Layla could not believe what her eyes were seeing next to her, Luciano was sitting next to her with a mischievous smirk on his face, Layla stared at him dumbfounded for a second, which felt like a decade. "What are you doing here?" She asked a little bit to coldly, which made her sound rude.

"I am doing the same as you are going to do the next couple of hours." He replied, leaning back into his seat as he made himself comfortable. "It doesn't really make sense, I thought you had a private jet or something." She said, making him chuckle wholeheartedly, "Oh, you're something else, amore."

His chuckle warmed her heart.

No, nope she wasn't feeling anything, she kept telling herself, but deep down she knew that his little laugh had done something to her heart, it made her feel something she had never felt before and she wasn't quite happy about it.

"So, what are you doing all alone in a plane off to Italy?" Luciano asked, ringing alarm clocks in Layla's head as the need of finding a perfect lie overwhelmed her, "Um, just visiting a family member of mine. What about you?" She lied, feeling proud of herself and feeling relieved that he bought it.

On the contrary, he did not buy any of it, he was just amazing at pretending like he did.

"I was born in Italy, I am going to stay here for a while, handling business and so on." He explained casually, she hummed in response, taking in the information he just told. Suddenly, he leaned into her ear, his hot breath hitting her earlobe, making her skin crawl. "You are not a good liar, amore." He whispered into her ear, making her breath hitch and her skin crawl as her heart started beating like crazy.

She did not know what to do, but she did not show it, she hated to show weakness. Layla moved further to the window, taking out her book and pretending like she wasn't close to a heart attack. "I would be pleased if you keep you distance." She told him curtly, not looking up to him. "Or you are going to face consequences you sure as hell wouldn't be pleased with." She added, making sure no emotion was noticeable in her voice.

Well, damn girl. Luciano thought, he started adoring her sassy attitude. He just couldn't help but admire her little attitude, it was so cute and adorable.

"What are you gonna do? Spray pepper-spray on my face?" He mocked, chuckling lowly, which made Layla's eyes roll.

"That's it, I am going to shoot your ass."

"Woah, I am so scared!" He exclaimed with a high-pitched voice, mocking her as he laughed at her face. Oh my god, you expression is just priceless!" He pointed out as he laughed, making her eyes roll in annoyance. "I wonder if you're a child or a man." She said, an annoyed expression lingering on her face.

"Shut the hell up now or I'm going to throw you out of this plane." She threatened as she put on her headphones, still hearing him laugh, she rolled her eyes once again as she turned up the volume so loudly that she couldn't hear what was happening around her anymore.

Luciano couldn't help but grin widely, his inner child managed to escape out of its cage around her, which normally never happened, but he was grateful for it. However, he was also a little bit worried about his condition around her. No one has ever seen Luciano Romano joking around, he was always all about business and nothing else. So, what was it about this girl that made him act like this?

••••••

Luciano was confused over his feelings, he was so vulnerable around this woman that he forgot about his real identity—a ruthless gun trafficker, who was born into the mafia world. However, with Layla, he was different. He was the real playful Luciano around her. What was happening to him? He did not even know her that well, he just knew her name and that she worked for Alejandro Gonzalez.

What was a wonderful woman like her doing in a mafia world? He couldn't help but wonder.

He stole a few glances from her, she didn't catch him staring because she was hooked inside the book, allowing it to pull her into another world—far away form her bittersweet reality.

He was mesmerized by this woman, she looked innocent but also badass, as if she already faced the darkness of this cruel world, but she still managed to shine in it, which was almost impossible to do so.

He had to find out more about her, he thought desperately. Even though he sounded like a stalker right now, he did not give a flying f*ck.

Soon after, she shut her book down and looked throughout the window, admiring the blue sky, which was decorated with clouds. She was surely going to miss America, but this was for the best. She had to be as far away as possible from that monster named Dimitri, she didn't want her child to know that its father is a disgusting monster.

Why was she so sure about keeping the baby? She thought. Every time she'd look at that baby, she was going to see what he had done to her, how he tainted her and destroyed her youth and soul in one.

However, it wasn't the baby's fault. It was just an innocent little miracle, that encouraged her to escape out of that hell. It helped Layla to stay strong and stronger than she had ever been before.

She closed her eyes, becoming tired of her racing thoughts, she gave herself over to sleep in seconds as the darkness kept on consuming her.

