Chapter 4 It's You Again!

Leah’s eyes widened as she recognized the man. Panic surged through her chest as she tried to push him away and free herself. Stefano’s face twisted in confusion and frustration before he steadied her on her feet and quickly let go. Without sparing him another glance, Leah bolted down the corridor, her heart hammering in her chest. Stefano stood rooted to the spot, disbelief flickering in his dark eyes. First, she left money after their passionate night, and now she took off just like that—as if she'd seen a ghost?! Women craved him, not the other way around. He scowled at the thought. His phone buzzed in his pocket, pulling him out of his angry thoughts. Seeing his right-hand man's name, Stefano brushed off the girl and answered the call. Leah rushed down the hall, only stopping when she was sure she had gone far enough and that the man wasn’t following her. Her breaths came in short, shaky gasps, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She had no idea what he wanted from her or why he was here. Was he stalking her? Oh, God! She felt so helpless and alone, even though her whole family was present. Family, she scoffed bitterly as her eyes welled with unshed tears. Weren't they supposed to protect her? But the very thought of them only stirred fear and dread within her. And if that man wanted more money, she had none. Richard had snatched her clutch that morning, taking every bit of cash her friends had given her to buy herself a birthday gift. He never let her keep money or cards. Whenever she needed anything, she had to ask her father, and even then, it wasn’t guaranteed he’d give her anything unless he thought it was absolutely necessary. Gloomily, she prayed silently in her heart that the man wouldn’t find her again and would just leave her alone. Her feet rushed toward the party hall again, her head lowered. But when a few bulky figures blocked her path, she looked up, her brows knitting in confusion and nervousness. Four scary men were coming toward her, daggers glinting in their hands. Her terrified gaze darted around, but the dimly lit corridor was empty. She had no idea who they were or what they wanted, but the way they looked at her made it clear—she was their target. Without wasting another second, she spun on her heel and sprinted in the opposite direction. Shouts echoed behind her, followed by the heavy thud of their footsteps as they chased her down the corridor. Her pulse pounded in her ears as she pushed herself to run faster, but dread seized her chest when she spotted the dead-end wall ahead. Her steps faltered as she glanced over her shoulder—the men were closing in fast. Panic surged through her veins, her heart hammering against her ribs. Just as she was about to turn back, she collided with something solid. A sharp squeal slipped from her lips as she staggered back, her wide eyes snapping up to meet the man from last night and found herself in his powerful arms again. Stefano’s gaze darted between her and the men approaching behind her, the furrow in his brow revealing his confusion—just as baffled as she was to find herself in this situation. “Hand over the girl and leave quickly,” one of the goons with a long scar across his eye shouted. Stefano's frown deepened as he recognized them—they were Mr. Devil’s men. But none of them recognized him, as the masked mafia boss never showed his face, not even to his own crew. Swiftly, he pulled out his phone and fired off a quick text to Romeo: Execution's off. Aurelia Grand. One of the attackers growled upon seeing the phone. “So, you wanna mess with Mr. Devil’s men?” Behind him, Stefano heard the girl tremble with fear as a faint gasp escaped her lips. “Mr. Devil?!” He cursed silently, scowling—why did his men have to mention his name? “Get ready to die with her,” sneered another enforcer, stepping forward with his dagger raised. His sleeveless shirt exposed muscular arms marked with scars from countless fights. “Hey, man. I suggest you leave her alone,” Stefano warned, his tone calm but firm. He didn’t want to hurt his own men. The goons exchanged smirks before charging toward him, blades flashing under the dim lights. "Stay back!" Stefano barked, shoving Leah further away. She stumbled against the cold marble wall, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and awe as she watched Stefano move with almost lightning-fast speed when the goons swarmed him, their blades flashing with deadly intent. One of the men swung his blade, but Stefano sidestepped smoothly, sweeping his leg out to hook the thug’s ankle. The goon crashed onto the floor with a grunt. Another attacker came at him from the side, but Stefano pivoted, driving a brutal punch into his ribs before twisting his arm and disarming him in one swift motion. The third man charged, blade aimed straight at Stefano’s chest. He ducked just in time, slamming an elbow into the goon’s stomach before grabbing his collar and tossing him into the other fallen men. Suddenly, sharp pain exploded in his shoulder as the fourth attacker stabbed him from behind. Stefano hissed through clenched teeth, his body jerking from the impact. Before the goon could twist the blade deeper, Stefano’s hand shot up, clamping around the man’s wrist with a vice-like grip. With a sharp yank, he wrenched the dagger free and, using the momentum, flipped the man over his shoulder. The goon hit the marble floor with a heavy thud, groaning in pain. Stefano staggered back, his hand pressing against the bleeding wound, his eyes burning with fury as the men groaned around him. "Told you to leave her alone," he muttered, adjusting his stance despite the searing pain. They all groaned in anger as they scrambled back to their feet, gripping their weapons. But before they could charge at Stefano again, one of their phones rang. The sharp tone echoed through the corridor, and the man answered immediately—it was Romeo. After a brief exchange, they both shot dark glares at Stefano and Leah before swiftly retreating from the scene. Stefano exhaled in relief, then heard the thump of someone falling to the floor. Frowning, he turned and found her lying unconscious on the floor.