Against All Odds Choices (2ndt in a series of contemporary romance books for Kindle)

by Sarah Amerson

  “None of your business,” I told him flatly.

  “If we're gonna get back together, it makes it my business.”

  “That's not going to happen,” Leo piped in with a cold voice. He put an arm around my shoulders, and I instantly felt safer.

  Ryan's forehead furrowed – deeply, his eyes narrowing.

  “You should leave,” I suggested.

  Ryan snorted. “The hell I am.” He stepped forward.

  Leo automatically went in front of me, as though he was shielding me from an unstable Ryan. It was strange how he made me feel so safe and secure.

  Maybe he cared, after all.

  A part of me considered telling him everything. But what good with that do now?

  “Take her advice,” Leo ordered him. “Just leave.”

  “Step aside,” countered Ryan, glowering at Leo.

  “No,” said Leo in the coldest voice I've ever heard him use.

  I felt bad for letting Leo defend me, especially when it wasn't his fight in the first place. I needed to defend my own self. I always had for a long time now.

  “Let me handle it, Leo,” I said quietly, placing a hand on Leo's shoulder in hopes to ease his tension. “This isn't your problem,” I added – which in fact, it really wasn't his problem.

  It wasn't fair to him if I acted like a Damsel in Distress now. He had stuff to deal with, which reminded me.

  “Go deal with that other matter that called you,” I told Leo. “Really, I'm fine.”

  “You heard her, man,” shrugged Ryan smugly.

  I caught the corner of Leo's lips twitch. His eyes looked ablaze, like he was going to snap any second.

  “No fucking way am I gonna let you deal with him on your own,” replied Leo callously, his eyes never leaving Ryan's. “He looks irrational. I know because I've seen the same kind of spoiled heartless eyes in the mirror a long time ago.”

  Ryan straightened up his stance, raising his chin in a cocky kind of way.

  “Let me guess,” Leo nodded to Ryan, “you're a rich brat that don't get enough attention at home. So you seek affection from someone outside your screwed up family. But what people don't know is that you're just as screwed up as them. You hide that with a good face.”

  I stared at Leo.

  Based on that and what the things he shared to me when we were in the Hamptons, he used to be that kind of person. But he changed . . . ever since his older brother died.

  Ryan didn't reply for a moment. He just stared at Leo with an unreadable expression on his face, as if he was measuring how much truth Leo was talking about. Then, his eyes wandered over to me.

  “Don't tell me this guy's your new boyfriend, Bri,” said Ryan. I sensed something in his voice. It was like, he was hoping I would deny his assumption – that I would tell him he was wrong in his statement.

  I honestly didn't know what to answer.

  Thankfully, Leo answered for me.

  “She's mine now,” replied Leo in a solid tone.

  My heartbeat accelerated at what he said. He might not have lied and said that he was my boyfriend, but he stated that I was his. I wasn't sure if he was just saying that, but honestly, I already owned me in some ways.

  I glanced at him and noticed that he still looked pissed off.

  “You missed your chance,” he continued, the frown still in place. “And I should really thank you for being such a dumbass, otherwise I wouldn't have met her.”

  Ryan probably sensed the superiority that Leo was omitting, because I saw his jaw clench and his eyes narrow.

  “Don't mess with me,” he warned, stepping closer to Leo.

  They were less than a feet apart now. I just realized that they were about the same height and same build. But unlike Leo, Ryan didn't have that natural dominance that was oozing off of him. Like I mentioned earlier, Ryan was a regular conceited prick while Leo was very self-assured probably because he was aware of his power.

  Leo laughed humorlessly. Just as quick, his face turned sharp.

  “No, don't mess with me,” corrected Leo. “I'm telling you now, man: leave her alone. I can fucking destroy you. Believe me, you wouldn't like me as an enemy.”

  I had goosebumps.

