She took a deep breath, the weight of years pressing down on her chest. "Back then… Daniel wasn't just a part of my past. He was my world. The only one who understood what I was going through."
Leon's eyes didn't waver. "You never told me any of this."
"I tried to forget it. Pretend it never happened," she whispered. "But it did. And Daniel… he wasn't always the man you see now. He was scared, broken—like me."
She swallowed hard, pain flashing across her face. "That night… the fire that destroyed everything… it wasn't an accident. It was a warning."
Leon's fists clenched. "A warning from him."
She nodded. "From Daniel. He wanted to control me. Keep me tied to the past."
Leon stepped closer, voice low but steady. "You're with me now. You don't have to be afraid."
Her eyes searched his face. For the first time, she saw something different. Not just the cold, ruthless mafia boss—but a man who wanted to protect.