Chapter 129 – Fire in the Heart

Something totally special.

I’m going to hear that often, aren’t I?

Absolutely.

Once I have said goodbye to the Rossis, I get into the car. Alessandra isn’t around, but I met her in the morning before she left. Leo leans over, shutting the door for me and kissing me softly. I kiss him back before he straps me in, and we begin our journey. We will drop Song off at home and then return home…

We dropped Song off over an hour ago and stopped at the service station for McDonald’s. It has taken a little longer with an accident on the motorway, but we should be home within the hour.

Home. I smile softly, sitting back in my seat as I finish my fries off. Corrado has fallen asleep in the back after eating. Leo is tracing circles on my thigh, making sparks dance, his eyes on the road.

“Any ideas exactly how I will heal you? Maybe you have to, like, drink my blood.” He cocks an eyebrow, smirking, and I know before he even opens that sexy mouth of his, he is going to mock me. I shove a few fries into his mouth. “Don’t you dare,” I warn. He swallows and is about to reply when his phone rings. He accepts the call as the music lowers.

“Leo, you need to get back here!” Jax’s voice is strained. My heart lurches as I wonder what is going on. I have never heard Jax sound so… distraught? Leo’s heart is racing, and his entire body looks tense.

“Update.” His voice is icy as he slams his foot on the accelerator, speeding up. I am thrown back into my seat as the speed increases super fast. I can hear shouting in the background of the call. Jax takes a shaky breath.

“Three is down.”

Suddenly Leo’s face pales, and his foot hits the brake, making the car jolt. A horn blares from behind, and we narrowly miss the lorry as Leo pulls us back into our lane, speeding up again. My heart is thundering as Corrado stirs in the back. Three? Who is three?

“Jax, what happened?” I ask.

“Shane… he’s dead.” His voice barely hides his anguish,making my blood run cold. Turning to Leo, I realise he has just lost another loved one. Leo’s eyes are blazing.

“What happened?” The passing cars are a blur as he rushes to get back.

“He and Dan were performing some tests -“

“She’s dead…fuck!” Ace’s voice comes from the background.

“Shit… Leo, get back here. I’ll tell you everything then.”

“No, tell me, who is Ace talking about?” Leo threatens. His heart is thundering no matter how in control he is acting.

“Jackie. She tried to sedate him, but he… fuck. I’m sorry, Leo, but she’s dead.”

My heart sinks, horror enveloping me, and my ears ring. Leo’s shock and pain begin seeping through the bond, mixing with my own. I know they were close, but the pain I am feeling in my chest is intense. She was dear to him. Like a sister to him.

Tears sting my eyes as memories of them as children flash in my head. Him promising to be there for her always…

My heart bleeds for the man I love. He has just lost two of his closest people in the blink of an eye… just when he has begun mending his broken bonds. She will never know that Leo will be okay… I never got to thank her for caring. She had an entire future in front of her… I wish I had called her last night… Goddess…

I run my shaking fingers through my hair as Leo begins questioning Jax.

“… Details now.” His voice is so cold and void of emotions that I almost don’t recognise it. How is he able to hide his pain? I feel his walls go up, and once more, he is in Alpha mode.

“Dan and Shane were conducting some tests; we were all fucking there, this shouldn’t have happened, but… I don’t fuckin-“

“Fuck it, get to the point,” Ace’s voice comes in a menacing growl, but it is his next words that shake me to the core. “Judah,the dead guy, well, he wasn’t fucking dead. He’s gone, Leo, and I’ll tell you one fucking thing. He ain’t no werewolf.”

Those words sink in, settling into the pit of my stomach, the sheer weight of what has just happened shocking me to the very core.

Will I ever see the end of Judah, or will he forever torment me? That is until he destroys me completely because he’s coming.

He’s coming for me.

To be continued….

Read on in

Leo Rossi: The Rise of a True Alpha

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