Gil put his hand over her mouth. “Stop. Stop it, Augusta. My god, what is wrong with you? We’ve known they were going to marry for years, damn it. You’re overreacting!”
Looking at Amelia’s father, a man he genuinely liked most of the time, Leo said, “Stop letting her hurt your child. That woman has taken enough from Amelia - more than you’re aware of. The rest of Amelia’s life belongs to her and her alone. I’ll make sure of it.”
With that, he led Amelia to his SUV, settling her on the front seat before going around and climbing behind the wheel.
Leo drove her home and waited for the fallout.
Every second they had to deal with was worth it to have the day they’d had together.
Chapter Eight
When Gil pulled into the driveway, Leo’s parents close behind, Augusta emerged before he’d put the car in park.
She screamed, “Get in the house! Get away from that hoodlum!”
“I will not,” Amelia said calmly. She’d been quiet on the drive but there were no tears, no shaking, no fear.
Leo watched her in fascination.
Storming across the cobblestones in heels that were too high, an outfit that was too formal, and wearing far too much jewelry, Augusta grabbed Amelia hard by her upper arm as if to drag her to the house.
Amelia stiffened, resisting the force.
Stepping between them, Leo said quietly, “Release her. Like it or not, Amelia is a grown woman. There is nothing keeping her legally tethered to this house. Tread carefully, Augusta.”
The woman looked back and forth between them several times. “You...how dare you! This is your fault! Your influence is what put all these ridiculous ideas in her head.”
Leo knew his parents took up positions beside him and Amelia but they remained silent. His upbringing, his future, gave him certain freedoms and a strong sense of self.
“Ridiculous ideas? Which ideas are those?” Leo tilted his head. “You made her drop weight again despite her history with an eating disorder. You don’t care if she smokes, guzzles caffeine to stay awake, or suffers at the hands of some animal intent on making her nothing more than an object...but you have a problem with her spending the day with me in love and mutual respect?”
“None of that happened! She-she’s making up stories!”
“Is she?” he asked softly. He tugged Amelia from Augusta’s grip and guided her to his other side. “Suddenly, she’s the liar, Augusta? For years, you’ve traipsed her around the country. You have risked her education, her health, and her happiness to appease some sick need you have to live through her.”
“Don’t you speak to me like that…!”
“I will speak to you like that. You deserve far less respect than I’m giving you. I grant it out of respect for Amelia and your husband.” He met Gil’s eyes behind his wife. “Even though you are equally responsible for what’s been done to your daughter, sir. Your refusal to curb this woman’s obsession with beauty and fame is pathetic.”
Gil stuttered, “I-I would never do anything to hurt, Amy.”
“And yet...by turning a blind eye, you are guilty by association.” Returning his attention to Augusta, Leo said, “She graduates in a few weeks and is now a legal adult. If she doesn’t want to go to pageants or auditions, she won’t be going. If she wishes to live with my family in a private suite, she is welcome to do so. Your time as her keeper is behind you, Augusta. If she wishes to pursue modeling, acting, or any other career, you won’t be calling the shots. Not another day.” Dropping his voice, he stared into her wide eyes. “Do I make myself clear?”
Augusta whispered, “You have no right…”
“You have no right. The rest of Amelia’s life belongs to Amelia. Not to you, her father, me, or anyone else. It belongs to her and I swear to God, I will see that she has it.”
Leo’s mother touched Amelia’s shoulder. “If ye wish te stay with us, ye’re always welcome, love. Now or in the future. Our home is yers.”
“Thank you, Mrs. De La Cruz.” Amelia cleared her throat. “Please don’t be upset with Leo. It was my idea to skip school and spend the day together.”
Sarabeth laughed warmly. “Are ye kiddin’, love?” She inclined her head at Leo’s father. “This one once kidnapped me, ye know? Threw me over his shoulder and carried me off the property to his car. Said I was gonna hear him out and if I didn’t want him, he’d take me home. Cagey bugger. We were married a month later. I understand love, Amelia. I understand youth. It hasn’t been that long since I felt like me heart would beat out my chest.” She winked. “Still feel it now and again.”
