Page 67

Azura

It is the following afternoon, and we are ready to head back home.

Last night when I thought all hope was gone, I realised I’m the answer. Sure, we don’t know exactly how it will work, and I know Dante isn’t going to tell me the answer, but at least we know the main thing, and we won’t let the chance pass by. There are less than two weeks until the next full moon, and we’ll figure it out. Or I’m sure Leo will, and I will just stick to Leo and hope for the best.

Last night we didn’t sleep much. He held me in his arms, stroking my hair and back. It wasn’t sexual, but it was so intimate that the emotions I was feeling were unexplainable. I love him, and as mushy gushy as that is, I do want to tell him. I just need to find the right time.

“Are these all for me?” Corrado asks in awe as Dante finishes loading the trunk with all the toys and clothes that Kiara had gotten for Corrado. The weather is warm, and despite the sun being up, a cool wind is blowing.

“Yes, they are.” She smiles as she leans down and gives him a soft kiss on the forehead.

“Thank you so much, Aunty Kia… but I don’t need so many things. My Daddy gets me lots of things,” he replies, looking at Leo, who is smoking, as if for approval to accept all the things. I place my hands on my knees, bending over next to him.

“It’s okay, kiddo, it’s from Aunty Kia. You can keep them all,” I whisper, ruffling his hair.

“Aunty? She’s his grandma,” Alejandro smirks as he comes out of the house with another two boxes.

“She isn’t as old as you. Besides, she’s my sister, so he can call her Aunty through me. You can stick to being a grandad. I mean, you’re old enough to be my grandad,” I state, making him grab my head. I know he is going to give it a squeeze, so I duck, swatting his hand away. “You need to treat the Westwood women better,” I glower. He always treats Raven, who is one of Kiara’s best friends, in the exact same way.

He dumps the boxes in the boot, only for Kiara to catch them in time and place them down gently. Dusting his hands off, he looks at me.

“Oh yeah? You’re practically a Rossi now. Remember when you used to go on about hating Rossi men?” I roll my eyes; he’s got me there…

“Not really. I mean, I said most men. I’m okay with the Giant Shrimp and Rayhan -” Leo’s eyes narrow, and I stick my tongue out at him. “And of course, Leo. Besides, he’s totally different from you.”

“Is he?” Rayhan asks as Dante scoffs before he hides it fast, earning himself a glare from me. “I don’t see much difference,” Rayhan adds as he walks down the steps, raising an eyebrow as he looks at me. Folding my arms, I pout slightly.

“You have a point…” Kiara laughs as Corrado looks between Leo and Al. His eyes become wide as saucers.

“Oh, I see it!” Both tattooed men look at him. Alejandro smirks as Leo raises an eyebrow, both speaking at the same time,

“I’m his secret role model.”

“We’re nothing alike.” Leo glares at him. “Like I said, we aren’t alike…” Dante simply chuckles, pulling the trunk shut and leaning against it.

“Oh, you two definitely have so much in common. It isn’t a bad thing.”

“Whatever. Let’s get going,” Leo says, taking a final drag of his cigarette before getting rid of it. Our eyes meet, and he closes the gap between us as he pulls me into his arms, kissing my neck, clearly not bothered that everyone is watching us. He wants me, and I want him just as much. It’s crazy how strong this connection and the hunger for one another is.

“Atlas.” Alejandro’s voice makes me slowly move away from Leo.

He approaches, holding a bag and smiling slightly. His gaze goes to Leo, who simply watches him coldly, and it is then that a thought occurs to me, one regarding my other brother Liam. Liam is not going to forgive Leo as easily as the rest have…

“Hi,” Atlas greets. Kiara smiles, brushing her hair back.

“Hello, you came just in time.” He scratches the back of his neck.

“Yeah, I’m glad. I wanted to say goodbye.” He looks at me, and I nod, gesturing at Leo.

“This is my mate, Leo, and this is our son, Corrado.”

He doesn’t question anything, simply holding his hand out to Leo, who takes it, giving it a firm shake before he winks at Corrado.

“Hello.” Corrado tilted his head.

“Hello. Who are you?”

“I’m a frien-”

“This is one of my brothers. Atlas,” I announce, cutting Atlas off.

