Page 99 of Ruined By Capture

But I do know. Something has gone horribly wrong. And it's my fault for involving Leo in the first place.

I keep my hand on the small of Melania's back as we wait, feeling her tremble beneath my palm. Her breathing comes too fast, too shallow. If Leonardo brings bad news I'm not sure she can take it.

The door opens and Noah ushers Leonardo Lombardi into Damiano's office. He looks different than he did at the gym—more disheveled, with tension radiating from his tall frame.

"Leo!" Melania breaks away from me, rushing toward her brother.

My muscles stiffen instinctively as she throws herself into his arms. Leonardo's expression is strange—guarded, unreadable. His right hand remains closed around something and for one heart-stopping moment, I think he might have a weapon.

My hand moves toward my holster but Damiano catches my eye with a subtle shake of his head.

Leonardo pulls back from Melania, studying her face. "You're really okay," he says, his voice rough with emotion.

"I told you I was," she answers, searching his face. "Leo, what are you doing here? If Father finds out?—"

"He won't," Leonardo cuts her off.

Leonardo's eyes sweep the room, taking in Damiano, Enzo, and finally landing on me. His jaw clenches when he looks at me but he doesn't speak.

Instead, he lifts his closed fist and slowly opens it.

A small black USB drive sits in his palm.

"Is this what you were looking for?" he asks quietly.

Melania gasps, her hand flying to her mouth. "Where did you?—"

I keep my eyes locked on the USB drive in Leonardo's palm, every muscle in my body coiled tight. My first instinct is to grab it but I force myself to remain still. Leonardo's here on his own terms and one wrong move could send him running back to Antonio with everything.

"It was in the safe," Leonardo says, his eyes never leaving his sister's face. "I didn't mention it during our call because I wanted to see what was on it first."

"You looked at it?" Melania's voice shakes.

Leonardo nods, his expression blackening. "I had to know what was worth risking my life for."

I step forward, positioning myself slightly between them. "What did you find?"

Leonardo's gaze shifts to me, cold and assessing. The look of a man deciding how much to reveal.

"Apparently the same thing you did," he says finally. "Our father is involved in human trafficking. Organ harvesting." His voice remains steady but I catch the slight tremor in his hand ashe closes his fingers around the drive. "From what I saw it's been going on for at least three years. Maybe longer."

"What about Raymond?" Damiano asks from behind his desk.

Leonardo's jaw tightens. "His name is everywhere. Payments, schedules, transport details." He turns back to Melania, his expression softening. "You were right to run."

"Where is Antonio now?" I ask.

Leonardo's face transforms, becoming almost inhuman, something carved from ice. I've seen men's eyes before they killed, before they died—but I've never seen a look this cold, this empty.

"Right now Antonio is melting somewhere," Leonardo says, each word devoid of emotion. "Santiago is handling the disposal."

The room goes silent. Even Damiano, who's seen everything in this business, stills behind his desk.

"What are you saying?" Melania whispers, her body swaying slightly.

Leonardo meets her gaze, unflinching. "I killed our father."

My hand instinctively moves to my weapon but Leonardo doesn't react. He stands perfectly still, like a man who's already calculated every possible outcome and made his peace with all of them.

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