Leo stood trembling against the desk, his lips still burning from Dante's kiss. He wanted to wipe his mouth, to wash away the taste of whiskey and power, but his arms felt heavy. Dante sat behind his massive desk, watching Leo like a predator watching a wounded bird.
"You're a monster," Leo whispered, his voice cracking. "I am a doctor. I save lives. I don't belong in a dark room with a man who buys people like furniture."
Dante leaned back, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. "You save lives, Leo? Then save mine. My men get shot every week. My empire runs on blood. I didn't buy you just for your pretty face. I bought your hands. Your skills. You are the official surgeon of the Moretti family now."
Leo felt a chill run down his spine. "I won't do it. I took an oath."
"Oaths are for men who have a choice," Dante said, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. He stood up and walked to a safe in the corner of the room. He pulled out a thick folder and tossed it onto the desk.
Leo opened it. His heart stopped. Inside were photos of his younger sister, Sarah, walking to her university classes. There were bank statements showing his father's gambling debts—debts that were ten times higher than Leo had thought.
"Your father didn't just lose money, Leo. He sold information about my shipments to the police to try and cover his losses," Dante explained, stepping into Leo's space again. "In my world, that is a death sentence for the whole family. The only reason Sarah is still breathing is because I decided I wanted a surgeon instead of a funeral."
Leo sank into a chair, the air leaving his lungs. "You're blackmailing me."
"I'm giving you a job," Dante corrected. He reached out, his thumb tracing Leo's swollen lower lip. "And a master. You work for me, you live in this house, and you keep my men alive. In return, your sister stays safe. Do we have a deal, Doctor?"
Leo looked at the photos of his innocent sister. He looked at the dark, violet-eyed man who held his world in his hands. "Yes," he whispered. "Deal.