Page 64

Leo

Y ou got this.

Azura’s words when I leave are in my mind. The fuck in the shower had been fucking hot and did far more than relax me. I feel refreshed, and when she kisses me and tells me I will be okay, it just gives me a whole new level of fucking confidence to get this shit over with.

The only fucking problem is the smirks from Kiara and Alejandro when we come down. I know Alejandro’s hearing is good, but I’m not sure if that means through soundproof walls… Ah, well, he’s a fucking prick. I don’t give a shit.

We leave the mansion when Dante motions to his ride, and I raise an eyebrow.

“No, thanks.”

I am not going to fucking sit in the back. I walk to my own car, feeling both Rayhan and Dante watching me, and get in, only for Dante to open the back door of the car and get in.

“What the actual fuck?” I growl.

“What? I’m sitting in the back because I’m the youngest. It’s fair, right?” He asks, smirking. And the fucking biggest… He can’t read minds, can he?

That means that the bastard is about to- yeah. He fucking got in…

I cast both men a cold glare before hitting the gas and turning the car violently, speeding towards the gates. Great, now I am in the same fucking car as him…

“This is a nice ride. I like the added tech,” Dante remarks.

I don’t reply, driving towards the nightclub Dante has chosen, a club that belongs to me, and I know he fucking knows it is mine.

We get to the nightclub at record speed, and I get out, mind-linking my men to stay clear of me. The three of us head inside without even a pass, obviously. The bouncer lowers his head towards me as we enter from a back entrance.

The moment we enter, the music reaches our ears, but I avoid the main club, heading up to the topmost floor via the lift. Rayhan glances at me but says nothing. Dante just has a small smile on his face, still wearing his shades, although it is night. I know werewolves can see in the dark, and I’m sure as fuck he can, even if he isn’t exactly a werewolf. I know he is a Demi-God or whatever that shit is, but I wonder what exactly his wolf is like. Can he even shift? He doesn’t really smell exactly like a werewolf… and if he can, what does his wolf look like? Well, I don’t care how intrigued I am. I hate how I want to know everything. I’ll just ask Azura.

“This place looks pretty neat,” Rayhan remarks. So he has clocked on that it is mine, too.

“Hm,” I reply, not wanting to entertain him.

I lead the way to the VIP lounge on the top floor. There are several men in suits and women in dresses, some just having drinks, others deep in discussions. One of the human managers approaches me. It is obvious he feels intimidated; he is a professional and a strong man for a human, but no one can ignore Dante’s aura.

“Hello -”

“We’ll be seated out on the balcony. Make sure no one disturbs us,” I say, sounding cold and emotionless.

“Of course, sir, but there is a reservation. Someone booked out the entire floor.” He lowers his head apologetically. “Shall I cancel?”

“That would have been mine. Dante Rossi,” Dante smirks. The manager looks a little uneasy, looking up at him but nods.

“Ah, yes, it was. Then that’s perfect,” he says before he leads the way, holding the doors to the rooftop sitting area for us.

A human bartender is at the bar. This place is usually reserved for a select few. Music is playing out here, but it is far quieter than inside. I choose a seating area far from the bartender, and a waitress comes over to take our drink orders once we are seated on the leather sofa. I raise my eyebrow when Rayhan chooses a non-alcoholic one. Once she comes back with our drinks and leaves us alone, I can’t help but question it.

“Why come to a club if you don’t drink?” Rayhan picks up his mocktail and raises an eyebrow.

“You invited me out after so many years, why would I refuse?”

“Hmm,” I grunt, downing my glass of whiskey and pouring another.

“The weather’s nice,” Dante remarks. Weird shit.

“And? As a werewolf or whatever the fuck you are, does the weather even matter?”

“Let me enjoy the small things in life. I’m still human,” Dante replies. His head tilts up as he looks at the sky.

“Only you’re fucking not,” I reply, but I get what he means. Just because he is different doesn’t mean he can’t live a normal life. In a way, I feel bad for him. It is obvious he is someone who lives far more isolated than the rest of us. Even the pack members find his presence too much… their future Alpha. I guess I can relate to that…

“It is a good night,” Rayhan agrees. The tension is growing again, and I know I have to fucking make a start somewhere…

“You just got the two kids, right? Or you got more?” I ask him. He looks at me, almost surprised at my question, before smiling and nodding.

