“How do Leo Russo and Ryan know each other?” he inquired, direct to the point.
“Ryan met Leo the other night outside my apartment building,” I replied evenly. “Leo and I have been seeing each other for a while now.”
Thank God Wendy wasn't here to hear this.
“Exactly how long?”
“A couple of months.”
“Bridget . . .” Jack trailed off.
“It's nothing serious,” I quickly said.
I wanted to laugh at myself at how much a lie that was. The correct thing to have said was: “It's nothing official.” Because I sure as hell was serious about Leo.
“Nothing serious?” scoffed Jack. “I've seen the way he looks at you possessively tonight. I can't believe you'd involve yourself with someone like him, Bridget. He's dangerous. I thought I made myself clear on that.”
I found myself wanting to defend Leo.
“He's not what you think,” I told Jack firmly.
Jack's eyebrows raised up. “Enlighten me, please.”
“He's not as bad as everyone says he is. He might have been irrational and reckless when he was younger, but he isn't the person he used to be. He's different, especially with me.”
Jack stepped forward, grabbed my hand, and pulled me to the locker room. He made sure we were alone in the room before he let go of my hand and faced me. He looked so grim that he was scaring me a bit.
“Six years ago, I saw him order one of his goons to kill my neighbor on the spot. The old man might not have been the best chap in the area, but he didn't deserve to die. Leonardo Russo didn't even blink an eye. He even smiled. He fucking smiled, Bridget.”
My eyes were wide after what Jack just told me. Jack was there when that happened. This was what he was talking about that he saw with his own two eyes.
If I was being honest, I wasn't surprised about that information.
“Leo told me about that,” I admitted. It was one of the stories he shared when we were at The Hamptons. He wasn't very proud of it, but he didn't deny it either. “The man who was killed raped Leo's fourteen-year-old cousin.”
That seemed to surprise Jack. He didn't know that.
“I'm not saying what Leo did was right, nor am I justifying it. But in his world, family is extremely important. It's their first priority among everything else.” I shrugged, tears glistened my eyes. I didn't even know why. “Maybe the man didn't deserve to die, but the girl didn't deserve to get raped either. I can't expect Leo to handle things the same way I would to a certain situation. We grew up differently. We were raised in very different beliefs. But believe me when I say, the Leo you saw back then isn't the Leo I know now.”
I stopped and let the words sink in Jack. He continued to gaze at me with a blank face. Then, understanding came across his features. He closed his eyes and sighed.
“You're in love with him.”
I blinked. At first, I was going to deny it. But then I thought, I didn't want to lie to him anymore. Jack deserved the truth.
“Yeah, I am,” I agreed.
“Bridget,” he grunted, opening his eyes and frowning at me. “How could you possibly let yourself fall for him? After what you've been through with Ryan –”
“He's not Ryan,” I cut him off. “Leo won't hurt me like that piece of crap did.”
“Violence is in Leo Russo's blood. How can you be sure that he won't hit you when he gets mad? Have you even seen him angry enough that he'll throw a raging fit? And when he does, what assurance do you have that he won't let it out on you? Because Ryan sure as hell bruised you up pretty good whenever he was crazy mad – and he was like that all the time.”
I couldn't bring myself to speak. I was so frustrated at Jack because I felt like he just poured a bucket of ice cold water to my face. I hated everything he said. And I hated myself more for letting all the things he stated happen in the past.
I opened my mouth to defend Leo and claim that he was nothing like my asshole of an ex-boyfriend when I looked up and saw his expression change from heated to something else. He was staring at something behind me. I quickly turned around to see who heard our conversation and my eyes widened at the sight.
His beautiful blue eyes were blazing in rage, while his eyebrows was knitted tightly. His lips were in a tight line and his jaw was clenched. His hands were curled up in fists.
The times I've seen him angry, irritated, and upset were nothing compared to this. If I thought his cold look sometimes scared me, this was completely on a different level. This was something else.
He looked actually ready to kill someone with his bare hands.
“Leo,” I mumbled.
How much did he hear?!
“What the fuck did you mean by that son of a bitch bruising her up?” Leo practically growled, taking several steps until he was just inches away from Jack.
I've never seen Jack afraid, but terrified would be the right word to describe him now. I had to admit, hearing and seeing Leo this . . . murderous gave me the chills. For some odd reason though, I wasn't worried that he'd hurt me because I was confident that he wouldn't.
