Chapter 26 Casablanca #2
“I executed over forty men since December,” Leo admits in a rough voice.
“I was so consumed by fear and anger that I’ve done worse things than Gabriel.
I lost control. Because of it, I didn’t pay attention.
He knew I wasn’t. He was stealing everything from under my nose.
He’s doing to us, what we’ve done to him.
This is revenge for me not leaving.” I touch his cheek tenderly as his eyes fill with tears.
“I stayed because I was scared of leaving you and look what’s that done. ”
“Leo.” I grab his face with both hands. “No matter where we would’ve gone, he would’ve followed. He found us in Italy, halfway across the world, so he would’ve in California. None of this is your fault.”
His grabs my hips, eyes almost dimming as I watch that exhaustion weigh upon his shoulders. My hands slide down to his neck, holding him gently as he looks down.
“I’m scared.” Leo’s voice is almost too soft to hear. The defeat in it tearing at my insides, gripping my heart. “Gabriel. Renato. Matteo. All of them want to take you from me. What if they do?”
“No. They won’t.” Tears gather in my eyes next as his fingers dig into me.
“I can’t be alone again. I won’t make it without you, I can’t do this alone again.”
“Leo.” His eyes squeeze shut, tears spilling from them. His throat works as he fights not to cry. “Baby, look at me.”
With the gentle command, Leo opens his eyes that are filled with so much fear.
“I am not leaving you,” I state, clutching him. “I’m going nowhere. I promise. You’re not alone.”
Tears fall down his cheeks as he opens his mouth, but nothing comes out.
He clamps it shut again, throat working.
I stroke back his hair, and kiss his forehead, and whisper, “You can be scared right now if you need. You’ve always let me be scared when I needed to, so right now, you can be. It’s alright. I’m right here.”
His arms wrap around me, pulling me close as he buries his face against my chest. I cradle his head protectively.
“I love you,” I murmur against his hair. “Tomorrow you can be brave, stoic, whatever you want. Right now, you can be scared.”
Leo trembles, his breath shaky. His fingers dig into me as they had in the warehouse weeks ago.
He clings to me, crying quietly as I hold him.
My heart aches, hurting for him and every decision we’ll have to make going forward, to fight for our future.
If I’m allowed to feel every emotion openly, so can he.
Except, we’ll remain in the confines of a bedroom with him in my arms where he’s safe to grieve for the life we can never have. A safety we may never know.
“I love you,” he cries brokenly against me. “I don’t want to live without you, please, I love you.”
“I’m here, baby.” I press my cheek against his head, blinking as my own tears fall and throat tightens. “I’m right here, my dear Leo.”
He shifts his arms, having me move to straddle his lap and wrap my legs around him.
Leo buries his face into the crook of my neck, clutching me as those silent tears soak my shirt.
I hold my husband close, knowing the pressure he’s under while trying to give us happiness.
That it’s still his own family we’re fighting.
We cling to each other as I wish that one day, we’ll have the peace we crave.
I don’t know when the tears stop. I’m not even sure when we in our numbed states, changed for bed and fell asleep in the other’s arms.
Far later, I jolt awake. It’s quiet other than the pounding of my heart, thundering into my head.
Blinking, I stare up at the canopy and focus on breathing.
After a few minutes, my chest doesn’t feel like a freight train is on it.
I glance over to find Leo asleep on his stomach, face turned away.
Laying my head back, I stare at the painted ceiling when suddenly my stomach growls.
Oh, right. We were supposed to have dinner after that conference call.
“Wonderful,” I murmur, silently getting out of bed. I keep one of the double doors slightly open as I look for a midnight snack.
The past 48 hours don’t feel real as I open the small fridge, looking at what we have. Fruit. Vegetables. Bit of milk. Couple pastries. Okay, now, I miss late night ordering and want takeout.
I grab the fruit, putting it all onto a plate and sit on the sofa.
I find the remote for the small television mounted on the wall and turn it on with low volume as I flip through channels.
I look for the ones I’ve found have played movies before, and finally Casablanca appears and it’s in English.
Smiling to myself, I watch as I nibble on the fruit.
It’s near the beginning of the movie. Soon, I’m humming with Sam, who plays on the piano while As Time Goes By plays.
Noise comes from the bedroom, and I’m putting the plate down when the doors open.
Leo stands there, shoulders dropping with relief when he sees me.
His lounge pants hang low on his hips as he comes over to sit with me, and then tugs me into his arms. After kissing my head several times, he gets comfortable with me to watch the movie.
We’re quiet as I eat a couple pieces of fruit.
I grab a grape, holding it up for him and he takes it to pop into his mouth.
A piece of melon is next, but I absentmindedly hold it closer to his face as I watch the film.
Leo leans in, taking the melon into his mouth directly from my fingers.
I become transfixed by him as he briefly licks my fingers, then chews the fruit slowly.
Leo then grabs a piece of cantaloupe, holding it up for me.
I move closer and open my mouth for him to place it on my tongue.
The sweetness of it bursts as I chew, somehow more delicious than the last couple of pieces.
Leo then strokes his thumb under my bottom lip, then licks his fingers clean.
A faint smile rises on my face as I finish eating the cantaloupe.
