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Looking through the bag, I grab one of the colorful books as instructed by Leo. I narrow my eyes and read the back of the book. Seems interesting.
Sitting on the sofa, I look over at Leo in the kitchen. For someone that has ordered food, he’s making a lot of noise over there. But I can’t stop watching him. He glances over at me a few times then gets back to whatever he’s doing.
Thirty minutes later, Leo sits next to me with our food.
I point to the pizza with a grin. “This is your special birthday meal?”
“When my parents took me in, the only thing I wanted was pizza. So, every year my dad takes me to this place and it’s the best pizza on the planet.” He gives me a slice.
“This is good pizza.” I look over at him, watching me.
He winks. “Told you.”
I've started to feel so much more relaxed around Leo, to the point where if he's not there I feel alone. I look back over at the TV, as I start to feel hot in my cheeks. I can feel Leo's eyes continuing to watch me.
“How’s the book?”
I glance at the book on the table and shrug. “Okay, just a little too happy for me.”
I hear him laughing next to me. "One day you're going to really enjoy these happy books, but in the meantime, you enjoy the dark world." Leo picks up the book and starts reading the back of it.
I don’t reply as I watch the film. “You back at work on Monday?” I ask as the silence is a little annoying. Before I loved it, but now with Leo and Jackson around who are always talking—Jackson more than Leo—I like the sound of their conversations.
“Yes, would you like to come see where I work?”
“No.” My answer comes out fast, I know, but I feel safe in the house. Being outside and being seen is not good for me. I knowhe’slooking for me; I know that he haspeoplelooking for me.
"Maybe one day." Leo grabs another slice of pizza and goes to put it on my plate, but I move my plate out of the way. He frowns at me. I haven't even finished the other one; I've started to eat more food now mainly because Leo makes me sit there until I eat a little more. "Come on, one more. I've made dessert too,"
I look over at the kitchen and see a pie on the countertop. It smells delicious but I'm full. "I don't think I can eat anymore," I tell him. I'm trying very hard to eat more because I know that it upsets him, but too much starts to hurt my stomach.
“We have all night, eat slowly.” Leo leans back and pulls me with him. “I have a lot of movies planned now that I know you like the scary stuff.” I feel his lips smile against my cheek as he gives me a kiss.
CHAPTER22
LEO
I slapmy hand on the floor next to me as I feel for my phone. “Hello?” My voice is full of sleep.
"You ready?" I hear Jackson ask and my eyes are wide open now.
“Where?” I ask, turning to my left to where Hope should be but she’s not there. I make a quick scan of the room and see her standing in front of the window. I can’t help but smile at how beautiful she looks when the moonlight hits her skin.
I finally got to see her face with her hair tied back at dinner today and I think she looks beautiful with her hair down, but when it was up, you could really see all of her face and how pretty she really is.
"John is coming to get you. He'll tell you what to do." The line goes dead, and I put the phone back on the floor and crawl over to Hope.
“You will make it hurt won’t you?” Hope asks as she looks out the window, playing with the skin on her hands. She asked me that once before. I told her I would, but I know that this man hurt her in ways that I don’t want to imagine.
"Yes," I turn her round on the floor to face me, "I promise." Her eyes meet mine, and all I want to do is kiss her so she knows that he can't hurt her when she's with me.
She gives me a nod, and I lean in to give her a kiss. "John's outside waiting for me. I don't know how long I'll be." I grab my phone from behind me. "Call me if you need anything," I tell her as I stand up to go to my room and get changed.
“I will. Leo, be safe. Like I was told over and over again, he’s only the pawn in this game.”
I stand by the door for a moment to see if she's going to say anything else to me, but she doesn't, and I don't think it's because she's scared. I think it's because the man that hurt her for years is about to be taken out of her life and she doesn't know how to live knowing that she doesn't have to fear him anymore.
* * *