Quiet by nature, Alejandro De La Cruz rarely spoke to people outside his family. Approaching Amelia, he placed his hand on her cheek. “You are the sun, Amelia. To our boy, the world circles you and depends on your light. To us, you are already family because one day, you will truly be. Everything here can be left behind if you wish it.”
Reaching up, Amelia held his father’s wrist. “Thank you, sir. I have a few weeks left of school. Then I’ll start my life with Leo properly. I won’t begin our future as a damsel in distress.”
Alejandro smiled. “I know something about fighters. You will call Sarabeth or myself if you cannot reach Leo, yes?” She nodded. “That’s a good girl. We’re going home. We simply worried there had been another kidnapping attempt on Leo. He managed to evade Baylor for the second time this year.” He clicked his teeth. “Hot blood.”
“I’m sorry you worried,” Amelia told him. “We’ll do better in future about telling people where we are.”
“So much progress.” He lightly tapped her temple. “Give some of that reason to our Leo, yes?”
She laughed. “He’s perfect as he is, sir.”
Calling to Amelia’s father, Leo’s father said, “Hold the line, Gil. It is what all of us are called upon to do eventually.” Wrapping his arm around Sarabeth’s waist, he tossed over his shoulder, “Augusta.”
Moments later, they were gone with their security detail driving behind them. Glancing at the street, Leo waved to Baylor who stood beside another black SUV.
The man shook his head slowly. It was going to take a bottle of his family’s good whiskey to settle his temper at being evaded again.
First things first.
Leo took Amelia’s hand. “Do you feel safe in this house?”
“I’ve lived here without dying or permanent injury for eighteen years. Three more weeks should be no problem. We can handle anything for three weeks, Leo.”
Leaning forward, he cupped her skull as he kissed her forehead. Bending, he whispered at her ear, “If you need me, I’ll be here. Instantly, Amelia.” She nodded. “I love you.”
“I love you. Thank you for today. I’m sorry the ending was so terrible.”
Taking her chin between his fingers, he smiled. “Not terrible. Unavoidable. Nothing could make any part of this day terrible. I’ll pick you up for school.”
“Absolutely not!” Augusta screamed. “You can’t be trusted with such a simple task.”
Looking over his shoulder, he stared at her for a long moment. “I’ll be here to pick Amelia up for school as usual. You have my word that we’ll attend every day remaining of the school year...but I will be driving her there and home.”
“Get in the house, Amelia,” the woman hissed. “You’re grounded…”
Amelia pulled Leo down and kissed his lips lightly. “See you tomorrow.” Then she walked around her parents and into the house with her head high.
Without another word, Leo got in his SUV and drove home.
* * *
Amelia was grounded from seeing Leo outside school until graduation. They spoke on the phone constantly.
Leo was shocked - and pleased - at the metamorphosis his girl underwent after their time at the cabin.
She refused all travel under any circumstances and when her mother attempted to talk her into jobs, she left the room.
Two weeks later, Leo walked around his vehicl
e to assist Amelia to the driveway. Augusta threw the front door open and shouted, “You’re late again!”
Amelia looked at her watch and sighed. “Three minutes.”
“You’re still late. I’ve been waiting to talk to you! I was just contacted about you walking for Calvin Klein during fashion week in New York and they love your portfolio…”
“I won’t be here in September and I’ve told you repeatedly that I’m not taking any more work.” Amelia smiled up at Leo. “Thank you for seeing me there and home again.”
“Always.”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Finals and then graduation. Excited?” She nodded. “Me, too. I know you’re ready for all your classes so no stress.”
Augusta stormed over to them. “You’re grounded, Amy! Get in the house! You can’t see him until next week!”
Amelia went up on her toes to kiss him and he met her halfway. “I’ll call you in a few hours. I love you.”
“I love you, Amelia.”
