A reason

A reason
Leonard’s POV

Trista’s apartment has this sort of low lighting, the soft glow from the streetlamp outside casting
weird elongated shadows across the walls. She stood in front of me, arms crossed, obvious
frustration painting her features, eyes dark with exhaustion and something else—something she
was trying so hard to hide from me.
She was always good at that.
Too damn good.
But she got better at that.

I took a slow cautious step forward, watching as her fingers twitched slightly, a telltale sign of
her own unease. You’re not safe, i repeated, my voice steady and unyielding.
She scoffed loudly, turning away. I can take care of myself Leonard, thank you.
A bitter chuckle escaped me. You can,Yeah? Thatwas why you were in that bar, begging Jace
for answers? i retorted.

Her shoulders tensed slightly, but she didn’t respond to my accusations.
I ran a hand down my face, trying to put a rein on my obvious frustration.Today has been a
complete roller coaster of emotions and stories but I hadn’t come here to fight Trista. But damn
it, she made it too impossible not to. You’re asking the wrong people for help, Trista, I said.
She spun around so fast, her eyes flashing with anger.

“And what, do you think you’re the right Yperson? Because the last time I checked, Leonard, you’re the reason my life turned into this
whole mess in the first place, you are the reason!”
A muscle in my jaw ticked. This isn’t just about you anymore, why don’t you under that?
“No, it’s about whoever the hell is watching me. It’s about a messed Adrian King, isn’t it?”
My silence was answer enough.
She let out a loud humorless laugh, shaking her head slightly.
because everything you touch comes with shadows.
This was an obvious attempt to hurt me so that I could back off, she still used the same theatrics
from the past.

I stepped closer, forcing her to meet my gaze. That shadow was supposed to be dead Trista, I
made sure of it.
That got her attention immediately.
Her breath hitched, and I saw the flicker of fear cross her face before she buried it beneath that
same defiant mask she mastered recently.
“I don’t have time for this Leonard” she muttered, brushing past me.
I caught her wrist before she could disappear into the small hallway.
She froze.
For a moment, neither of us spoke any word.
Then I said it—the thing I’d been holding back for too damn long time.
The child Trista.

I felt her pulse stutter beneath my fingers.
Her entire body went rigid, but she didn’t turn around.
You never gave me an answer after all these time, I continued, my voice quieter now. All these
years, Trista, you never gave me a straight answer.
She yanked her arm free and turned, fire burning in her eyes.
to ask, so stop trying to find out”
“Because it wasn’t your business
The hell it wasn’t.

I knew for a fact that if it wasn’t my business Trista wouldn’t be one to make such a fuss about
coming clean concerning this whole situation.
She exhaled sharply, backing up as if trying to put distance between us would erase the weight
of my words on her.
“That’s why you came back, isn’t it?” Her voice wavered slightly, and for the
first time tonight, she wasn’t just angry—she was feeeling vulnerable. It wasn’t about me. It was
never about me Leonard.
I clenched my fists hard Don’t do that Trista. Don’t even try to twist this.
”
“But it’s true,
” she shot back almost immediately.
“You show up out of nowhere, acting like you
actually care, but what you really want is answers, isn’t it? You just want to know if there’s a
child out there with your blood.
”
Damn right, I did.
I wouldn’t even lie.
But it was more than that.
I took a measured step toward her. if there is a child, I have a right to know, Trista.
I need to know Trista.
She flinched, her guard slipping for the briefest second before she masked it again.
nothing to know.
”
“There’s
Lie.
I knew Trista better than anyone, and she had just lied to me.
I exhaled slowly, tilting my head. If that were to be the truth, you wouldn’t be so scared right
now.
Her throat bobbed, but she didn’t gice me an answer.
That was all the confirmation I needed from her.
I swallowed back the emotions crashing inside me and refocused on the more immediate threat
I need to put into her. Adrian isn’t the kind of man who lets people go, he yet even one to show
mercy Trista.

She bristled at the shift in conversation, as if relieved to escape the topic of the child.
I let her.
For now.
Since she doesn’t seem like she is ready to tell me the truth yet.
“Why would he come after me?” she asked, arms tightening around herself in an obvious effort
to shield herself.
Because of me.
Because she was the one thing in my life I had ever given a damn about, that’s why he has
decided to come after me.
I raked a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply.
“You were part of my life, Trista. That makes you a big liability. If he is resurfaced, it means he’s thinking of tying up loose ends.”
Her face paled slightly.
Good.

Maybe now she’d understand how much danger she was in.
Since she didn’t know how big of a problem this is.
“Why now?” she whispered in a low voice.
That was the question that had been gnawing at me, too.
Adrian had been a ghost for years, and suddenly, he was back—watching Trista, threatening
her. The timing wasn’t a mere coincidence.
My gut told me this was bigger than just revenge.
And that scared the hell out of me.

I took another step closer, lowering my voice. All I need you to do is to tell me everything, Trista.
Anything strange. Any calls, messages, people you don’t recognize.
She hesitated before nodding. stay away from you, that’s all he ever says.
There was a call. A man with a distorted voice. He said I should
My blood ran cold.
Adrian always did enjoy his not so little mind games.
I clenched my jaw.
That’s only the beginning.
Her brows furrowed in confusion.

“What do you mean by that?”
I met her gaze, letting the weight of my next words settle between us. It means that he’s not just
watching.
I took another step closer, watching the way her throat bobbed, the way her breath shallowed.
It means he’s coming.
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
I reached up, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. And whether you like it or not, I’m not
letting him get to you, I need to protect you.

Her hands curled into fists at her sides.
“I don’t need your protection.”
She doesn’t still understand the concept of the situation.
I smirked, but there was definitely no amusement in it. Too bad darling. You’ve got it anyway.
She exhaled shakily.
“Leonard—”
The knock at the door made us both freeze.
I turned first towards the door, instincts flaring to life.
Trista’s fingers wrapped tightly around my wrist.
“Leo,
” she whispered, I rubbed my thumb slightly on her hand to reassure her.
I didn’t hesitate for a minute.

I moved toward the door, muscles coiled, ready for whatever was waiting on the other side of
the door.
But when I yanked it open—
No one was there.
Just an envelope, resting on the floor.
Who the hell is trying to pull this kind of game?
Trista stepped up behind me, her breath warm against my back.
I surveyed the surroundings then I bent down, picking it up, heart thudding against my ribs.
Slowly, I unfolded the paper inside.
Two words were scrawled across the page.
Just two legible words.
Too Late.

A chill ran down my spine.
Trista inhaled sharply, reading it over my shoulder.
I turned to her, jaw tight.
We need to leave. Now.
“Leave? To where exactly?”
I don’t know maybe my place, I said.
“There’s no way that I am going over to your place Leonard” she said with a finality to her tone.
I rubbed my temple trying to think of ways to convince her that staying here tonight isn’t the best
idea at the moment.

Trista listen, you can decide to leave in two days time after I have sorted this whole thing out or
maybe cooked up a plan.
“I still stand by my decision, I won’t leave my apartment for yours besides it is quite safe”, she said while her hands were still round her body.
I can’t leave you here Trista, I said my voice tainted with obvious frustration.
She never listens
“I would love to go to bed now Leonard, today has been quite rough on me”, she whispered.
I already knew we she would t budge, just decided to try my luck out.
Good night my darling, I said
Then took one last look at her then I walked away.