Chapter 6 - Leo's P.O.V.
2029 Words
“Do you all know where you should be standing?” I ask, peering at everyone while seating my gun into the back waist of my pants.
“Yes, sir!” A chorus of everyone involved echoes in the office.
“Good. I won’t tolerate any mistakes today. Be warned. If anything goes wrong, you will all pay the price.” I say coldly.
Everyone set out in the four-lined-up black SUV in front of my house.
Soon, my Queen. You will be safe soon.
I repeat in my head, trying to keep my cool. But deep down inside, I was a nervous wreck.
I had given up on ever being happy since the day I thought she was dead. But now… Now I dare hope I might have what I once had with her.
We will be a family again, my queen and our little princesssa.
“We're almost at the studio. Parker is keeping tabs from the coffee shop in front,” Lorenzo says from the driver's seat.
I couldn't be bothered to drive today. I want to be able to get out in a matter of seconds if I need to. I will be the one to take my Mallory today. I’m sure she will feel safer seeing me after such a long time.
A small smile creeps onto my lips at the thought.
In only a few minutes, I will FINALLY have her back in my arms.
?
“I think Marcelo gave us the wrong information,” Lorenzo says with a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Maybe. Let’s just wait for a few more minutes,” I say through gritted teeth.
Did I hope for nothing? Am I not going to find my Mallory today?
I’ll kill Marcelo if he gave us the wrong information. I swear if he did, he won’t survive the night.
As I think this, a deep green SUV pulls up to the studio.
I take in a sharp breath as I see her step out of the vehicle.
She is just as beautiful as ever.
Seeing her walk towards the painting studio followed by two bodyguards, I frown.
Why is she limping?
Anger pulses through my entire body.
Did that bastarda hurt her to the point of her being unable to walk properly?
“Everyone get ready. We’re raising hell in this place in two minutes.” I say through our earpieces.
They all acknowledge my command and scurry over to their designated spots.
I waste no time and make my way to the entrance.
Since she only has two bodyguards with her, they’ll be easy to deal with.
“On my count, take the bodyguards down before they can do anything else or call for backup.”
“One…”
Just a few minutes, my queen…
“Two…”
I’ll make sure you are safe…
“NOW!”
I’m right here…
We storm into the studio, making everyone in there scream.
The bodyguards are easily subdued.
Inutile idiota
I look around frantically, searching for Mallory. Finally, I spot her crouched down behind her easel.
I run to her, pulling her up and engulfing her tightly in my arms.
“Mallory! I finally found you,” I say, kissing her temple, her cheeks, and everywhere I can.
What I thought would be a blissful reunion, sour in an instant.
“Let go of me! Who are you? Don’t touch me!” She screams, fighting to get out of my hold.
“What?” I stammer, my eyes wide. “Mallory, it’s me. Leo. Don’t...Don’t you remember who I am?” I ask, fear gripping my heart.
Why doesn’t she recognize me?
“I don’t know you! Don't touch me! Let me go,” She yells again, fighting even harder for me to let her go.
Is this what Claire felt when she saw her the other day?
“We should leave soon, Leo,” Lorenzo says, looking out the front door. All the screaming had gathered a lot of attention from passers-by. Something we didn’t need in case they called the cops.
Not that they could actually do anything to us.
Grumbling, I make a difficult decision.
“Get back to the cars, we're leaving,”
As I say this, I think I hear Mallory let out a relieved sigh.
“You, are coming with us,” I say, turning back towards her.
The looks she gives me, make my heart tighten.
“Y-you can’t do that…T-That’s kidnaping!” She whispered, too stunt to say it any louder.
“If kidnapping my own wife is something that is needed, then I will do it. You can either walk out with me, or I can carry you. Either way, you are coming. Make your choice.”
I will never leave you again!
“I am not going anywhere with you! I don’t know you!” She yells, finding her voice again, trying to back away from me.
“Suit yourself,” I say, pulling her up on my shoulder and walking out.
She kicks and screams, trying to get off of me, but my iron grip on her thighs rendered her helpless.
I open the back door and settle her on the seat. As she’s about to push her way out, I stop her by settling myself next to her. She ties to recoil and leave through the door on the other side, but thankfully, Lorenzo had just sat himself in the driver seat and locked the door.
My brother is a smart one.
“Please, let me go. I swear I won’t tell anyone. Just let me go,” She pleads, her eyes fogging up with more tears.
“I‘m sorry, but I can’t do that,” I say, trying to make sense of everything.
Why doesn’t she recognize me?
?