  A small part of me was scared for a moment. It was weird, but I was incredibly turned on. Seeing Leo's face look so serious and proud like that made me have some sort of fluttery things in my stomach.

  I couldn't believe that Leo, having his status and secret life, would one day make me feel safe – when in fact, his life was anything but safe. Still though, this was the first time that I was actually thankful that he had that kind of background.

  As much as I hated to admit it . . . Now I get what he meant by feeling so powerful when the most wanted criminal in the City was afraid to cross him.

  I felt secured with him.

  Also, Leo looked so hot.

  My eyes wandered to Ryan to see how he took what Leo just said. He was staring at Leo, as if measuring if he was telling the truth. I decided to save him the trouble.

  “He's not joking, Ryan.”

  Ryan's eyes turned to me. “Where the hell did you find this doofus, Bridget?

  All right, he called me by my full name. It must meant that he was angry now. Unlike before, I didn't cringe anymore.

  “He found me,” I answered truthfully. “Now please just go.”

  Ryan looked like he was making second thoughts about it. He watched Leo, his eyes wandering from head to toe then back again.

  If he actually thought that he could take on Leo, he was out of his mind.

  “Fine,” he finally said, scowling. “Here,” he added, as he threw a little box at me.

  I caught it, my face with a puzzled look.

  “It belongs to you,” he simply said.

  And with the last word, he walked away. He got on his car that was parked in front of the building next door. In a matter of seconds, he drove away.

  I turned my attention to the box in my hands. Opening it, I saw the silver bracelet he gave me that I threw at him when we broke up.

  I sighed, shaking my head.

  What was he thinking? I had no use of this anymore. Couldn't he just move on with his life? Couldn't he just let me move on with my life without him messing it up?

  “Persistent guy,” commented Leo, facing me.

  “You have no idea,” I murmured.

  “Hey,” he whispered, lifting my chin so he could look me in the eyes. “I'm here whenever you need me. You know that, right?”

  I gazed at him.

  Do I?

  “Just give me a call and I'll be there.” He kissed my forehead lightly.

  What are we?

  “Look, I have to go. I'll call you tomorrow.”

  But at this point, I couldn't really ask him about our relationship. It felt like we were crossing the line, bit by bit. It didn't really feel like we were only friends that were fooling around. It felt like something more.

  We said that we wouldn't involve each other in our personal lives. And yet, we were sharing stories like we were getting to know each other better for future purposes.

  He personally met my sister and my best friend. He was even spending time with them. I, on the other hand, had been to their family villa a million times. I met his best friend and his sort of second mother. I also bonded somehow with them.

  We weren't even seeing each other only for booty calls anymore. Like tonight, he would bring food and we would eat dinner together – just talking and not having sex.

  And now, he was involving himself in my problems – which I thought we shouldn't do when we started this. Not to mention, I was beginning to see his side of things. I was beginning to understand how he felt that passionate about his secret life.

  He made me want to be open-minded.

  No, scratch that.

  He was already making me open-minded.

  Wasn't that telling something?

  But I kept all this to myself. For now, he had som
ething to take care of. I didn't want to distract him by voicing out what was bothering me.

  So I just nodded.

  “Be careful,” I told him, not being able to keep the concern from my voice.

  He smiled confidently. “As always.”

  I couldn't help but return the smile.

  That's my man.

  Oh, how I wish I'd be able to call him that.

  Chapter 4: Truths and Confessions

  Two days later, I was about to come out of the kitchen when Jack entered looking at me all grim and serious.

  At first I thought that maybe a customer was being demanding that he was losing his temper. But then, I remembered Jack was the perfect server. He always kept his cool and never once showed his annoyance towards a customer.

  “Guess who's here,” he told me in a low voice. “In your section.”

  I had a hunch it was one of the Fab Four. Yup, we named Michael Vanderbilt, Leo Russo and their co-bachelors the Fab Four. It was easier to identify them that way.

