Harbinger Of Glory

Aldo eventually placed his hands on his knees and stood.

"We should go back before they decide I’ve taken you somewhere and buried you."

Hearing that, Leo couldn’t help but laugh as he got up.

"I think Vittoria would notice."

They reached the doorway, but suddenly Aldo stopped.

Then, almost casually, he looked back at him.

"Inter Milan would probably be interested in you."

Leo blinked as the change of subject was so sudden that he smiled.

"As a point of conversation, I imagine."

Aldo’s mouth curved slightly.

"Perhaps."

Leo shook his head at the answer before putting his hands behind his back.

"I’m flattered you’d put me at that level. But right now, my focus is Wigan and repaying as much of the trust that they put into a seemingly hopeless kid like me!"

Aldo watched him for a moment before nodding.

"That’s also a good answer," he muttered as they left the study together.

When they returned to the main hall, Vittoria looked at Leo immediately.

Her eyes moved from him to her father before searching Leo’s form.

"What happened?"

At that, Aldo didn’t miss a beat.

"I didn’t strangle him."

Vittoria paused, a bit flustered as she tried to shrug off the look she had earlier.

"I wasn’t thinking that," she muttered, but none of the looks the trio around her gave suggested that they believed her.

A second later, Sienna moved behind her, smiling slightly.

"Would you two like to stay the night? We already have a room for Leo, or if you two would like to sleep together?"

"No."

Vittoria answered so quickly that Leo looked at her, causing her mother to laugh.

"Relax. Nobody is forcing you to stay. I just suggested it, thinking you might be tired!"

"I know."

"Then stop looking guilty."

Vittoria sighed, wanting to retort but then kept her words to herself.

Once more, Aldo stepped toward Leo and held out his hand, same as he’d done earlier when Leo arrived, and once again, Leo took it in his, the firm handshake of two men.

This time, there was no assessment behind the handshake.

It felt familiar even as Leo stared at Aldo.

"Thank you for coming," the latter said, to which Leo nodded.

"Thank you for having me."

Leo then turned to Sienna before moving towards her.

"And the food was excellent."

"Thank you, and you’re welcome back anytime."

Vittoria, immediately after that, took Leo’s hand and tugged at it.

"Come on."

She pulled him gently toward the door before her mother could start another conversation.

"See you guys later," she muttered when they were already out of the house.

"That kid," Sienna muttered before walking away, also tugging at Aldo as the man and wife walked off.

Outside, the car was waiting to take them back to the airspace they’d been at previously.

"Still up for it," Leo said to the pilot when they settled back into the helicopter.

"It would be my pleasure," the pilot replied before handing Leo a Sharpie and then a piece of fine-looking paper.

A moment later, the rotors of the helicopter began spinning, eclipsing whatever sounds were around it before it took off back towards Milan.

By the time they got to Milan, it was already a few minutes past 8.

Leo had thought about going back to the camp to get ready for the following day’s flight, but halfway on the road, he decided to join Vittoria at her apartment in the thick of Milan!

Leo stepped through the door, loosened the buttons at his cuffs and dropped onto the sofa with a long breath.

While he did so, Vittoria came in behind him and hung her coat.

She watched him for a moment before she walked over and sat on his lap, putting her head to his chest.

"You okay?" she muttered, caressing Leo’s forearm slightly.

"I am just tired," Leo replied before he looked at her.

"But I am okay."

She rested her head against his chest, again one hand settling against his shoulder this time, and for a while, neither of them spoke, letting the silence float around them.

Then a moment later, Vittoria lifted her head.

"Thank you."

Leo looked down at her, wondering what she meant as she continued.

"For tonight. For all of it."

When he figured out what she was talking about, he couldn’t help but smile.

"Don’t worry, because I sort of did it for myself and I am glad I did."

"How?" Vittoria asked.

"Now that they know about me, you can come to England whenever you want. And I wasn’t particularly pleased holding you hostage with my good charms without the knowledge of your parents!"

"Pfttt," Vittoria dismissed before smiling.

"You narcicisst. And was that your main concern?"

"One of them," Leo replied as she looked at him for another second.

Then before he could react, she leaned in.

Leo at once could feel every thought vanishing as Vittoria adjusted, straddling him while settling on his lap.

Her hands soon found Leo’s neck, slightly roaming close to his back while Leo’s hands settled on the hills of her hips.

When they finally separated, she stayed close as Leo’s hands pulled her a little closer.

She didn’t resist.

Instead, she shifted on his lap and looked at him for a moment when the kiss ended.

There was a quietness between them now, a common thought of breaking a few boundaries.

"You okay?" she asked, looking down at Leo while caressing his face.

"Yeah."

She didn’t push further and just kissed the corner of his mouth.

"Because I’m not finished with you yet."

At that, Leo raised an eyebrow.

"Is that a threat?"

"Maybe."

He laughed again, and she kissed him before he could say anything else.

The kiss changed gradually and became slower, deeper, less playful than the ones before it.

Leo’s hand moved along her back and stopped there, holding her close while Vittoria rested her forehead against his.

For a while, they stayed like that, learning the difference between the kisses they had shared before and this one.

Vittoria eventually pulled back just enough to look at him.

"Still okay?"

Leo smiled.

"Very."

"Good," she said as if confirming something and kissed him once more.

Leo stood after a moment, hands wrapping around the backside of Vittoria, who laughed softly when he lifted her, instinctively tightening her arms around his neck.

He carried her a few steps before she reached down and kissed him again.

Then Leo carried her toward the bedroom.

The door remained open behind them for a few seconds before Vittoria reached back and pushed it closed.

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