Chapter 65
[CLUB - RAW HOUSE]
The club wasn't too loud yet. Early evening meant the crowd was still building, music smooth instead of chaotic, lights dim but not blinding.
Oma slid into the booth first, leaning back as she exhaled.
"I needed this."
"Same," Ivy muttered, dropping beside her.
Ricky and Mason took the opposite seats. Mason's arm naturally settled around Oma's shoulders, pulling her slightly into him. She didn't resist. Her body relaxed a little.
Ricky leaned forward, elbows on the table.
"Drinks?"
"Yes," Ivy said immediately.
"Definitely," Oma added.
Mason just nodded.
Ricky signaled the waiter, ordered for all of them, then leaned back, slipping his fingers through Ivy's.
She squeezed once, absentmindedly, her mind clearly elsewhere.
For a moment, they just sat there, letting the noise of the club wash over them.
Then Ivy sighed.
"You really went off on him."
Oma didn't pretend to misunderstand. "He deserved it."
Mason rubbed her arm gently. "You were... intense."
Oma scoffed. "He literally dragged her to his place yesterday, stressed her out, then left her there. She had to call her driver.
That's messed up."
Ricky tilted his head. "You don't know what happened there."
"I don't need to," Oma snapped. "Look at the pattern. He never does anything normally. Everything has to be forceful with him."
Ivy nodded slowly. "He is rough with her."
"But she pushes back," Mason added.
"Aurora doesn't exactly look helpless."
"That's not the point," Oma said quietly now. "She's strong. That doesn't mean she should deal with that kind of pressure all the time."
Their drinks arrived. Glasses clinked softly as they were placed on the table.
Oma took a sip. Exhaled again.
"I just... I don't like how tired she looked today."
Ivy's fingers tightened slightly in Ricky's hand. "Same."
"She's been off since yesterday," Ricky added. "Quiet. Even for her."
Mason nodded. "You think it's Leonard?"
Oma hesitated.
"...Partly."
Ivy leaned back. "You challenged him though."
Oma rolled her eyes. "Yeah. Told him to try being soft for once."
Ricky chuckled. "Leonard? Soft?"
"Exactly," Oma muttered. "That man doesn't even know what soft means."
Mason smirked. "Imagine him trying though."
They all went quiet for a second, the image settling in.
Ivy laughed softly. "That would actually be scary."
"Suspicious," Ricky corrected.
Oma stared at her drink. "I just want him to stop stressing her."
Mason nudged her lightly. "You care too much."
She glanced at him. "She's my best friend."
"I know," he said gently.
On the other side, Ricky leaned closer to
Ivy, murmuring something in her ear. She smiled faintly, then rested her head briefly on his shoulder.
He pressed a quick kiss to her hair.
Oma noticed and smiled a little.
Mason caught the look and tapped her glass. "You jealous?"
She snorted. "Relax."
But she leaned slightly into him anyway.
Music shifted. The beat got heavier as more people filled the floor. The club was coming alive.
Ivy straightened. "We should dance."
Ricky stood immediately, offering his hand. She took it without hesitation. "I've missed you tw€rking on me."
Ivy laughed.
They moved toward the floor together.
Mason looked at Oma. "You?"
" Yeah but..." She got on him immediately. " Before that.." She claimed his lips.
Mason chuckled into the kiss, moving in sync with her, his hands automatically going to her bútt.
★
[RAVEN MANSION]
Later in the evening...
Aurora was sound asleep when her phone started ringing on the bedside table. Her brows furrowed, lips parting in a soft frown, but she relaxed when it stopped.
Not for long.
It started ringing again. Louder this time. Persistent. The sound drilled straight into her head, threatening to spark another headache.
She blindly reached for it, fingers fumbling, but the phone slipped and fell to the floor with a dull thud.
She groaned.
It started ringing again.
"Unbelievable..." she muttered, voice thick with sleep.
Already annoyed, she forced her eyes open and leaned over the side of the bed, grabbing the phone slowly. If it was Oma again, she was blocking her. For real this time.
What was it with her and calling whenever she was asleep?
But that wasn't the case.
She blinked.
"JERK!"
Her expression darkened. She had changed it from Psychopath after returning from his villa yesterday.
She almost ignored it.
Almost.
But she knew him. If she didn't pick up, he'd find another way. And she wasn't in the mood for chaos tonight.
She swiped green.
"What?" she deadpanned.
"Come down, Noelle."
His voice, deep, calm, cleared the sleep from her head instantly.
She frowned harder. "What are you even-"
She sighed and hung up.
Aurora threw the duvet off, slid her feet into her red fur slip-ons beside the bed, and grabbed her phone before heading out.
The house was quiet. Too quiet.
Halfway down the stairs, she ran into Melvin.
"You're awake, princess."
"Yeah," she muttered. "Going for a stroll... I think."
"Auri-"
"Chill, Dad. I'll be back."
She didn't stop walking.
Melvin watched her until she disappeared into the living room. Then he slowly took out his phone and dialed.
"She's out," he said quietly. "Be discreet."
He hung up and headed upstairs.
Outside, the night air was cool. The garden lights cast soft shadows across the driveway as Aurora made her way toward the gate.
She spotted him immediately.
Leonard leaned against his car, hands tucked into his pockets, head slightly lowered like he'd been there for a while.
The dim lights caught the metal of his piercings.
She slowed.
Her expression turned unpleasant.
The guard opened the gate for her and she stepped out.
"You came," he said simply.
She scoffed. "Did I have a choice? For all I know, you could barge in and kidnap me again."
He pushed off the car slowly. "I didn't kidnap you."
"You dragged me," she corrected. "Forcefully."
He tilted his head slightly, studying her face. She looked sleepy. Hair loose.
Oversized hoodie slipping slightly off one shoulder. No makeup. Bare.
He looked away first. "Get in."
She didn't move. "No."
His gaze returned to her. "No?"
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
"You're already outside."
"And I'm going back in."
She turned slightly as if to prove it.
"Five minutes," he said.
She stopped.
"I just need five minutes."
Aurora narrowed her eyes. Suspicious.
"You? Asking?"
"Don't get used to it."
She folded her arms. "What do you want?"
Leonard exhaled slowly. Like this conversation was exhausting him.
"I'm taking you out."
She blinked. "What?"
"Out," he repeated. "Drive. Nothing dramatic. No villa. No surprises."
She stared at him.
"You called me out of my sleep... for a drive?"
"Yes."
"You're insane."
"Probably."
She studied his face, trying to detect the trap. There was always a trap with him. Always something behind it.
But he just stood there. Quiet. Waiting.
No smirk. No teasing. No pressure.
It was... strange.
"You look half dead," he added.
"Looking at you alone pisses me off."
"Get in."
She hesitated.
"You said five minutes."
He opened the passenger door. "I'm counting."
Aurora rolled her eyes, but after a second, she walked toward the car.
"This better not be another sick game," she muttered as she got in.
He closed the door gently.
Gently.
That alone made her frown.
Leonard walked around, slid into the driver's seat, and started the engine. The car hummed softly to life.
Neither spoke for a moment.
Then he pulled away from the gate.
Aurora leaned back slowly, watching the road ahead.
"Where are we going?"
He glanced at her briefly. "Out."
"Typical. She muttered."
New York city lights moved past them as Leonard drove, both the car and her thoughts.
TBC...