We continue doing that, feeding each other fruit silently as the movie plays. The night wears on as Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman tiptoe around each other. During one of the altercations in Rick’s Club, Leo finally speaks.
“I don’t think Renato wanting an heir is completely why he won’t cut off Gabriel.” I stare at the television screen, running my hand over his arm. “We’re all that’s left of the Salvadori and Luciano line, but his persistence of late is…odd.”
“Meaning?”
“Those arranged marriages were for ulterior motives, but also because I refused to settle down. Now I am and…” he clears his throat, exhaling sharply, “…I brought up the potential of heirs with you, and he still refused.”
My breath catches. I hadn’t really thought about why Renato wanted Leo to leave me, but maybe a part of me thought it was because he knew I couldn’t get pregnant.
“You didn’t tell him the truth?”
“Fuck no.” He kisses my hand. “One, not my place to discuss, even as your husband, without you present.” Oh, that’s kinda sweet, but also very Leo. “Two, it shouldn’t fucking matter or involve him. His obsession of bloodlines is outdated.”
I hum. “Why isn’t he even considering leaving the businesses to whoever deserves it? Like that Captain taking over Rossi’s organizations? Has your family organizations never done that?”
“Not to that level. Over the past year, Renato has been vehement that Matteo gets nothing, even as a potential heir, continuing to bring up that he’s a Marchetti.”
“But so are you and Gabriel. Sure, you’re also connected to the other family lines, but it seems…weird how much he hates the Marchetti name, but Gabriel still uses it.”
“And Renato helped arrange the marriage for my mother and father.”
“I get the whole it was for business. But…why hate the name so much, now, then? If Riccardo had killed Giovanna, then I get it, but your mom died of cancer, right?”
Leo whispers, “Yes. So, I’m not sure either.”
We’re quiet again. Casablanca showcases its own politics and work arounds. Not wanting to keep discussing his dead parents, I move back to the live family members.
“They’re all after your empire…aren’t they?” I ask.
“Basically,” Leo sighs, stroking his fingers over my shoulder. “Renato for more power and Gabriel for a personal vendetta.”
Gabriel was the kind of man who never forgot, no matter how petty it seemed. A reality I knew too well with my own past that I’ve come to realize. If he sent men to assault me for not sleeping with him, what is he willing to do for what Leo and I have done?
“Where does Matteo fit in all this?” I ask softly. “Just some pawn?”
“Yes.”
His quick answer makes my stomach clench. A few moments pass before I ask, “Are you still angry with him?”
“He helped hire men to kidnap and kill you, Autumn. While attempting to dethrone me, and strip away what I’ve built in the last five years.
Not to mention his stupidity in running to Vincenzo.
” Leo then exhales a long breath. “So, yes, I am angry…even knowing it wasn’t just entirely him, I’m not sure I can trust him again.
Nor will he get a warm welcome from me.”
“And if he has a chance of doing the right thing?”
He keeps his gaze on the television. “We’ll see.”
His arm comes around my shoulders, fingers creating circles on my arm as I lay my head against his shoulder. I ask, “Are you sure Vincenzo will meet with you?”
“Although he’s Renato’s main rival here, I’ve never had issues with him. We’ve been on good terms, staying out of each other’s way. He can be ruthless and savvy if it gets him what he wants. He’s probably heard what happened in New York and will want to make a deal of some kind.”
“Why?”
“I survived a hostile takeover, killed two crime bosses, and survived another hit. I’ve rearranged the mafia ecosystem, as it were, in the states. And then there’s my companies outside of the mafia, which have remained self-sustaining. Despite how dismissive Renato is, I can be a powerful ally.”
“They know how powerful you can be, especially after the last few years. But you’ve never had a weakness…until me.”
Guilt starts to wrap its way around me as I stare at the television. Leo touches my cheek, brushing his knuckles over my skin. Although I helped regain control of the mobs, I was also why they got through the cracks.
Leo built a hotel franchise on his own with Jameson.
He created businesses, became a well-known businessman.
Then he took over the Marchetti organizations, becoming the Head Mafia Don of New York City after overcoming blackmail after blackmail.
Outside of financial success and takeovers, Leo also has a ruthless side that’s willing to get bloody.
He had walls and security measures that were airtight, keeping everyone in check from the empire he had built from almost nothing.
A cold, strict mafia don that commanded and earned respect from even the worst of men. No Achilles Heel, until me.
Leo takes my chin, turning my head to face him.
“You are not my weakness, you are my strength, dear Watson,” he whispers.
“Without you, I would not be here. I am…because of you.” He cups my face as something flickers over his gaze.
The guilt I once saw is there a moment before it’s gone in an instant.
“However angry I could be with my decisions, never…never will I blame you. For you are my salvation.”
I smile faintly, touching his hand.
Leo moves forward and his lips brush against mine. Slowly, he kisses me. Soft lips caress mine tenderly as I sigh against him. We grasp for this small reprieve after the horrid two days we’ve had.
Suddenly a phone rings.
Leo tears away, snapping his head towards the bedroom. My face scrunches, noticing it’s past 2:30 in the morning. He gets up, disappearing to answer it. There’re soft mutterings from the bedroom, until he walks back out hanging up the phone.
“Who was it?”
“Vincenzo. We meet in two days.”