Claire is shaken by this ordeal but I lead her through the process carefully. We give our identification and I let speak. I know talking was her way of coping in this scenario. She had questions and I wanted her to ask for the answers she needed while I mentally juggle through the possibilities of what could’ve happened.Matthew has been arrested for possessing narcotics and is being charged with some very serious felonies. But this is where I’m stumped. If Matthew really was distributing and dealing drugs, he would’ve never came to Claire and I for money for past gambling addictions. What Claire doesn’t know is that I knew every single time that she had given him hush money. She had tried to keep him from extorting money from me and she paid him personally out of her own funds.I also know that Claire has a bad history and fear of drugs but she’s never felt comfortable talking about it so I’ve never pushed her to open up. I had done research about the death of her parents when she to
It had been hours since I’d been forcibly taken from my job, charged and arrested. The officers gave a list of serious charges and told me that an anonymous tip had been placed, leading them to search my apartment and find my “stash”. But I had no stash. I could never do drugs after seeing first-hand of it did to pops. The man went from father of the year to a doped-up junkie in the span of three months. He had become a zombie version of himself with nothing to look forward to - other than his next fix.I may have had a bad gambling rep but I had finally gotten my life together. I paid my debts off and decided to get a good job with decent pay. I moved into a cozy one bedroom apartment and I even met someone: Starla. I wasn’t well-off by any means but I was happy. I had finally pulled myself out of the trenches and I felt good about it. I was able to finally be present. And now, I’ve been framed. Back to the trenches I go.I call Claire and beg for her help. I knew she’d believe me.
We go through security and search and are brought to a private room where we’re instructed to knock on the door twice if we want to end our visitation early for any reason. Leo pulls out my seat for me as we both sit and wait to see my brother. I see Matthew being brought in, chains fastened to his hands, feet and waist. An overstatement in my eyes. Matthew was no danger to anyone other than himself. And lately, he had turned his life around and was doing so well for himself. It saddened me to see him here after all the work he’s put in to become a better person.I watch as they carefully remove his chains and cuffs and close the door, leaving just and Matthew to speak. “I’m thankful that you came Claire. And thank you for accompanying her, Leonardo. I know this must be hard.” He says quietly as if she’s ashamed of himself.“What happened, Matthew?” I ask as I place my hand over his to redirect his eye contact to me. “I got up in the morning and got ready for work. And about two hou
We spend the rest of our time congratulating Matthew and asking him about Starla. It was the only way to make light of the conversation we had previously and I could see that it did that for Matthew. His eyes lit up at the thought of her and becoming a father. An opportunity I never got to experience. After a few minutes, a guard arrives. “Time’s up!” He says abruptly. I see Matthew lower his head and rise to his feet to be chained back up and returned to his cell. “Matthew.” I say as I jump up to hug him. It pained me to see what he had to go through. “I love you, Claire and I’m sorry for everything I put you through before.” I didn’t know if it was his current position that made him vulnerable or if that was something he just never had the courage to say but it broke me. I hugged him tightly. He was my baby brother and as his protector, I had failed him. The guard instructs me to release him and I stand there - watching as they take him away. Every fiber of my body was tinged wit
From the moment we sat down, I could tell that Claire was emotionally teeter tattering on the edge of a breakdown. She was clammy, fidgeting, hyper-focused, distant and she was silent. Not quite - silent. I hoped that seeing Matthew would stop her from tipping over the edge but I saw the way she looked at him when he was brought in wearing those chains. Matthew didn’t know Claire had been pregnant when he mentioned about his becoming a father. I was happy for him. He finally had something positive in life. Something important enough to change him and I know Claire was happy for him.Claire almost crumbles at the word: pregnant. I don’t think she’s made any time to cope with the loss of our son. She’s kept herself engulfed in work to avoid the thought entirely. I squeeze her thigh as Matthew talks about his growing family. As much as it hurt Claire, it hurt me as well.My actions led to Claire believing I didn’t want a child and hiding her pregnancy. My beliefs led me to accuse Claire
After witnessing and enjoying the mayhem transpire with Matthew. I accompany Francisco to his home. A promise was a promise and no sense in celebrating alone. Leo hadn’t kicked me out of his home like his mother had advised but he hadn’t been home much either. He’s been too occupied with the same wretched peasant that I’m trying to rid him of.After a bit of a drive, we arrive at this ginormous mansion with a gate and I watch carefully as he types the code onto the keypad out front. This house was easily double the size of Leo’s. It almost seemed like a ploy for me to think he was more enticing than my current love prospect and it would have worked if he wasn’t in the mafia. But then again, if he would’ve had nothing to offer me, I would have no interest in him whatsoever.Francisco may have money but he was not a renowned, successful man who I could flaunt. He was a thuggish businessman whose rough and rugged sex appeal was enticing for short-term enjoyment only. I live in a high so
