She knew Leone?
1497 Words
Nyxa~
Leone showed up earlier than expected. I had just stepped out of the bedroom when the knock came again, more impatient this time.
“I’m coming,” I said loudly so he could hear, already knowing it was him.
When I opened the door, he didn’t wait for an invitation. He stepped in, glancing around briefly like he was already assessing the place.
“You took your time,” he said.
“You came early,” I replied, shutting the door behind him. “That’s not my problem.”
“It is now,” he muttered, but there was no real irritation in his voice and he grinned at me.
Before I could respond, a small voice cut through the space.
“Mama?”
I turned toward the living room. Liora stood there, her eyes moving between me and Leone, cautious and curious at the same time.
I walked over to her, resting a hand lightly on her shoulder. “Liora, this is Leone.”
She didn’t say anything at first. Just stared at him, her little brows pulling together slightly as if she was trying to read him.
Leone didn’t move closer immediately. He stayed where he was, lowering himself just enough so he wasn’t towering over her.
“Hi,” he said, his voice calmer than I had ever heard it.
Still, she didn’t respond. Her fingers curled slightly into my clothes, her gaze flickering back to me.
It was subtle, but I caught it. She was asking me for permission to speak. This child. I exhaled quietly before crouching down so I was at her level.
“He’s okay,” I said, my voice steady. “You can trust him.”
That was all it took. Liora looked back at Leone, this time without the hesitation from before. Something in her expression shifted—like a switch had been flipped.
“Okay,” she said simply and then, before either of us could react, she ran forward. Leone barely had time to process it before she jumped straight into his arms. He caught her instinctively, a bit surprised. For a second, he just held her there, like he wasn’t entirely sure what to do next.
Liora, on the other hand, had no such problem. She wrapped her arms around his neck like she had known him longer than five minutes.
“You’re tall,” she said matter-of-factly.
Leone let out a quiet laugh, adjusting his hold on her. “I’ve been told.”
I leaned back slightly where I stood, watching them. It was unexpected. Liora didn’t warm up to people easily. She observed first them first and it took her a whole before she even warmed up to Lilith
But this… was really new.
“She likes you,” I said.
“I can see that,” he replied, glancing at me briefly before looking back at her. “I’m honored.”
“You should be, Mr Tall Man” Liora responded with a toothy grin and I laughed. She pulled back slightly, studying his face now like she was confirming her decision.
“You know Mama?” she asked.
“For a long time,” he said.
She nodded like that made perfect sense. Then, just as quickly, she settled comfortably in his arms, completely at ease. I couldn’t help the small smile that slipped through.
“Alright,” I said after a moment. “Put the little brat down. We’re heading out.”
“Where?” Leone asked, though he didn’t move immediately.
“To work.”
That got his attention. He set Liora down gently, and she didn’t protest, just grabbed my hand instead.
“Can I come?” she asked.
“Not today baby,” I replied. “You’re staying with Lilith.”
She looked like she wanted to argue, but then she nodded. “Okay.”
“Soon enough, we'll get you into school ok baby?”
“Yes mama. Love you.”
“Love you too baby.” I said as I kissed her head and went into my room to grab my coat.
***
It didn't take me time to find where I wanted Lionyx headquarters. I had already done my research before coming back to New York. I stepped out of the car, my gaze lifting briefly to take it in.
Leone came to stand beside me, his hands in his pockets as he followed my line of sight.
“You already decided,” he said.
“I did.”
“You haven’t even gone inside.”
“I don’t need to.”
He studied the place for a moment longer before nodding slightly. “It fits.”
Of course it did.
We went in anyway. Inside, the space was open, structured. I walked through it slowly, already mapping everything out in my head. Offices. Security. Access points.
Everything fell into place without effort.
“This will be Lionyx,” I said finally.
Leone glanced around once more before looking back at me. “It's prime location.”
“I told you,” I replied. “I don’t waste time.”
“I’ll have it set up,” he said.
“You have one day.”
He stared at me for a second. Then he huffed out a quiet laugh. “Of course I do, Lord Commandress”
“I know that's right.” I grinned and we stepped back outside after that and that’s when I saw her.
Elena.
She had just stepped out of a car, but the moment her eyes landed on me, everything about her stopped.
Completely. It was almost amusing how fast it happened.
The first expression I saw on her face was shock and then, fear. Her face went pale, her lips parting slightly like she wanted to say something but couldn’t.
Her hands started shaking. Like she was looking at something that wasn’t supposed to be standing in front of her.
I held her gaze for a brief second and I looked away as I walked past her.
There was one more place to visit today before I went back home.
***
The hospital looked exactly the same and I barely made it past the entrance before I ran into Mrs Timothy. She turned, clearly not expecting to see me, but the moment she did, her expression changed instantly.
“Nyxa!”
“Mrs Timothy,” I greeted. “I was just coming to—”
“She’s awake.”
I stopped.
“What?”
“Your mother,” she said, her face lighting up. “She has been responding to treatment for quite a while. She’s awake.”
For a second, I didn’t move.
I didn’t wait or ask anything else. I turned and rushed down the hallway, my steps faster than I could even register. The door to her ward felt heavier than it should have been when I pushed it open.
And there she was.
Sitting up. Awake.
Looking right at me.
“Nyxa…”
That was all it took. I crossed the distance immediately, my vision blurring before I even reached her.
“Mama…”
My voice broke, and I didn’t even try to hold it together as I wrapped my arms around her. She held me just as tightly.
“I’m here,” she murmured. “I’m here.”
I didn’t realize I was crying until she pulled back slightly, her hand coming up to my face.
“You’ve been through so much,” she said softly.
I shook my head, laughing weakly through the tears. “You don’t even know half of it.”
“Then tell me,” she said.
So I did.
Everything. I didn’t hide anything and gave her the full details. By the time I was done, the softness in her expression had completely disappeared. It was replaced with something cold.
“They did this to you?” she asked quietly.
“Yes.”
Her jaw tightened. “Then I will deal with them.”
“Mama—”
“I will deal with your step father,” she continued, her voice firm now. “And sister.”
There was no hesitation in it and I knew that tone. She meant every word. A small silence followed before she exhaled, her expression softening again slightly.
“Where is my granddaughter?” she asked.
I blinked. “Liora?”
She nodded. “I want to see her.”
I opened my mouth to answer—
The door opened. Leone stepped in, a small bag of food in his hand like he had been there before.
“It’s lovely to see you’re doing quite well today, ma’am,” he said casually. My mother looked up at him and she smiled warmly like she knew him.
“Hello, son,” she said. “You’ve come to see me today as well.”
Huh? I looked from her to him as I was completely caught off guard.
My mother knew Leone?!
- Writer