“He, uh,” stammered Jack, glancing at me. “He hit her when they were still together.”
“For how long?”
Jack rested his eyes on me, quietly telling me to answer.
“A few months,” I murmured.
“A few months,” repeated Leo under his breath. “Fucking dickhead.”
Jack looked at Leo, a little confused. “Didn't you know?”
“If I did, he'd be in the hospital by now,” said Leo with a gritted teeth. “Or worse.”
I didn't want to think about the 'or worse' part, so I focused my attention on Leo.
He looked away from Jack and ran a hand through his black hair. I studied him closely and realized that he was somewhat shaking. He was trying very hard to control his temper.
“Jack, give us a minute,” I whispered, not taking my eyes off of Leo. “Cover for me, please.” When Jack didn't move, I glanced at him and gave him a pleading look.
He sighed and reluctantly left. As soon as he was out of sight, I neared Leo.
“Leo,” I whispered softly, coming up in front of him.
For a moment, he stood still. Suddenly, he grabbed my shoulder and pulled me up against him. He wrapped his arms around me, hugging me tight as if I was some sort of life line. I was right though, he was shaking.
“I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you,” he murmured against my ear. He sounded really upset. “I should've been there. I would've never let him lay a finger on you.”
“We didn't know each other back then,” I reasoned, hugging him back.
I felt safe whenever I was in his arms. It was like, I fitted perfectly.
“It doesn't change the fact that he harmed you,” he said.
We were silent for a moment. Then, he spoke again.
“I want to hurt him, Bridget. I want to fucking kill him.”
My heartbeat accelerated after hearing his words. For a second, I was scared because there was a tiny part of me that wanted him to. I was even more scared because I knew that he was capable of doing it.
However, I was still my father's daughter.
“No,” I told Leo in a solid tone. “I won't let you do it.”
“I figured,” he sighed dejectedly. “That's why I needed to feel you in my arms so I could calm down.”
“Is it working?”
“A little. I still want to pound his head against the wall.”
Wow. He made something ferocious sound so casual.
I tutted. “So violent,” I teased, keeping my voice light.
He halfway through sighing when he chuckled quietly.
“Sorry, I can't help it.”
“I understand.”
Hugging him like this, I realized I didn't want to let go. I wanted us to be this way forever, if possible. I wanted to tell him how I felt. I wanted us to be official. I was willing to take a chance on us if ever
he felt the same way I did.
I realized that when you were in love, you just wouldn't care about your loved one's background anymore. You wouldn't care about his past. You would understand and accept. After all, you fell in love with him for a reason. It wasn't just some silly infatuation.
It was him – him as a person, him with you – that you truly fell in love with.
“Do you still love me?”
I froze. Did he just . . . ?
He pulled away from me, just far enough for us to see each other. He had a crooked smile that I adored so much on his face. He didn't look furious anymore. Instead, he looked quite amused – and a little shy.
So he heard that part my conversation with Jack. I should be embarrassed, right? And I thought I was. But thinking about it, I was glad that it was finally out in the open.
“Eavesdropper,” I muttered.
He laughed. One of his hands flew to a stray lock of hair on my face and put it behind my left ear. He didn't move his hand from there, and his thumb began to trace my jaw line.
“Can you be my girlfriend?” he asked softly.
I sucked in a breath. My eyes widened.
This was it. This was what I'd been waiting for. I couldn't believe it was happening already. I was just thinking about it, for goodness sake!
“Because I've fallen in love you,” Leo continued, looking into my eyes, “and I can't stand the thought that you're not mine, even when it feels like it does.”
Oh, my God.
He felt the same way.
He loves me.
I grinned broadly, feeling like I would burst from happiness.
“See, that's the thing,” I said slowly, teasing him a bit. Then, I added, “I've been yours from the very beginning.”
The smile on his face became wider, while his eyes twinkled in delight.
All of a sudden, I felt Leo's lips on my neck. On reflex, I tilted my head to give him more access. His hands slowly traveled down my body, to my legs, and inside my skirt. He pulled my skirt up until they were by my hips. While doing that, he continued to nip and suck the same spot on my neck.
I moaned.
I was so into the mood that I let him push me gently against the wall. He pressed himself to me, and I could clearly feel the hardness of his manhood. His hands cupped my smooth butt and caressed them. Then, he halted to a stop.
“You're wearing a thong?” he breathed out in a very husky voice.
Dang, his voice alone could make me have an orgasm.
