Chapter Nine #2
He stops in front of me. “He’s a piece of shit.
He taught us nothing good, that’s why Isaac is in the mortuary, cold and alone.
” His voice cracks, and I lift my hand to touch him, but he shrugs me off, anger radiating off him.
“Why did you leave him that night?” he demands, and I frown with confusion.
“He was injured. Why didn’t you take him to hospital or call the police.
” I inhale sharply, his words hitting me like a sledgehammer.
“If you’d have stayed with him or got help, he’d still be alive now. ”
I turn to look at Mum, she glances at the floor, avoiding my eye.
My vision blurs as I feel behind me for the door handle, relieved when I finally grab it and tug it open.
I stumble out into the street, gasping for breath but feeling like my lungs are being squeezed through a vice. Jordan slams it closed.
I lean one hand on the wall whilst bending at the waist, inhaling deeply, but not enough to inflate anything.
I grasp at my collar; it’s already loose, but I pull it anyway.
I crouch against the wall and pull out my mobile.
My vision is still blurry as I scroll through until I find Courtney’s name.
It rings out, but she doesn’t answer, and I curse her through panting breaths.
I try again, closing my eyes as I press the handset to my ear.
It connects and I almost cry in relief, until I hear his voice.
Warren.
“Hello, Leoni? Are you there?”
I pull the handset from my ear and peer at the screen. Cunt. I saved his name under Cunt, and I must have pressed that instead of Courtney. Fuck.
“Lee, what’s going on, I can hear you breathing. Are you okay?”
“I–-it’s—I can’t—breathe.”
“I’m coming,” he says, his voice laced with panic. “Stay there, I’m coming.” I hear him bark a frantic order, and car doors slamming. “Are you hurt?” he asks. “Lee, are you hurt?”
“No,” I whisper.
“Okay, don’t talk, it’s making it worse. Listen to me. Listen to my voice. Focus on something nearby. Just one thing.”
I force my eyes open and stare at the house across the way. The window frames are rotten, and the glass is mouldy. I don't remember a time when it didn’t look run down and old. I never see anyone coming or going, even though this has been my home since I was twelve years old.
“I’m nearly there.”
Seconds later, a dark coloured car screeches to a stop, and I see his shiny shoes as he runs towards me, dropping to his haunches and brushing the hair from my face. “Jesus, you gave me a fright,” he murmurs, running his eyes over me. “What happened?”
“I think I had a panic attack,” I whisper, suddenly feeling exhausted. “I didn’t mean to call–”
“I’m glad you did,” he says gently. “Let’s get you in the warmth.” And then he leans closer, scooping me into his arms and standing in one swift movement.
He carries me to the waiting car, where Anthony holds open the passenger door. Warren keeps me in his arms, sliding in with me in his lap. The door closes and the warmth wraps around me. I close my eyes and lay my head against his chest. I just need everything to stop. I need some peace.
WARREN
Her breathing evens out slowly, little shuddering exhales against my chest. She’s drained. Hollow. And for once, she isn’t fighting me.
Anthony pulls away from the curb, eyes flicking to the rearview mirror, waiting for instruction.
“Her place?” he asks.
I look out the side window at her family home. It’s small. Old looking, yet it gives off a homely feel, oozing with love. But apparently not tonight. Because she’s in a state, and instead of going in there, she called me.
My voice is quiet but final. “Penthouse.”
Anthony arches a brow but doesn’t argue, as he takes the next left and heads for my place.
Leoni shifts against me, making a soft sound, like she’s drifting off.
Good. She needs to rest. Her fingers curl into my shirt like she’s trying to hold herself on this side of reality.
I wrap an arm around her waist and bury my nose in her hair, inhaling.
I can feel Anthony watching me again. “What?” I mutter.
He keeps his gaze forward. “Nothin’.” He knows better than to say what he’s thinking.
The city lights pass in streaks, blurry against the windows. Her head rises and falls with each breath. She looks young like this. Small. Breakable.
And I hate that.
When we reach the underground car park, Anthony gets out and comes around to hold the door.“Want me to carry her?” he asks.
“No,” I say immediately, it’s too sharp. He lifts his brow again but steps back.
I adjust her in my arms and she barely stirs, murmuring something that sounds like my name but is too soft to catch.
The private elevator takes us straight to my floor.
The doors slide open and the apartment is dark except for the city’s glow through the glass.
I carry her to the bedroom and lower her onto the bed gently, as though any loud movement might shatter her. She curls on her side instinctively, one hand still clenched in my shirt. I try to ease it free, but she doesn’t let go. And something in my chest pulls tight.
“You’re okay,” I hear myself say, my voice sounding rough with emotion. “You’re safe here.”
She doesn’t wake, but her grip loosens enough for me to free myself.
I sit on the edge of the bed for a moment, breathing slow, trying to unclench my jaw. Trying to ignore the part of me that wants to lay down beside her and hold her together.
Anthony’s voice crackles through the intercom at the front door. “Everything good?”
I step back, forcing distance. “Yeah.”
“You want me to stay on watch?”
My eyes flick to the window. The view of the city. The network my father controls. The danger creeping closer.
“Yes,” I say. “Stay downstairs. No one in. No one near. I’ll call if I need anything.”
“Got it.”
“And Anthony…”
“Yes, Boss?”
“No one can know she’s here, especially not my family.”
“Understood.”
The intercom clicks off.
I look back at Leoni. She’s deep in sleep now, light snores escaping her.
But I know what this will mean. To my father. To Erik.
The game is in motion. We’re all on the board. All playing a part.
She just became a fault line. And every man in my family is going to try to break her open.
I drag a hand over my face, my jaw tight. There is no universe where I can let that happen.
None.
Even if I have to burn every bridge, every city. Every person I know. Even if I have to become the thing I was raised to be, to protect her from it.
Leoni Dove will not get burned in this war.
I sit down in the chair beside the bed. And I keep watch.