Allison
Leonardo took a step inside the room with conviction, as if Allison might try to stop him. Of course, he seemed surprised when she pulled him all the way in and motioned for his equally stunned friends to come in too.
“You’re making a scene!” she hissed.
“What?”
Allison hurried and closed the door after Leonardo and his roommates were all the way in. The relatively small room was very crowded suddenly. She spun around to answer Leonardo’s understandably exasperated question. “Do you want someone to call the cops?”
“I don’t give a fuck about that right now! Why are you here?” Leonardo turned to the bathroom door like he might start kicking that too. “Who’s is this guy?”
Allison rushed to get between him and the door before he could get any ideas. Despite the anger and hurt that he might be thinking what he was clearly not trying to hide, she had to fight the urge to jump into his arms. Being this close to him again was absolute heaven, even if he did look ready to combust.
“Do you know everyone’s looking for you?” Leonardo’s voice continued to boom. “You know your sister’s worried sick, and everyone thinks you’ve been abducted or have you been too busy to . . .?”
Cutting it short as his already lit eyes seemed to explode with even more anger, he started to the bathroom door.
“No!” Allison said, pressing her open hands against his big chest. “I was abducted, but he’s been good to me.”
Leonardo’s head snapped back as his brows furrowed and the pulsating of the vein on his forehead was the worst she’d ever seen it.
“What the fuck does that mean?”
He banged on the bathroom door behind her head so hard Allison thought he might crack that one too. But something seemed to stop him, and he peered into her eyes. “Did he drug you?”
“No.”
She reached to touch his face, but he flinched away with a disgusted expression. “Then explain this! He abducted you, but now you’re here willingly because he’s been good to you? Who the fuck is this asshole?”
“He’s your brother.”
They all turned to the opened hotel room door, looking as stunned as Allison felt. They’d managed to convince her they weren’t going to hurt her. Allison believed the woman when she’d told her who she was because she’d confirmed stuff only she could know, but even Allison didn’t know this. Apparently, they’d been so loud and all so fixated on the argument at the bathroom door, none of them had heard Patricia open the room door. Patricia set her bags down on the table near the door then took off her hat and sunglasses.
“Mom?” Leonardo’s eyes were instantly ablaze again, not the reaction Allison was expecting. “What the fuck did you do to her?”
Allison jumped in front of him when he started to charge at his own mother. “Leo! Don’t you see? She was protecting me—for you.”
Leo looked down at Allison and seemed to search her eyes then glanced back up at his mother.
“It’s true, son. I couldn’t stand to think of what it would do to you if something happened to her.” Her eyes welled up as she took a trembling breath. “It’s a long story, but I’ve been here all this time behind the scenes, and I know what she means to you.”
In three long strides, Leonardo was at his mother’s side, his big arms swallowing her up in a big bear hug. The sound was so foreign, but at the same time beautiful. Leonardo’s muffled crying against his mother’s shoulder was as heartbreaking as it was momentous. Even when he’d shared with Allison about the painful memories, she was certain he was holding back the emotion. All Allison could think about now were his tears, his pain; he was finally free.
The sound of the door opening behind Allison had her turning around. Byron walked out slowly, taking in the scene in the room. Looking at him now, Allison couldn’t believe she hadn’t made the connection before. Because of his size and height, she’d been shocked when she found out his age. At sixteen, he was a younger, far more innocent, and incredibly sweet version of his older brother.
Someone’s phone rang, breaking the awkwardness in the room; though Leonardo didn’t seem to notice. His mother had since moved him over to the bed where they now sat. While the crying had subsided, his arms remained tightly around her as she caressed his back gently, kissing the side of his head periodically. Whatever she whispered in his ear was meant only for him because it was too low for anyone else to hear.
“No, no, relax. It’s okay, “Nine said into his phone. “Not sure what’s gonna happen, but I’m pretty sure she’ll be home in a few hours. All I can say for certain right now is she’s fine. Tell her I’m standing here looking at her. She can talk to her if she wants.”
Allison’s heart sped up as Nine paused, listening to whatever was being said on the other end. “Drew’s freaking out because she broke down and told your sister about you and Beast, and now Lila’s out for blood.” He went back to listening intently and nodding as if someone was talking to him again. “Yeah, hold on.”
Nine’s expression said it all. This was going to be bad. She took the phone from him and immediately felt terrible when she heard her sister’s broken voice as she spoke to someone else. “Lila—”
“Oh my God, Allison! Where are you?” she cried.
“It’s a long story, but I’m fine,” she assured her, feeling choked up now after hearing her sister’s unabashed emotion. “I’m sorry I couldn’t contact you, but it was for my own safety. I’ll explain it all when I get home.”
“And when’s that?”
“Today,” she said as she turned to Leonardo and Patricia, who were looking at her now. “In a few hours, I think. By tonight for sure.”
“Were you with him all this time?” Lila asked, sounding beyond hurt.
