THE GIRL WHO WON'T LET GO
They didn't stop until the city lights thinned and the roads grew quiet.
Leon pulled the car into a shadowed street and killed the engine. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Elliana's heart was still racing, her fingers trembling as she released her grip on the seat.
"That was stupid," she finally said.
Leon let out a short breath, half a laugh. "Yeah. But you're safe."
She turned to him. "You don't get to decide that."
His jaw tightened. "I get to try."
Silence settled between them, heavy but not uncomfortable. The adrenaline slowly faded, leaving something softer—and more dangerous—in its place.
"I should go home," Elliana said.
Leon nodded. "I'll take you."
Before he could start the car, headlights flashed behind them.
Elliana froze.
A red car pulled up, blocking the road. The driver's door slammed shut, heels clicking sharply against the pavement.
"Oh," Leon muttered. "Not tonight."
The girl approached, long dark hair falling perfectly over her shoulders, eyes sharp and burning with fury as they landed on Elliana.
"So this is her," she said coldly.
Elliana swallowed. "I—"
Leon stepped out of the car. "Rhea, don't."
Rhea ignored him, circling Elliana like she was prey. "You have no idea who you're dealing with, do you?"
Elliana straightened. "I didn't force him to—"
"You don't have to," Rhea snapped. "He always looks for new distractions."
Leon's voice hardened. "Enough."
Rhea's gaze flicked to him, hurt flashing beneath the anger. "You said this was over."
"It is," he said firmly.
Something in Rhea's expression shifted—from jealousy to calculation.
She leaned closer to Elliana, lowering her voice. "Walk away while you still can. Girls like you don't survive his world."
Elliana met her stare, refusing to flinch. "Maybe you don't get to decide that either."
Rhea smiled slowly—but there was no warmth in it. "We'll see."
She stepped back into her car and sped off into the night.
Elliana's chest felt tight. "Your girlfriend?"
"Ex," Leon corrected. "And a problem."
He drove her home in silence, dropping her off a street away from her house.
As Elliana watched his car disappear, one thought echoed in her mind—
Leon Blakk wasn't the only danger in his world.
And Rhea had just declared war.