Chapter 17
Leo’s heart had been palpitating ever since Alasdair had called him to tell him what had happened. He’d ditched Knox’s stupid meeting and rushed home. When he saw the car, his legs almost gave out from under him.
The need to get to Molly and Rose was the only thing keeping him upright. He ran towards the car and wrenched the driver’s door open, his thoughts colliding like jostling waves. Are you— Fuck, are you hurt?
Molly was slumped on the steering wheel, her chest heaving as she breathed in and out, her eyes closed.
Alasdair stepped out of the back with a crying Rose in his arms. She’s okay, he said, soothing a hand down Rose’s back. Molly made sure we were all okay.
Leo gazed at Molly, wanting to reach out to her.
But somehow, hunched over the steering wheel, she didn’t look like she wanted anyone to invade her space.
So he reached for Rose, stepping away from the car so she didn’t demand her mother’s attention.
To her credit, Rose clasped onto him and whimpered.
Hey, my baby, are you okay? Leo whispered, using his thumb to wipe away the thick tears staining her reddened cheeks. Do you have a boo-boo?
No, she’s fine, Alasdair answered. But fuck, my life flashed before my eyes, man.
Neil came around the hood of the car. The man had a Peppa Pig toy with him. Leo raised a brow at his brother’s foresight.
Neil shrugged. I found it on the car floor.
Leo dropped a kiss on Rose’s forehead and soothed her. But when she still cried, he plucked Peppa Pig and danced the toy in front of Rose’s face. Peppa says hi. She’s happy that you’re back. No school!
But Rose didn’t want her piggie. She dropped her head on Leo’s shoulder and held on tight. The poor thing.
Leo wasn’t letting her go. But fuck, he’d promised to protect Molly and failed. Again.
Like his thoughtlessness had caused his mother to lose her life. Hell, he should have anticipated Johnny doing something like this. He should have been in the car with them. Saved them.
Molly turned in her car seat and slid out. He had expected her to be crying, shaking, maybe even repulsed by him. But her eyes were bright, her shoulders back, her lip curled. She looked like a warrior prepping for battle.
In the years he’d known her, Leo had never seen her look this… powerful. His heart performed an elaborate pirouette.
Leo’s legs carried him to Molly, and he pulled her into his chest. I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I’m so sorry. He kissed her forehead. Are you hurt?
Molly’s arm came around his waist, and the other rested on his arm that held Rose.
It wasn’t your fault. It was the bastard’s fault.
She looked up at him, her chin on his chest. The same determined expression was on her face.
He came after me when my daughter was in the car.
I don’t care why he did it, who he thought we were.
He came after us. And I’m going to make him pay.
We’ll make sure of it. Leo nodded. In the meantime, I don’t think it’s safe for you here—
Molly ran a hand over Rose’s hair. I won’t let him disrupt our life more than he already has. He’s a bully, and if I take Rose and run, he gets what he wants. Either way, we will get exposed to Johnny.
We’ll keep you safe, Neil said.
Molly straightened. I’m done hiding from him. It’s time I face him.
Leo understood where she was coming from. He understood the rage roiling inside her. Judging by how battered his top-model car was—and it had been built to sustain impact—the collisions had been tough. With Molly driving, three lives had been in her hands.
He held Molly against him, running his hands over her curves. It wasn’t arousal, but a way for him to ensure she was healthy and alive.
Rose had calmed down, unlike her mother. Molly plucked Rose from him, cradling her daughter in her hands. Come on.
Neil raised a brow at Leo, silently asking who this new Molly was.
Alasdair shrugged. You should have seen her. She didn’t freak out, not even once. It was almost as if this wasn’t her first time losing a tail and driving like this. He nudged Leo. Who is she, really?
Leo didn’t know. Any normal human being, no matter who they were protecting, would be scared when someone tried to ram their car. It was just instinct. The only people who wouldn’t were those who had experience and training.
He frowned at Molly’s back, then followed her inside.
In the two years he’d known her, Molly had built her life back up, being a loving mother and making a living all by herself.
He had helped out, but it took guts to leave an abusive partner and be a single mother in the first place.
He knew how hard it was for single mothers. He had been raised by one.
