Leo
I stare at Mike’s text, and my hands start shaking. He will always use Willow to keep me in this illegal business, and if anything ever happened to her, I could never forgive myself.
She has been through so much already, with her family, her boyfriend getting married and spending a night in a forest with wolves.
I take a deep breath while Professor Malino’s words echo in my mind, ‘You are not a coward.’
I call Mike, and the moment he picks up, I don’t give him a chance to say another word. “I told you I wasn’t around! You’ll get the merch tomorrow, and don’t you dare test me, Mike! You can't threaten a man's family.”
“My customers are soon going to experience withdrawal symptoms. If you love your sister, you will make the delivery by tonight.” He says calmly, and then he hangs up.
I throw my phone on the bed, and I pace back and forth in my room. If Willow finds out that I’m the creator of limbicus, she is really going to hate me for the rest of my life. If something happens to her, I'm going to hate myself forever.
I decide to buy myself time by continuing to sell limbicus, while I think of how to deal with Mike. Then, I call Professor Malino.
“Are you okay, honey?” She asks when she answers the phone.
“I’m okay, mom.”
“What do you want?” Her voice is filled with amusement and joy.
“What do you mean?” I feign ignorance.
“Leo, you never call me mom, unless you want something.”
“Your words break my heart. I’m really hurt.”
“I was about to call you, anyway. Did you receive the email? You are no longer Doctor Brown. You are now Professor Brown. We must celebrate this!”
“We will celebrate when my life gets less chaotic. I need you to teach my classes today. Please, mom.”
“I knew you wanted something, you rascal.” She titters. “Do you want to talk about what is making your life chaotic?”
“The less you know about it, the better.” I sigh.
“I respect your privacy, but I hope it’s not illegal stuff.”
“Nothing illegal here. I love you Professor Mom.”
After hanging up, I feel guilty for lying to Professor Malino, but I push it down and I drive to Tacoma and I spend the rest of the day making limbicus.
When I’m done, I call Mike.
“I knew you would come through." The arrogance in his voice makes me clench my fists. "Hang on, let me call my men to stand down. They were already on their way to your sister. I hope they answer the phone. I wouldn’t want your sister to have more scars. I saw her on the internet. She seems brave. Brave enough to work for me.”
"Mike!" I bellow.
"I'll send my bodyguards to our spot. Pleasure doing business with you."
I drive as fast as I can, and I find Mike’s bodyguards waiting for me. I hand the package over to them, and I take the money in return.
Dammit, Willow! This is partly her fault. Why did she go to the club that night? THC club out of all clubs. Why did I say she was my sister?
I drive to campus with as much speed as possible, cursing Mike every time I reach a red traffic light. My heart beats faster than the time we were at Carkeek Park, and the distance seems longer.
I bolt out of the car when I arrive on campus, and I bang on Willow’s door like a madman.
“Doctor Brown?” Willow looks up at me and takes a few steps back.
I sigh with relief when I see her. Did Mike manage to find his goons?
When the worry has worn off, I freeze and shamelessly stare at her. I haven’t seen her dressed up before. She is wearing a simple dress, but she is so beautiful.
“Really? Why are you calling me Doctor Brown?” I eye her suspiciously at her sudden formality, and I wonder if Liam is inside.
“Well...” She falters.
“You look beautiful, by the way.” I blurt out and realize that I have been looking up and down her body with a smirk. Her cheeks turn bright red, and she breaks eye contact.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “But I have scars.”
“I know, and they look new, but scars tell stories.” I stare at them, and I wince, while thinking about how she might have had a traumatic experience during our day and night at Carkeek Park. “And I’m curious to know how you got them.” I continue.
“Why?” Her eyes widen.
“I’m just curious.” I shrug nonchalantly. “But I also need an excuse to listen to your soothing voice when you tell me about each scar and your adventures. Then I would touch every scar and remind you of how brave you have been.”
“Leo, which poet are quoting?” She keeps her gaze on the floor, while she fidgets with her hands. Is she shy?
A laugh escapes my lips. “Are you going to let me in? It’s very cold out here.” I fake my teeth chatter, and she laughs in response.
“Do you think it’s a good idea? Our interactions in private never end well.” She gives me an embarrassed smile.
My cock throbs at the images that she stirs with her words. She has no idea of the impact she has on me.
“I promise to be on my best behaviour if you will behave yourself as well.” I manage a smirk.
She motions for me to get in.
I steal a glance at the bulging on my groin, the memory of our kiss on my couch creeping up on me.
Damn! This is a wrong time. I’m here just to protect her from Mike's crazy goons.
She offers me food, but I decline.
“Are you not going to scold me?” She asks when I sit on the couch.
“For what?” I look at her in confusion. Why would I scold her?
“For not going to class and doing my job.” She hands me a bottle of water.
“Oh! That? I’m more curious about your stories about the wolf. Who did you guys kill?”
“No one. It’s a long story.” She sits next to me, but keeps her distance.
“I have time.”
“Not today, Leo.”
I smile at the way she casually says my name.
“Are you also not going to tell me about your wounds?” I pout playfully.
“Nope.” She pauses and stares at my face. "Your eyes...”
“What about them?” I look at her in confusion. Surely if my wolf surfaced, I would know.
“They remind me of a good friend of mine.”
“Who?”
“It’s a wolf.”
“Oh! Wolf girl...I need warm water to help wash your scars.” I ignore her confused stare. Even if she suspects something, she is a scientist, she would never believe in the existence of werewolves.
I place my small shoulder bag on the table, and I take out gloves and aloe powder to wash her scars.
She flinches as I touch her scars, and my heart breaks for her pain.
“How did you take a shower?” I ask her.
“That was a hard task. I flinched so many times, I’m glad that the wolf was looking away. I will do anything for the wolf, you know.”
“Liam doesn’t deserve you.” I blurt out.
“I love him, and I’m the one who doesn’t deserve him.” Her jaw tightens.
“Really?” I raise a brow.
“Yes.”
“But he doesn’t care about you. He cares about Lucy.”
“People don’t know that he is married to Lucy, but you do. You said it when I was at the hospital. How did you know? Are you guys a part of some cult?”
“That would be weird. No, I’m a stalker, like you said. So, him and I have an unfinished business, and I spy on him.”
“Being in a cult is weird, but being a stalker is not weird?” She titters. “So, it’s true that you are putting me in the middle of your feud?”
“It’s not like that. I would never do that to you. Willow, you are smart, but not smart enough to see through him? Don’t let love turn you into a fool.”
“Get out of my room.” She mumbles.
“Fine!” I place take out the wound cream from my company and I place it on the table, then I stomp out of the room.