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CHAPTER 12
A SHORT BREAK
Natalia's POV:
I paced the living room anxiously, compulsively checking my silent phone every few minutes. Ashley watched me from the couch, sympathy and concern etched on her face.
“I’m sure you’ll hear from him soon,” she reassured me again gently.
I just nodded distractedly, unlocking my phone to scan for messages once more. I knew I must seem unhinged, but I couldn’t stop obsessively checking for any word from Leonardo.
After the alarming violence at home, his cryptic urgency rushing me away, there had only been agonizing silence from Leonardo. Until I could speak to him again, I would not be at rest.
Rationally, I knew getting answers right away was unlikely. When we parted, Leonardo made clear the situation was complex and he would find me when he could. But my heart ached for any reassurance he was alright.
This torturous wait without word was breaking me. I needed to hear Leonardo's voice again, to know he was safe and this nightmare was ending.
I leaned my forehead against the cool glass of the living room window, phone clutched tightly in my hand. “I just need a sign that he’s okay,” I whispered. “Anything to make this awful worry stop.”
Ashley came and wrapped me in a fierce hug from behind. “It’s going to be alright, Nat. Leonardo cares about you so much - he’ll reach out as soon as he can.”
I clutched her arms, beyond grateful for her rock-steady presence. Ashley had been my shelter these last harrowing days, talking me back from the edge of panic and reminding me to keep faith. I didn’t know what I would have done without her.
Together, we had passed the endless anxious hours baking cookies, watching movies, painting each other’s nails - Ashley doing anything she could think of to comfort me as the silence wore on.
But now, as another day faded with no word, my frayed nerves refused any more distraction. I couldn’t relax again until I heard Leonardo's voice, confirming he was truly safe. That the worst was behind us.
The phone in my white-knuckled grip remained void of messages, no matter how fiercely I willed it to chime. Irrational fears crept in that something had happened to Leonardo, some new disaster I couldn’t foresee.
Sensing my rising panic, Ashley gripped my shoulders, forcing me to meet her earnest gaze. “Stay with me, Natalia. Working yourself up won’t help.”
I nodded shakily, knowing she was right but unable to rein in my spiraling dread. I just needed this one thing - some sign from Leonardo that he was alright. Anything to make this torturous uncertainty stop.
Ashley guided me gently to sit on the couch, keeping an arm wrapped around my shoulders. “Let’s watch something mindless to distract you a bit, okay?” she suggested kindly.
Though I doubted any show could truly break through my fixated thoughts, I acquiesced, too emotionally drained to keep fighting my fears alone right now. Ashley found some upbeat sitcom, keeping the volume low.
I leaned gratefully into her solid side, so endlessly thankful for her stalwart presence holding me up through this battering storm. My whole reality had been thrown off-balance, everything uncertain. But Ashley was my unmoving shelter.
Leonardo’s POV:
The cold night air felt good as I hunkered down on the rooftop, readying my rifle. Just me and the weapon, scoping things out, waiting for the action to start. I lived for this.
Tonight's job was straight forward - take out a high ranking punk from a rival crew who'd become a real pain in our ass lately. My trigger finger was itching to put a bullet in that cocky bastard.
I got set up with a clear view of the meet location, grabbing a brew from my cooler to pass the time. No need to rush things. I'd get the snake in my crosshairs soon enough.
These types always went down the same way - too damn sure of themselves. This chump had no idea his number was up the second he tried to move in on our territory. But he'd learn that lesson real quick tonight.
I took a long pull from my drink, peering down the scope. Gotta be patient, let the punk come waltzing into my web. I was ready to end him quick though. Do the job then get out clean.
Right on time, I spotted the jackass rolling up in one of his shiny sports cars he probably thought made him a real player. I chuckled to myself. He wasn’t going to be driving nothing where he was headed.
I tracked him strolling into the warehouse with his goon squad in tow. They thought they owned the place already. Cocky bastards had no clue what fate had in store for their boss tonight.
I blew out a breath, calming myself as I peered through the crosshairs. Easy now. Just a matter of waiting for the perfect shot to present itself.
There - I had the slimy snake dead to rights, square in my sights. Chest shot for a quick kill. I grinned, exhaling as I gently squeezed the trigger. “Lights out, pal.”
