Leo stood then, unfolding himself from the chair with a slow, deliberate grace. He took a step toward her, his presence filling the room, his eyes locked on hers. "No choice?" he echoed, his voice smooth and mocking. "I gave you a day to decide. You waited until the last minute, and now here you are… breaking my rules."
She felt her heart race in her chest as he closed the distance between them, his gaze like fire on her skin. Her breath caught in her throat, but she didn't back down. She couldn't. "I didn't come here to argue about rules, Leo. I came to tell you—"
He cut her off, his voice a low, dangerous whisper. "Do you really think you can come into my world and make demands? Do you think you are in any position to negotiate?"
The proximity between them was intoxicating, and though every instinct screamed at her to step back, she stood her ground, defiant. She could feel the heat radiating from him, the overwhelming sense of power he carried with him like a shadow. For a long, tense moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them thick, almost suffocating. The room seemed to shrink around them, the music from the club below fading into the background.
Finally, Leo's lips quirked into a smile, his eyes gleaming. "You have no idea what you're playing with, Suzy."
Her pulse quickened. She hated how much he affected her, hated the way her body reacted to the intensity of his presence. She wanted to throw his words back at him, to tell him she wasn't afraid. But the truth was, she was afraid. Of him. Of what he could make her do. And of the way he made her feel, standing this close.
"I'm not doing it," she said again, her voice steadier this time, but softer.
Leo's eyes darkened, but the smile remained. He tilted his head, studying her for a moment before he spoke, his voice low and filled with unspoken promises. "We'll see about that."
"I mean it. I won't do it," she repeated.
The silence that followed was heavy, charged with the unspoken tension that had been building from the moment Susan stepped into the room. Leo's eyes hadn't left her since, and the weight of his gaze made her pulse race. She stood still, refusing to back down even as her mind whirled with everything that had just happened.
He took another step closer, his presence overwhelming, and she could feel the heat radiating from him. "So tell me," Leo said, his voice soft, but with an edge that made her spine tingle. "Why did you come here tonight if your answer was no?"
Susan swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. "I… I don't know."
He raised an eyebrow, a dark smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Then leave," he said, his tone dismissive. He turned as though he were already done with her, his back to her now, but she didn't move.
Her breath caught in her throat. She knew what would happen if she left—Samuel would pay the price. She couldn't let that happen. The thought of her brother's face, of what Leo might do to him if she didn't comply, rooted her to the spot.
Leo stopped mid-step, sensing her hesitation. Slowly, he turned back to face her, his gaze piercing through the dim light. "What are you waiting for, Susan?" His voice was low, smooth, but there was a dangerous edge to it.
"I…" Her voice cracked, barely more than a whisper, accepting defeat. "I'll do it."
The smile that spread across Leo's face was slow and predatory, as though he had been expecting that answer all along. "Good girl," he said softly, his eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "Now have a seat."
He gestured to the leather chair across from him, and Susan reluctantly moved to sit down. Her heart was pounding, and her stomach churned with a mixture of fear and uncertainty. She had just agreed to something she barely understood—something that could destroy her if she wasn't careful.
Leo, calm and collected, walked over to the glass table in the center of the room. With a slow, deliberate movement, he knelt down and withdrew a small box from underneath. The lid clicked open, and Susan's breath hitched as she saw what was inside: stacks of cash, neatly bundled in small denominations. It wasn't the money itself that terrified her—it was the implications behind it.
Leo lifted one of the bundles and tossed it onto the table in front of her. "Five grand," he said, his voice smooth but commanding. "I need you to wash it."
Susan stared at the money, her mind going blank. Five thousand in fake cash? Her hands clenched in her lap as she struggled to process what he was asking. This was no small task—this was the real deal. Her throat tightened, and for a moment, she was speechless.
"You're not going to get real money sitting there with your mouth open," Leo said, his voice amused as he watched her reaction. He leaned back, his arms resting casually on the back of the chair. "Here's what you'll do. You'll go to big stores—places that don't ask too many questions. Use the counterfeit cash to buy whatever you want. Then, you return the items. They'll give you real money back. Simple."
Susan blinked, her mind reeling. "And… that'll work?" Her voice was barely a whisper, her uncertainty clear.
"It'll work if you don't screw it up," Leo replied smoothly, his gaze dark and unrelenting. "Just don't get too greedy. Small purchases, spread out over different stores. And don't act suspicious. Can you handle that?"
Susan's stomach twisted, the weight of what he was asking settling over her like a heavy cloak. This wasn't making deliveries. This wasn't just some harmless favor—this was dangerous, and if she got caught… She shuddered at the thought. But what choice did she have? She nodded slowly, not trusting herself to speak. Leo watched her closely, and for a moment, neither of them moved. Then, she stood up, ready to leave, her legs shaky beneath her.
Leo rose as well, moving with that quiet, predatory grace that made her feel small and vulnerable in his presence. As she turned toward the door, he followed, his footsteps silent behind her. Just as she reached for the door handle, he stopped her, his hand against the door, stopping it from opening, the other resting lightly on her arm. Susan froze at his touch.
His voice was low, almost a whisper. "I don't think I need to tell you this, but make sure you keep your mouth shut, Suzy. You know too much now."