Soon, Luciano became tired from all the thinking as well and closed his eyes as they got heavier.

••••••••

Layla's eyes fluttered open slowly, taking in her surroundings, she noticed that her head was leaning on Luciano's shoulder, which made her eyes widen in shock. She turned her head to look at Luciano's sleeping face.

His lashes were so long, they were touching his cheeks, his cheekbones were placed amazingly, looking high and handsome and his jawline looked sharp like a knife, ready to cut you into pieces. His aura screamed dangerous when he was awake, but when he is asleep his face screams cuteness.

Holy sh*t. How can someone so dangerous look so cute? She thought.

But wait, since when was she thinking about him like that? He was just a man her former boss shared business with, she just knew his name and his dangerous job. Why did she even think of something like that?

In her world she grew up in, men were all the same—ruthless and cruel, nothing else. No man did ever do good to her except for Alejandro, who she had to leave hanging and broken, because she was too tainted for someone like him, she could never deserve so amazing like him. Dimitri would've found her there immediately, which would risk his and the baby's safety, so she had to go even if it hurt deeply. Very deeply.

Luciano's eyes fluttered open and he was welcomed by the beautiful sight of Layla, he couldn't help but almost smile at her cuteness as she moved away from him swiftly. "Hey, amore." He greeted her softly, but still winking at her, "Hi, you do know that I have a name, right?" She asked, getting kind of annoyed by him calling her something in some foreign language she didn't know, it started to annoy the hell out of her and she was not having it anymore.

Luciano laughed wholeheartedly-something he never did since he was a child-it sounded so peacefully melodic to her ears, she wanted to hear it more often, even though she didn't know why the hell she would want something like that.

She cleared her throat, just as she was about to say something, an announcement was made. The plane was going to land soon, which made her heart race. It was finally over. The torturous time was over. She was free.

She couldn't help but smile brightly in joy, she couldn't believe that everything was over now. She was set free from everything now. No gangs, just she and her baby, leaving her dark past behind.

It is finally over, she thought.

Was it really?

Or is this just the beginning of a new darkness?

••••••••

A ravishing smile never left Layla's lips as she picked up her suitcase, walking throughout the terminal, she listened to the sound of her freedom she had longed for for years.

She stood in front of the elevator, pressing the button constantly to make it come faster, even though it didn't. "Finally." She muttered under her breath as the elevator doors opened, revealing Luciano standing inside, a strand of his hair dangling over his forehead as he crossed his arms and leaned against the elevator, revealing a mischievous smirk on his lips.

He looked so hot, it annoyed the hell out of her.

Without saying anything, she entered the elevator, letting the doors close as she prayed that another human would enter the elevator, but her prayers weren't heard this time. "Looks like we are destined to be together, Layla." He said huskily, still smirking devilishly, revealing his dimples, which made him more perfect than he already was.

"M-hmm, in your dreams." She replied, which made him chuckle lowly. She reached over to press the button, which was for the second floor, but Luciano was blocking it as he stood in front of her with his tall frame now, looking down at her. "Um, could you move?" She asked, trying to sound as cold as she could, but she was getting hotter and hotter as the seconds passed.

Nope, don't look in his eyes. No no no, argh shit here I go—she thought before she looked into his eyes, she looked into a warm mixture of green and brown, capturing her in their welcoming warmth.

She was dazing into a strangers eyes, but it felt like they had known each other for years.

"Where to?" He whispered into her ear, his warm breath hitting her neck, which made tingles run up and down her spine as her breath almost hitched. She fake-coughed as she tried to keep herself together, "Second floor." She replied as she backed away.

Must be the stupid hormones. She tried to convince herself.

He pressed the button as Layla tried to keep her breaths even, which was the most difficult thing she had to do at the moment. However, she managed to do it victoriously.

The both waited in silence as the elevator reached its destination, a ding sound was heard as the doors opened. Layla released a sigh of relief as she gripped her suitcase and exited the elevator, "We will surely see each other again, amore." She heard Luciano's deep voice.

"I hope not." She replied, but silently wanting to see his handsome face again, she heard him laugh.

Exiting the airport, she found a napkin in her pocket of her jacket, furrowing her eyebrows together in confusion, she pulled it out.

There was a phone number with a note written on it,

Call me if you need something amore
-Luciano