Chapter Two #2
In retrospect, regarding Leo, they were more like friends with benefits, but even the sex had become a thing that neither were interested in.
Sex had become dull. Detached. Five minutes she’d never get back four times a month.
When she wasn’t willing to swat his ass, choke him, and watch porn during sex, he took it as rejection and stopped pleasing her.
Had he ever pleased her? Probably not. Okay sex wasn’t good sex.
When a woman’s thoughts were preoccupied with eating a toasted cheese sandwich while she had a man inside her, that could be a sure bet the sex had a lot of room for improvement.
She’d rather use her vibrator because she knew she’d end the session satiated.
Today though, she would rip the bandage off for good. She no longer wanted him, or the situationship that left her with emotional whiplash. He’d have to get the picture, or she’d have to draw a diagram for him.
The walk toward the coffee shop on St. Mary’s strip took her longer than expected.
The district thrived with entertainment, and the sidewalks were a maze of people and tourists.
She didn’t mind too much because she’d moved to the city from a small town so she could hide.
Not hiding as in running from someone, but hiding as in blending in.
Growing up in a town of twenty thousand people she grew tired of everyone knowing everything, especially about her family.
Her parents had always been entertainment for townsfolk who had nothing better to do but to whisper insults as Margo and her hippie parents walked by.
Her mother and father could easily be described as eccentric.
Their lifestyle had centered around values and leaving less of a carbon footprint.
They fought for freedom of speech and preservation of nature and sometimes went a little too far in their tactics to get people to listen.
Like the time they spray-painted “Trees are our oldest teachers” on Mayor Tisdale’s house.
Or the time they laid down naked in front of the library to keep the old building from being bulldozed.
In the end, the only thing they achieved was an arrest record.
They’d taught Margo connection with nature, self-expression, and a minimalist way of living.
Buying used and saving the difference. At fourteen she started refusing wearing loose, colorful clothing and they’d relented.
After all, they believe wholeheartedly in making oneself happy.
The day she’d left home she could see the worry and doubt in their expressions.
They believed the city was a monster out to suck the life out of good people.
Now that she’d been in the city for five years, she’d softened her approach of holistic living.
Although her parents didn’t judge her way of life, they were disappointed that she wasn’t still living on their minimalist farm.
Margo visited them as often as possible but never stayed longer than a week at a time for fear they might try and convince her to stay.
She liked nobody knowing who she was, or all her business.
Or feeling like she must defend her parent’s beliefs to everyone.
They checked in once or twice a month to give Margo the lowdown of their quiet lives which hadn’t changed much from the last conversation.
They bought a bushel of apples, canned applesauce, and they wanted to know if she was ever coming home to live.
She respected their values but why couldn’t they respect hers?
She found a small patio table at the coffee shop and ordered a coffee that came with cute barista latte art of a tree. Seemed fitting.
Glancing at her phone, she checked for any messages from Leo. He’d always been punctual. Maybe he’d changed his mind about meeting her. She had no new messages from him.
Sipping her latte, she enjoyed people watching—loved watching the joy tourists got out of visiting the area.
She was quickly time machined back to when she first moved there.
Everything fascinated her. The rich history, vibrant culture, and landmarks she’d only read about in books.
When she first arrived, she’d take her laptop everywhere and then found the small, quaint café to spend a better portion of most days writing.
The picturesque walkway contributed to her creativity that her tiny, rundown studio lacked.
A second glance at her phone told her Leo was fifteen minutes late.
She scanned the busy sidewalk toward the direction he should be approaching.
At six-three, he towered over most people, and she didn’t see him.
It was for the best. Meeting him simply to say that she no longer wanted to see to him defeated the purpose.
Swallowing the last bit of her drink, she laid down enough money to cover the bill and a tip and started to rise when Leo appeared at the table like a swift breeze had blown him in.
She dropped back down, taking in his disheveled appearance.
Leo Davani always took pride in his appearance, but today he looked frazzled and disorganized.
His hair, usually styled in a classic clean cut with a modern side part, looked like he was going for more of a greasy, biker look.
The week-old whiskers added to the effect.
But she wasn’t here to evaluate his appearance.
“You’re late,” she said.
“Sorry,” he muttered, looking around the patio at the patrons who filled the space as if he were waiting for someone else to show up.
“Are you okay?”
He leaned in, planted his palms flat on the wrought-iron table and whispered, “I’m glad you came.”
“I’m not staying long. I’m just going to get straight to the point. It’s best you and I don’t meet again—”
“I need to give you something,” he said in a hushed tone, completely dismissing her.
“Did you hear what I said?” Frustration angled through her. While they were a couple, she’d tolerated his habit of talking over her, but now she wouldn’t.
“Margo…listen…”
“Are you listening?” Her agitation had nearly hit its crescendo.
His expression became frantic. Almost fearful. This most definitely wasn’t the man who embraced calm and collected. “I don’t have much time.”
She blinked. “Maybe if you weren’t so late.”
Again, he dismissed her. “I need your help.”
The hairs on her neck lifted. “What’s wrong with you, Leo?”
He darted his gaze over her shoulder. “I’m in a bit of trouble.”
“Is this your way of drawing me back in? I told you before, I’m done—”
“Stop and listen,” he said harshly.