“Yeah, Ahren and Sienna,” he replies, taking his phone out and showing me the lock screen. There is Delsanra, her hair as white as it had been since the day it changed. In front of her are his kids. The girl is smiling brightly, whilst the boy has only a hint of a smile on his face.

“They’ve grown,” I say. I haven’t seen them since back then.

“They have. Corrado is a lovely kid, too, and clearly has taken a liking to Azura already,” he replies. I nod.

“He has.”

I remember when I tossed Sienna up in the air years ago to scare Rayhan, only for her to start crying. It had pissed him off, but I get it. Anyone who scared Corrado like that would be fucking dead… but Rayhan had kept his shit together better than I would have.

“So, let’s cut the small talk,” I say, placing my glass down and lighting a cigarette as I look ahead coldly, refusing to look at either. “You know the reason that I fucking hate you all. I still don’t think what went down was right… how you went about that shit affected so many innocent lives. I mean, even your mother hated Delsanra, right? We were all raised to hate witches, but because your sister ended up being a hybrid, your family became more accepting, and because she was your mate, otherwise… no one fucking cared. You dealt me a hand of injustice, and I get it. I get that she’s your mate, and I don’t hold her accountable for any of it because she was a victim, just like us. What you did is not something I’ll ever forget, but I’m going to try to let it go… not just for me, but for Marcel and that fucker of an uncle… and for Rafael… because of all you fucking Rossis, he was different.” He really was… A silence falls at the mention of Rafael, and I take a drag on my cigarette before continuing,

“I have a question… when we had that talk after defeating that Djinn years ago, did you even understand the repercussions of your actions?” I ask, now turning to him. He is frowning, a hand to his chin. He sighs heavily and looks at me.

“I did. At the time, all I saw was Delsanra’s pain. But when you put it like that, ten years ago, back then, I realised I was wrong… when we visited your pack, I genuinely meant that apology. I should have looked deeper into it; I shouldn’t have let myself put Marcel in that position. I messed up, and I get it. I’m sorry, Leo, for causing you pain, too. For breaking the trust that you had in us – in Uncle Al,” he says, looking out over the city. “When I saw those memories… when we went into her mind and witnessed everything that she had gone through… from Endora to the hunters, it was too much. I realised I had already failed her, and I wanted to somehow fix things… I went about it wrong, and that is a regret I still hold. In all honesty, it was as if I was doing it for myself to make me feel better because she told me to stop. I’m sorry, and I know you won’t ever be able to forgive me fully, but I do hope that we can move past it, although it isn’t something small or easy to forget. Now, I wish I could go back and do things differently.”

Our eyes meet, and I realise he isn’t the same man he was years ago. There is wisdom there… and regret. I look away first. It makes me feel better knowing that he regrets it.

“I’m letting it go. Not for you, but for me. We all make mistakes… I’d be an even bigger hypocrite if I didn’t admit that I’ve fucked up, too, and only after did I realise the consequences of my actions. Those bullets I made have killed and will probably kill many more…”

“We’ll fix it before it gets out of control. I’ve already got my men to work with Uncle’s, too. I have connections in the human world as well. If anything comes to light, I’ll let you know.”

“Yeah? Great,” I reply. I have my own eyes and ears in the underworld, and I will probably be able to track them all down faster, but at least they are on it if something happens to me.

There, it is done.

How do I feel? Lighter… it isn’t something I’ll forget, but I am willing to move on, and I will.

I did it, I tell Azura through the link.

I’m proud of you, and I, I… I’m going to go see Atlas soon, too. She was going to say something else… I frown but decide not to push it.

Good luck, you’ll be fine. If anyone, I think he’s the one who needs the good luck, I smirk, drinking my whiskey, almost imagining her pouting.

Hey, I’m not that bad!

You’re as bad as they get, I reply huskily.

Yeah? Well, you like it…

The memory of earlier in the shower comes back to me, and, fuck, just the thought is a damn turn-on…

Without a fucking doubt.

