Page 32

CHAPTER 32

Frankie

The way Leo curled his body around me may seem protective, but it wasn’t. It was menacing. This wasn’t some romantic gesture. It was a threat.

He ran a finger along my collarbone, closer to my throat than I’d prefer but I didn’t dare move a muscle or react to the touch that always set my skin on fire. “You’re weak , Francesca.”

Then he reached out, sliding his fingers through my wet hair, all pretenses gone as he studied the bright red strands. “You’ve lost your purpose and it shows.”

My grip on the knife tightened.

“Do you even know who you are anymore?”

“The only person in the world you can’t have.” I turned my head slightly, still not giving him the pleasure of my full attention, but his nose brushed along my cheek with the movement, making him go completely still.

This…he hadn’t expected this.

Good.

His little half-smile evolved into a wide grin. “That’s true,” Leo admitted. “But I’m a stubborn guy. I want to be with you. However you’ll have me. And you’ve made me regret that decision every chance you get, haven’t you?”

“Poor baby.”

“The poorest,” Leo agreed.

His knuckles brushed against the scent glands on my neck as he removed his touch from my feverish skin and I buried down the shiver it gave me.

I couldn’t risk losing control again and if he saw even the slightest inclination I might give in to him, he’d push me until I caved and then I’d really be in trouble.

Leo chuckled like he could see my internal struggle. “I became invisible so they could all see you, Francesca. So won’t you give me a modicum of sympathy in exchange?”

“You don’t deserve it.” I pushed his face away and turned my attention to the mirror above my dresser to make sure my expression wasn’t showing any of that weakness he’d accused me of. “Is it really so bad to be invisible?”

Some days I wished I could be nobody. Absolutely nothing.

“No, it’s not so bad.” Leo shifted his body closer to mine without really moving, but I could feel his presence and aura intensify. “I’ve been living in the shadows for a long time now. Your shadow. But I kept that promise I made you all those years ago, Francesca.”

I raised an eyebrow and forced myself to look at him before blood splattered the walls. “You want to be my good boy so badly don’t you?”

Leo licked his lips and I watched his pupils dilate until those pretty red eyes were nearly black. “You know I do.”

This man was dangerous. Even to me. One wrong step and this dance would turn into a massacre. That would be on me. I knew that. Because the only thing I had to do to prevent it was give in and accept him as mine.

It wasn’t like I didn’t want to, but things were…complicated.

I turned slightly so I could get a better look at him. “If you’re such a good boy, then why did you leave?”

His nostrils flared and Leo stepped into me, trying to force me back, but I wasn’t a little girl anymore. I could hold my own against him even if I’d never win.

“You told me to leave, Francesca, or did you conveniently forget that tiny little detail?”

We both knew that wasn’t the real reason why he’d left.

“My room,” I reminded him. “Not the goddamn country.”

Leo took another step into me and this time I moved with him, stepping back and away, turning like we were dancing the Viennese waltz in the ballroom once more.

I kept my eyes on his throat not his face, which only infuriated him more.

Leo turned and redirected me until my back hit the wall.

He placed one hand on either side of me until I was caged between his arms. He towered over me and I hated it. Hated him. How he was everything I could never be.

A true legacy alpha with blood-red eyes.

“I couldn’t become what you needed if I stayed,” Leo confessed, his tone almost gentle now that I was exactly where he wanted me. “So I asked your father to send me away – as far away as possible.”

Staring into his blood-red eyes, I could see just how much it had hurt him to have to do that.

“Lopez sent me to Hong Kong first. Then Singapore.” Leo ran his hand through my hair again, watching as the strands slipped through his fingers. “I’ve done everything I set out to do before coming back. What about you, Frankie?”

We both knew I’ve accomplished nothing I once wanted.

I could smell the familiar tang of copper and iron coming from him, but all his paramilitary gear was black so I couldn’t see if there was blood seeping into the fabric or if it was just a lingering scent.

The bulletproof vest he wore over his clothes was classified as body armor and heavier than the form fitting vest I sometimes wore. Thankfully, it looked new so I didn’t have to worry about him getting hurt because he was too lazy or distracted to replace it.

I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out and brushing my fingertips over his hip where I’d stabbed him the other day, wondering if it still hurt.

Leo wrapped my hair around his hand without warning and yanked back, forcing my chin up to expose my throat.

My knife was pressed to his carotid before he even finished moving and we stared at each other, both of us waiting to see who’d be the first to relent. My blade was sharp enough to cut through bone despite its size and he knew it.

But Leo wasn’t sane or normal. He leaned into my blade so our noses just barely touched, searching my eyes for whatever excuse he needed for his behavior. “Gonna stab me again?”

“Thinking about it.”

Leo grinned, looking delighted.

This was why he scared me.

I loved when he was like this.

The smell of blood was stronger now and I was starting to feel sick to my stomach. Too many memories tried to gush forward, reminding me why I was so squeamish.

Leo released my hair and the strands slipped through his fingers like water, giving in first. “Someone doesn’t want you to inherit the Lopez pack but don’t worry. I’m taking care of it. I’ve been working really hard, Frankie. So, won’t you tell me I was a good boy?”

“Such a good boy,” I whispered as I tilted the blade until the point dug into the soft flesh under his chin, forcing him to lift it slightly.

His pupils dilated and his breathing quickened.

