Chapter 73 The Kiss

Chapter 73 The Kiss
Leo’s POV

I had one tiny problem.

Higgins got into a little bit of problem -the one who I’d paid to make Dan, Fabian and Andy regret why they’d hurt Irene.

His cover as a member of GaiGai gang got leaked. Since he attended Saint Morrison’s high school, no one knew nothing about his membership.

How that came about was a question Higgins himself couldn’t answer. He had been confronted by Dan severally who wanted him to spill who had sent Higgins to beat him up.

Higgins pretended not to have any knowledge of what had happened.

All that rang in my head was that Higgins’ secret got exposed.

And that evidently had me exposed to Higgins’ leader.

“I need you in Sundale. We need to talk. When you are in Sundale - let me know.”

It was an unknown number.

The message from Higgins’ leader I presumed. He gave no names - gave no locations and spilled no reasons why he wanted to see me.

Fury boiled within me.

I dialed Higgins’ number and briskly typed him a text.

Me: Why the actual hell will you give my digits to your boss?

Seconds later, Higgins typed away.

Higgins: I told you that I am left with no choice. Dan gave me a deadline…

Me: He cannot do anything. All Dan knows how to do is give empty threats.

Higgins: I’ve been in GaiGai gang long enough to know when my safety may be at risk. I took some members of the gang without my leaders’ knowledge-placing their safety at risk.

Me: This is bullshit!

I heard a squeak behind me - it was similar to the sound of someone approaching behind me. It could be mother - but mother never approached me in such a manner.

Still, I needed to be careful.

I could get into a bigger mess if mother should get wind of what I had just placed myself in.

I snapped the light out of my phone as I wheeled my face at the intruder.

“What’s the matter?” A frown played on Irene’s lips. “Are you chatting with a girl that I shouldn’t know about?”

What was she doing here? I thought she was already in the same room as Inez as she wouldn’t want to be away from her best friend.

My heart crashed against the eminent tide. Now was not the time for Irene to play games - I needed to sort whatever mess I was pooling into.

“Do you want me to?” I couldn’t think of a better answer to reply her.

The smile on her face had disappeared.

And when she tried to storm off, I grabbed her hand. She tried to pry free from my clutches - that was when mother’s voice spilled.

“Come with me.” I whispered, wrapped a hand around her hand and raced into the other wing of our house where my room was.

It was all happening so fast: the sudden rush of adrenaline, our heavy breathing muffled by the heavy steps of mother.

“Leo?” Irene called while we raced through the hallway. “Why are we running from your mother?”

I couldn’t bring myself to answer her not while I could still hear mum’s heavy steps.

I flung the door to my bedroom open, rushed in together with Irene and turned the lock. But not without pressing Irene into the door and shielding her body with mine.

“Leo?”

Our breaths stopped. Mother was just outside the door. Mother had always been persistent when she knew something was amiss.

If for one second she had caught us - we probably would have a lot of unwelcoming scene playing throughout the  night. And I couldn’t begin to imagine any of that.

‘When supper is over and the place all tidied up - everyone should be in bed,’ that was the rule.

The rule had died briefly when Marilyn had been the one who stood up to it. Mother at least listened to her but Marilyn wasn’t here anymore.

But Irene and I had both stubbornly stuck around.

A knock followed on the door and a push at the door.

I took a deep breath. “What is it, mother?” I asked with a raised voice.

“Leo, are you already in bed? I thought you were outside some seconds ago?”

Careful, I arched my brows, cautioning myself. Mother also had the talent of rage-baiting one, forcing one to utter a word of confession without even realizing it.

“No. I’ve been inside. Is anything the matter?”

“All is well. I must have heard wrong then. I’ll leave you to it. Goodnight, son.”

I waited until her footsteps receded before I pulled my head back. Irene’s head laid in the centre of my chest, her hands clasped between us.

Her hair  veiled her face, falling in loose strands across her features. Yet all I could hear was the loud thud of my heartbeat.

“Irene?” I called softly.

Her body trembling came back as a response.

I pressed my hand to her chin.

Her green eyes bored into mine.

“Can I go now?”

“No.”

I hung my lower lip to my teeth.

That response was way too fast.

Had she realized it?

But her eyes weren’t looking into my eyes anymore, they were settled on my lips.

“I don’t think you should go now,” I said.

Confusion etched on her face.

Did she get a wrong interpretation of what I said?

Hell, I was nervous anytime she was like this - in my arms.

I couldn’t think.

I couldn’t breathe.

It was as if the words constricted and get buried in the depths of my throat.

“I mean, you shouldn’t go now. What the heck? My _mother could be outside. She _ She would still be searching for whatever sound she heard..…”

Before I could bring myself to complete the sentence, Irene pressed her lips to my lips.

My body stiffened.

For a moment, the rest of the world faded out.

Her lips were soft.

And that was exactly what mattered.

Irene pulled back her lips away from mine when she realized how stiffened I was.

Her  eyes sought mine again. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.” she muttered, pressing her fingers to her lips.

And before I could try to stop her, she grabbed the handle of the door - twirled it to unlock and she got herself out.