Aria

The car ride felt endless. I sat in the back seat, my throat burning with every swallow. Leo sat beside me, his entire body tense, his jaw clenched. He hadn't looked at me since I got in the car.

Marcus had tried to kill me. His hands around my neck, squeezing, his face twisted with rage. And then Leo appeared like a dark guardian angel, and Marcus let me go immediately.

The power dynamic wasn't lost on me. Leo Ashford commanded fear in a way that made even the most ambitious wolves submit without question.

I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to stop the trembling. My fingers found the marks on my neck, and I winced at the tenderness.

"Don't touch it," Leo said quietly, his voice like steel. "You'll make it worse."

I dropped my hands and nodded.

The car turned onto a quiet street lined with trees. We were moving away from the city toward the outskirts where the wealthy kept their private estates. The house that appeared was smaller than I expected but beautiful. Modern architecture with large windows and clean lines.

"This is one of my properties," Leo said as the car stopped. "No one knows about it. No one can find you here."

I followed him out on unsteady legs. Inside, the house was even more beautiful. Open spaces with hardwood floors, minimalist furniture in shades of gray and cream. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked a garden with a small pond.

"Sit," Leo commanded, gesturing to a gray sofa.

I obeyed, sinking into the cushions. He disappeared and returned with a first aid kit and water. He kneeled in front of me, his expression unreadable, and carefully examined my neck.

His fingers were warm against my skin. Up close, I could see the anger simmering beneath his composure. His gray eyes were darker than usual, almost black.

"This will need ice," he said, his voice controlled but tight.

He left and returned with ice wrapped in cloth. He pressed it gently against my neck, and the cold made me gasp. We sat like that for several minutes, his hand steady against my throat.

"Why did he attack you?" Leo asked finally, his voice quiet but carrying the weight of an interrogation.

I swallowed carefully. "I refused his offer. Yesterday, he came to my house. He said he would pay off my father's debt if I..." I trailed off.

"If you became his mistress," Leo finished, his voice turning to ice.

I nodded, shame flooding through me.

"And you refused."

"Of course I refused," I said with surprise. "I would never—"

"So he attacked you to punish you," Leo said. "He wanted to frighten you into submission."

The clinical way he said it made me realize something. Leo wasn't just angry about what Marcus had done. He was calculating. Already thinking several steps ahead.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I shouldn't have come to your office today."

"No," Leo interrupted, standing up. He turned away from me, running a hand through his dark hair. "You did nothing wrong. Marcus is the one who crossed a line."

He walked to the window and looked out at the garden. In profile, he looked older, more tired.

"I've been investigating your father's case," he said without turning around. "Your instinct was correct. He was framed."

My heart stopped. "What?"

"Daniel Martinez did not embezzle three million dollars," Leo continued, finally turning back. "The evidence against him was fabricated. Someone wanted to destroy his business and reputation."

I stood up, my legs unsteady. "Who? Why would anyone do that?"

"That is what I intend to find out," he said. "And that is also why you are going to stay here."

The statement hung in the air between us. Stay here. With Leo. In this hidden house where no one knew where I was.

"I can't," I said automatically. "My mother—"

"Will be contacted and informed that you are safe," Leo said. "Your mother will be protected as well. I will assign people to watch over her."

"You can't just decide this for me," I protested, even though I knew it was futile.

Leo studied me for a long moment. "You were just attacked by your ex-fiancé. He tried to kill you, Aria. What do you think will happen if you go back to your normal life? How long before he tries again?"

I opened my mouth to argue, but I couldn't. He was right. Marcus had snapped.

"I have a room prepared for you," Leo continued. "You'll have everything you need. My lawyers and investigators will focus on your father's case full-time."

"And what do you want in return?" I asked, the question coming out bitter. "What's the price this time?"

Something that might have been hurt crossed his features.

"Information," he said. "Your father worked with several business partners. I need names, contact information, details about his dealings. Someone in his network framed him."

It was reasonable. It would also help my father.

"Okay," I said finally. "I'll help you."

Leo nodded, and the tension in his shoulders eased slightly.

"Come with me," he said, extending his hand.

I took his hand, and he led me through the house to a hallway I hadn't noticed before. The room was large and comfortable, with a queen bed, a sitting area, and its own bathroom. The walls were soft cream.

It was beautiful, but it was still a cage.

"There are clothes in the closet," Leo said. "My assistant will bring whatever else you need. If you require anything, press the button on the nightstand."

"How long do you think I'll have to stay here?" I asked.

"Until it's safe," he replied. "Until I've dealt with the people responsible."

"Thank you," I said quietly. "For saving me today. For believing me."

Leo stood in the doorway. For a moment, he looked vulnerable in a way I hadn't thought possible. His expression softened as he looked at me.

"Get some rest, Aria," he said finally. "Tomorrow, we begin."

He closed the door, leaving me alone. I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Outside, the sun was setting, painting the sky orange and pink.

I was drifting off to sleep when I heard voices in the hallway. Leo's voice, and another man's. They were arguing urgently.

"Sir, you need to see this," the man was saying. "The investigation into Daniel Martinez's case... it connects to someone much bigger. Someone who's been orchestrating everything for years, and—"

"Not here," Leo interrupted sharply. "Not near her."

But the damage was done.

I had heard enough to know that whatever Leo was uncovering was far more dangerous than I realized.

And I had just realized something else as I stood there in the darkness.

Leo had positioned me in this room deliberately. He had wanted me to overhear this conversation.

Which meant I wasn't being protected.

I was being used as bait.

And the worst part? I had no idea who the real threat was anymore.