At his own house, Leo straightened his room while he steadily purged things that wouldn’t be going with him to college. Without being able to spend time with Amelia on a Friday night, he had a stupid amount of time on his hands.
Some things were being kept by his mother, others were being donated, and then there was the trash pile.
“So much schoolwork that will never see the light of day again,” he murmured with a chuckle. “And I’m about to get a shit ton more.”
While he went through things, he separated things to take on the Jamaica trip with Amelia.
Hours later, he had dinner with his parents and talked through several things regarding the family trust. There were many details to finalize now that he was of age.
He called Amelia when he went to bed and they chatted for an hour. At one point, he knew her mother picked up the phone. “Hang up please, Augusta.”
The receiver slammed into the cradle seconds later.
Amelia laughed. “You suddenly could not care less.”
“You’re right. Let’s talk about Jamaica! I got all the itinerary stuff from the travel agent and you are going to love the cool things to do…”
The next morning, he called her when he knew she would be awake. The phone rang several times and she answered it groggily.
“Leo? Ugh, I have a bug.”
“Stay in bed and drink plenty of fluids. Do you want me to come over?”
“Nah, she’s in a particularly loud mood today. I’m ready to stab out my ears and I haven’t even peed yet.”
Snickering, he told her, “Understood. Sleep some more and call me later.”
“Of course. I miss you.”
“I miss you. My god.”
She released a snort. “I’m going to get up and power through whatever this is. Give me a couple of hours to shower and put away all the crap I’ve been going through at night. Man, I had no idea how much time we spent together until we didn’t.”
“You’re cleaning and purging? Me, too!”
“Birds of a feather. Give me a little bit. I felt like crap after we got off the phone and left my room a disaster. You know I can’t handle stuff on the floor.”
“Oh, I know. Do what you need to and call me when you’re up and about. I love you! Just so you know.”
“How convenient...I love you! Imagine that!”
Laughing, they hung up and Leo got back to work on the piles he’d left in his own room.
Pulling a small leather chest from under his bed, he sat cross-legged on the floor to go through it. It contained all his notes from Amelia since they started dating freshman year.
Naturally, he was keeping each and every one. For two hours, he lost himself in reading them.
So many memories.
He didn’t hear from Amelia and figured she probably went back to sleep. When it started to get dark, he decided he’d go by her house in the morning with a care package.
Any excuse to see her.
Besides, he wanted her feeling better so she could enjoy graduation and their trip after. He could barely contain his excitement.
He’d purchased a professional camera for her as a graduation gift. A couple of times, she’d mentioned that she wished she was behind the camera instead of in front of it. There would be lots of gorgeous views for her to take pictures of while they were away. She could test out the equipment.
After dinner, he stretched out on his bed fully dressed to read the last few notes from their senior year. He didn’t realize he’d dozed off until the phone rang.
Glancing at his clock, Leo was shocked to see that it was after midnight. Grabbing for the phone, he said, “Amelia?”
“Leo?”
It was Amelia but she sounded wrong. He glanced at the caller ID and it was an unknown number. All her home numbers were programmed into the De La Cruz house phones.
“Amelia…where are you?” He got off the bed and quickly pulled on running shoes.
She mumbled, “I don’t know, Leo. This is a rotary phone. I had to try five times ‘cause I kept dialing the number wrong, losing my place. Where are you?”
Taking the cordless phone with him, he grabbed his wallet and keys. Throwing open his door, he jogged to the second floor where his parents’ bedroom was.
He tapped urgently on the door of the master suite and his father opened it within seconds. Leo held the phone so he could listen. On the other side of the room, his mother quickly pulled on a sweat suit.
“I’m home, Amelia. Honey, what’s the last thing you remember?”
Leo tried to find the calm he’d always prided himself on but everything inside him knew something had gone horribly wrong.
“Peeing in a cup. Mom said I might need more vaccinations for the trip so...I peed in a cup.”
Staring into his father’s eyes, Leo repeated, “You peed in a cup and then what do you remember, sweetheart?”
