Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Alicia
The next morning, I wake in a panic, light streaming across the room from the open curtains behind the bed, and cold, empty sheets beside me where Dominic was lying last night.
"Shit."
Rubbing my eyes, I jump out of bed, a cold breeze swooshing over my naked body, reminding me of my lack of clothes.
Groaning, I rush over to Dom's wardrobe and yank a top off the hanger, shoving it over my head.
As I'm pulling it down my body, my eyes scan the room, and I spot a piece of paper on the nightstand.
I quickly snatch it up, my eyes roaming the words scrawled across it.
Had to run, got a busy day. I've walked Jelly and fed her. Leo will be downstairs if you need anything. I'd prefer for you not to go out, but if you choose to, you can. Just please let me know. I'll be home late, don't wait up. Make sure you're in my bed though ;)
Worrying my lip between my teeth, I press the note against my chest and close my eyes, sighing.
I've really fucked up.
Taking the note with me, I move across the room, through the bathroom, and into my room, putting the note in my nightstand drawer and then fumble for my phone that's sitting on my bed.
Ignoring the messages from my sister and the group chat with the girls, I click on Lenny's contact and hurriedly type out a message.
Alicia:
Turns out my info was bogus. Sorry. Will find you something worthwhile soon.
As I wait for him to reply, I move over to my wardrobe, grab a pair of jogging bottoms, and slide them up my legs.
As I pick up a pair of socks, my phone vibrates, and I drop the socks to the floor, scrambling for my phone on the shelf, and feeling my stomach sink as I read his reply.
Satan:
I knew you'd end up having second thoughts. I'm just glad it was after you gave me valuable information.
Unfortunately for you, I checked your intel as soon as you sent it to me, and thanks to some powerful connections, I know there's a shipment coming into the marina. I'll be waiting at the docks, ready to intercept.
Thank you for your help, sis.
Quickly shoving the socks onto my feet, I call my sister. I pick up a pair of black boots and rush out of my room and down the stairs as it rings.
"Hey, I was just—"
"Ellie, I've fucked up. Real bad," I shout, interrupting her. "I was pissed off—for stupid reasons—and I made a rash decision without thinking of the consequences, and now I think I'm about to be the cause of some really big fucking trouble."
"Woah, okay. Take a breath, Lissa. Calm down and explain to me what's going on."
Walking into the kitchen, I do as she says, taking a deep breath as I sit on one of the barstools, hitting the speakerphone, and placing my phone on the counter while I unlace the boots in my hand.
"Lenny asked me to help him get information.
At first, I told him to go to hell, because I didn't want to help him with his scheming, but the other night…
" I huff, dropping the boots to the floor and burying my head in my hands.
"I thought Dom was a complete jerk—which he is—but that's not the point.
He was acting so cruel towards me, and I assumed he didn't care.
He was so dismissive and controlling, and it pissed me off.
So, I made the mistake of messaging Lenny, telling him I'd help him. "
"Oh, Lissa."
"I know. It was stupid and thoughtless," I admit, shaking my head.
"I thought it was a good way of getting back at Dom.
I wanted to hurt him like he'd hurt me, but I had it all wrong, El.
He does care, and he does notice me. More than I realised.
He spilled his guts to me, he was finally honest about the way he feels, and now I feel awful. "
"Well, have you told—"
"Yes, I messaged Lenny just now, told him I'd given him bad information, hoping I'd be able to stop whatever it is he's planning, but he knew I was lying.
I don't know what to do. I can't tell Dom what I've done, not after last night.
I don't want him to go back to hating me after I've felt what it's like when he doesn't."
Silence spreads across the room, and I peek between my fingers to glance at the phone, checking Eliana's still on the phone.
"Say something, El," I plead.
She sighs. "I think you're gonna have to come clean, Alicia. It's the only way you might be able to stop what's going to happen."
I shake my head, even though she can't see me.
"I can't do that… I'll have to figure something else out. I know the shipment's coming in at midnight, so I have time to figure something out, right?"
"Possibly," she says, her voice unsure.
I've been pacing around the kitchen for almost an hour—probably burning the rubber soles of my shoes—and no ideas on how to solve the problem I've caused have come to mind.
Jellybean pads across the tiled floor, rubbing her head against me as she whines.
Bending down to stroke her, I sigh and pull her into my chest, cuddling her for a few moments, seeking comfort from her.
She wriggles out of my arms after a while and yaps at me as she leaves the room, heading down the hall towards the elevator.
"You want to go walk?"
She barks in response. I grab her lead, sling my coat on, and then press the button for the elevator as I attach her lead and pick her up.
The doors close, and the elevator whirs to life as I rest my head against the cool metal behind me, closing my eyes as I debate with myself internally about telling Dominic the truth about Lenny.
I don't want him to feel like I've betrayed him.
The elevator shudders to a stop, and when the doors open, I'm greeted by the sight of Leo and his usual scowling face.
Placing Jellybean on the floor, I allow her to trot over to him as his eyes wander across my face.
I offer a weak smile. "Morning."
His brows furrow ever so slightly, but he dips his head in greeting before turning around and leading us through the lobby and out of the building.
We walk silently through the cold, wet streets of central London, people actively avoiding us as we move, some staring for far too long, others glancing away as soon as their eyes graze over Leo's face.
