BEAST
The familiar feel of a holding cell was something Leo hadn’t had to endure for more than a few minutes before a judge ordered he be released. The world now knew who the infamous man was on the viral video where DeMoss was pummeled to death. Orlando had been right. Most were hailing him a hero, demanding he not only be exonerated but honored. Of course, there were those who demanded justice and said no man had the right to take another one’s life. If Leo had it his way, he’d confront every one of them and ask what they’d do if they walked in on one of their loved ones being raped.
As they waited for the trial, Leo got all the answers he needed from his mother and began getting acquainted with someone he already knew he’d be willing to kill for as well: his kid brother Byron.
The night he’d been released, the guys insisted he stay somewhere safer where he wouldn’t be swarmed by paparazzi or possible eager do-gooders. They had just the place. Noah and his wife owned a place in the nicer side of Boyle Heights, a modest home in a quiet neighborhood that stayed mostly vacant except when they allowed someone to stay there. Like Leo’s mom’s home in Yuma, they kept it up, even though no one lived there. It’d been Noah’s wife’s childhood home, and she wanted to keep it in the family for as long as she could.
They’d set up round-the-clock security, and now Leo and Allison along with his mother and brother would be staying there until the end of the trial. The night they got there after his bail was paid, Allison was there waiting along with his mother and Byron. His mother sat him down and attempted to explain everything to him. How she’d decided to make a run for it when she found out she was pregnant again with Rogelio’s baby. How she’d planned it along with Mrs. Calderon, who agreed to take Leonardo under her wing until his mother could come back for him.
Only she couldn’t show her face until she wasn’t pregnant anymore. But then it was one thing after another that kept her away. When it wasn’t a threat to her, there was the possibility of making Leo a target if word ever got out that she was still alive.
“I kept in touch with Mrs. Calderon up until she was too ill to talk to me,” his mom explained with tears in her eyes. “I never lost track of you, even when you moved to California. With Rogelio dead, I took the chance and relocated here. But there was always something. Always one danger or another why we couldn’t reunite just yet—”
“Stop,” Leo said before she could go on. “You don’t have to tell me about the dangers. I’m glad you’re here now, but you’re right. I probably would’ve done to you what I tried to do to Allison in the beginning anyway. Pushed you away. After what happened to Kit, I vowed to never let anyone close again. I would’ve been terrified every day that something might happen to you because of me. It’s better this way. You don’t need to explain anymore. We’re together now, and that’s all that matters.”
As the weeks went by, Leo got better acquainted with his mom and brother. Unbeknownst to Byron, his mother had enrolled him in martial arts at a very early age for his own safety. At fifteen, he was well on his way to becoming a black belt one day, and Leo was glad his mother had thought ahead. That’d be one less person he’d have to worry about protecting.
Not only was Leo completely exonerated from any wrong doing, in the following weeks as the media covered the story, he’d become somewhat of a celebrity. Because of the changes in his life and the need for the extra money now, he agreed to fighting. His first few amateur fights were sold out with some in attendance having flown in from as far as the Philippines. It was no surprise to anyone that he was soon being challenged and offered to fight professional fighters.
They sold the house in Yuma, and his mother used the money to purchase a modest home in one of the better neighborhoods in Los Angeles so she and Byron could stay close by and be a part of Leo and his new family’s life.
Those plans he’d mentioned to Allison would be happening sooner than he thought. Since the professional fights would be paying a lot more than he’d anticipated, buying the building he and the guys had been eyeing to set up their shop was now doable. They’d continue to rent Noah’s house for now, but with the offers he’d already seen and sponsors lining up, Leo knew they’d only be there for a little longer before he’d set his soon-to-be expanding new family up in a bigger home.
“What do you think?” Leo asked as he walked his pregnant girlfriend through the empty building. “It’s zoned for commercial use, which we’ll be using it for, but it’s perfect for the guys in the meantime until we get the business off the ground because there’s living quarters upstairs. Full kitchen and bathroom with a shower. The rooms are even on either side of the building in case Nine has anymore noisy sleepovers.”
Allison laughed as if the memory suddenly hit her. The big back garage door slid open, making them both turn to look. Nine and Orlando walked in with the real estate agent, Jon.
