The waiter paled, eyes darting around as he tried to wriggle free. But Leo was relentless, his grip tightening as he shoved the young man against the wall and delivered a blow to his face. 
The waiter’s head snapped back, blood trickling from his lip as Leo’s fist collided with his cheek again and again.
The crowd around them gasped, some looking away, others frozen in shock. But Leo’s fury had blinded him, pushing him past reason.
“Boss!” A strong hand gripped his shoulder, pulling him back just as he was ready to throw another punch. 
It was Marco, his second-in-command. “Enough!” Marco’s voice was firm but calm, a steadying presence against Leo’s rage.
Leo hesitated, his breath heaving, his knuckles red and bruised. The waiter crumpled to the floor, trembling and bleeding.
“We don’t need this kind of attention, Boss,” Marco said quietly, his eyes piercing into Leo’s, a subtle warning clear in his gaze.
Leo finally released his grip, stepping back as the reality of the scene caught up with him. 
The club manager rushed forward, horror etched on his face as he looked at the battered waiter.
Marco quickly intervened, handing the manager a wad of cash. “For the trouble,” he said with a tight nod. “Make sure he’s taken care of.”
The manager nodded, helping the injured waiter to his feet, while Leo watched in silence, still breathing heavily.
“Come on,” Marco said, his voice low but insistent as he pulled Leo toward the exit. “Let’s get you out of here.”
They stepped into the cold night, the weight of the incident hanging heavy between them. Marco glanced at Leo.
Leo didn’t talk, staring off into the distance, fists still clenched at his sides.
After the chaotic night, Marco drove Leo back to the mansion in silence. 
The tension was thick, and though Marco wanted to ask what had happened, he held back. Leo had always been a composed, thoughtful leader, never one to lash out without reason. 
But tonight, Marco had seen a side of him that seemed utterly broken.
Despite his position as the mafia's prince, Leo was known for his kindness toward anyone not opposing his family. 
Whatever had made him lose control tonight was clearly no ordinary matter.
As Marco pulled into the driveway and helped Leo out of the car, he glanced at his boss, trying not to laugh. “Rough night, Boss? Never thought I’d see you almost face-planting on the welcome mat.”
Leo shot him a bleary look. “Less commentary, Marco. Just… get me inside.”
They crept into the mansion, practically tiptoeing as if they were teens sneaking in past curfew. Marco let out a sigh of relief seeing the lights off. “Lucky for you, Mina’s already asleep. You’re safe… Boss.”
“Good,” Leo muttered, pulling off his jacket. “Last thing I need is a lecture.”
*
The next morning, as Mina strolled down the hallway, she noticed Leo’s door ajar. Curiosity got the best of her, and she decided to peek in. But just as she lifted her hand to knock, the door swung open, and they smacked right into each other.
“Whoa!” Mina squeaked, stepping back and rubbing her nose. “Gosh, Leo, could you not pop out like that?”
Leo raised an eyebrow, attempting to look dignified. “I was just leaving, actually. You’re the one lurking by my door.”
They walked together toward the dining room, an uncomfortable silence lingering between them. Mina stole glances at him, noticing the way he seemed lost in thought, almost haunted.
As they sat down, Mina tried to cut through the tension. “So, we have that meeting out of town today. Are you… prepared?”
Leo nodded, barely touching his coffee. “Yes. I’ll be ready.”
A pause settled over them, heavy and awkward. Finally, Mina couldn’t hold back her concern. “Leo, are you sure everything’s okay? You seem… different.”
He looked up, forcing a faint smile. “I’m fine. Just… didn’t sleep well.”
“Did something happen last night?” she pressed, her voice gentle. “You seemed tense, and… I don’t know, I just feel like you’re not yourself.”
Leo’s jaw tightened for a moment before he looked away, his gaze fixed on the wall as though he were seeing something far off. “It was a long night.”
“Leo,” she said softly, leaning in. “You can talk to me, you know. Whatever it is… I’m here.”
He let out a slow breath, eyes flicking to her. “Some things… some things are better just stay buried.”
They walked to the dining room, and Mina couldn’t resist another jab. “So… any particular reason you look like a raccoon? Or did you just make some, uh, interesting choices last night?”
Leo groaned, rolling his eyes. “It was… let’s say… character building. And thanks for the concern.”
Over breakfast, she kept glancing at him until he finally gave her an exasperated look. “Okay, what is it?”
“Oh, nothing,” she said innocently, though her grin said otherwise. “Just wondering if you’re going to turn up all mysterious and brooding at every meeting from now on.”
He chuckled, giving her a half-hearted glare. “Let me be mysterious in peace, Mina.”
She shrugged, laughing. “Alright, Mr. Mysterious.”
As usual, she asked to be dropped off a few blocks before the building, wanting to maintain some semblance of normalcy. 
Leo put his head in his hands, muttering, “What am I going to do with you, Mina?”
“First of all,” she said with a cheeky grin, “you could stop looking like a zombie. It’s not a good look for the prince of the mafia.”
“Hey, I can’t help it if my royal duties sometimes include late-night club escapades,” Leo replied, trying to sound offended but failing miserably.
She rolled her eyes, still smiling. “Right, because keeping your reputation as ‘the brooding prince’ is of utmost importance.”
“Exactly! And I can’t ruin it by showing up well-rested and cheerful!” he retorted dramatically.
Mina laughed, shaking her head. “Next time, maybe skip the tequila shots and just stick to the soda, huh?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” he replied, glancing at her with a mock-serious expression. “What’s life without a little chaos?”