As soon as I step out of the SUV, Mallory tries to escape behind me. But she isn't fast enough. At least not for me.
“Let go of me!” She screams, kicking and punching me.
Ignoring her plea, I walk into our mansion.
Thankfully, I know Claire isn’t here to witness this mess. I had Ben take her out for the day. She doesn’t need to see this right now. Not until we have everything sorted and not until we know why she can’t recognize us.
This is going to be much harder than I thought.
My dream, my fantasy of having her back into my arms has been shattered by some unknown factor. I will do anything and everything I can to make sure she recovers as fast as possible.
I make my way upstairs, still holding her close. I open the farthest bedroom door, the one closes to mine, and settle her on the edge of the bed.
She tries to back away, fear edging her beautiful and delicate angel-like face.
Why is she so scared of me?
“Please, don’t do this…” She pleads, backing away to escape to the other side of the bed. Trying to put as much distance between us as possible.
She couldn't be thinking that I’d…?
“I am not going to touch you like that!” I exclaim, my eyes bulging out.
The sigh of relief that escapes her, makes my heart tighten in despair.
“You thought… I was going to molest you?” I ask, my voice low and broken.
She c***s her head to the side, looking at me confused.
“I…I…” She tries to say something, but words fail her.
“I don’t know.” She finally manages to say.
“I would NEVER take you against your will. Not like that at least. I know all of this seems frightening and confusing. But you are home. After so many years, you are finally home where you belong,”
“Home? Where I belong? What are you talking about?” She asks, seeming even more confused than before.
“I will explain it all later. First, show me your leg,” I ask, taking a step toward her.
“What?! Why?” She asks, recoiling.
“You were limping when you step out of that SUV at the painting studio. I need to check on your injury,” I say, taking another step forward.
“I’m fine. You don't need to do anything. This is nothing,” She says, shaking her head.
Why is she being so stubborn?
“I’ll be the judge of that,” I say deadpan.
“It’s fine! Really. I’ve been through worse than this. This is only a scratch. I’m fine” She stutters, both her hands held up.
“What do you mean, you’ve been through worse?” I ask coldly, my eyes darkening.
I take the last few steps that separate us until I am mere inches from her.
I can see her trembling in fear, and it bothers me. This is not something I ever wanted to instill in her. I don't want her to fear me. I want her to love me, as she used to. To confide in me and trust that I can protect her. But I can’t blame her. She doesn’t recognize me. She doesn’t seem to have the sliverest of memories about our past.
She doesn’t remember how I failed to protect her…twice.
I let her be captured when she was pregnant, and she slipped out on my finger when I got Claire back.
Did she lose her memories before or after that accident? Maybe I should ask Claire about her time in captivity with the Berlusconi.
Closing my eyes and taking in a few deep calming breaths, I open them back up with a clearer mind.
“I know I am a…stranger… to you. And I know all of this might be confusing, but I need to make sure you are alright. That it truly isn’t a serious injury. I will have Dr. Sam come up soon and have a look. She is trustworthy.”
“She?”
“Yes. I am sending up a female doctor. I don’t think you’d be comfortable with another man”
Lies! I’m not comfortable with it!
“I-I D-Don’t need t-to see a-a doctor…” She mumbled, terror now taking hold of her entire body. She is shaking so much that I fear she’ll get whiplash.
“They usually get her check-up on Friday afternoons,”
“ Checkup? For what?”
“I don’t know. The only thing I do know for sure, whenever she comes back from those appointments, she seems off,”
“What do you mean by off?”
“I’m not sure. She looks out of it and is extremely tired. Whatever they’re doing to her, it makes her exhausted.”
The memory of what Marcello said come crashing down on me.
Could she be scared of seeing a doctor? Any doctor? Is it possible she was tortured by one of them during her captivity?
“Why are you scared to see a doctor, Mallory?” I ask, trying to rain in my rising anger again.
She stays silent, unable to even look at me.
“Mallory,” I whisper, lifting her chin up with my index. “You have nothing to fear from me or my doctors. They will treat you with the utmost respect and care.”
If they know what’s good for them…
I sigh in defeat after she doesn’t say anything.
“How about this? Meet her and have a chat before she does anything. Ask her anything you want and she will answer them honestly.”
She c***s her head to the side, looking at me confused. As if my words were a foreign concept.
“I just want to make sure you are healthy and safe, promise. I’ll give her a call and will be back with her shortly. Take a rest in the mean time. You must be tired after everything,” I say, backing away and heading for the door.
Closing the door lightly, I press my back against it.
How in the hell has our life turned to s**t like this?
- Writer
