15.1

I lock eyes with him. “There’s no one here?”

He looks past me out the doors. “Is that your housekeeper?”

I spin on the spot, nearly losing my balance. “Vana,” I call out and she waves at me, her eyes narrowing on Leonardo behind me. Fuck. I turn back around and push at his chest to try to get him back out the front. “You need to get in your car.” I panic.

“Too fucking late now.” He grins at me. the playful Leonardo back in full swing.

“Fuck,” I groan and step away from him, hoping he doesn’t grab me by the waist and yank me back into him.

Vana approaches us, her cautious gaze never straying from Leonardo until she is just out of my reach. “Valentina, your Papa will murder him if he finds him here.” She shakes her head in disappointment.

“Where are Midnight and Storm?” I grab her arms and make her focus on me.

“They’re in the pool house. Mr. Mancini has guests coming later, he asked me to lock them up so they don’t tear anyone’s throat out.” She looks at me in confusion.

I gather my long dress in my hand, to give me enough room to move and bolt toward the pool house. I run like my life depends on it, not believing Vana that my babies are safe and secure. I burst through the doors and there they both are, lazing about on the lounge, with not a care in the world. When they see me, they bound off the lounge and jump all over me.

I sink to the floor in a heap and get smothered with licks. “You’re safe. You’re fucking safe.”

Storm is the first to start her low deep growl, with her hackles raised, as she positions herself between me and the door. Midnight stays silent, standing over my legs, protecting me from whoever is approaching.

Leonardo appears outside the door, not stupid enough to come any closer. “Well, they’re fucking protective.” He pushes his gun into the back of his pants and squats down so he’s at eye level with Storm. She continues her low growl, a warning to not come any closer.

“Storm, it’s okay.” I whistle to her and she obeys and comes to sit beside me. “You wouldn’t hurt a fly, would you?” I scratch them both behind the ears.

“Valentina!” Vana shouts from up near the house. “Valentina!”

Leonardo stands and turns to see what Vana wants.

“Valentina, your Papa is here. Get this boy out of here, now,” she pants as she tries to catch her breath standing next to Leonardo.

Panic seizes in my chest as I scramble to get up off the floor. Both dogs are aware of my sudden mood and jump into protective mode again, with their ears back, ready to attack. “Girl’s, heel.” I pat them both on the head and they immediately sit next to me.

“I’ll distract him in the office.” Vana steps closer to me, taking my face in her hands. “Be careful, my child. You know your Papa is unforgiving.” Her gaze slides to Leonardo, who has retrieved his gun again.

“I’m happy to waltz through the house. I don’t give a fuck who sees me,” he says, the darkness in his tone cooling the air around us.

“No fucking way. Put your gun away Rambo, no one is shooting anyone here. We’ll go up around the house.” I glare at him and his stupidity.

“He’s seen my car and he’ll be curious as to who is here. I’m more scared of your dogs than I am of your old man.” His dazzling grin beckons me to agree with him.

“Nope. My house, my way. Now move.” I push at his chest to try to turn him around.

“I love it when you’re all bossy,” he chuckles darkly and moves as I push him.

Vana watches our exchange and I see the fear in her eyes. She knows all too well what would happen if Papa found out about Leonardo.

“Valentina, you need to think hard about this.” Vana frowns before scurrying back up to the house.

“She won’t tell him,” I convince myself more than Leonardo.

“Lead the way.” Leonardo gestures for me to go first, making Storm growl at him. “Hey, pup. I’m not the fucking enemy here,” he whispers to her.

“She hates everyone, don’t take it personally.” I set off up toward the side of the house, with my pups and Leonardo trailing behind.

We make it to the far corner of the house, the Lamborghini is in my sights with papa’s car parked behind it. “We’ll just have to make a dash for it.”

“What about your dogs?” Leonardo walks past me and stands out in the open, eyeing the distance between us and the car.

“They’re coming with me.”

He turns and looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “In my car?”

“Yes.”

I can see him chewing the inside of his lip. “I don’t think so.” He eyes Storm and Midnight and then looks back at his car.

“I’m not leaving them here.” I squat down and wrap my arms around Midnight’s neck and pull puppy dog eyes at him.

“Fuck,” he growls, turns on his bare feet, and jogs to the car.

I watch him open the trunk and grab out a few black garbage bags before climbing into the driver’s seat. I hope Vana keeps Papa occupied because the sound of the Murcielago firing up is fucking loud. I see Leonardo’s hand pop out his door and he waves me over.

“Quietly, girls.” I place my finger over my lips and the three of us dash for the car. I open the door as quietly as I can to see the whole interior covered in black plastic. “How do you expect to drive with all this?” I bend down and look at Leonardo sitting in the seat, pleased with his efforts.

“Shut up and get in before I change my mind.” He closes his door.

I climb in and pat my legs for my girls to jump in. The cabin space is instantly filled with my dogs, I close my door, and try not to laugh at the absurdity. We’re packed in like sardines, the black plastic already hot and sticky.

“You two better not piss or shit in here,” Leonardo mumbles before firing up the engine.

He has Midnight’s large tongue hanging near his face, her sharp canines on display. I see him look at her and she licks his face, much to his disgust.

“I think she’s smitten,” I chuckle and pat her on the head.

“She better not fucking bite me.” He revs the engine and does a giant burn out as we leave the house.

“Fucking hell, why’d you have to do that?” I hold on to my dogs to stop us all ending up in his lap.

“Because I can.” He rolls up to the gate, which opens automatically, and salutes the guard as we pass.

The long drive, with a few pitstops for toilet breaks, is smelly, to say the least. In true Storm style, she drops stinky farts like the best of them, making Leonardo curse under his breath. We pull up at my dorms and I let the girls out first.

“You know they don’t allow animals on Verona grounds, let alone living in dorm rooms.” Leonardo inspects the damage from all the dog drool.

“Enzo can suck my dick.” I roll my eyes at him and climb out of the car.

Leonardo exits his car, wrapping all the plastic up carefully to contain as much dog hair as he can. I can see it on his face he is not impressed in the slightest.

I stroll around the car and take his face in my hands, making him look at me. “Thanks for doing this, you know what my babies mean to me.” I kiss him deeply and press myself against his bare chest. We must look like a hot mess, barefoot and disheveled, covered in dog hair and drool.

“I’ll send you the car detailer’s bill.” He grins at me and pulls me tighter into him.

I hear Storm’s low growl, her side pressed against my leg, ready to attack on my command. “Shh, it’s okay, we like this one.” I grin against Leonardo’s lips as Storm presses harder into my leg.

“I’ve got to go and get fight night set up.” Leonardo presses a kiss to my forehead, before releasing his arms from around my waist.

“I like fight night.” The itch to get into a ring again burns in my veins. I haven’t had a good sparring session in weeks and the need to bleed and feel the deep pain aches in my bones.

“You’re not beating up our potential recruits.” His grin widens

“I’ll do as I please.” I step away from him and throw him a snarky grin. “Come on girls, let's see your new home.”

I watch Leonardo shake his head at me and I feel his gaze burning through my dress, tingling my skin, as I walk away from him.