CHAPTER 196: CHAPTER 196 BURNING HEART

"You—!" she stammered, taking a small step back, pointing at him as if it might keep him at bay. "You can’t just... bring that up out of nowhere!"

Leo’s lips curved, slow and wicked, his dark eyes glinting as if he’d just uncovered her deepest, flustered little secret. "Why not?" he murmured, tilting his head slightly, studying her like he could read every thought running through her head. "It worked last time."

Bella’s heart thumped so loudly she was sure he could hear it. She wanted to retort, to throw something clever back at him, but all she managed was an indignant, "Shameless!" before she spun around, muttering under her breath and refusing to meet his gaze.

Behind her, Leo chuckled low, that rich, dangerous sound that made her knees feel less steady than she’d like to admit.

"Alright... I just wanted to say that Reyna wants to meet you," he said at last, his tone softer than before.

Bella, who had been half-turned away from him, paused and looked back with a faintly hesitant expression. "Alexa’s mom?" she asked quietly.

"Hmm." Leo’s gaze stayed steady on her. "It’s up to you. Only if you want to meet her."

Bella’s lashes lowered for a moment, her fingers fidgeting at her side before she gave a small nod. "I... I want to meet them," she said, her voice calm but certain.

Leo’s lips curved just slightly, that rare, unguarded warmth flickering across his face. "I’ll let her know. She’ll be very happy to hear that."

Bella returned the nod, though her eyes drifted away again, as if already lost in thought about what that meeting might bring. And for a moment, he simply stood there watching her, the room light catching the faint color in her cheeks, wondering if she had any idea how much she was starting to matter to him.

***

At dinner, the table was warm with chatter, but Leo felt like every sound was scratching at his nerves.

"Bella, eat this—you’re so thin," Jace said, leaning just close enough to make Leo’s jaw tighten.

"Bella, try this too... Bella, this, Bella, that..." Jace kept going, his voice dripping with easy familiarity.

Leo’s patience was hanging by a thread. His fingers curled around his fork so tightly he thought it might snap in two. The worst part was Bella didn’t seem to mind—she was smiling, taking the food without protest, her soft "thank you" making something in his chest burn.

And if that wasn’t enough, his little brother was playing along, happily piling more food onto Jace’s plate like they’d been friends for years.

Leo’s eyes slowly shifted to Jay. The moment Jay felt the heavy, ice-cold stare on him, he looked up—and nearly dropped the serving spoon. His brother’s gaze was so sharp, so dark, it was like watching a storm about to hit. Jay swallowed hard, quickly sliding his chair back and pretending to focus on his own plate, silently praying that whatever wrath Leo was holding in wouldn’t explode right there at the dinner table.

"I’m done," Leo said, his deep voice cutting through the warm chatter like a blade.

Chairs stilled. Forks froze mid-air. Bella’s head snapped toward him, surprise flashing in her honey-brown eyes, but all he gave her was a brief glance—dark, unreadable, his jaw clenched so hard a vein ticked at the side of his neck.

He rose from his chair in one smooth, deliberate movement, the kind that carried quiet authority, and adjusted the cuffs of his shirt like he needed something—anything—to keep his hands busy. His gaze flickered once toward Jace, slow and sharp, lingering just long enough to make the air between them heavy. Without another word, he pushed his chair back and walked away, broad shoulders tense, the faint scent of his cologne trailing behind as if even that was laced with unspoken warning.

Leo strode into his room, the door shutting with a solid thud behind him. His breath came harder than he liked to admit, dinner scene still playing in his mind. Without a pause, his hands went to the top buttons of his shirt, ripping them open in sharp, impatient movements until the fabric hung loose over his chest.

He yanked it off completely, tossing it onto the bed with enough force that it landed in a careless heap.

Dmmm!

Dmmm!

His phone vibrated on the nightstand, the sound cutting through the thick silence. He ignored it at first, running a hand through his hair, trying to push away the image of Jace leaning too close to Bella. But the phone kept buzzing, stubborn and relentless, until his jaw tightened and he reached for it, eyes narrowing at the screen.

"Hello," he answered, voice low, almost distracted, the weight of the evening still clinging to him. His free hand rubbed at his cheek, slow at first, then rougher, as though trying to scrub away the frustration building under his skin.

"Yeah... yeah, I’m coming," he said shortly, already moving toward the wardrobe. He grabbed a fresh black shirt, slipping into it with quick, practiced movements, fingers working the buttons without a glance in the mirror. The air around him felt heavier, his pulse still carrying the remnants of something he couldn’t quite name—something sharp and restless.

When he stepped out of his room, the sound of voices drifted from the living room—Bella’s soft tone, Jay’s casual banter, Jace’s laugh sliding in too easily. Without so much as a glance toward them, Leo descended the stairs, his steps even but his gaze fixed straight ahead. He didn’t break stride as he crossed the room.

The front door closed behind him with a quiet finality. Moments later, the low growl of his engine broke the stillness as he slid behind the wheel and took the driver’s seat himself, hands tightening around the steering wheel.

His men had called—one of Pablo’s men had been caught. And as he sped toward the location.

**

"Where did bro go?" Jay muttered, pulling out his phone and unlocking it with a frown. He was already scrolling to Leo’s contact when a hand casually reached over and tugged him back.

"Don’t call him yet," Jace said, leaning back into the couch with that easy, unbothered air of his. "Maybe he’s driving." His tone was almost lazy, but his eyes flicked briefly toward the door Leo had just stormed out of.

Jay raised a brow. "Driving? He never drives himself unless—"

"Unless he’s in a mood," Jace finished with a small smirk. He let his head rest on the back of the couch, still speaking with that slow, teasing drawl.