Chapter 3.

Lexi's POV.

I awoke, gasping in relief as I felt the softness of a bed beneath me. Thank goodness I made it home this time. But when I finally opened my eyes, a wave of confusion washed over me. This wasn’t my bedroom, it was a strange environment, unfamiliar and disorienting. Am I still at the bar?

My eyes dropped to the floor and I saw my dress and I realized I was naked under the bed covers. God, who did I end up in bed with this time? This is why I don't like getting drunk. No one can tell when I'm drunk because I usually seem normal and composed. But believe me, everything I do and say that moment is excellent nonsense. I'm acting under the influence of alcohol. Last time I was drunk, I ended up with a club's janitor.

With a deep breath, I slowly turned to my side, bracing myself to face whoever shared this bed with me. Panic shot through me as I registered the man beside me, none other than Leonardo De Santos, the ruthless Mafia Don, an infamous and highly wanted criminal.

Fuck! Lexi, what have you done?

God, I never should have gotten drunk to the extent I couldn't recognize who was with me. And I truly hope he didn't recognize me as a CIA agent.

The shame swept over me like a tidal wave. How could I have allowed this to happen? A criminal like him was right beside me, and arresting him now was out of the question. How would I even explain this to my superiors?

As he lay there, still sound asleep, I seized the moment and crept towards the door, heart pounding. Just as I reached for the handle, his deep voice broke through the silence. “So you really are a fuck-and-run.”

I froze, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I slowly turned to face him, my heart racing. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I replied, feigning ignorance.

“Is that so? That's exactly what you told me last night, or have you forgotten?” His voice dripped with amusement, and I could see a smirk creeping onto his lips.

“I don’t remember,” I said, forcing an awkward smile that felt like a lie.

“Still, it’s rude to wake up and just sneak off without saying goodbye to the person you spent the night with,” he said, locking his gaze onto me.

"I apologize for that," I replied, turning to leave, but he stopped me again.

"Is that all you have to say to me?" His voice was laced with desperation, pushing against my patience.

"What am I supposed to say that I haven't already?" I shot back, my own annoyance creeping into my tone.

"Wow, I wish all CIA agents were just like you." His words hit me like a stone. He knew my identity.

In that moment, the pretense of playing nice evaporated. I reached into my bag for my gun and handcuffs, but confusion slashed through me as my fingers met only air. I was sure I packed them before heading out last night. I never left home unarmed.

"Looking for these?" he taunted, holding my gun and handcuffs with an infuriating smirk.

Shit! Lexi you are careless.

I felt my heart race as my gaze locked onto the gun in his hand. Panic set in, but I couldn’t show it. This was not just a simple fight; it was my career and my life on the line. He had a dangerous glimmer in his eyes, and I was not about to let him intimidate me.

"How dare you steal my things?" I accused, injecting coldness into my voice.

"Steal your things?" He laughed mockingly. "Why would I? These are just toys compared to what I have."

“Give those back, Leonardo,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt.

“Can’t I just keep a little souvenir from my night with a lovely CIA agent?” He taunted, twirling my gun casually on his finger like it was a toy. “I hear you CIA agents have a tendency to be... forgetful when it comes to personal belongings.”

That did it. I wasn’t going to take his mockery lying down. I rushed forward, faster than I had expected, throwing myself at him in a bid to reclaim my weapons.

He was caught off guard, and I managed to knock the gun from his hands, but he quickly recovered, grabbing my wrists and pinning them against the wall. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, the raw strength he possessed evident as he tried to maintain control.

“You’re strong for a little thing,” he said, the smirk still plastered on his face. “But how do you think you’re going to get them back?”

I searched his eyes for any sign of weakness, any resolve to crack. “I’ll show you how,” I replied, using a sudden burst of energy to twist my body, putting him off balance for just a moment. He stumbled back, surprised by my agility.

I took advantage of the moment, lunging for the gun that had clattered to the floor. But just as I reached for it, he lunged forward, tackling me to the ground. The impact knocked the breath out of me, and I felt the weight of his body press against mine.

“Is this how you always handle things?” I grunted, trying to shove him off me.

“There you go again, playing the victim,” he laughed, his breath hot against my face. “You had the upper hand just a second ago. Why can’t you just admit that this is a little fun?”

I glared at him, my determination firing up within me. “This isn’t fun. You think this is some kind of game?”

With a surge of adrenaline, I managed to twist my hips, creating just enough space to bring my knee up into his side. The sudden jolt startled him, and I took my chance to shove him off me. Leonardo staggered back, his mocking smile faltering for a moment before coming back again.

“Okay, you’ve got some moves,” he conceded, sounding slightly impressed. “But let’s see how you handle this.” He lunged again, but I was ready this time. I sidestepped, using the momentum of his attack to push him past me into the wall.

He slammed against it, and I quickly turned, claiming the gun from the floor. The familiar weight of the weapon in my hand grounded me, igniting confidence. “Now it’s your turn to surrender, Leo,” I said, my voice steady, the adrenaline sharpening my focus, but he just laughed like we just finished a fun activity.

"But I'll spare you this time because of the circumstance in which we met. The next time I see you, I won't go easy on you." I added and he laughed again.

"What's your name, pretty agent?" He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms with a smirk on his face.

"None of your business," I replied.

"That name doesn't quite suit you," he said.

"What's your number?" He asked next but I ignored him and put my gun and handcuffs into my bag.

"Where do you live then?" He asked next and I ignored him still and walked out of the room, slamming the door hard behind me.