Leo leaned next to the glass window of Adam's and Selena's house .He had dropped off Ash at the hotel. She wansn't feeling well and needed to rest. His day got completely wasted but he did get to touch the flame and not get burned. But there were so many things in his mind at the moment that he felt like it could burst anytime.
He needed to unload, but he did not know how. As soon as he reached, he had said hi to Adam and Selena who were seated in the kitchen area . Not wanting to stay there longer than a minute he headed out to light his smoke which seemed like to have become his spot.
He never smoked alone, he preferred smoking in company. To socialize and connect , that was when all the important conversations took place between people. As he relaxed in his silent moment, his mind went to Zara smoking with Aly flashed in his mind as he had watched them when he had gone out to get Aly to pick his dogs. He had halted near the pillar as he heard her talk. She sounded like someone whom he knew in the past and knowing it all irked him. The way she expressed herself took him back to the time when he ignored her and did not understand. She had said something similar but he took it all lightly.
Maybe if he had been there or done something about it or acted differently he could have stopped things from spiralling out of control. But he was too late. He never excused himself with the reason that he was too small to help, something his parents always said.
They did not know what was happening but she had spoken to Leo and he had done nothing about it. He was busy with his life, his art and studies, girls and alcohol. He didn't care about things that much, he was a teenager who was busy in his own world and now as he grew older he realized his follies. Not wanting to be selfish anymore, that was the reason he even invited the kid. He was supposed to join them later in the evening. He knew Adam and Selena were also a little nervous about the whole situation, they did not completely agree with him.
They were against his decisions but Leo wanted to help and find answers. And the kid was hiding something and he knew it would either cause problem or solve things. They decided to talk over it once more before acting on the next step. Before she met him. He was contemplating all of this and then he clenched his jaws as the remembered the way Aly had pulled her into an embrace and they way they had held onto to one another.
He hated it, a part of him burned from the inside. He wasn't the kind to force himself, yet he wouldn't stop himself from having her.
Despite all this he was someone who knew never to cross boundaries. Knowing how close they were and how Aly had taken care of her. If it was someone else, he would have broken his face or done something. Still here he was standing alone in the balcony feeling helpless.
He felt confused, he was doubtful about her feelings. And pissed at her for just bolting off with him like that. He hated it, and his jealousy was making him exhibit such a dark aura that Adam poked him lightly in the shoulder rather than calling out his name.
As soon as Leo snapped out of his stupor, he turned to Adam's direction with steel eyes and just looked at him.
' Aly and Zara are out drinking so it's better we meet him before and question him.'
'When is he arriving?' asked Adam.
'Anytime now, he replied.
'Where are your kids?' he asked Adam not looking at him.
'They are visiting the grandparents,' he answered as Leo stared ahead at the dark night.
' Since what you have told us, it is better we know the rest as well,' he was interrupted again from his thoughts.
'And Selena dosen't know everything, i just filled her with minor details.'
'She told me Zara has been getting curious recently.'
'And she fears it won't be long before she starts to recall and she might get confused about you.'
'Hope that's okay if we are on the same page, but i don't want to involve Aly yet. He might not take it well,' said Adam looking seriously at Leo.
Leo said nothing but nodded at him and they went inside where Selena was seated with her head buried in her hands. She looked up at Leo with tears in her eyes.
Leo hated it when women turned like this so he went directly towards the bar and poured some whiskey and walked back acting as if he did notice her crying.
He knew she was crying for him, for her friends and for the whole bloody situation in general.
' I am so sorry Leo.'
'Only if i knew!' she said urgently and that's when Adam came to her side rubbing her back trying to calm her.
'She is exhibiting similar signs, but her symptoms are not major and it's a good thing Aly got her here before it was too late.'
' There is always a residue, which i noticed the last time she fainted. But that can also be her trauma kicking in,' he said not looking at them directly.
He hated the fact that he could talk about it so objectively. That he could comment about such horrifying things.
He did not want to see it all in this light, he just wanted to hold her hand and act like a man trying to woo her and get her attention. And maybe kick some jealousy initiated arse.
