Leo
After my call with Mike, I glare at my phone as if he would pop out of it, and then I close the trunk of my car, which is filled with packets of sky-blue powder.
I call Chloe, and it takes me straight to voice mail. I decide to deal with Mike and keep Willow safe before trying to find Chloe. If they will trade Willow for the limbicus.
‘What is my name?’ Asclepius interrupts my train of thought.
‘You know your name. Why are you asking me?’ I let out a deep sigh because I know where this conversation is heading.
‘You know how creating and selling this makes me feel. You were born to heal, Leo. Not to harm.'
'I know,' I respond to my wolf dismissively as I open the door of my car.
'Haven’t you learned anything out of Marcel’s situation? Do you want to take more lives?’
I grimace at his comment before burying my face in my palms. 'No need to make me feel guilty. Luckily, I’m the one who sells limbicus, not you Mr Holy, and I’m Leo, not Asclepius.'
'But we are one, and you know this is going to make me weak,' he whimpers.
I exhale, and try to reason with him. Asclepius is usually snarky and every time he whimpers, I always feel guilty.
Asclepius, the god of medicine is a blessing and a curse. Unfortunately for me, if I do something that hurts others without a good reason, my wolf gets distressed and a little weak.
'I don’t have a choice. I don’t...'
The ringing of my phone puts our conversation to a stop and I smile for the first time today. This is probably what I need to distract me while I drive and our conversation will put my agitation to a stop until I arrive at the ‘workshop’.
“Leo, I’m in the middle of a crisis.” She breathes.
“Me too,” I say dryly, as I put the phone on speaker and drive out of the parking lot. Bracing myself for some fashion crisis or helping her decide what to eat at a buffet.
"I called you to tell you about my crisis, not vice versa. If you want to tell me about your crisis, call me first." She murmurs.
"What a sweet, loving sister you are." I retort. “What’s your crisis, Jess?”
“I need to pick an outfit. I have a date, and I would like your opinion. May I switch to FaceTime?” Her voice instantly turns from sassy to sweet and innocent.
“I’m driving, and who the hell are going out with? I feel sorry for the poor guy.”
“Don't be a hater because you don't want to give anyone your heart. It's no one you know.”
"I thought you were all about mates." I tease.
"I’m just having fun."
"And my sister is a player," I chuckle.
"I’ll take that as a compliment, especially coming from a big player himself." She laughs.
My phone rings, and Romeo’s name appears on my screen.
"There’s a call that I need to take. Have fun on your date. Love you."
"You suck," she groans. "Love you too."
“Talk to me,” I say to Romeo.
“I can’t find Chloe.” He breathes.
My skin runs cold as reasons of what could go wrong race in my mind. Is there something wrong with the plane? Or perhaps Mike’s people found her first.
"Damn!" I slightly hit my steering wheel when I get to a red traffic light.
"Calm down, man."
"There is no way in hell I would calm down. Chloe's life is in danger!" I grumble.
"I will find her," he says calmly.
‘Finally, you are showing some protectiveness over your mate.’ My wolf chimes in.
'Yes, and I'm going to marry her,' I retort.
“Do it ASAP. Did she book any flights?” I ask Romeo.
"Yes, my source tells me she booked a flight to Seattle. She will be boarding in two hours. I will find her." He says confidently.
"Find her before she gets here. Unless they already got to her in New York. I have to go, keep me updated."
My phone rings the moment I get off the phone with Romeo, and my hand shakes as I stare at the caller ID.
"Chloe?" I say. The uncertainty in my voice unmasked.
"Leo?" She breathes.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, why do you sound worried?" She asks.
"Thank goodness you are okay." I exhale.
"Am I not supposed to be okay? You sound worried. Wait, did someone post fake news about me again? What did they say this time?"
"No, never mind." I try to dismiss the topic.
"Are you going to be able to get me from the airport or should I hunt you down myself? I don't know why you are avoiding me. I love you, Leo." The plea in her voice makes me feel guilty.
I wince at her last words, but Asclepius howls with joy. We agreed that I was her ornament boyfriend. Just someone to show off, but I knew that this would happen.
I take a deep breath before telling her the truth. If she knows what's going on, she will probably change her mind about coming to Seattle. "Someone kidnapped Willow, and I’m trying to get her back."
"What? My sister has been kidnapped? How do you know she had been kidnapped?" The panic in her voice confuses me.
"The kidnappers called me."
"Oh, my God!" She sniffles. "Do you know who it could be or what they want? I can call a private investigator."
"Wait, are you panicking? And are you crying?"
"Of course, I’m panicking! She is my sister, and my only sibling." She says impatiently.
"But you are always hell-bent on ruining her life. You almost ruined her career, and you wanted to be with me to hurt her."
"Yes, but that doesn’t mean I want her to die or anyone, except me to hurt her. I have my reasons for doing this. And as for you, I genuinely love you."
"I don’t have time right now, I would like to hear about the reasons another time and your love for me. Can I go save your sister?"
"I’m coming too." She says decisively.
"Hopefully, she will be okay by the time you get here."
"I want to know who did this, and I’m going to kill him."
I call Mike when I get to the driveway of their delivery garage and the gate opens immediately. I drive into the yard, and then the garage when I find seven identical black cars waiting. As usual Mike doesn't trust anyone he does business with. The limbicus is usually packed in a single car, and then the cars leave and go in different directions.
Then they switch the drugs between cars at different locations.
Marcus gets out of one of the cars, and the doors of the other cars open too, revealing his companions, and I find myself surrounded by ten men I have never seen before. With no sign of Willow.
**************
Hello You. You are still here? This is surreal and an honor. Thank you for reading my story so far, I really appreciate it. You are wonderful, don't forget that❤️.