I am Leo (Book 3)

Chapter 2

Violet POV

A few days later I wake up feeling better than I had in weeks. I yawn stretching out on the comfy bed, the sun is just starting to peak over the mountains its soft rays slowly lighting up the valley and its breath-taking

“I forgot how beautiful it is here. So peaceful, unlike the city” I say to myself as I get up to take a shower

“Breakfast sounds great” I say to myself as I make my way to the restaurant. I take a seat next to one of the huge windows overlooking the valley, sipping my coffee I sit and stare out the window taking in the magnificent landscape. Killian sits down opposite me smiling. He seems rested

“Good morning sis, sleep well?” he asks smiling

“Morning Killy. Yup like a rock and you?” I ask smiling back at him. He stretches out and gives me his million dollar smile

“Same. I forgot how peaceful it is here” he says taking a sip of coffee. We place our orders and sit in silence for a while

“So are you ready for today?” he asks and I look at him, he seems concerned and his voice is caring. I smile weakly nodding

“Yes, we have to get this done. There’s still a lot to pack. Have you thought about what we’re going to do with the house?” I ask a bit unsure if this is the right time to bring up the dreaded topic. A sombre expression crosses his face as he slowly nods his head

“Yeah I have” he says turning his head looking out the window as he continues “I think we should keep it, for now” he states. A swarm of mixed emotions rise in my chest but I nod in agreement

“I think so too. I mean they would’ve wanted us to” I say my voice soft. Tears sting my eyes making me blink looking at my coffee. My brother places his hand gently over mine squeezing it lightly

“Yeah and you know we can use it as a vacation home or we could rent it out, besides I know an amazing interior designer who can breathe new life into the place” he says encouragingly making me perk up a bit

“We can make it a project. You can bring Lara and the kids and we can all fix the place up. Dad would’ve loved it” I say happily and he smiles. We chat about the renovations and soon we’re on our way to the house. I’m excited now, it’s going to be so much fun!

“We’ll do them proud bro, this will be our best work yet!” I chirp excitedly and he smiles nodding

“Agreed and anyway I think Lara will love this. You know how she is, landscaping is her thing!” he says sounding more excited by the minute

“Oh I can’t wait to see what she does to the backyard!” I squeal as we walk into the house. We quickly split up, he’s in the dining room and I’m still stuck in the kitchen. Today is different, I’m still sad but I’m excited about the renovations. Just past noon Killian enters the kitchen wiping sweat from his brow

“Hey are you hungry?” he asks as he takes a gulp of water. I look up from the box I’m busy packing on the floor and shrug

“I could eat. What do you have in mind?” I ask standing up dusting my hands off

“It depends on how hungry you are” he says as I walk over to my handbag

“I think I’ll have a light lunch. Like a wrap or something” I say and he nods

“Okay cool. Anything else?” he asks and I nod taking some cash out of my wallet

“We need some washing powder and milk. I want to wash the sheets and curtains” I say as I hand him the cash

“Okay, text me the list. See you later” he says over his shoulder as he walks out the door. I swear that man would forget his behind if it wasn’t attached to him. I think as I text him the list before turning back to my task

“I need some more newspaper. Geez mom, hoarder much?” I ask heading down to the basement. Just as I pick up the stack of newspapers I hear the doorbell ring

“Who could that be?” I ask aloud placing the newspapers on the kitchen counter. I open the door smiling but it drops when I see who it is

“Well hi Violet, how are you?” he asks smirking. I grip the doorknob in frustration gritting my teeth

“Hi Dean. What do you want?” I ask in a very unfriendly tone. His mischievous smirk reaches his eyes and I desperately want to slap it off his face

“The same thing I wanted a few days ago love, to ask you some questions” he says making me huff

“Well have you brought your manners today?” I ask with venom in my voice. Undeterred by my obvious disdain for him, he pushes past me walking into the house looking around

“Come in why don’t you?” I huff in anger slamming the door. He stops at the bottom of the stairs and turn to face me, that idiotic smirk still on his face. It is a handsome one though. NO! Stop it Vi! I scold myself mentally

“Thanks love. So tell me how are you doing?” he asks and I’m genuinely taken aback by his sudden change in behavior. He seems really concerned. I fold my arms over my chest glaring at him

“I’m fine. What are you doing here Dean?” I ask my tone as annoyed as ever. He steps closer smiling

“My job. Can we sit down?” he asks but I grunt in response gesturing for him to follow me to the kitchen

“Fine. But I’m busy so make it quick” I state as he follows me into the kitchen and takes a seat at the island

“Nice place” he says looking around the kitchen

“Thanks it is… was my parent’s house” I say, my voice faltering as I correct myself. I continue wrapping up the cups but then he clears his throat and I glance up at him

“Listen about the other night, I really didn’t mean to offend you. Can we start over?” he asks sincerely, I think. I stare at him suspiciously for a while before I shrug and walk over to him. I round the island stopping right in front of him, extending my hand

“Violet Kendrick, pleased to meet you” I say smiling. He takes my hand giving it a gentle squeeze, he smiles and when he speaks his voice is like velvet

“Dean Colt and the pleasure is all mine miss Kendrick” his forest green eyes lighting up when I can’t stop the smile from spreading on my lips, blushing slightly as his voice travels up my spine

“So Dean, what brings you to our humble abode?” I ask letting his hand go, but his expression suddenly changes to a serious scowl and he shifts uncomfortably in his seat

“Well your parent’s murder” he says his eyes locked on mine. My mouth goes dry and it feels as if someone knocked the wind out of me

“Their murder? But I thought you said you didn’t investigate traditional cases?” I rasp out, my brain is scrambled but I manage to focus on his eyes, piercing my soul again

