CHAPTER 231: CHAPTER 231 DANGEROUS

"What are you doing here?"

Bella froze, her heart leaping up into her throat. The miniature house she had been holding almost slipped from her trembling fingers. Slowly, she turned and there he was, Leo, striding inside with his usual commanding presence, his jaw locked tight, gray eyes unreadable.

"L–Leo..." she muttered, guilt rushing over her face.

He came closer, each step heavy, his expression so cold that it sent shivers down her spine. Bella quickly placed the tiny house back onto the shelf as though it had burned her hands.

"I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to... I was just curious," she stammered, clutching her fingers together. His face was a mask, hard and expressionless, and for a moment she truly thought he was going to yell at her, maybe even forbid her from ever stepping foot near his private floor again.

Her lips trembled as she thought, he must hate me now for invading his personal space.

Leo shut his eyes tight for a long moment, his chest rising and falling. He was clearly fighting something inside himself. When he opened them again, Bella nearly gasped at the storm behind his gaze.

"It’s fine, Bella. Really... fine," he said through gritted teeth. His voice was low, rough, as though he had to force the words out.

Bella’s chest softened. Tentatively, hesitantly, she reached out and touched his hand. Her touch was feather-light, but it shot through him like fire. "I’m sorry..." she whispered again, her lashes trembling, "but I don’t regret breaking in. Those things are sooo cute."

For the first time, his expression cracked. His lips parted slightly, his brows furrowed. Did she just call his serious work cute?

"Really?" he asked, his voice rougher now, his eyes narrowing as though searching her for any hint of mockery.

Bella nodded quickly, her honey eyes sparkling with genuine wonder. "Really. They’re... magical. Like little worlds. I didn’t know you had this side, Leo."

He ignored her soft voice and turned back to his shelves, his large hand brushing lightly over the tiny models as though they were priceless treasures.

"Great! You made the car, too! It’s sooo cute," Bella exclaimed. She picked up the miniature black car with silver rims, her eyes sparkling as she inspected it, completely fascinated.

Leo’s lips curled. He turned, watching her hug the model against her chest like it was a toy. His gray eyes darkened with amusement.

"Do you really think those are cute?" he asked, voice smooth, almost mocking, his eyes flashing with something dangerous.

"Um... yes?" Bella said uncertainly, blinking up at him, her innocence shining through.

And suddenly—he laughed. A deep, sharp laugh that sent a chill through her spine. Bella’s brows knitted in confusion, her lips parting.

He strode toward her, slow and deliberate, then leaned down until his shadow towered over her. His large hand ruffled her hair with surprising gentleness, though his eyes were glinting with wicked amusement.

"God, you’re really, really innocent," he murmured, his tone both affectionate and cunning. Then, lowering his voice, he asked, "Do you think a man like me—a mafia boss—would really spend his nights building cute little toys?"

Bella froze, the small car trembling in her hands. "W–what do you mean...?" she asked carefully.

Leo smirked, and without breaking her gaze, he picked up one of the miniature houses from the shelf. He turned it in his hand, his long fingers pressing against a hidden mechanism. With a faint click, the floor of the model shifted—revealing a deadly arrangement of micro-weapons neatly tucked inside.

Bella’s eyes widened, her lips parting in horror. "O–oh my God..." she whispered, instinctively stepping back.

Each weapon, though small, looked terrifying—razor-sharp blades disguised as metal beams, a tiny compartment holding vials of liquid, even miniature grenades disguised as marbles.

Leo’s smirk widened as he turned the house, showing her more. "Recently, shipment routes have been... complicated," he explained smoothly, as if he were discussing the weather. "So I thought of this. Delivery through innocence." He tapped the miniature roof with one finger, making it snap back into place seamlessly. "My clients pay a fortune for these. They buy a dollhouse, a ship, a car... and inside, the real treasure waits."

Bella clutched her chest, her heart pounding. "T-this... this is insane. They look so normal. So harmless."

"Exactly," Leo said, stepping closer until she could smell his cologne mixed faintly with gunpowder. His lips curved into a wolfish smile. "That’s why no one suspects. Customs, guards, even enemies... they all see art. But inside? It’s war."

He leaned closer, lowering his voice, his gray eyes locked on her widened brown ones. "And Bella..." he whispered, his breath brushing her cheek, "...you are the first person I’ve ever let see this room. Do you understand what that means?"

Her knees felt weak, her throat dry. She shook her head faintly.

"It means," he said, his hand brushing her chin upward so she had no choice but to look at him, "that I trust you more than I’ve trusted anyone. That alone should terrify you."

Bella looked at him as though she had never truly seen him before. Her eyes were so wide they barely blinked, her lips parted as if she wanted to speak but the words wouldn’t come.

"I–I understand," she whispered finally, her voice trembling. Her hands fidgeted with the hem of her dress, and she turned her gaze quickly, as if seeking safety, toward the model ship on the table.

"Do you want to see what weapon this one holds?" Leo asked, his tone unreadable, both dark and teasing.

Bella nodded blankly, like a doll running on instinct.

He reached out, his thick, long fingers moving with deliberate precision as he pressed a hidden mechanism along the ship’s mast. The wooden deck shifted with a click, revealing a secret compartment lined with rows of tiny bullets, perfectly polished and gleaming like dark pearls.

"These bullets," he said smoothly, his voice low and deliberate, "may look small, but they are designed with hollow points. Inside, there’s compressed toxin—once it enters the body, it tears more than just flesh. It spreads... burns..." He paused, his gray eyes catching hers, "kills before anyone can scream for help."