Page 25

Azura

“ A s I presumed… it seems you know far less than you thought about your ex,” Leo murmurs, frowning. His eyes are cold as he stares at the screen.

“I don’t get it, how is this even possible? Are you sure that file isn’t corrupt or false or something?” I ask.

“No. Years ago, I began to gather all possible data on the werewolves in this country, just for my own knowledge, and I remember this particular family’s story intrigued me.” He sits back, smoking his cigarette.

“Are you sure it’s not wrong? Maybe a glitch -”

“I have an excellent memory. Don’t question my intelligence,” he growls.

“Okay, fine, Mr I’m-so-damn-smart,” I mutter.

“Good. At least you’re learning to listen,” he replies, his voice almost antagonising. My eyes flash, and I look him square in the eye.

“Don’t try me. I don’t listen unless I want to.” Neither of us look away, a clash of wills, with both of us refusing to bend.

“Maybe that’s what got you into this mess to start with. Your lack of logic and your rash temper are enough to land you in this kind of shit,” he says icily.

I hate how he has a point… I don’t want to admit it, and I won’t, but I don’t like the way he seems to see right through me.

“These files are from just under a decade ago. I’m curious to see what the current Shadow Wolves database says.” He presses some buttons on his keyboard, and I narrow my eyes.

“Are you hacking into their database?”

“Do you want to know or not?”

“I do… but -”

“So this is on both of us.”

“No, it’s not. Why not go to the Shadow Wolves Pack and ask them?” I frown. He looks at me with a cold, arrogant expression.

“So, instead of doing something I can do right here within a few hours, you expect me to travel to the Shadow Wolves Pack and waste an entire fucking day?

“It’s called doing things the right way?” Yeah, I’m one to talk, especially after everything I have done. He sits forward, taking a drag on his cigarette, his eyes locked with mine.

“Here’s a news flash, little she-wolf. I don’t follow rules.” I hate how my stomach knots in pleasure at his deep, sexy voice. Why do I have a thing for bad boys?

No, I don’t like Leo. Nope never. It doesn’t matter if he has those sexy lips, or those eyes that are so damn sexy or -

Stop, Azura! I frown, trying to rearrange my thoughts when he speaks.

“Do you have any pictures of him?” He asks.

“No. I deleted what I had when I broke up with him, but he hated pictures so the ones I had were very rare.” I shrug.

“Great,” he mutters, sounding very sarcastic. “I need to check if he’s chipped you.”

“How?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.

“An X-ray. It’s pretty simple.”

X-ray. My heart begins thudding. Although the radiation can’t damage my baby due to our healing, it would show up on the X-ray, and I do not want Leo to know about this baby. Not yet. Deep down I know at some point I will have to because although he didn’t want me, he would be a good father…

“No,” I reply, firmly pushing the thoughts away before that sadness comes over me once more. He raises an eyebrow.

“Why?”

“He didn’t know I was here, so obviously whatever you’ve got in place stops any unwanted -”

“It’s one fucking X-ray. My jammers hold off any unwanted signals, but unless you never plan to venture out of this pack, we need to make sure he hasn’t chipped you.”

My heart is thudding, and I don’t know what to say. Think quick, Azura... He is watching me intently… and he sure isn’t dumb.

“I dated him for a while… and I can assure you that he was not tech savvy.”

“Yet you don’t seem to know enough about him to convince me. It’s one fucking X-ray. What’s the issue?” He asks sharply.

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

“Let’s do that at another time,” I suggest, not wanting to discuss this further.

“What are you hiding?” My heart thuds and I try to calm myself, but I know he is watching me intently.

“Nothing,” I lie, swallowing hard and looking back at the screen.

“Oh, yeah? It doesn’t seem like it.”

“I don’t need to explain myself to you,” I growl, standing up, ready to storm off. I need time to hatch a plan to get out of this.

“You’re not going anywhere.” His voice is cold as he grabs my arm, yanking me back to the desk and pushing me down onto it.

I gasp as I glare up at him, bracing my hands behind me to stop myself from falling on my back. Leo towers over me, smoking his cigarette as he looks down at me and grabs hold of my chin. My stomach flutters, sending a jolt of pleasure to my core. Fuck, why is he so damn sexy?

“Let’s try that again. What are you hiding from me? And it’s in your fucking best interest to tell me the truth so I can fucking help you, Azura,” he says menacingly, his long legs on either side of mine. Help me…

This has nothing to do with Judah… but I can’t tell him…

“Like I said, it’s nothing,” I retort, pulling out of his grip and trying to stand up. I push him, trying to put enough space between us so I can regain my balance, but I almost fall back onto the table and grab hold of his shirt to stop myself, yanking him down with me.

I hear it.

The increase in his heart rate… the way his gaze dips to my lips as he braces his hand on the table next to me.

“Don’t tempt me to punish you, little she-wolf,” he whispers huskily.