As soon as Claire and I retrieve our identification, I place a call for a old friend of mine named Mason. We had gone to school together as children and he was the leading detective detective and sheriff in our county. I watch Claire through the window of the corrections center as I wait for him to answer. “Leo? It’s been such a long time, man. How the hell are you?” His chipper voice responded after the second ring. “Hey Mason, I’m doing alright these days. I wanted to talk to you about something really important.” Pleasantries were important in most settings but this was dyer. “What’s going on, buddy? Does this have anything to do with Charlotte’s father?” His tone changed to serious. “No. Not at all. I need help clearing my wife’s brothers’ name. He was arrested for drug possession, intent to sell and opiates, his names Matthew.” I wait for a response as the line goes silent. “It was good bust, Leo. I promise it went by the books.” He answers in his defense as he had been the l
I answer the phone with caution and press 5 to accept the collect call. I hadn’t found him a lawyer and his carefully thought-out plan of financial support from Leo’s father had crumbled. “Charlotte, I haven’t heard from you.”his tone was daunting. He was furious.“Hello father, I’ve been busy trying to find you an attorney but none are willing to represent you at the moment.” I lie about being busy. I had looked and contacted about every attorney in the state and not one was willing to work on this case.“What about Leo’s private team of attorneys? Surely, he could lend them to you in an effort to save your father.” I hear his cold sardonic voice and catch my breath.“They’re not willing too and Leonardo’s mother has made haste in sharing her opinions of me to him. She’s asked me to leave.” I admit to my father - in front of Francisco.“How dare that vile woman try to pry you from our financial safety net!” Safety net? Had he forgotten Leo was the love of my life when he created thi
I leave the hotel with more confusion than when I had arrived. Dalia had brought my ex-lover Julia. A woman I thought to be dead and she had brought her alive and well - carrying my son. I try making sense of it all as Enzo drives me back to the safe house to wait for the attorney to appear and collect payment.“Is everything alright, boss?” He asks as he drives.“No.” I respond blankly as I stare out the window, recounting what I had just witnessed.“I can go back alone and end this, if you’d like.” He offers as we continue driving.“No. No one is to touch Dalia without an order.” I say strongly.“What happened up there? I was almost certain you’d have killed her by now.” He asks.“She brought a gift for me. She brought her sister and my son.” I admit as we reach the house.“Julia’s alive?” He asks in shock. My men were aware of my relationship with her from the very beginning. An effort on my part to make sure she was also protected.“Yes. I saw her.” “We have an heir.” He smiles a
Tick. Tick. Tick.I watch the clock on the wall strikes an hour since my arrival and I’m thankful for the ticking of the hands being the only noise in my roomWhy would Leo put me here? I’m not crazy. Claire is the problem. I curl my knees up to my chest and hug them tightly as I sit in the luminous lighting against the cold wall touching my bed.“I have to get out of here.” I whisper to myself as if someone would even hear me.“You can leave these walls but I will never leave your side.” I hear the echo of my mother’s voice.“What the hell do you want from me? You’re dead. You’ve been dead.” I say in snarky tone as I look into her cold eyes. She stood at the end of my bed.“I want you to confess.” She says gravely.“What would I have to confess?” “That you killed your own mother.” “I’m not doing that.” The memory of a corpse was not going to convince me to confess to killing my mother. I turn away from her and face the wall as I lay down. “You don’t exist. You’re just a figment of
It’s late when I get a call from Chief Commissioner Mason.“Sorry to bother you, but I have some news. If it alright if I stop by?”“Of course.” I reply as I get up and wait for the front door bell. It had to be important if Mason was stopping by at this hour. Did something happen to Leo?I open the door the moment it rings and I see Mason waiting, I motion for him to come in and lock the door behind him. We walk over to the living room and sit down.“I didn’t bring juice this time since it’s late. But I did bring you a fruit cup.” He holds it out for me and I smile softly as I take it.“You’re lucky it’s close to juice.” He lefts out a small laugh at my response. “What’s going on?” “Well I got a call from Leo just an hour ago.”“Is he alright?” I interrupt.“Yes. Charlotte was in sort of manic episode and refused to leave his house. She threatened to kill you.” I catch my breath in my throat and feel a knot forming in my stomach.“W-why? I left Leo alone.” I stutter as I feel my bod
