Heartfelt phonecall
LEO
“Welcome home, dear.” Cheryl was at the door, hugging my exhausted body. I held her close, inhaling a bit of her delicious scent. It helps me when I'm this exhausted.
“I’d have been long dead if I didn't have you to come home to.”
She laughed, hitting my back playfully. “Don't tease me.”
“I'm not. I wouldn't dare.” She's literally my pillar. And every day I go on my knees and thank the moon goddess that I didn't lose her to my little recklessness a few years back.
“Bryan's asleep?” He was our little boy.
“Mmm-hmm. Go take a shower. And come downstairs for dinner.” She said, letting me go.
I nodded obligingly, heading for the stairs while she disappeared into the kitchen. I had a thorough hot water bath, and my phone was buzzing when I stepped out of the bathroom.
I grabbed it from the bed and had a moment of hesitation when I saw who it was.
Richard.
Strange. He's never called in the last three years.
I swiped receive and slowly brought the phone to my ears, waiting for him to speak first.
“Leonardo.” His voice was the same as always.
“Richard.” I was inwardly ecstatic about hearing from him again. But I couldn't show it. A part of me was still mad at him for locking me out so viciously. And not even coming to visit my boy.
“Sorry for calling so late…”
“Nah, it's fine. What's up?” Who am I kidding? The excitement I was feeling was already taking over my voice. C'mon, I've missed him. I've missed us as a trio.
“Vince wants the tower building.”
So that's why he called? Classic.
“Yeah, I know that.”
“Why?”
“I don't know. He says it's business. There's no personal reason involved.”
“Do you believe that?”
Fuck, why's he asking me that? Of course, I don't believe it.
“Do you really think he's been making me sign off on my major properties just for business? Isn't it obvious he's getting back at me for something?”
Of course, he is; that vengeful soul.
“Listen, man, I'd rather not get involved in this. If you're so damn curious, then you should be calling Vince, not me.”
“As always, you're gonna pretend not to know anything just to cover up for him.”
That rendered me speechless.
“I've always found your loyalty to Vince very interesting. I mean, why couldn't I have a bit of that too? We were friends, all three of us.”
“I was loyal to you both. I just couldn't tell you what he was doing with Elena because I thought it wasn't mine to tell.”
But God, I regretted it. I regretted it so much, but if I'm taken back to those times, I'm afraid I'll still cover up for Vince again.
My loyalty to him indeed is disgustingly strong and sometimes I hate myself for it. Because I'm honest enough to admit that Vince is the villain sometimes. And I should be opposing him, not sticking by his side.
“She was my favourite daughter —”
“Okay, that's enough, Richard. Please.” I couldn't hear any more of it. I shouldn't. It'll resuscitate the guilt I've felt for so long.
“I already apologized for it and you were unwilling to forgive me. So please, let's not even discuss that anymore. It's all in the past. Vince is doing great. Elena's doing better. They've all moved on.”
“He wouldn't be making me sell off my major properties if he's moved on.” Richard countered.
True. Now what else do I say? I hate being trapped in the middle like this.
“I can't let Vince get close to my daughter again. He already ruined her enough.”
I completely agree, but at the same time, I don't. Vince needs Elena…I know that's wrong, but it needs to happen again.
“Even if he asks for my Pack, I'll give it, in exchange for him never getting close to my daughter again. I can't watch my little girl fall apart because of him again.”
I sat on my bed, listening to Richard's voice with a heavy heart. He seems to be trauma-dumping. Like he needed a friend to talk to. Good thing he chose to call me. I'm always gonna be his friend, regardless.
“She's doing better now. She's a great daughter and mother.”
Right. Vince has a daughter. Sometimes, I tend to forget that.
“How's the little girl doing?” I asked.
“Great. She's the prettiest thing, Leonardo.” The pride and hurt in his voice made my heart break.
A rough reminder that Vince hasn't gone to see the girl since she was born. How much that must have hurt Richard. How much that must have broken Elena.
“I'm sorry…” I couldn't hold it back anymore. I owe him that. Vince owes him more. “I’m really sorry, man.”
And to God, I tried convincing Vince to go see the baby. We even argued about it. I took a few punches from him, in my reckless bid to make him change his mind. But he wouldn't budge. I never understood why.
A tight silence settled between Richard and me. It was like our hearts were silently forgiving each other; comforting each other.
“How's your boy? I bet he looks so much like Cheryl. It'd be devastating if he got your looks.”
I chuckled tearfully. He finally acknowledged my boy.
“Why? Aren't my looks good enough?”
“Yeah, they're dangerously good. And that's more of a disadvantage than an advantage. Our little girls would be at risk. Now if he looks like Cheryl, he's gonna be good-looking, but in a very gentle and less dangerous way.”
I laughed. “Yeah, right.” God, this feels good. Getting teased by Richard again. It feels so fucking good.
“I hope you're safe. The rogues are onto you next.” He quietly added. I fell oddly silent.
“You can send Cheryl and your son to some other place. It's not because the rogues are gonna succeed in overtaking your Pack. It's just for safety reasons.”
Just like Vince suggested. They both think alike most of the time.
“Yeah, I plan on it.” I rubbed my teary eyes. “Thanks…Richard.”
“Stay safe.” He said.
“Wait,” I blurted out before he could end the call. “I heard you invited sorcerers over.”
He hesitated.
“Yes. I had to do something to help my people.”
“Is it safe though? You know how we felt about them in the past. Are you sure it's safe for you to suddenly embrace them?”
“I can't bet that it's safe. But I can't be an Alpha who sits around and does nothing to help my people either.”
I nodded, ruffling my hair. “I get it. Just…be careful, please. You can't completely trust them.”
“Thanks.”
“I'll…be seeing you at Don-El party tomorrow?” I asked.
Don-El was the last company we co-owned, all three of us. It's the last one Vince hasn't made him sell his share of.
There will be a tenth anniversary party tomorrow. Richard has to be there. I mean, if he wants. It's not a necessity though. I just wanna see him again.
“No, I'd rather not. I don't wanna see Vince. We might argue and turn the place into a mess. I wanna avoid that.”
“I understand,” but the disappointment was hurting me.
“Bye Leonardo.”
“Bye, Richard.”
The call ended.
I couldn't easily process the emotions swelling in my heart. But I knew one thing— it felt great talking to him again.