He looks up at me, surprise clear in his eyes, but I’m not going to lie. I realised I was being unfair; he has done nothing wrong, and the time I spent with him showed he isn’t a bad person. He doesn’t deserve my hostility. Sure, we aren’t close, but who knows, maybe someday? A small half smile crosses his lips, and I smile back before brushing my hair back.

“Oh… so you’re my uncle. I have such a big family now. I need to remember everyone’s names!” Corrado says thoughtfully. Atlas smiles at him.

“Definitely, but once you get to see everyone more and more, it gets easier.”

Corrado nods before I motion Atlas to follow me to the mansion steps. He follows, and I stop on the bottom step, looking at him. Ah, this is better; the step gives me some additional height. The rest can still hear, but I don’t really care. At least the Rossi giants aren’t surrounding me. Atlas looks down at the bag in his hand.

“I won’t keep you for long. This is just a little something for you. I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had a son, or I would have made sure to get him something, too,” he explains, holding the bag out to me. Accepting it, I smile, and he shoves his hands into his pockets.

“Don’t apologise, it’s not like I told you. You didn’t even need to get me anything, but thanks,” I reply with a small smirk. He runs his hand through his hair.

“Thanks… for reaching out to me.”

I look down at the bag, then glance at the Rossi men, watching Rayhan and Leo conversing before they shake hands. I smile softly and look at Atlas. We did the right thing.

“I’m glad I did.”

He is about to speak when the mansion door opens, and Song steps out, busy texting on her phone. She is so lost in her phone that she doesn’t realise there are steps and falls face forward, stumbling as she slips on the stairs.

“Whoa!” I exclaim, making to grab her, only for Atlas to catch hold of her. She snatches hold of his shirt, her heart thundering as she slowly regains her balance, his hands supporting her waist. Atlas slowly lets go of her.

“Easy there.” She glances up at him, her eyes widening as she stares up at him. My eyebrow shoots up, and I clear my throat.

“This is Atlas,” I introduce. Her eyes widen, and she nods, jumping back, almost stumbling over the bottom step. If Atlas didn’t grab hold of her elbow, I am sure she would have been knocked on her ass again.

“Oh, hey!” She says, her cheeks tinged pink. “I mean, thank you!”

It is amusing seeing her so flustered. She waves at him before looking as if she wants to kick herself. Ah, babe, I’m not going to let this slide. First Rayhan, now Atlas? The girl needs to get laid. Smirking at my own thoughts, I cross my arms.

Atlas smiles slightly, holding his hand out to her.

“It’s nice to meet you…” he trails off, and Song smacks her forehead.

“Oh, yeah, sorry, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Song.”

“Nice to meet you,” he says as I see Leo getting Corrado into the car.

“Come on, Mommy!”

My heart skips a beat. Last night he called me ‘Mommy’ without Azura once, and I loved it, but I thought he hadn’t realised and had done so by accident.

“Coming!” I call, turning to Atlas and raising the bag. “Thanks for these, and I’ll definitely keep in touch.” He nods as we look at each other, almost as if waiting for the other to make the first move. Oh, for fuck’s sake! Stepping forward, I give him a quick, awkward hug around the shoulders. I am about to move away when he gives me a gentle squeeze. I really am glad we did this…

He lets go of me and gives me another smile.

“Take care of yourself.”

“You, too. I’ll be fine,” I say confidently before Alejandro calls us.

“You three fucking done?” I roll my eyes, and Atlas smiles slightly.

“Coming! Are you desperate to get rid of me?” I question as we walk over.

“Nah, but I just realised you three got some weird shit for names.”

“What do you mean? I like my name,” Song protests.

“A song, atlas, and a colour,” Alejandro smirks.

Maybe I need to staple gun his ass, too. Oh my god, imagine if Alejandro has a pierced dick! Wait, does he? Eww, I don’t want to know! Gross, gross!

Yeah, why the fuck are you even thinking about that shit? Leo’s voice comes through the link. Shit, these damn walls. I need to really question Selene about the right to privacy.

Hey, don’t make me sound like I’m weird, I just have a very advanced overactive imagination. I bet you men think of women’s boobs and stuff. I feel a sliver of jealousy at just the thought.