  Anyhow, I thought it was them because Leo informed me earlier today that they'd have dinner here in the restaurant. And it was already past seven in the evening.

  “Who?” I asked still.

  “Your ex-boyfriend.”

  “What?”

  His answer was seriously the least I expected.

  I growled in frustration. I thought we made it clear the other night that I wasn't interested in getting back together with him. I even threw away the necklace he returned to me the other day. I didn't want him in my life – period.

  Didn't he have a clue?!

  Ooh, I bet he stayed away for a couple of days to wait until I cooled off.

  “Do you want to switch with me?”

  I looked at Jack. He had a frown on his face.

  He very rarely offered something like switching tables. He strongly believed in professionalism. But he knew Ryan and I's history. I wasn't planning on telling him. One day, he just saw my bruises on my arms when I was changing in the locker room. He immediately got the picture and demanded for answers. When he did, he wanted to protect me from Ryan. But he was too late. Ryan already left town by then.

  I closed my eyes tightly. As if that wasn't enough, I rubbed a hand through my face. Then, it traveled to the back of my neck.

  “No,” I breathed out, shaking my head. “It's my job.”

  “We can make an exception if necessary,” Jack reasoned.

  I bit my lip. It was really tempting.

  “Please?” I gave in, worried.

  He smiled a little. “I got your back.”

  “Don't do anything rash, though,” I quickly said. “I don't want you to get in trouble.”

  “Don't worry,” he assured me. “I could be professional.”

  I considered it.

  Well, he was right about that. He was the most professional person I'd ever met. When it was work, it was work. No bullshit whatsoever.

  I waited in the kitchen until I was ready. Jack already went out and served Ryan. His plan might have backfired if he thought he could talk to me if he sat in my section. It was scary how he still remembered where I always served.

  I didn't want to see him. He'd absolutely ruin my day. Actually, he already did. I woke up with a smile on my face because Leo spent the night at the apartment.

  He looked really princely in the morning.

  I didn't notice that there was a smile on my face until a co-waiter of mine passed me and gave me an odd look.

  When I decided to leave the kitchen, I was shocked to see Leo and his friends entering just then. As they took their seats, his eyes found me and he immediately smiled.

  Oh, no! I totally forgot Leo coming here tonight. He would definitely lose it if he sees Ryan in the restaurant, too.

  As if on cue, his eyes scanned the room. The smile on his face instantly vanished when his eyes caught something in the distance. Even without looking, I knew who he saw.

  Nonetheless, I followed the direction of his eyes.

  And there, sitting two tables away, was Ryan. He obviously saw Leo's arrival too, because there was an evident scowl on his face.

  I forced to move my feet. Putting on the default polite smile, I bravely went to Leo and his friends. Leo's eyes returned to me when he caught me approaching, and I noticed his hard eyes softened when we made eye contact.

  “Good evening, gentlemen,” I greeted them courteously.

  “Ah, Bridget,” grinned Michael warmly.

  The others quickly raised their heads at the mention of my name. The expression on their faces told me that Leo obviously talked about me.

  I felt my cheeks heat up at their curious looks.

  “She's it?” asked Mr. Walton incredulously.

  I was slightly awkward at referring to him as 'Mister' now that I was aware that he was only two or three years older than me.

  It was clear in his facial expression that he wasn't impressed with me. I didn't let that get to me, but it did a little. Then again, I couldn't please everybody. So I let it go.

  “Don't, Thomas,” warned Leo calmly with a low voice.

  Thomas Walton rolled his eyes, turning his attention to the menu in his hands.

  “Not bad,” said Mr. Roosevelt, nodding his head as though he was very impressed with what he was seeing.

  “Bridget, this is Nicholas,” introduced Leo, gesturing to Mr. Roosevelt then to Thomas Walton, “and this uptight virgin is Thomas.”

  Nicholas and Michael burst out laughing. Thomas just rolled his eyes, giving out the impression that he was used to his friends making fun of him.

