“We’ll need more than just firepower,” Leo said quietly. “Make sure we’ve got enough of these. If things go wrong, I want options.”
Marco scribbled notes furiously on his notepad, nodding. “Anything else?” he asked, not daring to look up.
Leo paused, letting the silence stretch. “Double our security for the transport,” he said finally. “I don’t trust the other families not to try something before we get there. Brief the team—remind them this isn’t just a showcase; it’s a battlefield.”
Marco nodded again and hurried off, leaving Leo alone with the arsenal. The room seemed to close in around him, heavy with the weight of what was to come. 
This wasn’t just about impressing Mr Drew; it was about making sure the Salvator family stayed at the top. Every move they made in California would be scrutinized, every deal weighed against their worth.
For a long moment, Leo stared at the weapons before him, the tools of his trade, and thought about the thin line between power and annihilation. 
There was no room for error. Mr Drew wasn’t coming to be entertained; he was coming to be convinced. And in Leo’s world, only the ruthless survived.
Locking the last case, Leo turned and walked out, the heavy steel door clanging shut behind him. Outside, his men were waiting for the final briefing. 
The countdown to California had begun, and in a few days, they would be stepping into a lion’s den. 
For now, though, the preparations continued. 
Leo wasn’t just planning for a business deal. 
He was preparing for war.
*
The living room was dimly lit, with the soft glow of the television casting flickering shadows on the walls. The air was heavy with the scent of the jasmine-scented candle Mina had lit earlier, yet she barely noticed it. 
She was sitting on the couch, legs tucked beneath her, eyes fixed on the screen but unfocused. The K-drama she had been watching played on, but she wasn’t really following the story. Her mind was somewhere else entirely.
Leo entered the room, tired from a long day, his footsteps quiet on the hardwood floors. He had expected to find Mina asleep by now, but instead, he saw her sitting there, lost in thought.
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 He paused, taking in the sight of her, the soft lines of her profile illuminated by the television’s glow. He couldn't help but feel a pull in his chest. 
Without a word, he walked over and sank into the armchair across from her, his brows knitting in concern. “Hey,” he said softly, breaking the silence. “What’s on your mind?”
Mina blinked, snapping out of her trance. For a moment, she seemed surprised to see him there, as if she had forgotten he even existed in that moment.
 Then, she let out a small sigh, her eyes darting back to the TV screen where a romantic scene was playing out. 
“Leo...” she began hesitantly, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the blanket draped over her lap. She looked down, avoiding his gaze. “Can I ask you something?”
Leo leaned back, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tried to read her expression. “Of course. What is it?”
Mina’s cheeks turned a faint pink, but there was a determination in her eyes. She swallowed hard before finally blurting out, “How... how does it feel to... you know, be with someone... intimately?”
The question hit Leo like a punch to the gut, and he nearly choked on air. His eyes widened, caught completely off-guard. He coughed awkwardly, shifting in his seat as if the cushion had suddenly grown uncomfortable.
 “W-What brought this up?” he stammered, trying to keep his tone casual, though he could feel the heat creeping up his neck.
Mina, still avoiding his gaze, shrugged lightly. “I was watching my drama... and there was this scene.” She glanced toward the TV, where a romantic moment was playing out—soft kisses, whispered words, bodies tangled together. “It... made me curious.”
Leo’s mind raced. Of all the conversations he had imagined having with Mina, this was definitely not one of them. 
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly. How was he supposed to answer that? 
She was looking at him now, her eyes wide and filled with genuine curiosity, a hint of innocence that only made the question harder to approach.
“I, uh…” he began again, his fingers absently running through his hair. “It’s… complicated.” He struggled for the right words, knowing that Mina’s curiosity came from a place deeper than mere fascination with the dramas she watched. 
“For some people, it’s just… pleasure, nothing more. I won’t lie; sometimes I’ve done it for that. Just… for the moment.”
Mina’s expression didn’t change, but Leo could see the tension in her posture. She was hanging on to every word, almost like she needed him to say something she couldn’t put into words herself.
“But that’s not… it shouldn’t be all there is,” he continued, his voice growing quieter, uncertain. “When it really matters… when it’s with someone who means something to you… it’s different. It’s not just the physical stuff.” He hesitated, his eyes searching Mina’s for some sign that he was saying the right thing. “It’s about… trust, feeling safe. It’s letting go of everything else and just… being with that person. Fully.”
Mina’s brows furrowed, her gaze searching his face for sincerity. “Emotions?” she repeated, her voice almost a whisper.
“Yeah.” Leo’s eyes softened, a hint of vulnerability creeping into his usually confident demeanor. “It’s about being close to someone. Really close. Not just… skin to skin, but… here.” He placed a hand over his chest. “It’s about feeling like you don’t have to hide who you are, like you’re… understood.”
The room felt heavy with unspoken thoughts. Mina’s gaze drifted to the flickering TV screen, though the show playing had long been forgotten. Her fingers tightened around the edges of the blanket, her shoulders hunched as if to protect herself from something cold only she could feel.
“I guess… that kind of connection isn’t for everyone,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. The air between them seemed to crackle with something unspoken—a question neither of them knew how to ask, an answer that neither was ready to hear.