After my meltdown and discovering some things in Francisco’s past, I began hearing my mother’s voice again. She was haunting me and I knew I wanted to see Leo to calm myself. I drive the only car available to his house and knock on the door. Elena cracks the door open and tells me that Leo is not home. A answer I refused to accept. She stood in my way as much as Claire. I try shoving the door open but she slams it shut in response and locks it. Feeling defeated, I sit on the doorstep and stare at the pavement for what felt like eternity. Then I see Leo’s driver drop him off as he parked the town car and I wait for him to notice my presence. I expected him to at least be happy to see me but his face expressed nothing but disdain. He didn’t expect me or want me there.He tries to tell that he will never choose me and that it’s Claire - it’s fucking Claire. And the next thing I know, the Chief Commissioner is detaining me at Leo’s request and taking me to the car. How could Leo do this
I arrive at home and see an unknown vintage car is parked on my property. I was in no mood for company unless it was Claire’s. I send a photo of the license plate Mason and he asks that I remain inside as the vehicle belong to the mafia leader Francisco who has just escaped prison. But I see something even more shocking as I get closer to my front door. Charlotte is there sitting on the pavement outside my front door. Her hair is disheveled and her clothes are wrinkled. She looks to be a complete disarray. I text Mason back, letting him know that Charlotte was here and there was no sign of Francisco. “Charlotte?” I ask in disbelief as I approach the front steps. “Oh. Leo, I’ve been waiting for you to get back.” She looks to have been crying. “Are you okay?” I ask as she begins to stand. “No. I was thinking about what you said and I think you should reconsider. I would’ve waited inside but Elena refused to let me in.” “That’s because you’re not welcome here anymore.” I say coldly a
I missed sleeping in an actual bed as I stretch out my limbs and see it is the next morning. The attorney texted and confirmed his flight. Soon he’d arrive here, pay Charlotte’s father a visit and come to collect his payment but I had to sense in waiting for him. I needed to catch up to whatever Dalia had done while I was locked up.“Enzo!” I beckon my henchman and watch as he comes in.“Have you seen or heard anything about Dalia? Enzo was always on the avenue and overseeing our territories. If the streets were talking, he’d be listening.“Last notice I got was that she was staying at the Hilton hotel just downtown. I placed a few men there. They haven’t seen anything suspicious.” “Good. We’re going to pay her a visit today.” I smile lightly as I imagine the fear in her face as I come to find her. And for a second, I feel guilt. Her sister would be disappointed if she were here to witness all that had happened.I get dressed and have Enzo drive downtown. The drive is lengthy but I w
I see Nathan’s face line with confusion at the mention of Jordan. I knew our line of work wasn’t large and there must be something he must’ve heard about Jordan.I hear him question the name I had just mentioned.“Yes. I dated Jordan. He’s the owner or was the owner of a construction company here in the city and I had gone to architectural school with him years ago.” I explain.“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that name.” He seemed to be upset in his remembrance of that name.“Did you know Jordan?” I ask curiously.“Actually, yes. I did a job or two with him when he first opened his company. I thought he had a pretty good vision but come to find out, he’s been fucking my wife.” I could see the rage painted across his face. Jordan had overstepped once again and this time, he involved himself in someone else’s marriage.“I’m so sorry, Nathan. I didn’t know. Was this recent?” When had this started? From my understanding, he had been going through mediations and his divorce for jus
I peak downstairs as I hear the front door open. I hoped to see Claire had returned. I’ve taken a liking to her company. I see her come in with her husband behind her. And the from the looks of it, he didn’t enjoy my waiting. I come down the stairs casually and head to the kitchen. I grab myself a soda when I hear footsteps behind me.“Spying on my wife?” I hear Leo say from close behind me. I turn to see he is just an arms reach away.“I just wanted to make sure she made it back alright.” I say as I open my soda and take a drink.“Why wouldn’t she? She was with me.” His tone was unenthused.“Well, she disclosed her attacks. I felt it was only right to check on her.”“Is that all?” He asks presumptuously.“What do you mean?” “Well, I’ve heard the news that you’re going through a divorce and I just want to make myself clear when I say this - Claire is my wife. She is carrying my children and I won’t tolerate you disrespecting that.” He stands firm - assuming it’s an intimidation tacti
I was thrilled to hear my babies were healthy and developing and even more so, when I the doctor informed me that they were boys - just like I dreamed of. I couldn’t wait to share the news with Elena and Charlotte. As we ready to leave, I see Leo watching me extremely. I’m sure the news has him feeling as though he needs to do more to protect me.“Can we see Elena?” I ask as we get in the car to leave.“Of course.” He replied without so much as a disagreement. I’m sure he thinks that Elena would convince me to come home but my decision wasn’t wavering at this moment. We drive back to Leo’s home and I see a pair of eyes watching from the window. She had been expecting me long before I decided to come. Leo assists me out of the car and I walk to the front door which is already open as I near it. “Ms. Claire, how are the babies?” “They’re good. I have some news for you?”“You are coming home?” She asks hopefully as she waits for me to announce the news.“No.” I nod sadly and try to s