Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

47. Speaking the Truth

LEO.

Two hours had passed, and I was working with Ace, Jax, Dan and Li Sheng. There was so much I fucking needed to deal with, and although it felt like everything was fucking spiralling out of control, I would fix it.

Emmet had grabbed the chair when I had been distracted by the sheer shock of his revelation. He had slammed it into my back with such force, the leg had ripped through my clothes and back. But I had been far too wrapped up in my own thoughts to realise what had happened, until he was dragged away to his cell, and my men had begun worrying over me. *

The dull ache remained in my back, but it was healing quickly enough. I had had it cleaned and bandaged by one of the guards, not wanting to waste time by going down to the hospital.

“Alright, I need to get going. Start the preparations, Ace you need to get to Web. Dan, check Emmet‘s laptop and office, see if you can find any bank statements or if he has any accounts that we don‘t know of, or in any other names. Li Sheng have Emmet‘s apartment searched, I‘ll let Jackie know in advance, so hold up until I give you the order. Jax, try to find out exactly where he created these bullets. I want to know where he got the funding to create that much without me even fucking realising...” I ordered, frowning as I snapped my laptop shut. “Get ready to execute both options.” 4

“Are you sure these are the only options?” Jax asked, frowning slightly. I had told the five of them about the bullets, having no other option but to bring in all the force I can, and to execute the retrieval of the bullets.

“If Plan A fails, then yeah, this is the only way, but let‘s focus on Plan A first. Send our buyer to him, offer him whatever he wants, but I want all those bullets back at any price.”

“This is going to cost us a lot...” Ace frowned.

“It doesn‘t matter, I‘m not going to risk those bullets out there... if he refuses or doesn‘t have answers, then we‘ll do this via Plan B. Have everything prepared for that too. I need to have a word with Marcel, but I‘ll be available via the mind link throughout. Tonight, I‘ll meet you all at Kingdom of Sin.” I stood up when Ace sat forward, sighing.

“What if you asked Alejandro Rossi for assistance?” He said quietly. I frowned, maybe I needed to... I knew I could deal with this shit myself, but the more manpower, the faster the job gets done

“I needed to talk to him anyway... I‘ll see what happens. I‘m still going to deal with this myself. “I turned and left the office.

Mind linking Jackie, I asked her to come to the large oak tree that wasn‘t far from Marcel‘s mansion, and wasn‘t too far from the hospital either. I had already been given a change of clothes after Emmet‘s attack, and so I was going to head straight to Marcel‘s after meeting Jackie. It was already late in the afternoon; work had taken fucking longer than I had expected it to.

‘Eric, have you been keeping an eye on Azura?‘ ‘Yes, I have. She went to Alpha Marcel‘s around lunch, and since then she hasn‘t left the mansion.‘ She had been on my mind, and although I knew I fucking hurt her last night, there was nothing I planned to do about it. I didn‘t want her getting attached. 6 Ok thanks, I‘m headed over there myself, I‘ll take over watching her.‘ ‘Anytime Alpha. Marcel probably invited her over for dinner too... Why am I not fucking surprised. “Leo.” I turned to see Jackie hurrying over. “Hey.” I greeted.

Her eyes searched mine before she looked me over, and I knew she was assessing me.

“You need to take it easy.” She said quietly, glancing around.

“I‘m fine. I called you because of something I learned about Emmet.” Her face fell and I switched to mind linking. ‘He had stolen a formula of mine and has sold a pretty large number to someone dangerous... I need to have a search of your apartment take place just to see if we can find out any more details. I’m really sorry it‘s come to this, but it‘s got to be done. You could move out for a night or two, just until we‘ve covered the entire place.‘

She looked down brokenly and shook her head.

“You can go ahead and search…”

“Thanks... Is there anything you can think of that could help. Any property he may have had that you knew of, or anywhere he could have possibly had the facility to mass produce something?”

“No there‘s...” She frowned, and her heart thudded faster as she looked up at me sharply.” There isn‘t anywhere I know, but he would often be gone for hours at a time…. And most often it was when you weren‘t around. Maybe I‘m just being paranoid –”

“No, I don‘t think you‘re being paranoid. Thanks for sharing that. If you do remember anything else, let me know alright?” She nodded, and I gave her shoulder a squeeze. “You aren‘t alone.” I said quietly. She brushed her tears away as she tried not to cry. “Yeah. I know... I... I heard from one of the boys at the hospital that Emmet attacked you today

I didn‘t reply, I couldn‘t deny it but at the same time, I didn‘t want her to feel guilty for it.

my decision.” She said, twisting her

at her sharply as she struggled to keep her tears at bay. I hooked my thumbs into the pockets of my pants, waiting for

quietly. “Will you accompany me when I do it?” > Her words filled me with relief. With their bond broken, it would be far easier for her to

you got this. Things will be rough, but after a while, it will become easier. This isn‘t the end, and

do it;

nodded before we went

on from Emmet and rebuild her life.

they were said to be a blessing, but at the same time, I felt like they were also a curse. You couldn‘t live without them... and if

and clothes, whilst Azura was in a slightly better state with a huge piece of paper on the table, as they both finger–painted on the shared paper. 1. She was wearing skinny jeans with a baggy top as she showed Corrado something. Her eyes

fun.” Marcel chuckled. I stepped back, unable to face her after how I

I said to Marcel through the link, walking away

and the extra staff around, I raised

cigarette. I don‘t fucking know how I was

as Azura‘s

luck‘

this.‘ Her curt reply came. ‘Always so fucking charming, aren‘t you?‘ ‘Yeah, well I don‘t do charming when it comes to little Alpha

Leo?” He asked, concerned, as he took a seat on

sat forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “Go for it.” He replied, clearly unsure of what to make

needed luck or some

although you dealt with it, it didn‘t mean it was easy or fair on you. You suffered, Leo, and it is time to tell him that,

I know the damn

wouldn‘t admit it, but I was fucking grateful for

to bide time. “Oh well, that‘s for tonight.” He smirked, running his fingers

just a little dinner for Azura. We haven‘t really welcomed her into

and

I want to talk about is the past.” “The past?”

the life of hell that we lived down there... You were one of the luckiest because you were entirely under her control... but what about the rest of us who had to live and deal with the nightmares

“Leo...”

down there.” “I know Leo, and I wish I could have done more... you were somewhat immune

You know dad, she was expecting when she died? Endora not only killed mom but your unborn

out like it was meant to, I just sounded like someone being petty–as fuck about an unchangeable past. What purpose would telling him bring? He couldn‘t change

him. He had turned ashen. He stared at me, his heart was thundering. I‘could see the toll my words were having on

she was pregnant? I mean even after...” “Why should I? It would have only hurt you right?” I

it inside... suffered all by

wanted? And what fucking hurts the most, is when you were given your free will back, you allowed Rayhan to come here and once

failed you, your

was causing him pain despite his flaws. I

that Marcel‘s hands

but you failed my trust. You always say you won‘t hand over the Alpha title because you feared what I‘d do if I were Alpha, but are you really a better Alpha than me? I mean you were never able to protect this pack. Nor your mate... nor your children.” I hated hurting him. It fucking hurt