Chapter 104 -
Leo's office was smaller than his study, more private. A leather couch against one wall, a desk cluttered with files, and a window that looked out onto the back gardens. Nia guided him to the couch, and he sat heavily, his face pale beneath the strain.
"You're going to pass out," she said.
"I've had worse."
"That's not the flex you think it is."
A knock hit the door. Christian entered, followed by the doctor.
"Shirt off," The doctor said as he moved toward Leo.
Leo's eyes flicked to Nia. She didn't move.
The doctor waited. "Now, Mr. DeSanto. I don't have all day."
Leo pulled his shirt off with his good arm, wincing as the fabric caught on the bandages. Nia forced herself to look at his chest.
The doctor worked quickly, cutting away the old bandages and replacing them with clean bandages after cleaning his body with cotton wool and methylated spirit. Leo groaned in pain, trying to keep his mouth shut so badly.
Nia watched his hand where it rested on the couch. It was clenched into a fist. She moved without thinking and sat on the edge of the couch beside him before reaching out to cover his fist with her palm.
Leo's eyes dropped to their hands. The fist loosened slightly. The doctor glanced at them but said nothing.
Christian leaned against the desk, watching the procedure with cold detachment. "We picked up chatter. Santiago's been seen near the warehouse district."
Leo's attention snapped to him. "When?"
"Two hours ago. Our people are watching three locations. Nothing confirmed yet."
"He's not stupid enough to stay visible."
"No," Christian agreed. "But he's wounded too. One of your men got a shot in before he went down. Santiago's limping."
Nia felt Leo's hand twitch beneath hers. "Which man?"
"Marco. He didn't make it."
Leo closed his eyes. The fist tightened again.
Nia squeezed gently. She didn't say anything. There was nothing to say.
The doctor finished his work and packed up his supplies. "Mr DeSanto…."
"Save me the lecture…"
"Oh really? You all better keep in check." He said now walking out.
Christian pushed off the desk. "I'll handle the search. You stay put."
"For how long?"
"As long as it takes." Christian's eyes moved to Nia. "Keep him here."
She nodded as Christian moved for the door. Leo's hand turned beneath hers, his fingers wrapping around her palm.
"You don't have to stay," he said quietly.
"I know."
"I'm not good company right now."
"You're never good company."
A breath of something close to amusement escaped him. "True."
"Marco," she said. "Was he close to you?"
"Close enough. He was a good and young soldier. Had a wife, and a kid on the way."
Her throat tightened. "I'm sorry."
"He knew the risks. We all do."
"That doesn't make it easier."
Leo was quiet for a long moment. Then, so softly she almost missed it: "No. It doesn't."
They sat like that for hours before the door opened. Micheal stepped in.
"We found something."
Leo straightened, ignoring the wince. "Santiago?"
"No. Something else." Micheal's eyes moved to Nia. "Jordan."
Nia's blood went cold.
Leo's grip on her hand tightened. "Jordan? Where?"
"Not where. What." Micheal pulled out his phone, scrolling to a photo. He held it out.
The image showed a man's arm. On the wrist, a tattoo of a compass with a broken star.
Nia nodded. "That's him. That's the tattoo I saw."
"We know." Micheal's voice was grim. "The arm belongs to a dead man. Found this morning in a warehouse three blocks from where Alex's body was discovered."
Leo went still. "Jordan's dead?"
"We don't know if it's Jordan. The body's been there a while, decomposed. But the tattoo matches. And there's something else."
He swiped to another photo. A piece of paper, water damaged but still legible with handwritten notes, names, dates, and transactions.
And at the bottom, a single line.
"S.E. – final payment received. Target eliminated. Awaiting further instructions."
Nia stared at the letters. S.E.
Santiago Estrella.
Leo stood abruptly, his face hard. "He didn't just betray us. He's been selling information to someone else. A rival family."
Micheal nodded. "The paper mentions shipments, routes, and guard schedules. He's been feeding them everything for years."
"And Jordan?"
"Jordan was the middleman. The connection between Santiago and whoever's buying. If Jordan's dead, then…"
Nia's mind raced. Alex was dead. Jordan might be dead. Santiago was on the run. But the person buying the information was still out there.
Leo turned to her.
"This changes everything. Santiago isn't just power-hungry. He's working with someone. And if they're willing to kill their own people to cover tracks, they're coming for anyone who knows anything."
He looked at Micheal.
"Get everyone inside. No one leaves the estate until we know more. Double the guards, and find out who's been buying from Santiago."
Micheal nodded and left.
Nia stood there, her heart pounding. Leo moved toward her, ignoring the way his body protested.
"I told you to run if it came to this."
"I remember."
"Now I'm telling you again."
Nia met his eyes. "And I'm telling you the same thing I said before. I'm not good at following orders."
Leo stared at her for a long moment. Then his hand came up, cupping her face gently.
"You're going to get yourself killed."
"Then keep me alive."
His thumb traced her cheekbone. "That's the plan."
He leaned down and kissed her, tasting her lips slowly with so much passion, drawing soft moans from Nia.
When he pulled back, his forehead rested against hers.
"No more pushing you away," he whispered. "I can't do it anymore."
"Good."
"Good."
➣➣➣
A knock came in at midnight.
Nia had dozed off on the couch, Leo's hand still loosely holding hers. She woke up to the sound of Christian's voice.
"We have a problem."
Leo was already sitting up. "What?"
"Santiago's men just hit one of our warehouses. Three guards are dead. They took weapons, cash, and left a message."
He held out a folded piece of paper.
Leo unfolded it. His face went cold upon reading.
Nia leaned over to see.
"The Cimmera's time is ending. New management takes over soon. Tell the girl I'm coming for her last."
Leo crushed the paper in his fist.
"Get everyone armed. I want patrols on every entrance. No one sleeps tonight."
Christian nodded and left. Nia stared at the crushed paper in Leo's hand, at the words meant for her. Leo turned to her.
"You're not leaving my side. Not for a second."
"Then I guess we're stuck together."
"For better or worse.”