusingly at the soldier. “He was rude.”
“I told you it was dangerous,” the soldier defended quickly.
“She threatened me,” another man added.
I blinked once.
“What?”
The second soldier looked terrified. “She said she’d report us to you if we didn’t let her closer.”
Adrian completely lost it.
He doubled over laughing.
I stared at Esmeralda in disbelief.
“You threatened my soldiers?”
“They were being dramatic,” she whispered loudly.
“You inhaled cocaine.”
“A little.”
“How much is a little?”
She considered this carefully.
Then held up her fingers.
“This much.”
“That tells me absolutely nothing.”
She giggled again.
Christ Almighty.
My anger burned hotter because beneath the irritation was fear.
Actual fear.
Drugs in our warehouses were uncut before processing.
Even inhaling a small amount could be dangerous for someone with zero tolerance.
I grabbed her chin carefully.
Her eyes struggled to focus on me.
“You dizzy?”
“Yes.”
“Nauseous?”
“No.”
“Can you walk?”
She immediately tried.
And nearly fell.
Adrian caught her elbow before she hit the floor.
“She’s definitely high.”
“No s**t,” I snapped.
Esmeralda pointed at Adrian suddenly.
“You’re handsome too.”
Adrian grinned. “See? She has excellent taste.”
I wanted to murder him.
Instead I scooped Esmeralda into my arms.
She squealed softly.
“Ooooh.”
“Stop talking.”
“You’re very bossy.”
“And you’re drugged.”
Giovanni looked like he was trying desperately not to react.
“Continue inventory,” I ordered coldly. “Nobody lets her near this section again.”
“Yes, boss.”
As I carried her upstairs, Esmeralda rested her head against my chest.
Then softly whispered—
“You care about me.”
The quiet sincerity in her voice hit harder than bullets ever had.
I looked down at her.
Her eyes were heavy and dazed, but there was something heartbreakingly genuine in them.
Dangerous woman.
Dangerous f*****g woman.
Because she made me feel things I had spent years killing inside myself.
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