“Check it out,” Nine said with a big smile. “That alley back there is big enough for trucks to go through. We got ourselves a delivery entrance.”
Jon began naming off more of the amenities, but Leo didn’t even have to hear them. He was already sold. “If we’re all in agreement,” Leo said, still glancing around and barely able to believe this place would be theirs soon. “I say put in an offer ASAP.”
“That’s what I’m talking about!” Nine said, high-fiving both Leo and Orlando.
Jon had them all sign his tablet so he could get things moving along and assured them he’d have a response from the seller in no later than forty-eight hours.
Leo and Allison stuck around even after the guys had left. They’d all seen the entire place more than once now, but Leo wanted to show her around a bit more. He took her upstairs so she could see the living area Nine and Orlando would be living in. When they got to the kitchen area, he picked her up and set her on the counter, leaning his head against hers.
“I got you something,” he whispered with a nervous smile.
Her brows lifted in curiosity. “You did?”
Leo nodded, reaching under the counter, and pulled out the long box. Allison took in the box then Leo with an even more curious smile. “What is it?”
He had a feeling what she must be thinking; though she still smiled genuinely. In their many talks, she’d mentioned not being big on flowers. This box looked big and long enough to hold several dozen long-stemmed roses.
“Open it.”
She did eagerly then stopped and gasped when she pulled the lid off. Bringing her hand to her mouth, she looked up at him and laughed.
Leo glanced down proudly at the bouquet of donuts in the box. “They’re all filled with raspberry jelly.”
Allison lifted the bouquet, which actually held together. She bit into the top one, making that euphoric face that had Leo groaning in response. “Stop that,” he said, doing what he remembered wishing he could do that very first day he’d laid eyes on her.
He licked the smidge of jelly off the corner of her lips. “Mmm,” he said, licking the rest of her lip then kissing her deeper, but pulled himself away before he could get carried away.
She smiled big, looking down at her gift again. “Best bouquet ever,” she said, pecking him again. “Thank you. I love it. But what’s the occasion?”
Leo cleared his throat a bit nervously. “Well, I know it’s old-fashioned, but I really want this kid’s parents to be married when he or she arrives.”
Allison’s eyes opened wide as he nodded with a smile and pulled the ring out of his pocket. Her hands were over her face immediately, and her eyes flooded with tears.
“You’re everything I never knew was missing in my life. I meant what I told your sister, Ali. You and this baby and however more you give me are all I’ll be living for from here on, and I can’t think of a single thing that would make my life more perfect, except”—he brought the ring up to her face so she could get a better look then lifted her hand— “you saying you’ll marry me.”
She nodded but was apparently too choked up to respond.
Leo slipped the ring onto her finger with a smile then kissed her softly. “Thank you for being so damn stubborn.” Allison laughed at that, still sniffling as he kissed her again and said, “Thank you for refusing to give up on us.”
“Thank you,” she whispered back, staring deep in his eyes, “for letting me in.”
Leo caressed her face gently with the back of his hand as she so often did to him. “You were in the moment I laid eyes on you. I just had no idea how impossible it would be to get you out.”
“It’ll never happen now.” She nudged him in the gut with her hand playfully.
Laughing at that, Leo let his head fall back. “God, I love you.”
“I love you too, Beast.”
Hearing the name had him lifting a brow and glancing down at her. “Haven’t heard you call me that in a while.”
She tilted her head with a smirk, still dabbing the corners of her damp eyes. “Maybe you haven’t been very beastly lately.”
He lifted her off the counter so fast she yelped then laughed. “Where we going?” she asked, holding on for dear life as he cradled her in his arms, already headed for the stairs.
“Home, where I’ll have you screaming the name over and over.”
Allison laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck. “This pregnancy is adding a lot of padding to these curves, you know.” Leo groaned, squeezing her tighter in his arms. “Are you ready for this jelly?”
This time Leo laughed. “Ready for it? I fucking own it.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck even tighter, Allison laughed, kissing his cheek. “Yes,” she said, smiling big. “Yes, you do. Forever and ever.”
The End