“I had-had lunch. I wasn’t feeling well.” She made a gagging noise. “I’m still not feeling well. I woke up here. It’s really creepy and dark and cold. Like a hospital in a horror movie. I don’t like it, Leo. I’m scared. I don’t like it here.”
“I’m coming for you, Amelia. I’ll find you. Can you see anything with a name or brands or anything on it?”
For almost a minute, she stumbled around a room. It was obvious she was heavily drugged. Her speech was slurred and nothing she saw around the room she was in made sense to her.
“Gonna throw up…oh no.” The sound of Amelia getting sick was like a fist squeezing his heart. “Leo…I’m bleeding. I don’t know where but I’m bleeding. I-I can’t…I feel so dizzy. Leo…”
The phone disconnected and Leo lost his fucking mind.
Chapter Nine
Leo screamed, “Come with me or prepare to bail me out of jail!” Then he ran for the front door bellowing for Baylor. His bodyguard skidded into the foyer with his weapon pointed at the floor. “Follow me.”
“I’ll drive you, Leo. You’re in no condition.” By the time Leo and Baylor were in the SUV, his parents were racing from the house to join them. “Where first, Leo?”
“Amelia’s house. Hurry. Break all the speed limits.”
“Done.”
Leo was out of the car before it fully stopped. His repeated banging on the door finally brought a groggy Mr. Whitehall downstairs.
“Leo? What in the world…”
Unable to contain himself, Leo grabbed the older man by his robe and slammed him against his open door. “Where is Amelia, Mr. Whitehall? Where is she?”
Confused, her father answered without hesitation, “They went to visit a new agent in the city. Augusta said they’d be back tomorrow.”
Leo brought the man forward and slammed him into the door again. “Wrong, sir. You are so fucking wrong. I think your bitch of a wife just aborted my child. I got a call from Amelia and she’s puking and bleeding. She sounded drugged out of her mind.” He released Amelia’s father in disgust. “If I find out you ha
d anything to do with this, I’ll be back to beat you within an inch of your life.”
Gil clapped a hand over his mouth. “She wouldn’t. She wouldn’t sink to such…evil. I know Augusta. At heart, she’s still a good person. She wouldn’t end a pregnancy when you’re both so obviously in love and capable of taking care of a child. No, she wouldn’t do that. I can’t believe that.”
Leo wanted Amelia and he wanted her now. His insides were boiling in barely contained rage. “Then find out where they are, Mr. Whitehall. Do it now. Amelia was bleeding and confused and very afraid. Do it right fucking now.”
Mr. Whitehall ran to get the phone and paged his wife 911. She called the house phone a few minutes later.
Voice shaking, Gil asked, “Honey, where are you?” He listened for a long moment and a frown appeared between his brows. “You’re lying to me, Augusta. You just repeated the same sentence twice in a row. You’re lying. Where are you? Where is Amy?”
There was rambling on the other end of the line as Augusta tried to explain. Gil listened for almost a minute and Leo watched as all the color drained from his face.
“Tell me where to come get my daughter right now, Augusta. Oh my sweet Jesus, I want a divorce.” They heard pleading on the other end of the line and he cut her off in disgust, “Tell me where you are or I’m calling the police, Augusta.”
Another ten seconds and he disconnected the call. He threw the phone against the wall, shattering it. Then Amelia’s father turned and threw up in the umbrella stand next to the door.
Wiping his mouth on his pajama sleeve, he whispered hoarsely, “Let me get my wallet.”
He rejoined them thirty seconds later and climbed in the back with Leo’s parents. He said numbly, “She’s at an all-night clinic outside of town about ten miles.” He gave Baylor directions and began to sob. “I’m so sorry. I never thought…I kept thinking she’d see the insanity. Amy seemed not to mind most of the time. I-I can’t ever make this right.”
The rest of the drive was made in shocked silence.
Leo found himself held captive between overwhelming rage at Augusta and terror for Amelia, knowing she was bleeding and afraid.
Feel My Love: The Damaged Series - Book Two Page 6