“Excuse me?” She started to get up, but his fingers wound around her wrist paused her. She sat back down, staying on the edge of the seat in an uncomfortable posture. They’d caught the attention of the couple at the next table.
“I’m here because there’s no one else I can trust.”
“I don’t trust you,” she said in a whisper.
His jaw clicked. “You have every right not to trust me. I haven’t been a very good man, to anyone. But I need your help.”
“I don’t understand…”
He swiveled his head to look around. “I didn’t want to pull you into this. I didn’t mean for things to escalate.”
Starting to grasp that this was serious and he didn’t want to speak to her about getting back together, her heart picked up in speed. “Pull me into what?”
The circles under his eyes darkened. “I don’t have time to explain everything.” His gaze focused on something over her shoulder and his mouth twisted. She started to look but he snapped, “Don’t. Keep your eyes on me.”
“Why? Who’s there?”
“We’re being watched.”
“Leo, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but this isn’t funny.” She would kill him if he was playing a trick on her, but when had he ever been a jokester or the type of person to play a prank? She’d always thought his wit was comparable to a rotten branch.
“Who’s laughing.” He heaved a sigh. “The clock is ticking.”
“If you don’t get to the point I’m leaving. If you don’t let me, I’m going to scream.”
He got up to switch seats, sitting down next to her and leaning in as if they were still a couple. “I’m into trouble. I’ve been receiving some death threats.”
“From whom?”
“Shh!” He planted a tight smile on his lips. “I don’t know, but after the ambush on the recon team…” his words rambled off into silence.
“Ambush? What are you talking about? I’m lost.” She rubbed her temples to stave off a headache.
“Silver is making his rounds, along with some very powerful people who have a lot at stake.”
“Silver? As in your client?” She remembered the story being in the paper the day the criminal was handed down a prison sentence for crimes leading back to drug trafficking, among a complete list of criminal activity.
For weeks after the conviction Leo hadn’t been himself. A little like he was acting now.
“That’s not important. What’s important is that someone wants me dead to keep me quiet.
I know too much and I’m a liability.” He must have seen something in the distance because his eyes widened while the color drained from his face.
“Come on, let’s walk.” He abruptly stood and waited near her chair.
He forced a hand through his hair again sending the textured strands on a lost voyage.
Reluctantly, she stood. “Where are we going?” she said in a lowered voice, not sure where she should direct her gaze.
He took her hand, and she started to pull away when she realized he was passing her a piece of paper. Were they truly being watched? Suddenly she became paranoid. “Don’t lose that. You’ll need the information to receive the package.”
“Package? What package?” Instead of things starting to make sense, her mind was reeling.
“It’ll all make sense eventually. Listen.
If something should happen to me, I have information that I don’t want to get in the wrong hands.
” He stopped and turned to face her. Concern etched fine lines around his eyes.
“If I disappear the envelope will be available on the address on the paper in two weeks’ time.
You’re the only one who can retrieve the package.
The only person you should give it to is a man by the name of Hawkeye. He’ll know what to do with it.”
“You’re scaring me, Leo. What have you gotten yourself into?”
His lips thinned. “Are you listening? What’s the man’s name I told you to give the package to?” he demanded.
“Hawkeye,” she repeated with a roll of her eyes. She guessed she’d have to play the game. “How will I reach him? I don’t know a Hawkeye.”
“Don’t worry. He’ll reach you.” Leo’s gaze flicked beyond her shoulder then back on her in palpable fear.
“Tell Hawkeye that you will have access to the package, and if he wants it, he must keep you safe for fourteen days. Then you go to the address. No one can receive the package but you. I made sure of that so don’t give him the location until the package is ready. ”
She crossed her arms over her waist, unsure whether Leo was in his right mind. “Have you been drinking? Taking drugs?” She knew he could be heavy fisted at times when it came to bourbon.
“No.” He shook his head. “I know this is all hard to understand and I wish I could explain, but there’s no time for that.”
“If you’re in trouble, can’t you go to the police?”
He gave a little laugh that made the soft hair on her neck lift.
“That would certainly be a death sentence.” He took a step back toward the crosswalk.
The once egotistical cocky criminal lawyer looked defeated.
“I’ve got to go. Let no one see that paper.
No one. Trust only Hawkeye. He’s an upstanding man. Understand?”
“You’re telling me to trust only him but not to trust anyone else? I’m confused.” Her temples throbbed as she darted a glance through the crowd wondering who scared Leo.
A sliver of his old charm surfaced into a nice smile. “In another world you and I could have been something grand, but I’m just not a relationship type of guy.” He winked and shrugged. “Someday someone’s going to love the hell out of you.”
She wanted to say something, demand that he explain what danger he was in, but before she could form the words Leo stilled and his eyes widened. Shock surfaced in lines around his mouth. He looked down.
“Leo? Are you okay?”
He lifted his chin, his faraway gaze meeting hers as he dropped to his knees.
She hurried forward to catch him and they both tumbled to the sidewalk.
He pinned her under his heavy weight, an eerie moan coming from him.
He looked up at her, his expression full of fear as blood trickled from one corner of his mouth.
He clung to her, and she held him, feeling warm liquid on her hands.
His head dropped forward, and he made a terrible gurgling sound. He fell completely limp.
“Leo?” She gave him a shake. “Leo!”
He’d gone lifeless.
Lifeless?
No, not Leo.