Babysitting the Devil's Son

03 LEO

Staying in charge of Elarian Heights without the boss around was no easy feat. I had the respect of the kids and the residents, sure, but there were obstacles that, without Lucas, seemed insurmountable. I felt the weight of the responsibility pressing down on me every single day. My name is Leo, and at 33 years old, I stand tall at 1.94 meters with a body covered in tattoos. My skin, eyes, hair, and soul all embody the rich heritage of my people.

I met Lucas when we were just kids, both of us swept up into the movement that defined our lives. Lucas joined quickly, his rise through the ranks meteoric. I joined at 15, driven by a tough father who never did anything with his life and a submissive mother who did everything he wanted. Life in Elarian Heights was all I knew. I was born and raised here, just like my parents. My mother met my father when she was 14, and they've been together ever since. My father was an old-fashioned, gruff man who never showed affection or attention to anyone.

When I was 15, my father became a supporter, living off government assistance and my mother's sewing. My mother’s sewing was our lifeline, and it was her work that kept us afloat. Back then, before my father received his benefits, it was my mother who supported the three of us. I never craved luxury and even a little felt like a lot to me. But hunger was a bone-deep pain that I couldn’t ignore. I decided to join the movement, and when my father found out, he beat me severely. Did I fight back? No. Despite everything, he was still my father, and my mother always preached, "Honor your father and your mother, so that your days on earth may be long." She told me this after the beating, and to avoid going against her or my father, I left the house that same day.

Years passed, and I haven’t spoken to my father since that day. I see him day and night in bars, while my heart belongs to my mother, whom I see every day in the sewing shop I set up for her. My father didn’t want to let her go to work, claiming my money was as dirty as me. I overheard him saying that to her inside the store one day, and it took all my restraint not to crush him. It was my money that supported my mother while he drank it away.

I try not to think about what goes on in their house. If I ever suspected that my father was hitting my mother, I’d kill him. Even if it meant my own death, I wouldn’t honor a man who beat the woman who gave me life and whom I love more than almost anyone else in the world. Almost anyone, because there’s someone else who holds my heart: Allison.

I’ve been in a relationship with Allison for six years. She’s the blonde who owns my neuroses, the hottest, craziest girl I’ve ever met, and I won’t let go of her for anything. I met Allison when I was 21. She was just 15, a stunning blonde who looked like a real-life Barbie. She wanted a job, but Lucas refused. Intrigued, I wanted to know more about her and why she wanted to join the movement.

Allison had moved to the Heights a year earlier and wanted to join the group. Her life story was strikingly similar to mine. Lucas eventually agreed to let me train her. For three months, I trained the hot blonde, and it took another seven years to win her stone heart, which is now all mine. I never looked at another girl after meeting Allison. I got closer to her every day until we finally became a couple. A year after meeting her, we shared our first kiss and a big make-out session. I left her house with a hard and sore d**k, a memory that still makes me smile.

A few more months of pent-up desire led to our first time together. Allison moved in with me when she turned 21, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. I pamper her, shower her with gifts, take her to dinners, and travel with her. What my father lacked in affection, I make up for in spades. I’m affectionate towards my wife and can’t stand the thought of a man hitting a woman.

Now back in Elarian Heights, Lucas took over as sub-commander at 15 and became the boss at 17. That’s when I became his second-in-command. He trusted no one more than me and our partner, Asher. The three of us ran the cliffs together, with Lucas as the keystone of our operation. Allison was integral to it all, becoming head of the steamers.

But Lucas had been in prison for four years because of a betrayal by his lover, Olivia. For four years, I’ve hunted her. She disappeared with Lucas’s son, Elijah, the night she arranged for Lucas’s arrest. They left with security, but they vanished without a trace. The betrayal cut deep. Lucas lost his son and his freedom.

One evening, as I was mulling over these thoughts, the door creaked open. "Love, are you going to visit Lucas this weekend?" Allison asked, her face showing annoyance.

"What’s with the face?" I asked, pulling her into my lap and kissing her neck.

"Anabelle's been asking about it all day. I almost lost it," she said, her anger evident.

"There will be a visit, but she's not going," I said, explaining that Lucas wanted someone new, and Asher had already found the replacement.

"Tell Lucas to talk to her, or I'll rip her hair out. She thinks she owns the world," Allison fumed.

I kissed her passionately, feeling desire surge through me. "Go home. I want to eat you deliciously," I whispered, my eyes taking in her shorts and cropped top.

"I already told you not to weigh me down," she countered, but before we could escalate, Asher burst in, looking frantic.

"Bro, a car left a kid at the barrier. The note says he's Lucas's son," Asher reported.

Allison jumped up. "Let's go see if he's my godson."

We raced to the barrier, my mind racing with possibilities and the weight of my responsibilities pressing harder with each step. When we arrived, there was a boy standing there, clutching a piece of paper.

I knelt down at his level, my heart pounding.

"Hey there, buddy. What's your name?"

The boy looked up at me with wide eyes. "Elijah. My name is Elijah."

Allison gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Leo, he’s the spitting image of Lucas."

I nodded, my throat tight. "Elijah, we’re going to take care of you, okay?"

He nodded, his small hand slipping into mine. As we walked back to Elarian Heights, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. This boy was a living reminder of Lucas’s legacy, and I would do everything in my power to protect him.

That night, as I watched Elijah sleep, I couldn’t help but think about the future. With Lucas in prison and Olivia still on the run, the road ahead was uncertain. But with Allison by my side and a new sense of determination, I knew we could face whatever challenges came our way.

In the turbulent world of Elarian Heights, loyalty and family meant everything. And as I looked down at Elijah, I vowed to honor that legacy and fight for the life Lucas had started. This was just the beginning of a new chapter, and I was ready to embrace it with open arms.

The days that followed were a whirlwind of activity. We had to ensure Elijah's safety, find a way to get in touch with Lucas, and manage the ongoing operations in Elarian Heights. Allison proved to be my rock, her fierce determination and unwavering support a beacon of light in the chaos.

"Leo, we need to be strategic about this," she said one evening as we sat in our small kitchen, planning our next steps. "We can't let Olivia or anyone else know we have Elijah."

"I know," I agreed, my mind racing with plans and contingencies. "But we also need to figure out why she did this and where she is now."

"We'll find her," Allison said with conviction. "And when we do, she’ll pay for what she did to Lucas and Elijah."

Our search for Olivia intensified. We combed through every lead, spoke to everyone who might have seen her, and kept a close eye on the borders of Elarian Heights. Days turned into weeks, and while we made some progress, the elusive nature of our quarry tested our patience.

One night, as I sat in the office, Allison entered with a determined look on her face. "We have a lead," she said, her eyes shining with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

"Where?" I asked, standing up immediately.

"Rio. A friend of mine saw someone matching Olivia's description with a young boy a few days ago," Allison explained.

"Then we go to Rio," I said firmly. "Tomorrow."

As we prepared for the trip, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Finding Olivia and bringing her to justice was crucial, but it also meant confronting a part of our past that was painful and raw. But with Allison by my side, I knew we could face anything.

The journey to Rio was tense, our hearts pounding with anticipation and fear. We navigated the bustling streets, following the trail of breadcrumbs that led us closer to Olivia. Finally, we found her hiding in a rundown apartment, her eyes widening in shock when she saw us.