Chapter 147 - (Hundred) Forty Six: Freak Accident

It was hard to decide what was scarier; the scowl on Johnny's face or the smile on Leo's.

Slowly, Leo's lips unfurled a grin, bright as the sun.

" Brother, you look pissed." The amusement in Leo's words contorted Johnny's face with even more fury.

" Don't fucking call me that, not after what you did with my sister." Johnny snarled, eyes burning more and more with every word uttered but Leo remained placid, fingers still curled tight around his knife. 

" You have two sisters, be more specific," Leo said, sending Johnny teetering further to the verge of vexation.

" You son of a bitch." With the words barely muttered, Johnny landed his fist on Leo's face. The motion was swift but the impact was astonishing, bruises were inevitable. Despite that, Leo preferred not to riposte. He wanted the hate and rage to end here, in this confrontation but he knew better than that. That single punch simply wouldn't be enough to vent out the anger. 

It wouldn't end here.

Leo hardly recovered from the hit when Johnny gripped his collar tighter, slammed him against the wall, once, twice. The third time, Leo's smile vanished and he flashed his knife. Surprised by the blood-stained blade, Johnny froze.

" You either calm the fuck down so we can settle this like civilized men or I show you why my grandfather calls me the cutter," Leo grunted, gruff voice low, dark, enough to send chills skidding down a person's back. He already guessed what had Johnny fuming. And as much as Leo hated how things were being handled now, he also knew that backing down would be equivalent to losing to Kristina's threat and Regina's hate, plus his relationship with Becca was on the line. He couldn't risk that, he couldn't risk her.

Becca, he wouldn't know what to do if he lost her.

Both men stared each other down for seconds unend. Both primed, ready to pounce. Leo held his knife in front of him, a warning, a threat, eyes flitting with a hellish glint which Johnny overtly disregarded, and stepped closer.

" Try it." His eyes locked with Leo's predator ones. " I dare you."

Martino, Alongside two other bodyguards, poured into the cell at the ruckus being made but were halted by shock at the scene in front of them. Their gazes went from Johnny, who had a firm grip on Leo's collar, to Leo who held his knife, ready to attack. 

Being that he was Leo's right-hand man and apparently the oldest in the place, Martino stepped forward, his face now the epitome of indifference.

" Ramus." He called out but Johnny didn't listen and continued glaring at Leo.

" Ramus!" Martino called out once more, this time with an even harsher tone. One Johnny couldn't defy. Reluctantly, he eased his grip off Leo's collar and turned away. Just the sight of Leo stoked the furnace in his soul.

" You and this mafia can go to hell for all I care but if you drag my sister with you, I will make sure you stay crippled." 

Leo's eyes stiffened as he watched Johnny leave, taking deep breaths to quench the fire burning within. 

Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in and out.

Breathe—

It wasn't working. Leo tossed the knife askew, striding out of the cell to where his car was parked. He looked around, and just as expected, Johnny's car was nowhere to be found.

Leo got into his car and sped out of the vicinity, anxiety heightened. He drove like a madman, heading straight to Atlas, to Becca. With how pissed Johnny was that morning, there was no telling what could slip out of that man's mouth. 

The mere thought of it incited Leo to step on the gas. He was a murderer, he was a firearm's dealer, getting a speeding ticket seemed miniature in comparison and apparently the least of his worries.

Becca, her face was the only image his mind conjured as he overtook drivers on the lanes. The thought of her was the only one distinct amid the plethora of cluttered rubbish flooding his brain by the second, the thought of her was the only one that kept him going. And he did keep going, for the both of them. For her. Only her. He just hoped Johnny wouldn't get to her first. 

With the way their brawl ended, Leo was certain that the issue wouldn't be buried just like that. There would be more. So much more. Johnny, for all he knew, might have been well on his way to stoke Becca's mind with hate, just like how Kristina did with him.

Leo took out his phone as he neared Atlas, dialing Becca's number. He made a smooth turn into the parking lot, scouting the place for a vacant space. He eventually found a slot and slid into it, cursing under his breath when the call went through but Becca didn't answer.

Shit! He tried again. Heart rate soaring, Leo, however, aped composure. He sauntered into the building, holding the phone to his ear as he approached the receptionist. A young woman dressed in a gray suit— brown skin, dark curls falling to her shoulders, and glasses propped on the bridge of her nose.

She looked up from her laptop and smiled.

" Good morning, sir. How may I help you?" She asked but Leo wasn't paying attention, panic drilling into his veins by the second. Once again, Becca didn't pick up. Why wasn't she answering?

Leo dialed her number anew.

" Uhm… Sir?" The receptionist called out once more to get his attention. 

He turned to her, brows scrunched, taking a step closer.

" I'm here to meet Miss Ramus," Leo said, the phone still pressed to his ear.

The woman took a second to glance at her laptop screen before returning her attention to Leo. 

" I'm afraid she's unavailable now. Do you have an appointment with her, Mr…" She tilted her head slightly in question.

" Kane." He answered. "And no, I don't have an appointment." His approach teemed with civility as it should. It wasn't her fault he was tense.

The moment those words abscond his lips, Becca picked up.

" Hello," She said over the phone and Leo instantly snapped his focus away from the receptionist.

" Hello, my love. It seems I called at the wrong time." He chuckled, his voice was calm, relaxed, contrary to the panic jolting him.

" Not really, I just got out of a meeting and my phone was on silent mode." 

" No need to explain yourself to me, I completely understand. So are you free now?"

" My schedule is free for the next two hours, why?" She slid in her keycard, unlocking her door.

" Let's go out for lunch, I know a place with great service." 

" You do know that it's still 10:00 am, right?" She teased, eyes gleaming. 

" Make that brunch then." He laughed, his modicum way of cloaking his wrenching fear. Anything to get her out of there. Anything to have her by his side before Johnny shows up.

Her sweet giggles streamed into his ears, providing a sliver of calm to his sea of agita. " Okay, where do you want us to meet?" 

" How about near Atlas's main entrance?" 

" Atlas's main entrance?" Becca repeated skeptically, forehead wrinkled in perplexity as she halted in front of the door she left ajar. 

" Yes, I'm waiting there right now. "

Becca couldn't help smiling as she locked up her office just seconds after opening it, skipping to her private elevator which she rode down to the first floor. The doors opened with a ding and her eyes fell on Leo, standing next to the pivot doors, waiting for her. Charming in that fitted obsidian suit he wore, phone in one hand and his cane in the other. 

Her very own knight in tattooed armor.

He neared and Becca's smile vanished when she caught sight of his bruised jaw. She inched closer and touched his face.

" What happened to you?" She asked.

Leo smiled at the worry now encasing her eyes. Worry meant concern and concern meant love. Not a single speck of fear in her when she was with him and he wished to keep things that way.

" Just a freak accident." He took hold of her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. " Let's go?"

Becca stared at his bruised face moments longer before nodding. She let him intertwine her fingers with his, ushering her to the exit but froze when the door ahead ricocheted, granting Johnny access to enter. 

Her feet turned to lead as she locked eyes with Johnny, gulping when his gaze fell to her hand that was still intertwined with Leo's. 

His eyes hardened at the sight. Then he veered his gaze to Leo who stared back with eyes equally as stiff.

Something visceral sparked in Becca, inciting her to do something. Anything. Slowly, she bucked Leo's hand away, trying to free hers. Leo deciphered her actions but instead of going with the flow, he let go of her hand and wrapped his around her waist, staring straight at Johnny.

Do your worst.