LEO
Silence follows, and I take a drag on my cigarette. He knows we are together now, which should have taken the fucking shock factor out of this call.
"Are you following so I can fucking continue?" I hear him blow out a short breath.
"Leo, this is a surprise…"
"It shouldn’t really be one considering you obviously know I have overcome my issues somewhat."
"Your issues?"
I smirk humourlessly, "We both know I was the one who had the issues, right? I accept that if that’s what you want. Let’s not sugarcoat that shit. Is Scarlett there?" I am sure she is.
"Yes, I'm here. Hello, Leo."
"Hi," I reply, smoking my cigarette.
"I'm glad the two of you have sorted things out," she adds.
"But I'm assuming you’re still angry, and I don’t fucking blame you. I hurt her, and I know an apology isn’t going to change that shit, but still… I'm sorry. What I did is not something that can just be swept under the rug." It isn’t easy to apologise, but when it comes to her… for her, it becomes fucking easier.
"You aren’t wrong," Elijah replies quietly.
"I know my apology is just a fucking word, but I will prove to be a better person for her. I’ll keep her happy, and I’ll sure as fuck take care of her. She’s my responsibility now, and I assure you that she’s in good hands." I smirk at those words, remembering how good her ass looked in my hand…
They are silent for a moment, and I know they are probably conversing through the mind link. The only thing I hate about phone calls is that you can’t deduce a person’s facial expression to figure out what they are thinking. After another long moment, Elijah speaks,
"I’m glad you two have sorted it out. I was angry, but it’s not the first time I’ve had to see one of my daughters go through something like this… I hope, like Alejandro, you will treat her well."
"I won’t treat her like Alejandro treats Kiara. I plan to treat her way better," I reply, and I fucking mean it. "Your daughter is about to become Luna on this coming full moon, and I wanted to personally call and invite all her loved ones to be here for it. You are welcome to come at any time, even if it’s days prior to the ceremony." I run my fingers through my hair before I continue, "The Sangue Pack extends a hand of friendship to the Blood Moon, and I… I promise that the Sangue Pack will be there for the Blood Moon if ever the need arises." And I fucking mean it.
Scarlett lets out a small laugh, but I can tell she is emotional.
"Well, he’s sure better with words than Alejandro." Obviously.
"I’ll withhold my judgement until I see how you treat her and how happy she is," Elijah responds, not as impressed as his counterpart. "We will be there."
"Great, please pass on the message to whomever else you think she’d like here."
"We will," Elijah answers.
"Is Azura there?" Scarlett asks.
"No, she isn't - I didn’t really inform her I was about to call," I reply, thinking this is weird. These are practically my in-laws… ones who I used to call the Elite. It’s crazy how such a short time around her has made me realise things, accept them, and move on. I feel lighter.
"Well, we appreciate your call, Leo. I will look forward to seeing you soon," Scarlett speaks.
"Yeah," Elijah agrees begrudgingly. "The call was… welcomed."
"Then… until we meet… take care."
I'll see Elijah at the meeting; I am sure Alejandro may have filled him in a little, and I had made it clear to him not to mention Azura. I don't want him associated with Azura, nor do I want her parents to think she hid crap from them. When she wants, she'll tell them, preferably when they come down. Face to face.
"Goodbye, give Azura our love," Scarlett says.
"I will."
"See you soon," Elijah adds before we end the call, and I toss it onto the bed, exhaling.
"Was it hard?"
My eyes snap up to see Azura enter the room. I was so fucking consumed in the conversation I didn’t even realise she was approaching, despite the door being open a crack. She is a presence I don’t need to be on edge around, nor did my wolf tense at her presence. Rather his excitement and hunger becomes clearer.
"Is anything fucking hard for me?" I ask cockily. Aside from staying away from you? She smirks.
"Yeah, not getting turned on so fast," she teases, locking the door behind herself and walking over to me. She has a fucking point… I am already getting turned on by the look in her eyes alone right now. Smirking, she pushes me back onto the bed, and I let her climb on top of me.
"That’s not exactly in my fucking control when you're always looking fucking hotter than the Sahara."
"Mama isn’t wrong. You really are a smooth talker," she murmurs seductively, kissing me softly. I kiss her back, brushing her hair that now curtains her face out of the way.
