AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 19
Leon
We left as soon as we could earlier this evening and now it’s almost ten at night. I haven’t been to New York City for a length of time in a good while, typically only coming here for clan meetings when they arise. I had come for that one meeting with Ion and Mariana in Ion’s office but it was literally only a few hours, and I didn’t even come to their home.
I much rather prefer heading south, since Romania can be quite chilly.
When I was on the phone with Ion earlier today, he asked me what was going on. I felt that keeping this from him was unnecessary and told him everything we’d gone through this morning. I’m not sure what caused Ion to want to open his home to us, but he was adamant about Bethany and I staying in his home versus getting a hotel. The Petrans are people of undeniable power, but what I will say is that they are the most compassionate leaders I have ever known. Other mafias affirm their leadership with power, but not ours. They make sure we’re treated like family, and it’s how I feel in this moment as I carry mine and Bethany’s bag up the few stairs to their brownstone in the city.
It’s breathtakingly gorgeous. Stone cascades the walls, with black windows that remind you of old warehouses. They’re tinted so you can’t see inside for privacy reasons, but I’m sure the view onto the street is great. The door leading into the home is a bright popping yellow, changed from the last time I was here. I believe it was a navy-blue last time, then again, Ion was a single man at the time. He’s the type of man who tells us all how Mariana has brightened up his life, but it looks like she’s illuminated his door as well.
“Do they know we’re coming so late?” Bethany asks, looking around from their porch nervously.
“Yes, I spoke to Ion before we left,” I reply, knocking on the door.
Within a moment, the door comes open with an older woman in a blue uniform smiling at me. “Mr. and Mrs. Gabor, Mrs. Petran told me to expect you both. Please, come in and do make yourselves comfortable.”
“Oh, I’m not his wife. I’m Bethany, Leon’s . . . girlfriend.” A smile crosses over my face at hearing what Bethany has just said. It gives me more confirmation that we’re both going to get through this giant mess one way or another. Neither of us want to lose the other, and I know she wants to kick cancer’s ass.
If my memory serves me, this is Lucinda. “You go by Luci, right?” I ask, and she nods almost as soon as I finish my question. “We’ve been traveling for the last few hours and we’re both exhausted. Would you mind taking us to our room?”
“Oh, of course! I apologize. Mrs. Petran told me you were coming from Miami. How silly of me to forget you would be tired. Follow me and I’ll take you both to your rooms. In the meantime, are you hungry? I can prepare some food for the two of you if you’d like.”
I’m about to tell her we’re fine when I notice Bethany smile at the mention of food. “I’d kill for a grilled cheese sandwich.”
“And you, Mr. Gabor?” Lucinda asks.
“I’ll have the same thing,” I respond, stepping into the Petran family home. There’s a massive great room to the right and a doorway to the left of the fireplace. I hope that’s where we’ll be staying. To say I’m exhausted is a massive understatement, and I’m sure Bethany is feeling pretty beat as well.
“Great. I’ll get that whipped up quickly for the two of you. Is tomato and bacon alright on your sandwiches?”
“Oh my god, yes!” Bethany practically moans, causing me to chuckle. It’s great to hear her so carefree and excited over something as small as the sandwiches Luci will be making us shortly.
“Okay. If you both head in through the great room your room is the door to the left of the fireplace. Come back in through the foyer and head straight back into the dining room in about ten minutes and your food will be ready.”
Bethany nods and heads in the direction Luci told us our room is in. She puts her hand on the door and opens it into a space that is very modern, yet has traditional touches as well. Just like the outside of the home, the inside matches. There are stone touches with copper and metal everywhere you turn, making it look like this came straight out of an architecture magazine.
I take our bags and sit them down next to the dresser, open mine and start pulling drawers out, putting clothes in. “What are you doing, moving in?” Bethany laughs.
I turn to see her sitting on the bed, not understanding why she hasn’t grasped why I’m doing it. She does know we’re going to be here for a while, right? “I’m making myself comfortable considering we’ll be here for a while. As should you.”
“What do you mean?” she questions, looking at to me with confusion.
“Depending on your appointment, we could be here for a bit, sweetheart.”
Bethany takes in a sharp breath and looks down to the floor. “I didn’t think about that. That’s my own fault, though. I assumed we’d be in and out of here within a few days.”
“I’m honestly not sure, but I’d rather prepare for being here a while versus a few days. We don’t know what the doctor will say to us tomorrow, and if we need to stay here we will.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I screwed up by only bringing a few things with me. I’ll have to get Tasha to overnight me some clothes when she gets back.”
“Nonsense,” I mutter putting my hand up in the air to get her off this track. “We’ll go shopping and get you some new stuff.”
Bethany’s eyes go wide, obviously being made uncomfortable. I’m well aware of her situation, how badly she was fucked with and how she has no money, credit cards, or even a bank account with enough in it to do her any good. “Your fabulous boyfriend will be treating you, so relax buttercup.”
Luci knocks at the door and steps in the doorframe, saving me from getting a stern talking to. “Your food is ready. I’d hate for it to be cold.”
Like I said, she just saved my ass. I head into the kitchen, hoping that food will spare me from hearing Bethany’s wrath about not needing me to take care of her. What she doesn’t realize is that I don’t need to take care of her, but I love to do it.