He’s always been so desperate for my love and attention, constantly seeking my approval. I loved that about him, but I couldn’t trust myself with someone like Leo.

He was a masochist and a psychopath.

Perfect for me in every way.

My hand dropped to my side then, but the knife didn’t slip out of my fingers despite how exhausted I suddenly felt. “What are you doing here?”

Leo glanced down at my swollen ankle. “You seemed like you needed help.”

I looked up at him even though I knew I shouldn’t – even though I knew exactly what I’d find in those eyes I loved to hate. I’d expected it and still, I was devastated by what I saw.

Resignation.

Leo knew a relationship between us was never going to happen and still, he couldn’t let go of me.

No matter how many times I’ve tried to push him away, he’s stayed faithful. Not even sleeping around has gotten him to reconsider this obsession.

I understood why people did the things they did better than almost anyone, but Leo has always been an anomaly. Nothing ever made him falter. It was truly appalling how loyal he was when I gave him no reason to be.

How horrible of a person did someone have to be to feel grateful when the person they supposedly loved disappeared for thirteen years? I was worse than trash for feeling so relieved when I’d found out where he’d gone because I’d known…

I would eventually give in to him if he’d stayed.

Leo was impossible to resist forever and no matter how stupid I knew it was, or how insane it was to feel like this even after what I’d done with Soren, I still wanted him to wrap me up in his arms and tell me everything was going to be okay.

I wanted to feel like I belonged to someone again.

Holding my clothes to my chest, I gave him a warning look. “Turn around so I can get changed.”

Leo did as I asked and crossed his arms over his chest. “Did you know that I’ve spent most of my life watching and waiting for your enemies to reveal themselves – for them to realize they have to get through me before they can ever dream of touching you?”

Yeah, I knew.

Getting dressed as quickly as I could before he decided to turn around while I was naked, I yanked on my shirt and pulled on a fresh pair of shorts. “Who did you kill today?”

“A rat.”

I paused, wondering why my father didn’t tell me about this. “What kind of rat?”

He leaned against the wall, back still facing me. “The kind that wants to find a way to keep you from inheriting the Lopez title.”

Grabbing a pair of socks, I went around him and plopped down on my bed.

Leo glanced over his shoulder with one eye closed like he was scared I might still be naked. He’s always been a very considerate psychopath.

I yanked on my socks, curious if he’d tell me what I wanted to know. “I’ve always wondered…why do you work for my father as a soldier and not a lawyer?”

I may pretend like I knew nothing about him, but that was another lie among many.

Keeping tabs on him was easy with someone like Lucy on my side.

So, I already knew he’d gone to Singapore to study law at the National University of Singapore. I also knew he’d passed the bar in at least thirteen different countries and states, but the training my father put him through was only for those he planned to have join his non-existent army.

Leo turned all the way around and leaned back, watching me watch him.

“I left to become what you need,” he reminded me, that annoying little smirk back on his face. “You need a soldier, Frankie. Not a lawyer.”

“I don’t need anything from you.” It was difficult to keep my voice even and my heart rate steady so he wouldn’t detect the lie. Or how badly I wanted to ask why he’d studied so much law then.

If I asked that, he’d know I’ve been keeping tabs on him.

“You’re Francesca Lopez.” Leo tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. “Unless you join another pack, you’re always going to need me.”

He wasn’t wrong, but I refused to admit that.

“Not to mention the law and I don’t exactly vibe.” Leo shrugged and then pushed off the wall.

I watched him warily, making sure to keep my expression as neutral and unbothered as possible.

He crossed the room and reached out to touch my hair, but dropped his hand before he could. “Why did you dye your hair red?”

“To appease the mental health gods.” I slicked my hair back and pulled it up into a ponytail, annoyed how much I liked the fact that he seemed so amused. “Why did you dye yours?”

“Pink is your favorite color.” He sounded so matter of fact about it too and it pissed me off.

“Red is my favorite color,” I reminded him. “Not pink.”

“Sure, whatever you say.” Leo took a step closer and I didn’t know what to do with my hands. “What are you going to do about that boy?”

“What boy?”

Leo tapped his bicep with his fingertip once, twice, and then three times.

One of his tells.

He was getting impatient. Or anxious.

“The one who’s about to find out how terrible it is to be hopelessly in love with you.” Leo reached out and slid his hand over my cheek as he searched my eyes, clearly waiting for me to knock his hand off of me.

But I couldn’t because I was weak.

Leo was the only person in the world who truly understood who I was and he never asked me to change, even when he hated how it affected him. He wasn’t going to ask me why Soren and not him, but he would point out every weakness I had until it drove me insane.

We were a lot alike in that sense.

Leo tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. “You really didn’t miss me, did you?”

“No, I didn’t.” I held his gaze so he could see the truth – see just how relieved I’d been when he left.

I needed him to see it so he’d stop making this so fucking hard. If I could push him away again, then I’d be able to stay exactly as I was and I’d never have to admit that maybe this was the wrong path after all and I haven’t foolishly wasted thirteen years of my life.

His touch gentled though, like he was relieved to see that harsh truth. “I’m glad you didn’t suffer in my absence.”

God, why did he always have to say shit like that? Shit that made me falter.

Leo made me question every single choice I’ve ever made.

My heart started pounding and I held my breath, terrified he’d see the truth before I could get it under control. I couldn’t let him know how much he affected me or this would end in blood.

Then he’d hate me even more than he already did.