Page 44 of Arranged with Twins
“It’s safer than leaving you here alone.” His expression grows serious. “Adrian’s still out there somewhere, and I’m not taking any chances with your security.”
An hour later, I sit beside Leo in the back of his armored sedan as we drive toward the waterfront. Ilya rides in the front passenger seat, occasionally updating Leo on security protocols and operational details I don’t fully understand.
The shipping terminal sprawls across several acres of concrete and steel, filled with containers and massive cranes that move cargo with mechanical precision. Leo takes my hand as we walk through the facility, and every worker we pass straightens slightly, offering respectful nods.
“Mr. Denisov.” A foreman approaches with obvious deference, clipboard in hand. “The morning shipments are on schedule, and security reports no unusual activity.”
“Good. Any issues with the new protocols?” Leo’s voice carries absolute authority, and I watch the transformation from tender breakfast companion to commanding leader with fascination.
“There’s been a minor adjustment period, but the crew is adapting well. The extra security measures slow things down slightly, but it’s nothing that compromises delivery schedules.”
They discuss logistics for several minutes while I observe the controlled chaos around us. Trucks arrive and depart in carefully orchestrated patterns, workers move with purpose, and everything runs with the efficiency Leo demands in all aspects of his life.
Even as he conducts business with sharp focus, he keeps me close. When we walk between containers, his hand settles at the small of my back. When we climb stairs to observe operations from an elevated platform, he takes my elbow to steady me. The protective gestures feel automatic and instinctive.
“Impressive operation,” I comment as we return to the car an hour later.
He nods once. “It’s legitimate business. It’s boring, but profitable.” Leo settles beside me in the backseat. “I’ve been transitioning more of my interests toward legal enterprises.”
“Because of me?” The question comes out before I can consider whether I want to know the answer.
“Because of us.” He meets my stare directly. “Because of our future together and the children we’re going to raise.” He kisses my hand. “It goes back a few months, to when we first got engaged, and I realized I didn’t want to endanger you in my world. I was trying to do the honorable thing well beforeI fe… started to care for you. Learning about the babies has accelerated my timeline.”
The certainty in his voice makes my pulse quicken. He’s not talking about our arranged marriage as a temporary convenience anymore. He’s talking about something permanent and mutually chosen.
“What does that mean for your other business?” I ask carefully.
“It means I’m delegating operational control to trusted lieutenants while maintaining oversight.” Leo’s tone grows more cautious. “Some responsibilities can’t be abandoned overnight, but they can be managed from a distance.”
I nod, understanding that he’s trying to balance protecting me from his world while not completely abandoning the empire he’s built. “Giving up control must be difficult.”
“Everything about you is difficult.” His smile takes the sting out of the words. “You’ve turned my carefully ordered life upside down.”
“Good.” I lean against his shoulder, savoring the solid warmth of him. “Maybe you needed some chaos.”
“I believe I did.”
We returnto his penthouse afterward, and I don’t think to protest until we’re already there. That’s when I realize I don’t want to be anywhere else, at least for now. We spend the rest of the day playing chess and just talking. My chess game isconsiderably better than it was at seven, but he still beats me every time. At least it’s not a quick victory.
Later that evening, we enjoy dinner together. He sips wine while I opt for sparkling cider. The conversation flows easily, covering everything from childhood memories to future plans, and I’m struck by how natural this feels.
“I don’t want you at risk anymore,” Leo says suddenly, pausing his fork halfway to his mouth.
The statement startles me. “What do you mean?”
“I want to move you somewhere more secure until Adrian is eliminated as a threat. A safe house outside the city, maybe, with round-the-clock protection.”
“You want to lock me away?” I set down my glass with more force than necessary. “For how long?”
“However long it takes.” His jaw sets with familiar stubbornness. “I won’t lose you to my enemies, Sienna. I can’t.”
The raw emotion in his voice stops my automatic protest. Instead of arguing about independence or autonomy, I study his face and see genuine fear beneath the commanding exterior. “I feel safest with you.” The admission comes out quietly. “Not locked away somewhere, waiting for you to decide when it’s safe to live my life again. With you.”
Surprise and what might be relief show in his expression. “Even knowing what that means? The danger and the violence that follows me everywhere?”
“Yes.” I reach across the table to cover his hand with mine. “I’m not naïve about your world anymore, Leo. I understand the risks, but running from them won’t make them disappear.”
He still looks worried. “You could get hurt. The babies could?—”