'The kid has some know something, he was there. It could be him or someone else. But when i found him, he was also disoriented.'
'We cannot really guess how he will behave with her or if he would be helpful, it could go the other way.'
'Especially how things went down in London past weeks, i fell its all connected,' he said casually.
' So basically is a huge risk which you are taking,' yelled Serena with anger emitting from her face and she narrowed her eyes.
'What if she gets confused and associated you with everything?' she said.
'Aren't i already in it,' he smiled sadly.
'Why would you risk it all when you finally kissed?' Selena spoke furiously suddenly realising she was not supposed to say that.
'Wait, what ? Did you now?' exclaimed Adam excitedly.
Leo was a little taken aback by the fact that she had told Selena and he his face turned a shade darker. But then that did mean that talked about him. Women! he thought, especially these two together can create much havoc.
'Oh, I wasn't supposed to say that, but well it did happen,' she said turning serious and looking at Adam like as if it something they were expecting to happen eventually.
'After all these years, when you kept away as if you gave a damm about shit like this,' she said trying to irk him.
'Selena,' said Adam alarmingly.
Leo knew why she was saying all that, she was trying to get under his skin. She knew well enough, he will not to open up until not battered, but Leo was going to place bigger burden on them. It made him feel worse, he never talked about his issues before and now he was feeling guilty.
Even when they were dating, one of the reason Selena felt disconnected from him was this. Leo knew this was exactly what she was talking about, she wanted to test the waters for her friend. That is why she mentioned their kiss, he knew how calculative Serena could be sometimes. After all these years he had stayed afar as he didn't want to hang out around as an ex. But it seemed to him, they were much more than that to each other. Some bonds only harden over years and distance, even if they are in between disappointments and honesties. Life becomes tangible just like all of their's.
'Tell me something Leo, why are you telling us all this now? she asked him again. For the first time in his life he decided to show his vulnerability.
' Because i need you ?' he said loosing his calm as he pressed his hand on his forehead. He closed his eyes remembering something.
The image of her looking at the paintings, her sprinting away happily as she raced away with Aly and then those images got mixed of with some dark images form the past. Blood, lot of blood spilled on the cold white floor and her lying there quietly, thinking she was going to pass away quietly into the void. Not hoping that anyone could find her.
'I... was useless last time. But in her case like you said i was able to stop it because my instinct told me to. And right now it's telling me to hide her but in way that first we find out who is behind it all,' he said.
'Don't you think in finding the person, we will eventually risk her and Aly,' said Adam. He was wise enough to know that what Leo wanted to do was tricky and could make the situation worse. His seriously blue green eyes buried info Leo and he have him a hard stare.
' I will not put my little brother in danger and Zara if we don't not know what we are dealing with.'
' I am calling my contacts and they will start digging into it.'
' I know some Serbs working in London.' said Adam as he got up ready to message some people.
'I have already planted a mole,' said Leo anticipating what was to come next.
' LEO!' shouted Adam.
' You are already in such a precarious situation and if you are tracked back God knows what the outcome will be,' he said while he gestured his hands giving him a terrifying glare which had no effect on Leo. It seemed like it was Selena's time to calm her husband now and she slowly got up holding her belly and pulled him back to her side by the couch.
Leo drank his drink while he stared into nothing, and a cold smile appeared on his face.
'I will be signing off some shares to you, Ash and to name a few, if things go downhill for me and in case i am compromised,' said Leo.
'Something tells me, that what happened was just the beginning, and now all what we are witnessing is the calm before the storm. And i want to be prepared before I enter the eye of the storm.'
'And that will put your husband and not to mention his family in danger,' he said again looking deeply at Selena.
He cared for her enough to never put her in such a dilemma.
'You are not alone in his,' came her reply as she looked sternly at him.
' It turns out i am being a self- centered fuck.'
'Ain't I?' he asked again not exactly to her but it seemed he was talking to himself.
'Hiding in plain sight,' he raised his glass and drank it down.
And that was when they heard the door bell ring and the house keeper came out to check who it was after checking she came back to them.
'Mam, your guest has arrived.'
'Shall i let him in?'
'Yes,' replied Selena nervously.