  “Just Nick, though,” Nicholas – Nick – added to me, grinning.

  “Hello,” I greeted him and Thomas, flashing them my best smile.

  Thomas uninterestedly bowed his head in acknowledgment, while Nick greeted me warmly like Michael did.

  “For the record, I'm no longer a virgin,” clarified Thomas tonelessly.

  The other boys snickered.

  “Never doubted it,” I quickly replied to Thomas. “Have you made your selections?” I politely asked everyone, getting back to business.

  “Since it's a special night,” began Michael thoughtfully, “why don't we all order the special course, as well?”

  “Redundancy on your choice of words, Michael,” remarked Thomas, bored.

  “No one cares, Tom,” chuckled Nick as he scanned the menu with his eyes

  “I'll go with the special,” said Leo, flashing me a little smile.

  I discreetly returned it.

  “Me, too,” nodded Nick once, handing me the menu.

  “Same,” said Thomas, giving me his menu.

  “Four special courses, Bridget,” finalized Michael.

  I gave a courteous nod and went to the kitchen. I wanted to get away before Leo could ask about Ryan in front of all of his friends. I didn't want to give the impression that I needed Leo to take care of my problems – even though this time, I actually did.

  It was hard for me to admit that I needed someone with me to face some troubles, especially when I was used to taking care of them on my own. But damn it to hell, Ryan was a special case.

  Speaking of special . . .

  I took care of the Fab Four's orders. A couple of minutes later, Jack came in the kitchen looking troubled. He didn't speak to me at first; he went directly on preparing his customer's food. I waited for him to say something. When he didn't, I picked up the tray of appetizers and headed for the door.

  “He got angry when he realized you weren't going to serve him,” piped up Jack.

  I turned around and saw that he wasn't looking at me. His eyes were on the floor, his forehead was creased as if he was in deep thought.

  “He got angrier when he saw Mr. Vanderbilt and his friends enter,” he continued.

  I stiffened. I knew where this was going.

  “He muttered something about what one of them was doing here. He looked aggravated. Then, I saw Mr. Russo looking just
as distraught when he saw your ex-boyfriend.”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat.

  “I don't have time for this, Jack,” I told him, feeling my arms weaken at the weight of what I was carrying. “Let me serve this and we'll continue this discussion.”

  Jack looked at me seriously. “When you get back, tell me everything.”

  I could only nod. He returned his attention back to the preparation of food, and I left the kitchen to serve the appetizers to Leo and his friends. I couldn't even bring myself to smile at them while I served their food in front of them.

  I was very distracted by the fact that Jack knew what was going on between me and Leo. The last thing I wanted was to hurt Jack. He warned me very clearly about Leo and I didn't listen. He must feel like I betrayed him.

  However, it was my life. I just hoped he understood that.

  I was so absentminded that I didn't even notice Leo giving me a concerned look. He held my hand to stop me from walking when I passed him.

  “What's the matter, B?”

  I saw that he was slightly frowning. He knew that there was something wrong. Nothing could get past his piercing eyes. That, and I wasn't doing a very good job at my poker face.

  “Nothing,” I answered, smiling weakly.

  His frown deepened. “Is his presence bothering you?”

  I knew he was referring to Ryan. I also knew that he'd take care of the matter instantly if I said yes. But I didn't want anyone to cause a scene. Not here. Not now.

  I shook my head. “No. I promise to tell you if he is,” I added to ease him.

  He stared at me for a moment, before letting go of my hand.

  “All right.”

  With that, I walked back to the kitchen. I started to pace, nervously waiting for Jack to enter the kitchen. I didn't know what to say to him to justify my actions. Then again, a part of me was questioning why I should justify in the first place. It wasn't like he was my father or brother. He was more like a mentor – a mentor I respected.

  Well, that answers that.

  The door swung open, and in walked Jack. He placed the tray on the nearest empty counter and leaned his back there, like he was getting comfortable.