Na, not once have I wondered who has what piercing or what fucking wax they got going on. Unless it comes to you. You’re really something else, you know that? I smirk smugly. I have the perfect comeback.

Of course, I am. I’m the Heart of Fire , I cackle, hugging Kiara tightly. Something totally special.

I’m going to hear that often, aren’t I?

Absolutely.

Once I have said goodbye to the Rossis, I get into the car. Alessandra isn’t around, but I met her in the morning before she left. Leo leans over, shutting the door for me and kissing me softly. I kiss him back before he straps me in, and we begin our journey. We will drop Song off at home and then return home…

We dropped Song off over an hour ago and stopped at the service station for McDonald’s. It has taken a little longer with an accident on the motorway, but we should be home within the hour.

Home. I smile softly, sitting back in my seat as I finish my fries off. Corrado has fallen asleep in the back after eating. Leo is tracing circles on my thigh, making sparks dance, his eyes on the road.

“Any ideas exactly how I will heal you? Maybe you have to, like, drink my blood.” He cocks an eyebrow, smirking, and I know before he even opens that sexy mouth of his, he is going to mock me. I shove a few fries into his mouth. “Don’t you dare,” I warn. He swallows and is about to reply when his phone rings. He accepts the call as the music lowers.

“Leo, you need to get back here!” Jax’s voice is strained. My heart lurches as I wonder what is going on. I have never heard Jax sound so… distraught? Leo’s heart is racing, and his entire body looks tense.

“Update.” His voice is icy as he slams his foot on the accelerator, speeding up. I am thrown back into my seat as the speed increases super fast. I can hear shouting in the background of the call. Jax takes a shaky breath.

“Three is down.”

Suddenly Leo’s face pales, and his foot hits the brake, making the car jolt. A horn blares from behind, and we narrowly miss the lorry as Leo pulls us back into our lane, speeding up again. My heart is thundering as Corrado stirs in the back. Three? Who is three?

“Jax, what happened?” I ask.

“Shane… he’s dead.” His voice barely hides his anguish, making my blood run cold. Turning to Leo, I realise he has just lost another loved one. Leo’s eyes are blazing.

“What happened?” The passing cars are a blur as he rushes to get back.

“He and Dan were performing some tests -”

“She’s dead… fuck !” Ace’s voice comes from the background.

“Shit… Leo, get back here. I’ll tell you everything then.”

“No, tell me, who is Ace talking about?” Leo threatens. His heart is thundering no matter how in control he is acting.

“Jackie. She tried to sedate him, but he… fuck. I’m sorry, Leo, but she’s dead.”

My heart sinks, horror enveloping me, and my ears ring. Leo’s shock and pain begin seeping through the bond, mixing with my own. I know they were close, but the pain I am feeling in my chest is intense. She was dear to him. Like a sister to him.

Tears sting my eyes as memories of them as children flash in my head. Him promising to be there for her always...

My heart bleeds for the man I love. He has just lost two of his closest people in the blink of an eye… just when he has begun mending his broken bonds. She will never know that Leo will be okay… I never got to thank her for caring. She had an entire future in front of her… I wish I had called her last night… Goddess…

I run my shaking fingers through my hair as Leo begins questioning Jax.

“… Details now.” His voice is so cold and void of emotions that I almost don’t recognise it. How is he able to hide his pain? I feel his walls go up, and once more, he is in Alpha mode.

“Dan and Shane were conducting some tests; we were all fucking there, this shouldn’t have happened, but… I don’t fuckin-”

“Fuck it, get to the point,” Ace’s voice comes in a menacing growl, but it is his next words that shake me to the core. “Judah, the dead guy, well, he wasn’t fucking dead. He’s gone, Leo, and I’ll tell you one fucking thing. He ain’t no werewolf.”

Those words sink in, settling into the pit of my stomach, the sheer weight of what has just happened shocking me to the very core.

Will I ever see the end of Judah, or will he forever torment me? That is until he destroys me completely because he’s coming.

He’s coming for me.

To be continued....

Read on in Leo Rossi: The Rise of a True Alpha for the conclusion of Leo and Azura’s explosive romance.