“I did. Tell me Violet, how long have your parents lived here?” he asks his voice soft but caring. I stand there for a moment trying to figure out what he’s really looking for but I still answer him, absentmindedly

“Maybe 20 years or so. I was little when we moved here” I say and he nods

“Have you ever noticed anything strange in the house growing up?” he asks and I frown

“Strange? Like what?” I ask stepping back

“Noises, scratching sounds or cold spots” he says seriously but I laugh in disbelief

“No, never” I state continuing with the wrapping up of the cups. My phone buzzes and I look at Dean

“Sorry, I have to take this” I say turning away from him answering my phone

“Hey Killy” I answer in a friendly tone. He’ll be pissed knowing a strange man is alone with me here

“Hey sis, just have to pick up an order quickly. See you later” he says

“Okay, no problem. See you later” I say hanging up and turning back to Dean, he looks concerned

“Everything okay?” he asks leaning forward

“Yup, my brother is just going to be a while, work and all that. So you were saying about noi-“ I stopped mid-sentence as a loud crashing sound startled us from the second floor. It sounded like a window breaking

“Stay here” Dean instructs pulling out a gun he gestures for me to be quiet. I duck behind the island again punching in 911 on my phone as I sit and wait. I peek around the corner just as he disappears upstairs

“What the hell is going on?” I whisper to myself waiting. I strain my ears to try and follow his footsteps but I can’t hear anything so I check the time.

5 minutes

10 minutes

13 minutes then I hear his footsteps coming down the stairs and I jump to my feet, eyeing him intently

“So?!” I whisper yell at him he shrugs looking back up the stairs

“There’s nothing” he says looking back at me. I tilt my head looking at him quizzically

“But I heard something break, like glass” I state and he nods sitting back down with an unreadable expression

“I heard it too, but I checked everything” he says looking at his hands. I take a seat next to him then I realize my hands are shaking, hell I’m trembling. I nervously rub my hands on my thighs. He gets up and stops behind me, gently placing his hands on my shaking shoulders

“Hey Violet you okay? You’re shaking like a leaf” he says rubbing my shoulders, he gently guides me to face him. I look down at my hands rubbing them together, trying my best to rub the trembling away

“Yeah. I uhm… I’m fine” I say but my tone gives away my shattered nerves. He tenderly pulls me to his chest embracing me

“It’s okay love, we’ll figure this out okay?” he says in a soothing voice but strangely enough I’m comfortable in his embrace, his steady heartbeat soothing me. I instinctively rise to my feet, wrap my arms round his waist and grab onto his back. I can’t help but notice how muscular he is, he rubs my back soothingly resting his chin on my head

“Relax Violet, you need to calm down” he says soothingly and I shut my eyes gripping him tighter

“What’s happening Dean?” I whisper. He chuckles stroking my hair

“You won’t believe me even if I tried to explain” he says. I look up at him only then do I notice the light blue streaks in his eyes, those beautiful sad eyes fixed on me. I blink realizing he’s been holding me for a long while, I drop my arms stepping out of his embrace

“I uhm, I need to finish up here” I say glancing back at the half packed box rubbing my arm. He steps back but I can’t read his expression

“Yes, well I’ll leave you to it then” he says and turns to leave. He’s almost reached the door when the uneasy feeling I’ve had since the moment that sound startled me wins me over and I glance at his retreating figure

“Dean wait!” I call out to him and he stops turning around

“What’s up?” he asks with a half-smile. My voice is shaky and I look at him pleading with my eyes

“Can you maybe stay? I uhm, I really don’t want to be alone” I say hoping he’d say yes. He looks down sighing softly before he looks back up and smiles, his smile nearly knocks me off my feet

“Yeah sure why not? You have something to drink around here?” he asks. I let out a relieved breath I didn’t realize I was holding before walking over to the liquor cabinet in the dining room. I take out two glasses and grab a bottle of brandy

“Will this do?” I ask holding up the bottle to him. He walks over taking the bottle from me, his fingers grazing mine

“Yup, perfect” he smiles handing it back to me, I pour us a drink and hold up my glass to him

“Here’s to figuring out what the hell is going on here” I say making him laugh, he clinks his glass against mine

“I’ll drink to that” he says before we both take a sip. I turn to the kitchen and he follows again taking a seat. I push the newspapers in his direction and he looks down a bit confused

“You might as well help me while you’re here” I say in a sweet voice, he chuckles taking a few placing it in front of him

“Yeah why not?” he states taking a cup. He starts wrapping the cup and I chuckle as I stand there watching him. He’s concentrating so hard at wrapping up the cup he looks very awkward. The tip of his tongue is sticking out the corner of his mouth, his brows knotted in a deep frown and his hands struggle to keep the paper in place. I giggle as I round the island and stand next to him

“Here, let me help you before you hurt yourself” I say chuckling. He frustratedly pushes the half wrapped cup toward me and huffs loudly

“Patience Mr Colt, it’s easy. Look” I say as I expertly roll the cup up in the newspaper, folding the ends into the cup I hold it up to him

“See, easy” I say smiling. He sighs loudly

“For you maybe. Okay fine, let me try again” he says taking another cup. He mimics my steps, slowly rolling it up. When it comes to the folding part he gets frustrated when the ends won’t stay inside, he makes a low grunting noise which vibrates through me. I place my hands over his and guide him through the steps, I smile holding up the wrapped cup before placing it in the box

“That wasn’t so hard was it?” I ask smiling but his eyes are smouldering, his voice low and flirtatious

“No, not hard” he says in a husky voice sending a delightful shiver up my spine. I smile but I dare not look at him, I just place another cup in front of him

“Try again” I say taking my own. He does this one alone and holds it up when he’s finished a naughty smile on his face

“So did I pass boss?” he asks in a very poor imitation of an old English accent. I step closer placing my hands over his inspecting the cup, turning it one side to the other.