“No.” Allison shook her head. “Even he didn’t know where I was. He just found me a few minutes ago. I would never do that to you. I promise you everything is explainable and all is well. Okay, sissy?” Allison tried to smile, but the truth was she was wiping tears away now too. “There’s a lot I need to explain, but the bottom line is I’m fine and everything’s gonna be fine. You stay calm for that baby.”
“Allison, how can I be sure you’re okay? How do I know there’s not a gun being held to your head right now?’
“Because Drew called Nine, remember? Not the other way around. He could’ve just said he still had no clue where I was. But he didn’t because he’s here and he knows I’m fine.”
It took a while longer to convince Lila that she was fine and wasn’t still being held against her will, but she finally did.
The questions started from Leonardo as soon as she was off the phone. How? Why? Where had his mother been all these years? What was she doing here now?
Understandably, Patricia gave short vague answers to the heavier questions. Those were things they’d need to discuss privately, but it seemed to calm his inquiring mind for now. Most of her answers assured him he’d have full answers later, but first things first.
“You need to turn yourself in, Leonardo,” Patricia said, changing the subject. “Living on the run is no life. Trust me. I did it for too long.”
Nine’s phone rang, and he fumbled in his pocket for it. “It’s Drew,” Nine said to Allison the moment he looked at the screen. “She texted me a few minutes ago that she’d be calling to talk to you. She’s not with Lila anymore.”
Allison took the phone and answered. “Allison, Thank God, you’re okay. Holy cow, it’s been such a crazy week!” Drew began without taking a breath. “You’ve heard of Felix’s wife’s sister-in-law Sonia, right? She was raped years ago and was the reason why Ella started the whole self-defense class at 5th Street?”
Drew explained the whole thing in what seemed like one breath. By the time she was done, it really felt like there might be some light at the end of this nightmare tunnel. When she hung up, all eyes were on her. Allison reiterated what his mother had begun to say earlier. “You need to turn yourself in, Leonardo. The guys from 5th Street already have their attorneys ready and willing to represent you. Your probation officer doesn’t even know you haven’t shown up for work-release. Gio never called him.” Knowing there was so much more she needed to share but this wasn’t the time or place, Allison stopped to attempt a shaky smile. “Everything’s gonna be fine.”
The plan was supposed to be Leonardo would meet with his new attorneys at the home of Felix and his wife, Ella. They’d gather any and all pertinent information from him before accompanying him to turn himself in. Allison had heard Ella’s sister-in-law Sonia had suffered some kind of sexual assault years ago. It was part of the spiel Ella and Sonia gave at the start of their self-defense classes.
Apparently, Sonia’s situation with her then boyfriend, Memo, was very similar to Allison and Leonardo’s, and he’d beaten the charges. Drew said after all the owners of 5th Street found out Leonardo was the hero in the now viral video, they were all certain he’d beat the charges as well. So certain they were willing to put their own money on the line.
While Leonardo agreed to anything asked of him, he insisted on being there when Allison finally spoke with Lila in person. So, instead of heading straight to Felix’s home, they went to Sonny and Lila’s. Allison wasn’t sure what to expect as they drove up the long driveway of the estate.
Lila and Sonny waited on the porch in front of the circular driveway where Allison told Patricia to stop the van. Leonardo got out first then turned to help Allison out. As expected, the reunion was emotional and drawn out as Lila hugged then examined Allison thoroughly as if she didn’t trust that Allison was being honest about being perfectly fine. When they were finally done with the hug fest, to everyone’s surprise, Lila turned to Leonardo and hugged him too.
“Thank you,” she said tearfully. “Thank you for everything you’ve done to keep her safe.”
Allison should’ve known Lila was not about to wait around for Allison to get home for answers. Lila had thoroughly interrogated Drew, so she knew most of their back story already. Allison introduced Patricia and a very starry-eyed Byron to Lila and Sonny. They went inside and sat in the den as Allison explained the rest of the convoluted story to them.
Allison felt like this was just the beginning of a story that would play out over and over because she’d already heard the next part twice—once, when Byron and Patricia first explained it to her and then again on their way to Lila’s when Patricia explained it to Leonardo. Allison gave Lila the condensed version of this part since a lot of it was personal and between Leonardo and his mom.
“Leonardo hasn’t seen or known anything about his mother since he was fourteen. For personal reasons, she had to stay away, only she’s followed his life all this time. So, she knew Leonardo had left town. When she heard about the bounties put out for us, she wasn’t nearly as worried about him as she was about me.”
“I knew what it would do to Leonardo if something were to happen to her,” Patricia said then turned to Leonardo. “I know about Kit and how you blamed yourself, only I also knew how much worse it would be this time. It’s why as dangerous as I knew it’d be to come forward even after all these years, I knew I had to get to Ali before anyone else could.” She turned back to Lila. “I’m sorry I had to put you through this, but even if Leonardo hadn’t shown up today, I planned on bringing her home tonight. I just wanted to be absolutely sure she was safe to go home.”
