Chapter 21: Leandro’s POV – Consequences and Threats

Leandro’s POV

The moment I stepped into the dimly lit room, I knew exactly what was coming. The air felt heavy— a familiar weight that seemed to suffocate every inch of the space. Lucian was waiting for me, his sharp eyes locked on me as soon as I entered. There was no warmth in his gaze, only cold, calculated anger.

“You’ve been slacking,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, a controlled fury simmering beneath the surface. “I trusted you to get things done, but you missed the target. You missed the person we were supposed to kidnap.”

I felt the sting of his words even though I’d been expecting them. It wasn’t the first time I’d messed up, but it stung more than usual. It wasn’t just about the job. It was about the fact that I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

I stood there, silent for a moment, trying to gather my thoughts, but there was no room to think when Lucian was looking at me like that. He didn’t give me time to process; he never did. Instead, he moved, quick as a snake, and before I could react, he landed a solid punch to my stomach, knocking the wind out of me.

I staggered back, pain blossoming across my ribs, but I didn’t show it. I couldn’t. The more you show weakness in front of Lucian, the worse it got.

“You’ve been distracted,” he continued, his voice cold, almost detached. “You’re not focused anymore. You think you can just lose yourself in whatever this is, whoever this is?”

I swallowed, my jaw tightening. He didn’t know about Isabella, not really. I hadn’t told him about the girl who had started to invade my thoughts, my every waking moment. But there was something in his eyes, something knowing, like he could sense the change in me. He knew I wasn’t the same.

“I’ve been off my game,” I said, my voice flat, trying to hide the turmoil beneath. “I’ve had a lot on my mind.”

Lucian’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t believe me. “What have you been doing, Leandro?” he demanded, his tone now sharp, cutting through the room like a knife. “Tell me the truth. Where’s your head at?”

I could feel my heartbeat in my throat, my pulse racing with the fear I didn’t want to acknowledge. “I’ve just been… distracted. I’m still your man, Lucian. I’ll fix it. Just give me time.”

He didn’t respond right away, but the silence in the room was heavy, suffocating. Then, with a snarl, he stepped forward again, his fist connecting with my face. The blow was brutal, sharp, and it sent my head spinning.

“You’ve been slacking,” he repeated, his voice rising with anger. “And if I catch you making another mistake, I’ll—”

Before he could finish, I moved, my instincts kicking in. I wasn’t going to take this quietly. “You don’t get to talk to me like that,” I growled, my own anger rising. “I’m still your nephew, Lucian. I’m not some kid you can just beat into submission.”

Lucian stopped, his eyes flashing with fury. He stepped closer, and the air between us crackled with tension. “You think you’re untouchable?” he sneered, his voice dripping with venom. “You think because your father’s legacy is on your shoulders, that you can act like you’re above the rest of us? You’ve lost your way, Leandro.”

His fist shot out again, landing in my stomach. The pain was almost too much this time, and I stumbled backward, gasping for air. But before I could regain my balance, Lucian was on me again.

This time, he didn’t just punch me. He grabbed me by the collar of my shirt, pulling me up until I was eye level with him. His face was inches from mine, his breath hot and angry against my skin.

“You’ll do things my way,” Lucian spat. “You’ll stay focused, or I’ll make sure you never forget who you belong to. You think you’re in control of your own life, but you’re not. You never have been.”

I couldn’t speak. My jaw was clenched tight, blood running down from where I had bitten the inside of my cheek. I had to hold my ground, had to show him that I wasn’t weak, that I wasn’t going to be his puppet.

“I’ll make you remember what happens when you step out of line,” Lucian said, his voice low, full of malice. “And if you think for one second that I’ll let you screw this up again, you’re dead wrong.”

Without warning, he pulled a knife from his pocket, his eyes gleaming with fury as he pressed the cold steel against my throat.

“You’re mine, Leandro. And don’t forget it,” he growled, the blade just barely grazing my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.

I swallowed hard, my breath shallow, but I didn’t move. I couldn’t. The weight of the blade was enough to remind me of how quickly everything could change.

Lucian stared at me for a long moment, as if waiting for me to break, to show any sign of fear. But I held his gaze, refusing to show any weakness. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he lowered the knife and let go of my shirt, pushing me back against the wall.

“Two weeks, Leandro,” he said, his voice dark and dangerous. “I want you by my side, every damn day. You’ll follow my lead, and you’ll do exactly what I tell you. No more mistakes. No more excuses. Understand?”

I nodded silently, the anger still burning inside me, but I didn’t trust myself to speak.

“Good,” Lucian said, his voice cold as ice. “I’ll be watching you. Don’t make me regret this.”

With that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me there, battered and bruised, my thoughts swirling. I knew I had just been given another chance. But something inside me shifted. Something was changing, and I couldn’t ignore it anymore.

I wasn’t just fighting to stay alive anymore. I was fighting for control of my own destiny.