We are too close; his scent is getting to me. No matter how much he says he hates me and my pack, I can see the raw hunger in his eyes that he thinks he is doing a good job of masking. Oh, this boy wants me bad.

My heart thumps, and a sinful thought comes into my mind. What if I distract him with a kiss and then run away?

Nikki.

Yeah, I can’t do that. Think, Azura, think!

“I need to pee!” I say suddenly.

Leo raises an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that, but it works, breaking the moment between us, and I push him away and rush back to the bedroom. I slam the door behind me and hurry to the bathroom, locking the door behind me. Wow, Azura, you really are so charming.

I groan as I slide down the wall and rest my head against the door behind me. What should I do? Goddess… even if I get the necklace, it will only hide the heartbeat, it will still show in the X- Ray. Oh, fuck, I’m screwed in more damn ways than one.

“Grab your stuff. I’m taking you back to your previous apartment.” Leo’s voice comes from the other side of the door, making me jump. Fuck, he is so silent.

“Okay,” I reply, rushing to the toilet and flushing it before I wash my hands.

Back to that apartment… I’m not sure if it is a good idea, but I really don’t want to be stuck down here with only Leo for company.

He leads me through another door and up via a lift until we are in a private office. I realise when he leads me out that this is his apartment. It smells of him, Nikki, and Corrado… a family I really don’t want to wreck.

He makes his way out of the apartment and down the stairs to the apartment I had just left yesterday. It is spotless, and the voodoo doll is nowhere in sight. Leo places the bags of clothing down on the coffee table and looks at me.

“I have some shit to deal with tonight, but tomorrow - first thing - you will get that X-ray done.”

I guess it gives me a little time to hatch a plan. I nod but say nothing as we both look at one another, a tense silence falling between us. He is obviously waiting for me to say something.

“Okay,” I say, picking up the tablet I had brought along with me from his underground room. His eyes fall on it, and he looks up at me.

“I’ll have a phone set up for you by tomorrow. I’ll have your contacts all encrypted as well, so there’s no way he’ll realise if you’re contacting them or vice versa.” My heart skips a beat just imagining being able to use my phone without some creepy incoming texts.

“Really? Oh, I could kiss you! I hate -” I freeze, realising what I have just said. “I mean, like, thank you. It’s a figure of speech, I didn’t mean that I could actually…” Why do you always do this, Azura? Why the hell do you go put your foot in your mouth every goddamn time?

He is simply watching me make a fool of myself with that hard, emotionless expression of his, with an eyebrow raised arrogantly.

“Okay, yeah, Azura shutting up now.” So smart of you, Azura…

“Winona will bring you food… try to not cause trouble?” I simply pout at that, nodding like the good girl I sure as heck am not. My cheeks heat from my ridiculous comment. “Good. I will probably be back really late, so if you do need to contact me, tell Winona.” I nod, and he turns away, about to leave when I call him.

“Oi, Blue Eyes!” He stops and looks at me over his shoulder. “Thank you. For helping me out.” Our eyes meet, that intense spark simmering between us before he nods and turns away.

“Anytime.”

His one word ignites a storm of emotions inside of me before the door shuts with a small thud.

Anytime. Even if he doesn’t want me as a mate, he is still helping me, and I don’t feel so alone… I feel protected. I have family, but right now, there is so much I just don’t want them to know…

I walk over to the sofa and drop onto it, turning the tablet on. I log onto my email, and my heart skips a beat when I see the email from ‘The D Rossi’. Dante has replied! My heart thumps as I quickly click on the message.

Hey,

I don’t think one apology covers everything you did, but I’ll take it since I now have proof in writing of what you have attempted.

We haven’t talked in a while, and I guess you’ve got some stuff going on, but you’re not alone. Always remember, no matter what crap comes your way, that the first person who comes to your mind will always be there for you. Ok those are my words of wisdom lol… moving on...

As for that necklace, you don’t need it. I mean, I could send it to you, but there won’t be any use for it. However, if you still want it, let me know.

Pictures of Italy? I’m here due to work. There’s nothing pretty to look at, trust me, but I’m attaching one below of the best thing I’ve seen around here.

Love, your current favourite Rossi male.

I pout as I stare at his email. I don’t need it? Why don’t I need it? Does it mean Leo figures this out? Please, no…

Right below the message is a picture of none other than himself. Cocky much? He has the angular jaw famous in the Rossi men, plump lips like his mama, and those glossy curls that I hate because I am jealous of them of course. I stick my tongue out at the picture before placing the tablet down as I mull over Dante’s message. Current favourite Rossi? Is that a hint at Leo or my baby? Urgh, I love this guy, but the way he talks messes with my head. It can’t be Leo… but who said I’ll give my baby the Rossi name?

I suddenly sit bolt upright, placing my hand on my stomach as the sudden realisation that I am carrying a Rossi hits me like a freight train.

An actual goddamn Rossi.

Imagining an arrogant little snarky mini-Leo, I shudder. Oh, I’m really screwed…