“We still don’t know for sure that she’s safe,” Lila said, raising a brow.
“She is,” Leonardo said, speaking up for the first time in a while. “As long as she’s with me—”
He stopped when Lila shook her head adamantly. “Listen. I appreciate what you did for her—more than once now. But you can’t be with her twenty-four seven.”
“Nobody can,” Leonardo responded politely but firmly. “But I can do my best to be around her as much as possible.” He turned to Allison. “It’s all I thought of on the ride here from Yuma last night. I planned on talking to you about it first chance I got, but . . .” He glanced around at the unforeseen circumstances they were now in.
“Talk about what?” Lila asked, peering at him then at Allison.
“Moving her in with me.”
“What?” Allison and Lila asked in unison.
Both their jaws had dropped open, only their expressions were just the opposite. Allison was certain Lila’s heart wasn’t bursting like hers was. For days, she’d sobbed about how easy it’d been for Leonardo to just walk away. Now he’d soared back into her life with a vengeance and was talking about moving her in with him?
Before Lila could retort, Leonardo went on. “Her safety is only part of the reason why I want her by my side as much as possible. But as far as her being targeted again because of anything that has to do with me, I can assure you that won’t be happening anymore.”
“How can you be sure?” Sonny asked this time.
“I got word from a very trusted source today that it won’t.” He turned to Lila, who they all knew would be the hardest to convince. “I’d trust this person with my life. Allison or even me being targeted for that guy that died, it’s over.”
“But you don’t want her out of your sight?” Lila asked, and Allison could hear it in her voice. Her sister was forcing herself to sound as calm as possible. “The first time she was followed had nothing to do with this second incident. How can you be sure she won’t be targeted for other reasons?”
Leonardo took a deep breath. “Because that part of my life is officially over. It had been for a while, but my brother still had issues. He took care of things today, and like I said, I trust him with my life. If he says that part of the danger is over, then I believe him.”
“But you still feel the need to move her in with you?” Lila asked, glancing back from Leonardo to Allison.
“No.” Leonardo shook his head. “I just mean, after getting a taste of what life without her by my side is like, it’s a no brainer.” He turned to Allison, squeezing her hand. “I didn’t plan on having this conversation in front of anyone else, but I don’t even care anymore. You’re it for me, baby. I just don’t see the point of not being able to wake up next to each other every day, starting as soon as possible. I know my place is nowhere as fancy as this, but it’s not forever. I promise. I have plans.”
Allison brought her hand to her face, unable to hold in the emotion. Her heart swelled, and she was so choked up she couldn’t even get the words out.
“Allison, honey,” Lila started to say, and she sounded so worried Allison felt for her. “I know Drew said you’re in love. I get it, okay? And I know firsthand how fast these things can happen, but don’t you think you should think on this a little more?”
Allison shook her head profusely, smiling when Leonardo’s apprehensive expression eased up. “My—” she started to say, but her voice betrayed her.
She cleared her throat even as Leonardo rubbed her back and kissed her temple. “I love you,” he whispered in her ear, “more than you’ll ever know.”
Taking a trembling breath as his words sealed it—he officially owned her heart forever—she smiled at the love of her life then turned to her sister. “My place is with Leonardo,” she was finally able to say.
“But—”
“I’m pregnant,” Allison squeaked, interrupting Lila and silencing the room all at once. “I didn’t plan on having this conversation in front of anyone else either, but I just found out yesterday, and I couldn’t hold it in anymore.”
It was hard to make out their expressions, but ironically, both Leonardo’s and Lila’s were similar. Their expressions both looked as stunned as they did alarmed.
“Well, fuck,” Leonardo said, sounding like he’d just let a breath out he’d been holding in for too long. “You’re coming home with me tonight and never leaving my side now.”
He bear-hugged Allison the way he had his mother when he’d first seen her. Allison was bombarded with hugs from his mother then Byron and Sonny and finally Lila.
Even as she hugged her sister, Allison understood why she’d still have her reservations about this. It’d all been dumped on her at once. Pulling away to look at Lila’s apprehensive face, she wiped her sister’s tears. “I know you’re going to be super worried at first, and I totally understand, but please trust me when I say I’m gonna be fine. More than fine, I promise.”
Lila hugged Allison a bit more gently than she had earlier, then hugged Leonardo again. “I see it in your eyes, big guy,” she said as she pulled away from Leonardo. “You love her almost as much as I do.”
“More,” Leonardo said very seriously.
Staring at him for a moment without saying anything, Lila took a deep breath and seemed to gather herself. Suddenly looking like her usual tough-as-nails self and not the whimpering sister she’d been a moment ago, she finally nodded. “That’s a bold statement, but I like it. Just understand this. I don’t care how big you are. I will hunt your ass down if you ever break her heart.”
“Never happening,” Leonardo said with a chuckle. “She’s who I’ll live for now”—he turned to Allison, reaching out his hand to her and she took it— “and forever. My Allison.”