"I'm glad you're not like them," he says, tucking his chin to his neck as we stand by the traffic lights waiting to cross with a crowd of people surrounding us.
I glance up at him, assessing the way his eyes dart around. Even with his head ducked down, he's still on high alert, observing everyone around us.
"Like who?" I ask, jamming my thumb into the button. We wait for the red man to turn green, signalling we can cross the road and finally make it to the park, where there are fewer people.
"Everyone around us," he says, moving his hand to my upper back and guiding me across the road once the traffic finally stops to let us cross. "I know you already knew of my scar beforehand, so it wasn't exactly a shock to you, but I'm glad you don't stare at it every time you're around me."
"Why would I? That'd be rude."
He turns to face me, his lips upturned in an almost smile as he chuckles.
We enter the park, and I unclip Jellybean's lead, allowing her to run over to the patches of green around us as we walk down the winding path.
"Now I'm in Dom's good books, I think it'd be a good idea to go shopping sometime soon," I suggest, stuffing my hands in the pockets of my coat to protect them from the cold, harsh wind. "You'd be alright accompanying me with that, right?"
"It's not like I'd have much choice in the matter," he huffs, side-eyeing me.
I grin at him as he whistles for Jellybean before she runs off too far.
"I mean, you could leave me to my own devices."
He scoffs.
"I'd get my arse chewed out if I did that. Besides, you seem to attract trouble, and although I think you'd be fully capable of handling yourself, I'd prefer to be there to intervene if I needed to."
I gape at him, pull my hand out of my pocket, and press it against my chest.
"That almost makes it seem like you care about me, Leo," I tease.
He rolls his eyes at my theatrics and shakes his head.
"If thinking that helps you sleep at night, then sure."
"Oh, come on, you don't need to deny it. I think it's fair to say we've built a friendship in the time we've spent together, so it's okay to care for me. If it helps, I care for you, too."
He grunts in response and glances at his watch on his wrist.
"We should start heading back. It's almost noon, and I have some things to do for later tonight."
I frown, and my stomach twists.
Is he involved in what's going down tonight?
I call Jellybean over to us so I can connect her lead again, and then turn back in the direction we came from.
"What exactly is it that you have to do?" I ask.
He glances at me, a confused, curious look on his face that probably matches the expression I'm currently wearing.
"Work stuff," he states.
My stomach twists again, and my hand tightens around Jellybean's lead as the guilt from earlier returns.
"So, you won't be watching over the apartment tonight?"
He shakes his head.
"No, I think Charlie might be. Percy's occupied with things already, and I'm accompanying Dom tonight."
"Accompanying him where?"
He narrows his eyes at me, slowing his pace.
"Why so many questions?"
Worrying my lip between my teeth, I stop walking and glance around us, taking in the empty path, making sure no one's around before I speak.
"Are you going to the marina?" I ask quietly, my muscles tense with anxiety.
His expression doesn't change, but the slight twitch in his eyebrow shows he's surprised by my question, not expecting me to know about what's happening tonight.
"Why'd you ask that?"
"Leo, please, just tell me," I say, the worry eating away at me. "Are you and Dom going to be at the marina tonight, waiting for that gun shipment?"
He stares at me for a moment, his dark, callous gaze penetrating mine.
I fidget on the spot, nerves vibrating through my body as I wait for him to speak.
"What's going on, Alicia?" His eyes dart around our surroundings before he steps closer to me. "What do you know, and why are you acting like a nervous wreck?"
Holding Jellybean's lead in one hand and fiddling with the heart-shaped locket around my neck with the other, I release a shaky breath.
"I don't think you should go tonight. Either of you," I tell him, breathing deeply as I avoid his stare. "I have a really bad feeling, Leo, like something's going to happen, or someone's going to get hurt."
My chest feels as if someone's standing on it, and my stomach is twisted in knots.
"I don't want either of you to get hurt."
The creases on his forehead deepen as his eyebrows lower further.
"You having a feeling isn't enough justification for me to not do what I'm tasked with doing. So, do you want to tell me in detail what's actually going on, or do you want to keep beating around the bush?"
Sighing, I walk up the path towards a bench that's off to the side and sit down, burying my head in my hands.
"I fucked up," I tell him as he sits beside me, and Jellybean stands between our feet, looking up at us both. "I made a stupidly rash decision in the heat of the moment, and now I've realised it was a huge mistake, but I don't know how to prevent it from happening."
"Okay, hold up. I'm confused. Go back to the start and tell me what's gone on."
Glancing up at him with tears in my eyes, I nod my head and do exactly that. I tell him everything—from the moment Lenny called me, to the messages he sent this morning.
By the end of it, I feel sick, and the look he's directing my way doesn't help at all.
We sit in silence for what feels like hours before he nods, stands from the bench, and offers me his hand.
"I'll sort it out," he says, pulling me to my feet. "I won't tell Dom you're involved, but I'll figure out a way of telling him Lenny knows about the incoming shipment. We'll solve it."
I all but jump at him, wrapping my arms around his tense body as relief ebbs away at the guilt that was starting to consume me.
"Thank you," I mumble against him as his arms hesitantly curl around my frame, holding me loosely while I cling to him as if he's my lifeline.