Chapter 4: Money (Leo's POV)
I woke up the next morning and got dressed. Her dad owes me a little explanation and so does mine. Because we're not even actually getting paid.
Just holding her like we work for the fucking Witness Protection Programme. And she's not even a witness. It's not like she gambles, why would they come after her? Then again, I don't know who her dad messed with.
I got in my car and drove off, locking the front door that opened with a digit code behind me. I drove straight to her house, where kidnapping her, or well, taking her, would have been much easier.
She would have cooperated more because her environment would be more familiar. At least compared to the school we graduated from.
I walked up to the front door and rang the doorbell. A housemaid let me in and pointed me to his office. I walked in, opening the door without bothering to knock. "There's my delinquent," my dad mumbled.
"We can't keep her," I said bluntly.
"Leo, please," her dad requested. "
She is a pain in the ass. She does not listen to one thing we say to her. She's gonna get herself killed, Jack. I can't help you," I spoke directly to her father.
"I'll offer you money," he said.
"We don't need your money," I replied, "I want her out of my house."
Yeah, that house is mine. Now it is.
It used to be my grandparents', they passed it onto me.
"That isn't going to happen," my dad said.
"Nathan," her dad scolded mine.
"I gave Mr. Brookes my word, Leo."
"Then you keep her," I argued.
"You're her age. She'll listen to you, eventually. She'll feel more comfortable and that's what we need. For her to be comfortable."
"Why?" I rolled my eyes. I have other ways of making her listen.
"Because she'll cooperate where she's comfortable," her dad said, "It's the way she is."
"Well then someone make her comfortable because I certainly can't do it."
"That's what Flynn's for, he's a little more... welcoming," my dad replied.
"She can cooperate out of fear. I can do that just fine," I replied.
"We need her to feel safe with you. Not fear you." I rolled my eyes at my dad's words.
"Why am I doing this?" I groaned.
"Because nobody will do anything against you," her dad said, "We all know it's true." I looked between the two of them, noticing the desperation on her dad's face. "Just take care of her for me," he mumbled.
"No promises," I said before turning around to leave.
"He'll do it," I heard my dad say before the door closed behind me.
I looked at the front door and I looked at the stairs. I'm not gonna get any money. May as well mess around here. I went up the stairs and looked left then right. I opened a few doors until I found hers.
Pictures stuck to one wall, height marking on the corner of the other, random things lying around, books everywhere.
She's one of those.
I walked to her desk and opened a few drawers, coming across a picture of her with Theo Quinn. Piece of shit that guy is. There hasn't been one day in my high school life where he hasn't tried fucking with me. I always made him regret it.
I threw the picture back in there and opened the next one, seeing a bunch of notes. I opened a few of them, they were all love notes. She fell for his tricks? I heard about them breaking up briefly, some lie about him going to the UK. He was cheating on her.
I've seen it myself.
I scoffed and closed the drawer, walking up to her dressing table. A necklace hung on the side with her name in cursive. Seems like something that would mean a lot. I grabbed it and slipped it into my pocket before sneaking out. I got in my car and began driving back.
Without the money, I was hoping I'd get. Oh no, no money. Just an annoying girl to take care of instead.
I typed in the digit code and swung the door open.
"Yes! I win! Again!" I walked to the living area where Claire and Flynn were playing Mario kart and she was jumping on my couch at her victory. I stared at her, freakishly amused. She's very amusing.
"I swear to god, you're cheating!" Flynn reasoned.
"You're just bitter you lost," she leaned down to his level and tapped his nose, "Again," she sang. My eyebrows shot up at her actions. Someone got comfortable. I walked over and stood there. They both turned to me, Flynn nodding at me and her glaring. He did his job then.
"You, come with me," I nodded at her.
"Why so bossy?" she mumbled before getting up and following me. I took her to the kitchen and turned to face her. "What is it?" she asked.
I put my hand in my pocket and she froze. "I'm not gonna shoot you, relax," I said.