"I'm sorry that all this shit is so fucking messy… when it’s all over and done with, I’ll make it up to you. Not just all this fucking stress, but what I did to you, too. We’re going on our honeymoon," I promise, brushing my knuckles down her cheek. She closes her eyes, enjoying my touch.
"You’ve already made it up to me, Leo… but I'm not passing up on that honeymoon. Although I wouldn’t mind just being stuck in a room with you for the entire trip." Her eyes flutter open, and I can’t help but admire how fucking beautiful she is. In every fucking way. "You know… I'm a little weird, quite crazy, super impulsive, and just pretty much a psycho… I’m the Westwood Devil." She smiles wryly, and I don’t speak, letting her continue even though I want to refute her. She is way fucking more than that. "But… somehow, you make me feel like I'm the most incredible, beautiful, amazing girl in the world and make me feel like I truly am the only one you want. I love you, Leo Rossi. My incredible, sexy, and perfectly smoking hot, bad boy. I truly am madly, deeply, and insanely in love with you."
Hearing those words is indescribable. The emotions it evokes in me… fuck, she is more than my all. Her heart is pounding, and I don’t need her confirmation to tell me this is the first time she is professing her love. There is a vulnerability in her voice as if it is the first time she is baring her heart and soul to me. Guess that makes two of us. This thing between us is at a level that nothing else compares. I cup her face, brushing my thumbs across her cheeks.
"Never thought hearing those words could fucking make me feel crazy like this…" I whisper huskily, tugging her close as my lips graze hers, making a beautiful sigh fall from her lips. "I love you, too, baby girl. You’re Leo Rossi’s Devil now. My beautiful, wild psycho. I fucking wouldn’t change that shit for anything. You aren’t just my all, Azura… you are the light I fucking need, the push to keep me fighting, and the force to keep me grounded. You’re the one for me," I murmur the words against her lips, listening to the rhythm of her heartbeat before we kiss once more, a move that always feels like it is the first time… yet so perfect that it is as if we have perfected it since the beginning of time.
We break apart, her breathing heavier as she whispers the words, "I'm proud of the man you have become, Leo… I truly am."
Her approval is all that fucking matters.
-----
Evening has come and I have just come back from a light jog, needing it to clear my head after the hours I have poured over those old books. Azura had fallen asleep with one of the books in hand, and I cover her up before taking a quick shower, since the meeting is in under an hour. I have just stepped out of the bathroom and am pulling on some boxers when my phone rings. I grab it quickly, not wanting to disturb her, and frown when I realise it is Dan.
"Yeah?" I ask. If he called it means he is out of range. "Where are you?"
"At the location for the dinner." I know exactly where he means and nod.
"How’s it coming along?" I ask just as the phone beeps and Ace is added to the call.
"It’s coming along fine. Security is impeccable, escape routes if needed, surveillance hidden in plain sight. I think we got it covered," Dan replies confidently.
"Oh, we have. This dinner’s going to be pretty… explosive," Ace adds.
"Well, Schurke Wolf isn’t someone to mess with, and neither are we. Three nights from now…" Dan agrees.
"Yeah, it’s time Web realises that you don’t mess with us," Ace’s cold reply follows. I can hear the anger in his voice. I sit down on the bed, propping one leg up and resting my arm on it as I lean my head back against the headboard.
"Heimtückische Wölfe has yet to bend to someone. We never have, and we never will. This dinner will give us what we want, or we will do it the hard way," I say. I hear the change in Azura’s heartbeat as she stirs and frowns slightly. "I’ll speak to you two soon." I end the call and place my phone down as she sits up sleepily. Her eyes are keen, despite the sleep in them.
"What dinner? What’s Heim… Wolf?" She asks.
I stare at her, and the sudden cold realisation that she actually doesn’t know my truth hits me like a fucking freight train, and I know from the questioning look in her eyes that I will have to tell her. How do you fucking tell the woman you love that you’re the boss of a cartel? How will she even react to that? I guess there is only one fucking way to find out.
"Heimtückische Wölfe is the name of my organisation," I reply, looking at her with my eyes void of emotion. "The name of my cartel.