Page 153 of Malicious Claim

"You didn't have to."

Leila hated the way he twisted her words, turning them into something dangerous. But what's worse was she hated how he was always right about her feelings.

Makros sat on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on his knees, his fingers moving over his phone as he typed a message.

His voice was smooth, commanding. "Get dressed. We're going somewhere."

Leila blinked. "Where?"

Makros didn't answer right away. Instead, his gaze moved over her slowly, thoughtful, as if weighing something in his mind.

Then, simply, he said, "Out."

Nicolai drove, his grip steady on the wheel as they left the city behind. The polished marble streets gave way to winding country roads, where the landscape stretched wide and unspoiled. Leila watched in silence, the quiet hum of the engine filling the space between them. It wasn't the suffocating silence she used to endure, it was easy, almost peaceful.

After a while, she shifted, hesitated, then finally let her head rest against Makros' shoulder. He wasn't the type to encourage softness, and she braced herself for him to pull away or ignore the gesture altogether. But he didn't. When she reached for his hand, her fingers brushing over his, he remained still for a beat before his fingers shifted just slightly. It wasn't much, but it was enough.

The car began to slow. Leila lifted her head as Nicolai pulled onto a long gravel path, bordered by sleek wooden fencing. The scent of fresh earth and hay drifted through the open window, carried by the breeze. As the car came to a stop, she turned to Makros, brow furrowing.

Beyond the fence, a vast stretch of open land rolled under the morning sun. Stables stood in the distance, their doors open to reveal saddles lined in perfect order, gleaming coats of horses shifting under soft light. A few riders were already there, adjusting stirrups, trotting across the field.

She blinked, then looked back at him. "You? Ride horses?"

Instead of responding right away, Makros reached into the car's center console and retrieved a pair of riding gloves. Heslipped them on, flexing his fingers against the smooth leather before adjusting the fit with practiced ease.

"It's been a while," he murmured, more to himself than to her.

As they approached the stables, a stablehand hurried over, leading two horses. One was a deep chestnut with a white blaze streaking down its nose, the other a sleek black stallion, its coat gleaming under the afternoon sun.

Leila instinctively reached for the chestnut's reins, but before she could take them, a firm hand caught her wrist.

"Not that one," Makros said smoothly.

She turned to him, brows furrowed. "Why?"

Instead of answering, he handed the chestnut's reins back to the stablehand.

Makros stood beside the horse, then turned to Leila. "Up."

She hesitated. "I—"

Before she could protest, he grasped her waist and lifted her with effortless strength, settling her onto the saddle. She barely had time to adjust before he swung up behind her, his body fitting snugly against hers.

His chest pressed firm and steady against her back, his breath warm at her temple as he leaned in to secure the reins. His arm grazed her waist—fleeting, deliberate.

"Relax," he murmured near her ear, his voice low and smooth. "I've got you."

The words sent an unwelcome shiver down her spine.

With a gentle nudge of his heels, the stallion moved forward. The steady rhythm of the ride made her acutely aware of every shift of his body behind her, the way he adjusted to her movements, the slow, deliberate pull of the reins in his gloved hands.

She had expected him to take full control, but instead, he let her find her balance, offering only the occasional murmurof guidance. The landscape unfolded before them—golden fields stretching beneath the vast Italian sky. No guards. No danger. Just motion, breath, and open air.

After a while, she turned slightly in the saddle, casting a glance over her shoulder. "Why are you doing this?"

Makros held her gaze, his expression unreadable. Then, with effortless certainty, he said, "Because I can."

That was the end of the discussion.

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