I looked up through my hooded eyes and saw that he had a hungry look. I couldn't speak with his handsome face looking at me and looking so turned on like that.
So I nodded.
“Fuck.”
With that, he continued where he left off. He kissed me so ravenously that it took my breath away. I gasped. He didn't waste any time, he took the opportunity and his tongue plunged in to explore my mouth.
I could feel my knees beginning to weaken. He probably felt it too, because in order to prevent me from sliding down, he placed his knee between my thighs. His hands traced the lacy lines of my panties and I heard a snap.
I wasn't wearing any panties anymore. At the moment, I didn't care. I only cared about Leo touching me. I didn't want him to stop.
One of his hands went around to the front, between my thighs.
“You're already soaking wet,” he murmured against my lips, while two of his fingers teased my wet folds.
“Only for you,” I managed to say in a mumble. “Oh, God,” I cried out when his thumb rolled around my clitoris.
He continued the onslaught by his fingers, causing me to bite my lip to prevent myself from being loud. His lips returned to the spot on my neck he was focused on earlier.
“I can't have you go outside and dripping like this,” he cooed.
My good God, his damn deep voice was going to throw me off the edge.
He knelt down in front of me, then pulled the skirt up. It was pencil cut, so I didn't have to hold it up. He spread my legs open for him.
“Mmm,” he hummed, getting a whiff of me.
I could practically feel the tip of his nose on my mound. And when he did the first lick, I lost myself in pleasure.
After I had redone my hair into a bun and retouched my smudged up makeup, I couldn't help but notice the satisfied toothy grin on my face. I turned to Leo was re-arranging his tie. I'd always like to watch him dress. He looked quite sexy. Well, he always did.
God, he was finally mine – officially.
He raised his head and caught me staring, making him smile crookedly. He walked closer to me and pecked my lips.
Hmm. He smelled so good.
“I don't want you to worry about Ryan,” Leo told me soothingly.
I looked at him sternly. He saw the look on my face, and sighed.
“No, I won't do anything to physically harm him,” he assured me. Then, something flashed in his eyes. “But doesn't mean I don't want to.”
“Leo . . .” I whispered.
“Seriously, don't worry about it,” he said with a softer voice. “I'll have Michael and the others help me take care of him – in a legal way,” he added before I could make another look.
I considered it. But then, I remembered I didn't want his friends to think I was using him to help me solve my own problems. It wasn't right.
So I told him this.
“Plus, Thomas doesn't like me enough as it is,” I added.
I didn't like to sound insecure and unsure of myself. Because most of the time, I was confident and had a high self-esteem. However, Leo's friends . . . and Leo himself . . . He made me feel inferior. And I wasn't used to this kind of feeling at all.
Leo snorted. “Thomas is just being an ass because that's what he is sometimes.”
“I don't know,” I murmured reluctantly, looking away.
“Let somebody else take care of you for once,” he said, his hand gently pulling my chin up so I could look at him. “You're not alone, Bridget. I'm here.” He looked down, sighed, and returned his eyes on me. “And I love you.”
With him looking at me like that, there was no way on earth I would be able to refuse him. Honestly, he could ask me for anything and I wouldn't hesitate to do it.
I guessed deep down, I was tired of taking care of everything myself. I wanted someone to protect me for once. I wanted someone to make me feel secured.
I honestly didn't know that I wanted a 'someone' like that until Leo came. He made me realize things I haven't had the chance to stop and think about before. He made me open my mind to so much possibilities I didn't even know was probable.
I still have my responsibilities, of course. But with him, it felt like I wasn't carrying the weight of the world anymore. It felt like the weight of duties I had since I was sixteen grew lighter, and became more manageable. Leo taught me that I could live my life at the same time.
I found myself with him.
Looking at him now, I felt so lucky. Despite everything I had been through, he was like a blessing for all the tragedies I had to put up with.
A smile made its way to my lips.
“Okay.”
After hearing that simple word, he grinned real wide.
“I'm all yours,” I whispered, getting a little teary-eyed. I was being slightly emotional because my feelings were pouring out in every word.
His smile grew broader at that.
And just from that smile, I knew . . .
I knew that we had the possibility of forever.
Have you read the 1st book in the series?
Against All Odds Crossroad
http://www.amazon.com/Against-All-Odds-Crossroad-ebook/dp/B00DP5B2UO
SarahAmerson.com
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Against All Odds Choices (2ndt in a series of contemporary romance books for Kindle) Page 6
