Lost Point

Rory POV

Footsteps scraped close, that cough cutting the night, and Leo’s phone buzzed loud, sharp in his pocket. My heart raced, my hand sweaty in his, and I spun, eyes wide, seeing that skinny dealer vest loose, stare cold watching us. “Leo ” I said, my voice cracking, but he yanked me forward, his grip shaky, his breath fast. “Move,” he hissed, his eyes darting back, and we ran fast, hard my sneakers pounding, the shadow fading behind us. My chest heaved, my legs shaky, and we didn’t stop ‘til his door slammed shut, my back against it, panting loud.

Next day, work hit us hard. Mitch called us in face red, voice flat standing by the bar with papers in his hand. “Suspended,” he said, his eyes narrow, slapping the sheets down. “Both of you. Caught on the floor unprofessional. Stay home ‘til we sort it.” My stomach dropped, my hands cold, and Leo stiffened jaw tight, fists clenched nodding slow. My chest buzzed mad, scared and I grabbed his arm, my fingers digging in, but he didn’t look at me, just stared at the floor.

“Sort what?” I said, my voice shaky, stepping closer. Mitch shrugged short, mean his boots scuffing as he turned.

“Investigation,” he muttered, his eyes flicking away. “Don’t call us we’ll call you.” My throat burned, my legs shaky, and I wanted to yell punch something but Leo pulled me out, his hand tight, his breath fast. The casino faded slots quiet, lights dim and my chest squeezed, fear sinking in.

That night, we hit a bar not ours, some dive down the street needing air, needing us. The air stunk beer, smoke, sweat and the jukebox hummed low, voices loud around us. My hands shook, my head spinning suspended, caught, that shadow and Leo sat close, his knee bumping mine, his eyes jumpy. My chest buzzed soft, mad and I leaned into him, my hand brushing his thigh, wanting him near.

Then it started whispers, fast and sharp, cutting through the noise. A guy big, loud, beard messy leaned over the bar, his voice booming. “Heard Leo’s why Mia’s gone,” he said, his eyes on us, his grin mean. “Frankie says he ditched her owes big, ran her off.” My heart stopped, my breath stuck, and I turned slow, cold watching Leo. His face went still pale, hard his eyes blank, unreadable. My stomach flipped scared, mad was there truth in it?

“Shut up,” I said, my voice low, my hands balling into fists. He laughed loud, rough slamming his glass down, beer splashing wet.

“Nah, your boy’s dirty,” he yelled, his finger jabbing at Leo. “Frankie’s spilling it gambling, Mia, all tied up.” My chest burned, my legs shaky, and I stood fast, hard my chair scraping loud. Leo grabbed my arm quick, stiff his hand cold, but I yanked free, my eyes on the guy.

“Say it again,” I growled, my voice shaking, my hands trembling. He smirked big, ugly and shoved off the bar, stepping close, his breath stinking of booze.

“Leo’s trash dumped Mia, screwed you too,” he said, loud and mean, shoving Leo’s shoulder hard. Leo stumbled silent, stiff his eyes still blank, and my chest snapped hot, wild done hiding, done taking it.

I punched the bar hard, fast glass shattering loud under my fist, shards cutting my knuckles red. “He’s mine!” I yelled, my voice cracking, my breath fast. “Frankie’s a liar shut your mouth!” The bar froze eyes wide, whispers dead and the guy stepped back, his smirk gone, his hands up. My chest heaved, my hand stinging, and I grabbed Leo’s shirt, pulling him close cocky, loud our first stand out here, together.

“Rory ” Leo said, his voice low, his hands shaky on my arms. My heart raced, my eyes on his soft, scared and I smirked small, fierce blood dripping from my knuckles. The crowd stared some cheering low, some sneering sharp and I didn’t care, my chest buzzing us, unashamed.

“Let’s go,” I said, my voice rough, lacing my bloody fingers with his tight, sure. He nodded slow, shaky his grip cold, and we walked out, heads high, my heart pounding mad, proud, scared. Eyes followed nods, glares and my chest swelled, my hand throbbing, holding him close.

At home, the world closed in dark, heavy, tight. I locked the door, my breath fast, and turned grabbing him hard, my hands fisting his shirt. “Leo,” I said, my voice breaking, and kissed him fierce, wild my lips smashing his, my tongue pushing in. He groaned deep, needy his hands grabbing my hips, pulling me tight. My chest buzzed hot, scared and I kissed harder, tasting beer and him, my hands sliding under his shirt.

“Rory,” he gasped, his voice rough, his lips swollen, kissing me back fast, desperate. My legs shook, my heart racing, and I pressed closer chest to chest my hands roaming his back, warm and solid. His fingers dug into my sides hard, shaky and my throat burned, my chest tight clinging to him, to us, against everything.

We sank to the couch messy, tangled my knees on either side, his hands yanking my shirt off. My breath hitched loud, fast and I kissed his neck wet, fierce my hands in his hair, pulling tight. “I got you,” I muttered, my voice low, my lips on his jaw. He nodded quick, scared his arms wrapping me tight, and my chest ached soft, fierce loving him loud.

Later, I sat shirtless, sweaty my hand bandaged, my eyes on him. He paced slow, stiff his jaw tight, his hands twitching. “Frankie’s lying,” I said, my voice soft, my chest heavy. He stopped fast, cold his eyes blank again, and my stomach flipped ominous, dark like Mia’s ghost was here.

“Yeah,” he mumbled, his voice flat, his back turning quick. My throat tightened, my hands cold something unreadable in him, something scared and I stood, my legs shaky, watching him close up.

A knock hit soft, late on the door. My heart jumped, my breath fast, and Leo spun eyes wide, hands clenched. “Who ” I said, my voice cracking, stepping close. Mitch stood outside face grim, coat wet when I opened it slow, my chest tight.

“Rory,” he said, his voice low, his eyes flicking to Leo. “We need to talk alone.” My stomach dropped cold, hard and I glanced at Leo stiff, silent my hand brushing his arm.

“About what?” I said, my voice shaky, my chest buzzing. Mitch leaned in close, quiet his breath sour.

“Stay away from Leo if you want your job back,” he muttered, his eyes hard. “Investigation’s deep trouble’s coming.” My heart stopped my legs shaky and I gripped the door hard, bloody my eyes on Leo, pale and still.

“Rory ” Leo said, his voice breaking, stepping closer, but a light flashed sharp, red outside, cutting him off. My breath stuck my chest tight and I turned fast, scared seeing shadows move two, three by the window, voices low and rough. Leo grabbed my hand cold, shaky and my heart raced wild, fierce watching the door shake, a fist pounding hard as the night cracked open.