Finding Forgiveness

He had landed on his front on the deck but quickly scrambled behind a crate on the boat. But it wasn’t big enough to completely cover him so I shot once and missed. Then when I tried again having adjusted my grip, taken a moment to breath and aimed properly, no bang sounded.

My gun was out of bullets and I didn’t even have any more rounds to reload with.

I angrily smashed the gun down onto the concrete floor and it cracked into three pieces before I looked up to the boat, still moving away to see him waving and smiling.

“See you soon, Loren!” he called. “Tell your bitch I’m coming for her!”

I let out a growl and just glared back at him as he laughed more.

Half a minute later, Luca caught up with me and immediately began shooting out to sea.

“There’s no point,” I said. “He’s too far away. We lost him… again.”

Leo returned home late in the evening. The kids were in bed and it was just Max and I downstairs.

I got up straight away to see him, the anticipation killing me. But as soon as I came into the hall and set my eyes on him as he stood by the door taking off his shoes, I knew the result of the mission in Seattle. I didn’t even need him to gravely look up and shake his head.

I sighed and my heart sunk as he came and hugged me.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “We were so close.”

“At least he didn’t get you,” I said, trying to stay positive. “So long as you are alive, I will be okay.”

He smiled and kissed my head before looking up to Max.

“There’s an emergency meeting lead by Blair in the base tonight for all senior members of the pack,” Leo said. “I won’t be attending as I need to spend the evening with my mate but Blair has my orders.”

Max nodded and left as Leo continued to hold me.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

I nodded.

“Are you really okay?”

I shook my head.

“No,” I replied.

He put his fingers under my chin and lifted my head so I was looking him in the eye.

“You look exhausted,” he said.

“I’ve been worrying about you all day,” I replied. “I know we want Andrea dead but not if it costs you your life.”

“This isn’t something we can just abandon, Ella. It will not end until one of us wins. Until one of us dies,” he said. “I have to work to ensure that it is not me.”

I nodded, “I know,” I said bringing my hand to his cheek, “But it terrifies me. I hate it when you go away.”

He sighed and hugged me tightly again.

“I’m here right now. Let’s make the most of it, okay?” he said. “And let’s try to forget about it just of the evening.”

I nodded.

Leo’s Pov

An hour later, we were lying on the sofa watching Brooklyn 99 on the sofa. I had Ella in my arms with her head on my rested on my chest and every time she let out a little giggle at the programme, I felt the muscles in her face move, which made me smile too.

I was hardly even watching it. Instead, I took to playing with the silky strands of her hair and just enjoying the comfort of having her safe and relatively happy in my arms. Today had been a massive, demoralising fail but seeing her had reminded me what I was fighting for. I was going to find him and destroy him. I had to for her.

At one point, she lifted her head and looked up at me with furrowed eyebrows. I brought my hand to her cheek and smiled.

“What?” I asked, amused by the way she was contorting her face.

“Why didn’t you laugh at that part? That’s your favourite part of like the whole series?” she questioned.

I said nothing but smiled.

“The part where Jake says-” she continued, still confused.

“I know what he says. We’ve watched it at least ten times,” I said softly. “But I’m far too busy appreciating you to appreciate it today.”

She smiled and placed her hands on my chest before shuffling closer. She then tucked her hair behind her ears and leant forward.

As she placed her lips on mine, I felt bliss radiate through me. It was the most relaxing, most comforting, most mellow feeling. Better than any drug. Of course, her kisses had always been good but after months and months without one, it hit on a whole new scale.

I smiled and let out a deep breath and I opened my eyes again as she pulled away.

“You’re right. Tonight is about us, not netflix,” she said.

I placed my hand on her neck, “I love you,” I said.

“I love you too,” she replied before leaning closer again.

“Are you sure you are ready for this?” I asked, pausing her. “With Andrea coming back and everything is this really what you need?”

“This is exactly what I need,” she replied. “I need that feeling we get when we kiss more than anything.”

I smiled and let her kiss me again, this time for longer. Not wanting to overstep her boundaries, I let her lead as I just lay with her on top of me, tasting her sweetness.

When I was sure she’d be comfortable, I brought my hand to her waist before pausing again.

“You’ll tell me if it’s too much, okay?” I said.

She nodded and this time I kissed her. My other hand slipped down to her neck where her mark was. It had been a no go area since I got her back from Venezuela but now I could finally run my fingers near it again.

She then pulled away from my lips to bring her hand to mine and moved it further down her neck until my fingers sat completely on the mark.

“It’s okay,” she said, “I don’t want to look at it and think the last person to touch it was him anymore.”

I smiled and ran my fingers along it.

“And the last person to kiss you wasn’t him anymore either,” I added.

“We should have done this weeks ago,” she said as I brought my hands away from it and back to her waist. “I feel so much better and cleansed now.”

I shook my head, “You weren’t ready then. It would have been too much for you. We have to take this slow, okay? This was enough steps for one night.”