Leo shook his head. He didn’t want to think about his past. No, he had to figure out why the hell Johnny had come after Molly like that, with Rose in the car. After he had a little chat with Molly.
You got a minute to talk?
Molly was pacing in the living room. She paused and raised a brow at him. I’m going to settle Rose down and then—
Five minutes, please. Leo turned to Alasdair, who reached out to cradle Rose. To her credit, she went to him without shedding a single tear or whimper.
Leo used that opportunity to cup Molly’s elbow and lead her into the privacy of the kitchen. Backing her up against the counter, he caressed her face. Are you sure you’re okay? It must’ve been so difficult to—
Molly gripped his wrists. It wasn’t the worst car chase I’ve been in. She pulled his hands off her face but didn’t let go. She gave him a sad smile instead. Before I met Johnny, I was a very different person. I was in a group, an unofficial group that helped survivors or victims of domestic abuse.
She had told him some of this, but he had always pictured her as being staff at a not-for-profit. How do car chases come into the picture?
The system isn’t fireproof. And for a few women, shelters are not a solution.
The most dangerous time in such situations is when a woman decides to leave.
Many times, just like I did, women are leaving a terrible situation without much money or resources to help them land on their feet.
Abusers take control over their finances and assets, so they are running just with the clothes on their back.
Just like she had. Leo remembered that day and the terrified sight of her every night.
She squeezed his hand. And the system is fucking slow.
So my pal came up with an idea. We could get the women and children out, rob the abuser, sometimes give him the taste of his own medicine, then donate the cash to the woman before we helped her run. It was only fair.
But not exactly above board. Why the hell hadn’t she told him this before? Leo opened his mouth, but he wasn’t sure what to say. And the car chases?
Sometimes things got murky. We had to do stuff the law frowned upon, although it was always in the pursuit of helping someone.
I have a whole host of skills—wiring a car, breaking into places, combat, some easy forgery, manipulation, and I could think on my feet.
All skills that could get me arrested. When my best pal who headed the operation fell for a cop, he called it all off.
He wanted to take a break and then go legit with it. But he never came back.
Leo reached out and enfolded Molly into his arms. Fuck, this woman was tons braver than he’d given her credit for being. You’re a badass.
Her laugh sounded watery. I was. Until I swept Johnny’s red flags aside and got myself into the exact situation I helped women out of.
But you had the courage to leave him.
She sniffed and looked up at Leo. You were our saviour.
They stared at each other, small smiles on their faces. Gosh, she was an incredible woman. A wonderful mother, a fierce fighter, a beautiful soul, and someone who made him feel like he had family in this world. How had he gotten so lucky to have found her?
He felt his head leaning in, moving closer to Molly. His gaze dropped to her lips just when she flicked her tongue over her bottom lip. She had inched closer too, her breasts rubbing against his torso. Just another inch and—
Hey! Rose is asking for you, Alasdair shouted, snapping that sizzling passion between them.
What had Leo been thinking? He couldn’t kiss Molly. He was helping her through a rough patch. She wanted to leave when this was over, for god’s sake.
Leo jerked back and shoved his hands into his pockets, hoping that would hide the bulge in between his legs.
Molly rushed out without muttering even an Excuse me or kneeing him in said aroused balls.
Pulling himself together took a minute. Leo grabbed a tray and set glasses of water before he headed out to listen in on their conversation.
Did you see who was inside? Neil asked from where he sat on the sofa.
No, Molly answered. The van had tainted windows that made it difficult to look in. But seeing as Alasdair saw them following us when we were headed into the city centre, and given the recent events, it had to be Johnny’s doing.
Leo’s thoughts exactly. Alasdair butted in, Why would he do that, though?
Molly bounced Rose and set her down on the floor. The girl had stopped crying now, her interest in her piggie renewed. He wants to startle Leo into going after him.
But why now? Leo set the tray with the glasses on the centre table.
I know Johnny’s not been around for a while, though Knox told me at the meeting today that he was back for good.
This might be something to do with that, but Johnny lost interest in egging me on a few months after we took over.
I thought he’d given up and was focused on the Foundation.
But it seems that eejit’s now willing to go to any lengths to find dirt on me. Hell, he almost killed you today!
Alasdair reached out and took a glass. Frankly, I can do with a drink that’s not water. Then I might have some answers for us.