Chapter 5 5.

The morning sky was still faintly lit when Leo pulled back the curtains of his bedroom window, letting the sunlight stream into the room. The air was cool, and the sound of birds chirping outside brought a rare sense of peace. But this morning was different. This morning wasn't about work, meetings, or the endless responsibilities that had consumed him lately.

Today was just for Sofia.

He glanced at the clock on his nightstand, it was still seven in the morning. With light steps, he walked to Sofia's room. The door was slightly ajar, revealing the small figure of a little girl still fast asleep under her favorite mermaid blanket.

Leo smiled softly, then sat at the edge of her bed, gently stroking her hair.

"Sofia, sweetheart... Wake up. Papa has a surprise for you today."

Sofia stirred but kept her eyes closed. In a small, sleepy voice, she mumbled, "Papa is busy again, right?"

Leo froze. There was something in her tone that made his heart sink.

"No, sweetheart," he said gently. "Today, Papa is just for Sofia. Where do you want to go?"

Sofia slowly blinked her eyes open, looking at Leo with a hopeful gaze. "Really, Papa? No phone calls from work? No meetings?"

"Really." Leo cupped her cheek with his hand. "Papa has the day off. So, where should we go?"

Sofia quickly sat up and wrapped her little arms around Leo's neck. "I want to go to the beach! I want to play in the sand with Papa!"

Leo chuckled, rubbing her back. "Alright then, let's get ready!"

The beach was still quiet when they arrived. The sky was bright, and a gentle breeze carried the distinct scent of the ocean. Sofia immediately kicked off her tiny sandals and ran toward the waves rolling softly onto the shore.

"Papa! Look, the water is cold!" she squealed, laughing as the waves touched her feet.

Leo smiled, watching her happiness. He walked closer and took her hand. "Be careful, sweetheart. Don't go too far."

Sofia nodded, then bent down to pick something up from the sand. "Papa! I found a seashell!"

Leo crouched beside her. "Wow, that's a pretty one. Do you want to collect more?"

"Yes! Let's make a seashell castle!"

They started walking along the shore, gathering seashells of different colors and shapes. Every now and then, Sofia giggled when the waves tickled her feet, and Leo couldn't help but laugh along with her.

After collecting a good number of shells, they sat on the sand, enjoying the gentle ocean breeze. Sofia carefully arranged the shells, while Leo watched her with pure affection.

But suddenly, she stopped. She looked at Leo with a serious expression and softly said, "Papa..."

Leo turned to her. "Yes, sweetheart?"

"Promise me... you won't always be busy?" Her voice was quiet, full of hope.

Leo gazed at his daughter, then pulled her into a warm embrace. "Papa will try, sweetheart. I'm sorry if I've been too busy. But Papa always loves you, always."

Sofia didn't reply immediately. She simply rested her head against Leo's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

A moment later, she whispered, "Papa?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"I love you so much," she said sincerely. "In this world, having Papa is enough for me."

Leo felt a tightness in his chest, emotions welling up in a way he couldn't describe. He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head, closing his eyes briefly, trying to etch this moment into his memory.

"Papa loves you so much too," he whispered. "I promise, Papa will always be here for you."

Sofia gave a small smile. "Don't just promise, okay? You have to keep it."

Leo chuckled softly. "Of course, sweetheart. Papa will keep it."

They stayed like that, sitting on the sand, listening to the waves and feeling the soft ocean breeze. At that moment, Leo realized nothing in this world mattered more than Sofia. She was his entire world.

***

In a dimly lit room on the upper floor of his nightclub, Ricardo sat with a calm expression, though his eyes carried a dangerous glint. He listened to his subordinate's report without interruption, allowing them to deliver the bad news he had anticipated from the start.

"Evelyn is ruined, sir. All her clients are gone, her funds are frozen, and she can't even afford her own lawyer," said Santiago, his most trusted man.

Ricardo gave a faint smile and picked up his cigar. "And who do you think did this?"

Santiago swallowed hard, hesitating before answering, "Leo."

The room suddenly felt colder. Ricardo exhaled a slow stream of smoke, savoring the tension before letting out a quiet chuckle. "Of course," he murmured. "I've been waiting for him."

Leo was never the type to sit still when someone disrupted his life. But what Ricardo hadn't expected was the speed and precision of his strike. This wasn't just a reckless attack this was a warning.

Ricardo wasn't a fool. He knew that retaliating in the same way would ignite an open war, and he wasn't ready for that. Besides, Leo had too many allies in the criminal underworld, and going after him directly would only lead to Ricardo's own downfall.

So, he chose another path.

"I want people to start talking," Ricardo said. "Spread rumors that Leo has gone soft, that he's too busy being a father to handle his business."

Santiago nodded. It was a cunning strategy letting the underworld believe that Leo was no longer as strong as before. If people started doubting him, enemies would emerge on their own without Ricardo ever having to lift a finger.

"But that won't be enough," Ricardo continued. He slid an envelope across the table. Santiago picked it up, opened it, and found a single photograph inside.

A little girl. Sofia.

"Find her," Ricardo ordered. "But don't do anything... for now."

Santiago looked at his boss with slight confusion. "So, we're just watching her?"

Ricardo smirked. "For now, yes. Let Leo know that I can reach anything he loves. That will hurt him more than any attack."

Leo had just stepped into his office when Rafael approached him with a serious expression. Without a word, Leo's right-hand man handed him a plain white envelope with no sender.

"What is this?" Leo asked, frowning as he took the envelope.

"It was delivered straight to the front door," Rafael replied. "No one saw who dropped it off."

Leo tore open the edge of the envelope and pulled out a photograph.

His blood instantly boiled.

It was a picture of Sofia, taken from a distance maybe at school or while she was with her nanny. Beneath it, written in red ink, were the words:

"Take good care of her before it's too late."

Leo clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His eyes remained fixed on the photo, but his mind raced, analyzing every possibility.

Ricardo.

He didn't need to think twice to know where this threat came from. This wasn't just a warning it was proof that Ricardo could reach Leo's world anytime he wanted.

Rafael watched as Leo's expression turned cold, understanding that something serious was happening. "Leo?" he called cautiously.

Leo didn't respond. He took a deep breath, forcing down the fury rising inside him. Then, in one swift motion, he tore the photo into several pieces and let them fall to the floor.

"We're increasing security for Sofia," he said, his voice calm but laced with a dangerous edge. "I want to know about anyone who comes near her anyone within ten meters of her."

Rafael nodded. "I'll take care of it."

But Leo wasn't satisfied with just playing defense. He knew Ricardo too well. The man wouldn't stop here.

"Find out who took this picture," Leo continued. "Check the CCTV, question anyone who might have seen something. I want to know how close Ricardo has already gotten to my home."

"I'll get on it immediately."

After Rafael left, Leo sank into his chair, pressing his fingers against his temple.

Once, threats like this were just part of the game. He never cared who the target was or who had to fall for him to rise higher. But now, everything was different.

Now, the target was his daughter.

And if Ricardo thought he could use Sofia to weaken him, then he had just made the biggest mistake of his life.

Leo wouldn't stand still.

He would make sure Ricardo regretted the day he decided to mess with his daughter.