Her shoulder relaxed and she stared at me. I pulled out the necklace and dangled it. "Where did you get that?" she asked, her eyes going wide.
"Your bedroom," I smirked.
"You went to my room?" she asked, bewildered.
"I snooped around a bit. This seemed like it was important," I said, handing it to her.
She closed it in her fist and stared at me. "What else did you go through?" she lifted an eyebrow at me.
"Those stupid notes Theo gave to you," I said while grabbing a water bottle from the fridge.
"You just casually invade people's privacy?"
"Yup," I nodded. "You know he lied to you, right?" "What?" I turned to see the confused look on her face. "He's not going to the UK for college. He's studying in New York, first of all, and second of all, he cheated on you."
"Excuse me?"
"I've seen it." Her face fell and she waited for me to explain further. "At a few parties. With a few different girls." I stared at the disappointed etched onto her face. "Hmm, no more high school romance for you." She glared at me. "Did he give you that?" I glanced at her fist.
"No, my mom did," she answered.
"Where's she now?" I questioned.
"Dead." I looked up at her. "She had a heart attack. It's been a few years," she mumbled.
"I didn't know," I said hesitantly.
She seemed surprised. "You hesitated," she smiled.
"No, I didn't," I rolled my eyes.
"Yes, you did. You hesitated," she chuckled, "Wow, that's a nice reminder for all of us. You're only human." She shrugged before going back to the living room and going back to playing with Flynn.
I was still in the kitchen when Flynn came over. "Man, you hesitated?" he snickered.
I glared at him before snatching the controller from his hands. I walked over to her and sat down beside her. "Looks like your ego's a little hurt. Maybe a victory can kiss it better. That is if you win. Wanna play?" she asked.
"I liked you better with your mouth shut," I retorted.
"If I lose, I'll zip it shut. If you lose..." she trailed off, a spark in her eyes. "I get my phone back."
"That's not even," I stated.
"Fine, what if I lose?" she asked.
"You do everything as I say, at least for the next forty-eight hours."
"Fine," she shrugged.
We played and she was great. But I won. I tossed the controller aside, putting my legs up on the coffee table. "You were saying?" I smirked.
"Yeah, yeah," she rolled her eyes, "What's the most you can ask me to do? Some chores? Cook? I don't mind," she shrugged.
I should have thought of that. What can I ask her to do? "Then you're making lunch," I said.
"Fine by me if lasagna is fine with you," she said while standing up. I didn't answer her and she didn't wait for one either, she climbed over my legs and got to making lunch. "Lunch!" she called out a while later.
Flynn and I got off the couch and walked over, sitting down. She slid our plates over to us and sat on the other side. She dug right in, probably poisoning us. Flynn ate first and said he loved it. I ate in silence.
"It doesn't hurt to compliment the chef," she smirked at me.
"It doesn't hurt for the chef to shut up," I replied.
She rolled her eyes but kept quiet nonetheless. Her phone began ringing in my back pocket, yes I took it with me. Flynn would have given it to her. I pulled it out and glanced at the name.
"Who's Aesha?" I asked. She didn't say anything. "Hello? I'm asking you," I huffed.
"You told me to shut up," she said innocently.
"Who's Aesha?" I repeated.
"My best friend," she answered. I declined the call and put it back in my pocket. "Hey, I- I haven't seen her in a while, can't I just talk to her?" she pleaded.
"And tell her some lie about how we kidnapped you?" Flynn asked sarcastically.
"I'll put it on speaker," she said almost immediately.
I eyed her suspiciously but once again, she got me. I don't know how she does it. But she's very convincing. I slid the phone over to her and her face lit up like a fucking Christmas tree.
She dialed the number and put it on speaker. "Hey," she sang.
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Chapter four
let me know what you think
next chapter: rescue
let's meet the best friend, shall we?
Ya'll i wrote about her neck hurting and mine is literally hurting. What type of voodoo shit did i do?