Chapter 6 My Bodyguard

• || AUTHOR’S POV||
• Without much thought, the Italian don’s feet moved toward her in a hurry. He dropped to his knees and gathered her into his arms.
• God.
• Even in unconsciousness, she was doing something to his body — something uncontrollable, something dangerous.
• Since that incident, he had never felt aroused by a woman.
• What the hell was wrong with him?
• Or… was there something about her?
• His eyes dropped to her face — and for the first time, he really looked at her.
• That night, he hadn’t seen her properly. She had disappeared before he even woke.
• But now, even in the dimly lit parking lot, his eyes locked onto her face — every detail, every line, every soft curve burned itself into his mind as if she had been carved there.
• Swiftly, he scooped her into his arms and turned toward his car.
• Just then, footsteps echoed behind him. Luca — the Italian Don’s closest friend and most trusted assistant — came running with a group of bodyguards close behind.
• “What happened here?” Luca’s trained eyes scanned the surroundings, sharp and focused — then landed on the blood soaking through Stefano’s shoulder.
• “Fuck, Stefano… you’re bleeding.” His voice dropped with concern.
• Luca was the only man in the world who knew the darkest secret of Stefano Lombardi’s life — that the clean-cut billionaire businessman the world adored… was actually the masked king of the underworld.
• Mr. Devil.
• Not even the bodyguards knew.
• “Some goons attacked,” Stefano replied curtly, his voice as cold and controlled as ever.
• Luca’s gaze shifted to the unconscious woman in his mafia friend’s arms.
• “Who’s the girl?” he asked, confused.
• And then… he noticed something else.
• His eyes dropped — and widened in disbelief.
• The very obvious, very hard bulge in Stefano’s pants.
• Luca froze.
• He didn’t say a word.
• Didn’t dare.
• Boss or best friend — Stefano was still the Italian Don.
• And some things…
• Were better left unsaid.
• Stefano didn’t say a word as he carefully placed the unconscious girl in the back seat of the car.
• “To the hospital,” he ordered the bodyguards as his voice was sharp and cold.
• Then he slid in beside her, while Luca took the passenger seat.
• The car sped off at jet speed, and within minutes, they arrived at the hospital.
• Leah was rushed to the emergency room, while Stefano was taken to a separate room to have his wound treated.
• After the doctor finished bandaging his shoulder, he glanced at Stefano with concern.
• “You need to rest for a few hours — your body went through shock, and the wound needs time—”
• Stefano cut him off with a glare, his voice sharp and low.
• “Don’t try to teach me how to handle pain.”
• He stood, buttoning his coat with precision.
• “Just patch me up. I didn’t come here for advice.”
• The doctor opened his mouth to protest, but the coldness in Stefano’s eyes made him fall silent instantly.
• Luca exchanged an empathetic glance with the poor doctor — he knew just how terrifyingly intimidating Stefano could be when he chose to.
• Stefano put on a fresh shirt Luca had brought for him, adjusted the cuffs with mechanical precision, and walked out as if nothing had happened.
• “What about the girl?” he asked in a low, emotionless tone.
• Luca, still in work mode, launched into a report.
• “Oh, I tried tracing the girl from your hotel suite that night, but no luck yet. The CCTV didn’t catch her face clearly—”
• Stefano shot him a glare.
• Irritation flickered in his eyes.
• “Stop searching for her,” he said curtly.
• Luca blinked, confused — and then it clicked.
• “Oh… you meant that girl,” he said awkwardly, glancing toward the emergency wing.
• “The doctor said she might’ve fainted from trauma. She’s awake now.”
• He waited for a response, but Stefano gave none.
• Not even a nod.
• “Do you want to see her?” Luca asked, remembering how possessively Stefano had carried her to the hospital.
• “No need.” Stefano’s voice was flat as he walked past the room where the girl was being treated.
• But then—he stopped.
• His dark eyes narrowed with icy focus.
• Dash Remington had just walked into that room.
• “Is that Dash Remington… Julian’s nephew?” Luca asked in disbelief.
• He knew exactly why Stefano was really here. To everyone else, he appeared to be in L.A. for business — but his true purpose was something far more personal… and far more dangerous.
• “Yes, that’s him,” Stefano murmured, his voice thick with disgust.
• “What’s he doing in that girl’s room?” Luca wondered aloud, frowning.
• Stefano just kept silent and stood there, taking in everything happening in the room.
• Dash walked step by step toward Leah’s hospital bed, his voice cutting through the quiet room.
• “Oh God, Leah! Why did you have to run off? I was so worried — I’ve been looking for you all night,” Dash’s voice filled the room as he stepped in and shut the door behind him.
• His words sounded concerned… even caring.
• But Leah shrank back.
• Because the only thing she could remember clearly was what he had tried to do to her.
• Dash smirked, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he enjoyed the way she tensed under his gaze.
• “See, my love? There’s no escaping me. So stop fighting,” he said, his tone low and smug as he leaned in and grabbed her face in his hand.
• “What are you doing, brother-in-law?” Leah shouted, disgust written all over her face as she tried to shove him off.
• “Keep your filthy hands off me!”
• But he didn’t let go. Instead, he leaned in closer, his breath hot against her cheek.
• “God, you look so hot when you’re angry,” he hissed near her ear.
• “Want me to take you right here on this hospital bed?”
• Leah’s eyes widened — there was no one to save her from this monster.
• No. The panic clawed her chest and she struggled harder, but he only tightened his grip, refusing to let her go.
• Then—
• A deep, thunderous voice cut through the room like a blade.
• “What the hell is going on here?”
• Stefano couldn’t tolerate anymore—he pushed the door open and stepped in to stop Dash.
• Dash’s hand immediately dropped from her face.
• Leah turned her head sharply, her eyes widening.
• It was him.
• The gigolo who had saved her from the goons, and now he was standing up for her again.
• “Get the fuck out!” Dash snapped in frustration at the interruption, pulling out a gun and pointing it straight at him.
• But the man didn’t flinch.
• He took two long strides forward — and then bam — a brutal punch landed square on Dash’s face before he could even touch the trigger. Dash staggered back.
• And in the very next second, the cold barrel of a gun was pressed against Dash’s forehead.
• “Think twice before pointing a gun at me,” the man growled, his voice sharp and deadly.
• Leah’s eyes widened. She blinked in astonishment at the boldness of the man. Did he just threaten Dash Remington?
• But before things could escalate further, another man stepped into the room. He calmly placed a hand on the stranger’s arm.
• “No need to flash that toy in public,” he said in a cool, even tone. Then his eyes flicked to Dash.
• “And you — put the gun away, pretty boy. Or you’ll find yourself in serious trouble for pulling that thing in a hospital.”
• He smiled, but the warning behind it was clear.
• Dash let out an angry huff but eventually shoved the gun back into his jacket.
• “Who the fuck are you?” he spat, glaring at the man who had nearly broken his jaw.
• Before the man could answer, Leah spoke — her voice came out without thinking.
• “He’s my bodyguard!”