CLAIMED BY THE MAFIA KINGS 1st of the Mafia Queen Series

Lyra's POV

Leo Weston's estate was massive, cold, and unsettling. The halls were too quiet, the corners too dark, and the weight of it pressed down on me like a heavy, invisible hand. Every time Leo was near, I could feel it,the air thickening, my nerves tightening. He didn't just walk through this house; he owned it, commanded it, and everyone inside bent to him without question.

Except me.

Or at least, that's what I told myself.

"You're not afraid of him," I whispered under my breath as I made my way to Mira's room. "You're here for her. You're here to do a Job. That's all."

But my own words felt hollow. How could I not feel the pull he had, the way his presence changed everything? Leo Weston wasn't just a man,he was a force of nature, a storm waiting to destroy anyone who stood in his way. And I couldn't help but feel like I was standing directly in his path.

I knocked softly on Mira's door and stepped inside. She was in her usual spot by the window, knees tucked to her chest, staring out at the gray sky. She didn't even glance at me when I entered.

"Hey, Mira," I said gently, sitting beside her. "Do you want to read today? I brought a story about a brave girl who-"

"No," she whispered, her voice so quiet it almost didn't register.

I forced a smile, trying to ignore the familiar ache in my chest. At least she'd spoken. "Okay, no books today," I said softly, rising to my feet. "Maybe tomorrow."

As I turned toward the door, something shifted. The air grew heavier, colder. I didn't need to look to know who was there.

Leo.

He stood in the hallway, his dark eyes fixed on me like a predator sizing up its prey. My breath hitched.

"Sir," I said, my voice shakier than I'd intended. "I didn't hear you."

He didn't reply right away. Instead, he just watched me, his gaze sharp and piercing. The space between us felt charged, like an electric wire stretched too tight.

"I've been watching you with Mira," he said finally, his voice low and smooth, though there was an edge to it. "You've been good for her."

The unexpected compliment caught me off guard. "I'm just doing my job," I said quickly, my tone cautious.

Leo took a step closer, and the hallway seemed to shrink. "It's more than that. Mira trusts you." His gaze never wavered, pinning me in place. "And trust isn't something that comes easily in this house."

I swallowed hard, his words sinking in. There was a weight to them, something unspoken that sent a chill down my spine. "I care about her," I said quietly. "That's all."

He tilted his head slightly, studying me with unnerving intensity. "You're different," he murmured, taking another slow step forward. "Not like the others."

"The others?" I repeated, my pulse quickening.

His lips curled into a faint smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. "The people who come through my life. They're all the same. Weak. Predictable."

I forced myself to stand my ground, even as every instinct screamed at me to step back. "And what do you think I am, Sir?"

His eyes darkened at the word, his expression hardening. "Don't call me that."

"It's respectful," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "You're my employer. Sir is appropriate."

He shook his head, his tone laced with a dangerous edge. "I'm not 'Sir' to you. Just Leo."

"Leo," I corrected hesitantly, his name tasting strange on my tongue.

"Better," he said, though there was something possessive in his voice, something that made my skin prickle. He stepped closer, his gaze holding mine like a vice. "Now answer me. What do I think you are?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat. His proximity, the way his presence filled the hallway, left me breathless. "I don't know," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I haven't decided yet," he said softly, his words like a promise and a threat all at once.

Before I could react, his hand brushed my arm, a light touch, but it burned like fire. My breath caught, my heart racing as heat flooded my skin. I hated how my body reacted to him, how it betrayed me.

A shiver ran through me, despite the heat rising between us. I should've stepped back, should've created space, but I couldn't move. His eyes were like a trap, pulling me deeper into something I didn't want to understand.

I took a shaky step back, pulling away from his touch. "Why are you acting like this?" I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended. "You're my boss, Leo. This, whatever this is,it's not appropriate."

He smiled faintly, but there was no warmth in it. "Appropriate?" he repeated, his tone mocking. "You think I care about what's appropriate?"

"You should," I said, my nerves fraying under his gaze. "You hired me to take care of Mira, not... this." I gestured vaguely between us, hating how exposed I felt.

His expression darkened, and he took another step forward, crowding me against the wall. "You don't understand how this works, Lyra," he said, his voice a low growl. "You're in my house. My world. That means you follow my rules."

I swallowed hard, my back pressing against the cold wall. "I didn't agree to... whatever you're trying to do right now," I said, my voice trembling despite my efforts to sound strong. "I just want to do my job and go home."

"You think you can leave?" he asked, his lips curving into a dangerous smirk. "You're already in, Lyra. And once you're in, there's no going back."

His words sent a chill through me, laced with a possessiveness I couldn't ignore. "Why are you doing this?" I asked again, my voice quieter now, almost pleading. "Why do you care what I do or who I talk to? I'm just your employee."

His hand grazed my cheek, his touch sending a jolt of heat through my body. "You're more than that," he whispered, his voice soft but commanding. "You just don't see it yet."

"I'm just here to do a job,I don't belong in your world," I said, my breath catching as his fingers lingered against my skin.

"No," he agreed, his lips dangerously close to my ear. "You don't. But that's exactly why you're here. You think you're just here for Mira, but we both know that's not true anymore."

I pushed against his chest, trying to create distance, but he didn't budge. "How do you know that? I'm not yours, Leo, you don't own me," I said firmly, though my voice wavered under the weight of his gaze.

His eyes flashed with something dangerous, something raw. "You already are," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The tension between us was suffocating, the air thick with heat and unspoken truths. I couldn't tell if I was more terrified or more drawn to him. Maybe both.

He stepped back finally, his gaze still locked on mine. "Stay away from Blackwood," he said, his voice sharp and commanding. "He won't stop until he has you. And when he does... I'll deal with him. But you'll be mine."

Before I could respond, he turned and disappeared down the hallway, leaving me trembling against the wall, my heart racing, my thoughts spinning out of control.

What the hell had I gotten myself into?