Mina shifted uncomfortably, her eyes darting away. “I was just… practicing. I mean, I admire how you drive!” 
Leo raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. “You want to learn how to drive like me, huh?”
Mina nodded, her expression earnest. “Definitely! If you can pull off those crazy maneuvers, I’d love to know your secrets.”
Leo reclined casually on the plush sofa in his bedroom, his sleeves rolled up, eyes glued to the large TV screen as he gripped the controller. Mina sat cross-legged beside him, her face a mix of determination and exasperation. The video game in question? A realistic driving simulator that Leo had decided was the best way to teach Mina the basics of driving without endangering anyone—yet.
“Okay, Mina, keep it steady. Stay in your lane. No—NO! Don’t hit the—dammit, Mina! You just ran over a family of digital pedestrians!” Leo’s voice rose, half-amused and half-exasperated. He threw his hands up in mock disbelief as Mina's in-game car careened wildly, smashing into a row of barriers.
Mina pouted, clutching her own controller tighter. “I’m trying, okay? It’s harder than it looks!”
Leo groaned dramatically. “Mina, this is a simulator, not a demolition derby! Look at that—you're treating humans like bowling pins. Did they owe you money or something? What kind of vengeance are you plotting here?”
“They’re just pixels!” Mina shot back, glaring at him. “Besides, you’re the one who said this was supposed to be fun. I didn’t realize the stakes were world peace.”
“Fun?” Leo huffed, leaning forward. “This isn’t fun, Mina. This is survival. If this is how you drive in real life, you’d have every driver in the city running for their lives! You’d make national headlines—‘Reckless Maniac Eliminates Entire Neighborhood.’”
Mina smirked mischievously. “Maybe that’s the plan.”
Leo narrowed his eyes, then shook his head. “Unbelievable.” He leaned back again, muttering. 
Before Mina could launch a snarky comeback, a soft knock interrupted their playful banter. Marco stepped inside, his expression unreadable but laced with a seriousness that immediately caught Leo’s attention.
“Boss,” Marco said, standing stiffly near the doorway. “Can I have a word with you? Privately.”
Leo glanced at Mina, who raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. He stood, patting her shoulder. “Keep practicing,” he said with a teasing grin. “Maybe by the time I’m back, you’ll have figured out how to keep your car on the road.”
“Or maybe I’ll have perfected my technique of taking down innocent bystanders,” Mina retorted, sticking her tongue out.
Shaking his head, Leo followed Marco out of the room. As they walked down the hall, Leo’s playful demeanor shifted into something sharper, colder—a man ready to handle business.
“What is it?” Leo asked once they were alone in the study.
Marco’s voice was low, cautious. “There’s a shipment tonight. Alkasia’s goods. It’s passing through the docks around midnight.”
Leo’s jaw tightened. The name Alkasia brought a familiar weight to his chest—a mix of anger and resolve. Roy Alkasia had been a thorn in his side for too long, and the recent tensions between their groups had only escalated. Leo’s lips curled into a grim smile.
“Good,” he said finally. “Let’s hit them where it hurts.”
Marco nodded. “What’s the plan?”
Leo’s mind worked quickly, the pieces falling into place. “Gather the team. We’re going to intercept the shipment and destroy it. Completely. I don’t want a single piece of evidence left behind. Let’s send Roy a message—he doesn’t own this city, and he sure as hell doesn’t scare me.”
Marco’s eyes gleamed with approval. “Consider it done.”
                                 *
As midnight approached, the air near the docks grew heavy with tension. Leo and his team were stationed in strategic positions, each armed and ready for the confrontation ahead. The salty sea breeze did little to ease the intensity of the moment.
Leo stood near a stack of shipping containers, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. The faint hum of a boat engine signaled the arrival of their target. He signaled to Marco, who nodded and relayed the message to the rest of the crew.
The vessel came into view—a large cargo ship illuminated by the moonlight. It carried Alkasia’s signature insignia, a mocking symbol of power that made Leo’s blood boil. He waited until the ship docked and the first few crates were unloaded before making his move.
“Go,” Leo whispered into his earpiece.
His team moved swiftly, emerging from the shadows like ghosts. The first wave of Alkasia’s men barely had time to react before they were taken down—silently, efficiently. But as the attack progressed, chaos erupted. Gunfire echoed through the docks as the remaining guards fought back, turning the area into a battleground.
Leo navigated through the chaos, taking down enemies with a cold efficiency that reminded everyone why he was the boss. His mind was focused, his movements calculated. But amidst the fighting, his thoughts flickered briefly to Mina. This was the world he had kept her away from, the darkness he had sworn to shield her from. 
As the battle reached its peak, Leo climbed aboard the ship. The crates were stacked high, filled with illegal goods that Roy Alkasia relied on to fund his operations. Leo’s expression darkened as he set the charges, his hands steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins.
“This is for you, Roy,” he muttered under his breath. “Let’s see how you like losing.”
Once the explosives were in place, Leo signaled for his team to retreat. They moved quickly, leaving the ship as the timer counted down. From a safe distance, Leo watched as the ship exploded in a fiery blaze, the flames illuminating the night sky. 
The sound was deafening, a violent declaration of war.
Leo’s lips curled into a satisfied smirk. This wasn’t just about revenge—it was about sending a message. Roy Alkasia had underestimated him, and now he would pay the price.
                                 *
Back at the mansion, Mina was waiting anxiously. She hadn’t asked Leo where he was going, but the tension in his voice earlier had been enough to unsettle her. When she heard the familiar sound of his car pulling into the driveway, she rushed to meet him.
Leo stepped inside, his suit slightly disheveled, his expression unreadable. Mina frowned, crossing her arms. “You’re late.”
“I had work,” he said simply, brushing past her. But as he walked, she noticed the faint scent of smoke clinging to his clothes.
“What kind of work?” she pressed, following him into the living room.
Leo turned to face her, his eyes softening. “The kind that keeps us safe.”
Mina’s heart clenched. She hated the world he was a part of, the danger that followed him like a shadow. But she also knew that this was who he was—a protector, a fighter. And as much as it scared her, she couldn’t imagine him any other way.
“Just...be careful,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
Leo stepped closer, cupping her face in his hands. “I promise, Mina. Always.”
                                 *