She laughs, See you later. Have fun with your cousins; I’ll be having some girl time with my sister until you get back. That is her way of telling me to talk to these two for longer.

I don’t think there’s any way I’d find these two fun to hang with but take care of yourself. I’m here if you need to talk.

I know. You’re tied to the Westwood devil for life now.

I guess I have fucking sold my soul.

Oh, absolutely.

We end the link, and Rayhan speaks,

“So, you own this club, if I’m correct?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sure he has several businesses under different names,” Dante adds. Fucker.

“Maybe.”

“You have a fair share in the Rossi Empire, too,” Rayhan says, running his hand through his hair.

“I still don’t want it. Not because of whatever, but because that empire went to those heights because of your father. So why the fuck would I take that shit?” I ask.

“He made it for us, but it was started by our grandfather. We are the Rossi legacies, and it belongs to us all,” he replies.

“Well, carry on running that shit… if I ever need money, I know where to come,” I say, although I have no plan to take his money. I want the conversation done. He may be on the list as one of the richest men in the world, even the humans know who he is, but like I’ve said before… in the shadows, I am king.

“Great,” he replies with a smile. “Thank you, Leo, for giving me a chance. I assure you I will not give you any more room for complaints.” Yeah, I don’t do fucking mush and shit, so I simply give a careless nod.

“And you thought you’d be fucking needed,” I mutter, glaring at Dante. He raises an eyebrow.

“The night isn’t over,” he replies with a small smirk.

What? I am pretty smart, but the way he talks grates on my fucking nerves. What is he going on about?

“So, why do you wear those shades?” I ask, frowning.

“People don’t really like looking me in the eye,” he replies, and despite the light tone of his voice, I can feel the heaviness in it.

“Or more like we are unable to look into them,” Rayhan adds.

“Show me,” I say coldly, unable to fucking stop myself from asking.

“Sure, if you want.”

He places his glass down, removing his shades. For a moment, his eyes remain lowered, almost as if he is scrutinising his sunglasses in his hands. He has thick lashes, and I kinda get why Azura has issues with his hair, something that crossed her mind at least three fucking times today. That or how she is a whole day fucking older. She is stuck on that weird shit, just as Corrado is stuck on her not being able to cook. They are the perfect duo of weirdos. My weirdos.

He looks up slowly, and I find myself looking into deep red pupils. Instantly, I feel like I can’t breathe, and I am being sucked in. My surroundings seem to vanish, and all I can see are those burning orbs. My eyes sting as I try to hold his gaze. My entire head feels like it is going to split open from the intense pressure, and just when I think I can’t take anymore, he quickly looks away.

“Sorry. It can get a little intense,” he says when I let out a sharp exhale. My heart is thundering, and I realise it had been just a glance. What the actual fuck?

“Yeah, no shit.” Rayhan chuckles, and I glare at him.

“Sorry, but if it’s any consolation, you did better than most.”

“What the fuck is that?” I ask, glancing back at the younger man.

“I wasn’t doing anything,” he says, picking up his glass again. “It happened when I turned thirteen.”

“Is that when you shifted? Like a Lycan, then?” I ask.

“I wouldn’t call it a shift…” he says, making me look at him sharply.

“Yeah, definitely not a shift…” Rayhan agrees. I look between them, and Dante simply smiles faintly.

“I’ll show you sometime.”

“Just be ready for another intense experience,” Rayhan smirks.

“I wonder why the fuck Selene put a Demi-God on Earth,” I muse. The distant sounds of a police siren and a car horn blaring far below can be heard, and Rayhan’s brows furrow.

“Even I don’t know the exact answer to that,” Dante murmurs.

We fall silent as a soft wind blows around us, and I suddenly realise that this isn’t so fucking bad. Am I actually just relaxing with these two? Well, shit… seems like I am.

“Another round,” Rayhan says, motioning to the waitress who stands to the side. She doesn’t take long, bringing us a fresh round, and we all reach for our glasses at the same time.

“To the future?” Dante asks, raising his glass of tequila.

“To a better bond,” Rayhan adds.

“Whatever,” I say, making them both smirk as I begrudgingly clink my glass with theirs before we down them in one go.