Chapter 56

Leo's POV

I heard the sound of the door clicking open and cracked my eyes, finding her halfway out of the room, suitcase in hand. "Where are you going?" I asked, propping myself up on my elbows, concern flooding my voice.

She froze, glancing back at me, her expression brimming with defiance. "I don’t owe you an answer."

"Maybe you don’t," I replied, my tone softening. "But if something were to happen, I spent the night with you, so yes, you owe me that much. I’ll need to explain your last whereabouts—especially given your... unique line of work, CIA agent Lexi."

Her silence was deafening.

"I'm returning to Virginia," she finally said, her voice devoid of inflection.

"All by yourself?" I pressed, sending a wave of anxiety through me.

"We didn’t come here together, did we?" she shot back, her words sharp.

"You don’t look well," I stated, concern etched on my face. She seemed dimmer, the light within her flickering.

"Thanks to you," she replied bitterly, and I sighed heavily. If being with her only caused her pain, should I really be holding on?

"Call me when you get back," I offered, an attempt at warmth punctuating my words.

Without another glance in my direction, she turned and walked away, each step feeling like a dagger to my heart.

As she moved further from me, a sense of urgency ignited within me, pulling at my chest. I couldn't just let her leave, not without knowing she was safe. At this vulnerable state she was, I feared for her safety.

I jumped out of bed, hurriedly dashing to my room, scrambling for a hoodie to throw on and slipped into my sneakers, my heart racing as I grabbed my phone and wallet.

I dashed out of the hotel, spotting her just as she was about to step into a cab.

I sprinted towards my car, but panic surged through me when I realized: the keys were still in my hotel room.

Looking around for a taxi, my adrenaline spiked as a cab pulled up nearby. Without a second thought, I hopped in and took a deep breath. "Follow that yellow cab," I instructed the driver, urgency fueling my command.

The driver shrugged and pulled away from the curb, merging onto the street. I could see Lexi’s cab just ahead, her silhouette barely visible through the window. The streets blurred by, and my heart raced.

With every turn, my grip tightened around the seat. I couldn’t take my eyes off her cab, the distance between us narrowing and widening with every stoplight.

After what felt like an eternity, we arrived at the airport. I leaned forward, gesturing to the driver to stop at a reasonable distance. “Thanks, man,” I muttered, tossing a few bills at him before hopping out. I watched as she stepped out of the cab, pulling her suitcase behind her, her demeanor heavy with determination.

I blended into the crowd, keeping a safe distance while pacing through the bustling terminal. Lexi made her way toward the check-in area, her focus unwavering. I could see her glancing at her phone, likely checking messages, her expression relaxed.

As Lexi approached the check-in counter, I felt an overwhelming sense of urgency clawing at my insides. I had to find a way to get on that plane.

I glanced around the terminal, my eyes landing on a bustling crowd of travelers, each lost in their own worlds. I noticed a young couple bickering animatedly over a missed flight. An idea struck me.

I saw a young man exiting the terminal and quickly rushed over to him. "Are you heading to Virginia?" I asked, my heart racing as he nodded hesitantly.

Relief washed over me, a small glimmer of hope igniting within.

"Are you married?" I probed.

"Yes, why do you ask?" His brow furrowed in confusion.

"Because only then will you truly understand what I'm about to say," I answered his question which only fueled his confusion more.

"My wife's boarding the plane you're about to catch, and I urgently need to be with her," I explained, desperation creeping into my voice. "But I don’t have a flight booked…"

"I'm sorry, I can't help you," he cut me off, his demeanor turning cold as he walked away.

"Shit!" I cursed under my breath, frustration bubbling to the surface.

Just then, another young man approached, and I quickly stopped him. "Excuse me, please!"

"Are you heading to Virginia?" I asked, my hope flickering like a candle in the wind.

"Yes, is there a problem?" he replied, concern mingling with curiosity.

"Is there any possibility that you’re married?" I inquired, my gaze searching his.

"No, but I have a girlfriend," he answered, a hint of caution in his tone.

"I have a serious problem, and I’d be incredibly grateful if you could help me," I pleaded, urgency spilling from my words. "My wife's on that plane, and I need to be with her. Can you sell me your seat?"

He heaved a deep sigh, contemplating my request. “I also need to be in Virginia, but…” he hesitated, clearly weighing his options. “Alright, I’ll help you.”

“Thank you so much,” I breathed, my heart beginning to lighten as a glimmer of hope ignited within me. “What’s your name?”

“Jake,” he said, scratching the back of his neck anxiously. “But we need to hurry. The flight’s boarding soon.”

I nodded vigorously, pushing the weight of my anxious thoughts aside. Together, we hurried toward the check-in counter, my heart pounding in sync with our hurried footsteps.

“Excuse me!” I called out, waving my hands to catch the attention of the attendant. Her expression was a mix of annoyance and curiosity as she glanced our way.

“What can I do for you?” she asked, tapping her fingers on the counter impatiently.

“I need to transfer this gentleman’s ticket to me immediately,” I said, urgency dripping from each word. “He’s going to Virginia, and I—”

The attendant interrupted me, her tone matter-of-fact, “You can’t just transfer tickets on a whim. I need names and an explanation.”

Jake cleared his throat, stepping up. “Miss, I was supposed to board this flight tonight to Virginia, but something came up. I can’t miss it.”

Her eyebrows raised slightly, clearly unimpressed. “That’s not enough to transfer a ticket.”

My hands itched so much to get a hold of my gun. Just a glance from her at it would cut this long story short.

"Hey, believe me, you don’t want to waste another second of my time," I said, fixing her with a cold stare.

Her eyes widened, and she gasped. "Leonardo De Santos," she stammered, her voice trembling.

"Leonardo?" Jake echoed, shock etched across his face. I shot him a teasing smile, relishing his confusion.

"May I have your ticket, please?" She asked Jake, her hands shaking slightly as he immediately offered it to her.

Taking out my phone, I snapped a quick picture of Jake.

"What was that for?" he asked, his voice tinged with fear.

"What do you think?" I smirked, enjoying the uncertainty that draped over him like a thick fog.

Panic flashed across his face as he envisioned God knows what. I chuckled softly and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Don’t worry, I’m not gonna kill you."

"Th…then what do you need my picture for?" he stuttered, still clearly on edge.

"For identification," I replied, my tone shifting slightly to a more serious note. "My men will pick you up and take you wherever you want in my jet, so make sure you don’t leave here."

He nodded, processing the whirlwind of the situation.

"Here you go, sir." The attendant's voice shook as she handed me a ticket, her gaze flitting nervously between me and Jake.

"Thanks a lot for your help," I said, turning to Jake, who managed a weak smile in return.

"Please don’t leave," I reminded him gently, wanting to offer more comfort amidst the chaos. He nodded, understanding the gravity of what was unfolding.

As I began making my way to the plane, my mind finally steadied. I took out my phone and sent a text to Zane, carefully outlining my instructions regarding Jake. I felt the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders, but I was determined to see this through without a hitch.