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CHAPTER FIFTEEN
‘AUTOMATIC’ OHSOLOW
I sit at the table, holding Mrs. Alonso's hand as she allows her silent tears to fall from her eyes. Honestly, if it weren't for those tears, I'd think Joann was unfeeling. The woman is a rock, and she has the perfect poker-face. I'm sure she's just trying to keep a level head in front of her son.
After Leo spoke to Letty on the phone, confirming that she is still being followed, he ran into his closet before emerging with a duffle bag of guns.
I had no idea there were so many spots on the human body that can hold a gun.
I watch Leo load clips into the handguns, and I can't keep the twist from my stomach. He moves with such ease and each sound of the metal guns makes my teeth grind harder.
I'm scared for him, yes, but I'm mostly angry that these sick assholes are targeting a woman who has nothing to do with Leo's businesses. She's his kid sister, for God's sake! Granted, she's not an actual kid—she's about my age—but that is beside the point.
Click, clap, slide, holster.The sounds reverberate in my chest.
Leo wears black gloves as loads a round into the chambers of each gun he holsters. Two under his arms, two on his hips and one on the small of his back. Knives between each gun on his waist and two more guns, one on each ankle.
I feel like he's going to war, and I can't stop the questions from coming, "Why are they after your sister? Do you have enough people to go with you? What will happen if there's some sort of shootout?"
Joann Squeezes my hand like my questions are hers as well or maybe she doesn’t want to hear the answers.
While Leo rechecks the straps on his holsters, his eyes meet mine, "Letty is leverage. She is my sister, and they want to use her against me. Whether it's torturing her for information or to get money from me. I have plenty of men, doll, but I will be taking only a few to keep the situation as quiet as possible. At the moment, my goal is to keep this from becoming a shootout in the middle of the day."
"At the moment?"
Leo steps around the kitchen island and steps close to me. I tilt my head back to look into his eyes and watch as his darkness seeps to the surface.
His words confirm the bloodlust I see, "Tonight, Joey's wife will fall asleep alone and his children will weep for their father. I've watched and counted the tears my mother has spilled for my sister... tears she should never have. Danny Reyes will pay a price with blood and bone." Leo pinches my chin between his thumb and forefinger, turning my face slightly, "and his death will be as slow as molasses."
Leo lays a soft kiss to the apple of my cheek before stepping back and placing two loaded guns on the countertop. He nods to his mother who returns the gesture, before exiting the penthouse.
I feel the air leave from my lungs as an icy chill slithers up my spine.
This is a side of Leo I've never seen, and it makes me realize just how dangerous he truly is. I should run, I should cut all ties and never turn back, but I can't. Something holds me back from common sense.
Joann finally breaks her composure, and her sob hits me in the back. I turn to her immediately and wrap her in my arms.
I don't know her, but I know the worry of a mother. I've seen my own mother break when I went through my dark ages.
Is there anything comparable to the desperate love of a mother?
I don't speak as I hold her to me. What can words do but fill in the silence?
I feel my shirt become wet with her tears, but I don't mind. After a few moments of feeling her shoulders shake with her quiet cries, she lifts her head and looks at me.
"Don't tell him I cried. It will only push him further."
I nod at her as she stands and briskly walks from the kitchen. I'm guessing she's going to freshen up or have some time to herself. I feel desperate to help in some way but what can I do?
Sighing, I pick up my phone and call my mother, "Hey, ma. Are you almost done packing? I sort of need you here with me right now."
"I'm done, but the men got a call from Leo just now. He wants them to stay here for a little while longer. Something about keeping off the roads right now. What's going on?"
I wish I could tell her everything, but I'm not dumb enough to talk over the phone.
"Nothing that you need to worry about right now. You're okay though? Are the men nice to you?"
She confirms, and we talk a little longer, but suddenly there's a knock at the door behind me. I know it's a stairwell because Brian gave me a brief tour of the penthouse and the two floors below, but he said they rarely use the stairwell.
