Page 15 of Salacious

“Nothing’s going to happen, babe, but I’m so glad that you finally admitted how you feel about me,” Ross praised.

“I am too,” Leo agreed, “and, I’d like to discuss what happens next, but it will have to wait until this mess with my father is over. We’re both late now.” Ross brushed his lips against Leo’s, and he almost wanted to call off the whole plan and stay home with his guy. Ross had been so gentle with him since his father’s goons had worked him over. He still had a split lip and some major bruising on his face. The doctor assured him that it would heal, with time, but he wanted all his scars to disappear, much like he hoped his father would.

“Right, we’ll figure out our future later. I just need you to promise me that you’ll be careful,” Ross insisted. “Because I’m pretty damn excited about spending the rest of my life with you, Leo.” He wanted to protest and tell Ross that he might not be ready for that kind of commitment, but Ross covered Leo’s mouth with his hand before he could get one word out.

“I know that this kind of stuff freaks you out, babe,” Ross said, “but, just think about it. I can’t imagine having anyone but you by my side for the rest of my life, Leo. I’m not trying to scare you, but I’d like for you to at least keep an open mind.” Leo nodded his agreement, and Ross dropped his hand from Leo’s lips. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” Leo said. “I’m not going to be easy to live with. You know how grumpy I can be. Are you sure that I’m what you want?” he asked.

Ross chuckled and gave Leo another quick kiss before turning to grab his keys and head for the front door. “Oh, babe,” Ross drawled, “grumpy is an understatement, but, I’m sure. I want you, Leo,” he called back over his shoulder as he left the house. Leo stood there smiling like a loon for much longer than he should have, but he just couldn’t help himself. Something about Ross’s promises for a future together had him feeling hopeful for the first time in a damn long time.

Leo had done his part, stopping by his lawyer’s office to collect the paperwork to give to his father. It was all spelled out in black and white for his dad. He was no longer in charge of the family’s holdings or the company. It all belonged to Leo now, since he had a two-to-one vote with his mother’s support. He just hoped that he wouldn’t let them down. They were putting a lot of faith in him, and Leo wasn’t sure if he was ready for that kind of responsibility yet. Ross promised him that he was worrying about nothing and that he was more than ready, but Leo still had his doubts. He was always doubting himself, and even though Leo had made himself a promise that he’d stop doing that, he just couldn’t seem to break the cycle. He hated feeling so unsure of himself, and Leo was sure that after tonight was over, he’d be able to find a way to move forward with not only running his family but deciding what his future would look like with Ross.

By the time they got to his father’s office, it was dark. The memories of being their last time, while his father belittled him for being gay, flooded back to his mind and a part of Leo wanted to tuck his tail and run. Ross wasn’t going to allow that though.

“Hey,” Ross said, taking Leo’s hand into his own. He gently kissed Leo’s palm, and he could instantly feel his pulse slow. There was something about Ross that always felt like he’d keep Leo safe, and tonight was no exception. “Everything is going to be all right,” Ross promised.

“Thank you for that,” Leo said. “I just hope that you’re right.”

“Babe,” Ross chided, “I’m never wrong.” They both laughed and Leo had to admit that he felt a little bit better.

“You always have a way of saying the right things to me, Ross,” Leo whispered. “You always make things better.”

Ross leaned in to brush his lips over Leo’s. “I will never stop trying to make everything better for you, babe. I love you and you’re worth all the trouble you like to give me.” Ross flashed his wolfish grin at Leo, making them both laugh again.

“Ready?” Ross asked.

“No, but we have to do this,” Leo said.

“Just stick by me, and we’ll be fine. My guys are ready on the other side of the building. When I give the signal, they’ll move in. It will be over before you know it,” Ross promised. Leo just hoped that he was right because the more time he had to spend with his father, the more nervous he became.

They got out of the car and made their way into the building, not bothering to try to sneak past security. That was part of their plan—announcing that they were there. Ross believed that the more people who knew that Leo was in the building, the better. His father would be less likely to try to pull anything. Leo wasn’t so sure about that since his father had sent him out with his security guards to be killed. Leo was pretty sure that his dad wasn’t going to be up for the “Dad of the year award” this year.

“I’m here to see my father,” Leo said to one of the guards. “Can you please tell him that I’m here?” He recognized the guard who had shot him in the shoulder and poor Joe looked pissed.

He leaned into Leo and whispered, “What are you doing here? You’re going to end up getting us both killed.” He felt guilty for dragging Joe into the mess with his father, but he had no other choice. And honestly, Leo had no idea why he was back at his family’s building, just begging for trouble again. All he could do was shrug and ask to see his father again. Joe nodded and tried to play along.

“One moment, Mr. Capo,” he said. Joe pulled his walkie-talkie from his hip belt buckle and called up to Leo’s father’s office to let him know that he had two visitors. His father didn’t sound too thrilled to find out that not only was Leo alive, but he was there to see him.

Finally, after a long period of silence on his father’s end, he told Joe to send them up with a few guards. Joe complied and showed Ross and Leo to the elevator as if Leo had never been in his own family’s building before. “Thanks, Joe,” he said, as he and Ross stepped into the elevator accompanied by four guards. Joe nodded at him as the doors closed and a part of Leo was worried about what would happen to his old friend. Sure, he had shot Leo, but the guy was just following orders, and he did miss to save Leo’s life. He just hoped that a few other guards felt the way Joe did about his father because Leo wasn’t sure if he liked his and Ross’s odds.

They walked into his father’s office and Leo felt sick. The last time he was in that room with his dad, he called him homophobic names and then lied about letting him go. Leo knew that his father never really planned to let him go and for a few days, he was able to stay ahead of his old man. He always knew that sooner or later; his father’s men would be able to catch up with him and there would be nothing he could do to stop them. He just never expected his mother would be the traitor who lured him into his father’s web of lies and deceit. The day that she did that was the day that he lost both parents. They were dead to him now, and nothing would change that fact—not even his mother signing the paperwork to help put Leo in charge of the company.

Tony stood from behind his desk and the shock on his face was almost worth confronting him. “I’m guessing that you didn’t expect to see me again, Dad,” Leo spat. “Surprise.” His father always hated surprises and Leo took some sliver of joy in giving him the surprise of his life.

“How are you still alive?” Tony asked.

“It’s a long story and one I’d rather save for later. Maybe you’ll have time to hear it when you retire,” Leo said. Ross crossed the room and handed Tony the paperwork that Leo’s lawyer drew up to oust him from power.

“You can read those over,” Ross said, “but, the abridged version is that Leo is now the head of the company and you’re out.”

“That’s impossible,” Tony insisted, “you can’t just make that kind of decision without a vote.”

“Oh, we had a vote, Dad,” Leo said, “and, Mom and I voted you out. We hold enough interest in the company that we can do so.”

“You two have no leg to stand on,” Tony shouted.

“We do,” Leo said, “it’s all there in black and white. My lawyer made sure that it is all on the up and up. It’s ironclad.” His father sunk into the leather chair that sat behind his desk and Leo wasn’t sure if he felt good about all of this or sad for his father. He was losing everything and from the look on his dad’s face, he knew it.

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