Frankie’s Echo

Leo POV

Tommy’s text glowed sharp on my phone. “Frankie’s out. Heard he’s got a game tonight. Wants you there.” My heart jumped fast. My gut sank cold. Rory stood close, eyes hard. “Work again?” he asked, voice rough. My chest buzzed nervous. My throat burned dry. I opened my mouth. No words came. Tell him? Hide it? The cabin air felt thick. Fire crackled soft. His stare cut deep. My hands shook bad. “Later,” I mumbled, voice weak. I shoved the phone down. Rory’s jaw tightened quick. He didn’t push. Just watched. My stomach twisted tight. Love hung sweet. Fear hung heavy. Us stuck. Right now.

Morning hit slow. Sun peeked weak through the cabin blinds. Rory slept hard, arm over me. My chest buzzed warm. My gut stayed tight. Last night lingered good—hot tub, dancing, him on me. I wanted to stay here. In this bubble. With him. My hand brushed his hair. Soft and messy. His breath stayed steady. My heart thumped gentle. Then a thump hit loud. Outside the door. My body froze quick. My breath caught fast. Rory stirred slow. I slid out quiet. Bare feet hit cold wood. My chest buzzed wild. My hands shook small. I peeked the window. Nobody. Just a white square on the step. A letter. My gut flipped hard. My throat burned dry. Trouble found us. Even here.

I grabbed it fast. Paper crinkled loud. No name on it. Just ours. “Leo & Rory.” My heart raced wild. My fingers ripped it open. Words glared black. “Frankie’s free. He’s mad. Wants you to pay. Watch your back.” My stomach sank fast. My legs wobbled soft. No signature. Just that. Chilling and short. My chest broke quiet. My breath hitched loud. Who sent it? Tommy? Nadia? Mitch from the old games? My head spun quick. My hands shook worse. Frankie’s face flashed hard—drunk, mean, bottle swinging. Two grand owed. My mess. My fault. My chest buzzed scared. My gut twisted bad. Revenge echoed loud. Close. Too close.

Rory’s voice hit soft. “What’s that?” I jumped quick. Turned fast. He stood there. Shirt off. Eyes sleepy but sharp. My throat burned tight. My hands hid the letter. Crumpled it fast. “Nothing,” I lied, voice shaky. His frown cut deep. “Leo,” he said, low and sure. My chest heaved fast. My eyes stung wet. I couldn’t hide it. Not from him. My hands shook bad. I held it out. Slow and dumb. He grabbed it quick. Read it fast. His jaw locked tight. His eyes burned hot. My gut flipped cold. “Frankie,” he said, voice rough. My throat closed tight. “Yeah,” I mumbled. My chest broke worse. Fear hit real. Love hit shaky. Us here. Us now.

He stepped close. Real close. My breath hitched loud. His hands grabbed my face. Hard and fast. His lips crashed mine. Fierce and deep. My chest buzzed wild. My gut twisted sweet. His tongue pushed hot. My moan broke soft. His grip tightened more. Possessive and sure. My hands grabbed his wrists. Felt his pulse race. My heart pounded wild. He pulled back slow. Eyes locked mine. Dark and mad. “We’ll face it,” he growled, voice low. My stomach flipped hard. My throat burned raw. “Yeah?” I asked, voice cracking. He nodded quick. “Together,” he said. My chest heaved fast. Love burned bright. Fear burned quiet. His hands stayed on me. Strong and real. My gut ached deep. Defiance hit hard. Us against him.

I kissed him back. Hard and messy. My hands slid down. Gripped his hips. Pulled him tight. His groan shook low. My chest buzzed alive. My legs shook small. Old weight pressed in. Debt. Guilt. Frankie’s laugh in my head. My throat burned worse. “What if I can’t?” I whispered, voice breaking. His eyes flicked soft. “Can’t what?” he asked, voice steady. My chest broke quiet. “Protect us,” I said, low and scared. His hands grabbed my wrists. Squeezed hard. “You don’t have to,” he said. “We do.” My gut flipped sweet. My eyes stung wet. Doubt hit me. Hard and cold. He saw it. Saw me. My chest heaved shaky. His lips brushed mine. Soft and sure. “I mean it,” he said. My heart thumped fast. Hope flickered small. Fear flickered big.

We stumbled back. Hit the bed loud. My hands yanked his boxers off. His skin glowed warm. Firelight danced red on his chest. My lips found his neck. Hot and fast. His breath hitched loud. My gut twisted tight. My hands gripped his shirt—mine, on him. Pulled it hard. Fabric stretched loud. His laugh broke soft. “Easy,” he teased. I smirked weak. “No chance,” I said. My body pressed his. Skin on skin. Warm and close. My chest buzzed wild. My throat burned sweet. We made love hard. Desperate and deep. His hands clawed my back. Nails bit soft. My thrusts shook us. Bed creaked loud. His moans mixed mine. Love hit raw. Fear hit real. Frankie’s echo crept in. Cold dread under warm skin. My heart raced wild. My gut ached deep. Us now. Us still.

We slowed down. Breath heaved fast. My arm wrapped him tight. His leg tangled mine. My chest buzzed soft. My hand brushed his hair. Damp and messy. His fingers gripped my arm. Held me close. My gut flipped light. Fire crackled low. Wood floor chilled the air. Pine smell hung thick. My throat burned gentle. “We’re okay,” he said, voice rough. My chest ached sweet. “Yeah,” I lied, voice shaky. Doubt pressed harder. Frankie’s free. Wants me. Wants us. My hands shook small. I hid them quick. Rory’s eyes watched me. Quiet and still. Trust flickered thin. Love flickered bright. My lips brushed his shoulder. Soft and warm. My chest heaved slow. Hope clung messy. Fear clung real.

We stayed close. Fire popped soft. His breath slowed steady. My hand stayed on him. Felt his heart. Strong and sure. My gut twisted gentle. My throat burned soft. “I won’t let him ruin us,” I said, voice low. Rory’s eyes flicked open. Looked at me. “He won’t,” he said, voice hard. My chest buzzed warm. My hands gripped his shirt tighter. Pulled him in. His laugh hit low. “You’re stuck with me,” he teased. I grinned small. “Good,” I said. My heart thumped happy. Love burned hot. Doubt burned quiet. His hand slid up. Held my face. My chest ached deep. Us steady. Us sure. Us here.

Then a car roared close. Loud and fast. Gravel crunched hard outside. My heart jumped quick. My gut sank fast. Rory sat up sharp. “What’s that?” he asked, voice low. My chest buzzed wild. My legs froze stiff. I stumbled up quick. Peeked the blinds. Headlights glared bright. Cut the dark. Engine growled loud. My throat burned dry. My hands shook bad. Car stopped short. Door slammed hard. My stomach flipped cold. My breath hitched fast. Rory grabbed my arm. Grip tight. “Leo?” he said, voice rough. My eyes locked his. Wide and scared. Frankie? Tommy? Worse? My chest broke loud. My gut twisted tight. Headlights stayed on. Blinding white. Someone stepped out. Boots hit gravel. Crunch loud. Suspense bit deep. Hope hung thin. Love hung sweet. Rory waited. Hands sure. Me stuck. Us shaky. Right now.