Leo, you fucking scumbag.
I quickly held Ryder by his waist, and I sat down on the floor.
"Sorry, I couldn't find it in the dark," I said.
"Why the fuck are you under the desk?"
I slowly took Ryder off my dick.
"I'm sorry, baby," I mumbled in his ear and handed him all of his clothes I could find within arm's reach.
Then I grabbed my own pants and boxers and quickly slipped them on.
I gave Ryder a look, and he smiled at me. "Don't look at me like that," he mumbled.
"It was dark as fuck, dude; I dropped my phone, and I couldn't find it," I lied.
"Is that why you didn't answer my calls? Okay, whatever. I fucking ran into Matteo on my way over here, like he was fucking stalking me…or something. According to the driver, he was also at Isabella's school," Leo said as I heard him grab stuff.
I looked at Ryder.
He was in my button-up, and I smiled, "Am I going to wear your band tee?"
He nodded.
I put it over my head, I stood up, and sat down in my chair.
"You look like a little boy," Ryder said silently, and I rolled my eyes.
"Did you notice anything weird today?"
I shook my head, "No, I don't think so, besides the whole power outage thing, but that was a circuit thing, I think."
I fixed my pants, trying to make my obvious boner less obvious.
"This fucking shit. He needs to learn how to fucking stop. I understand you are a…"
"Leo," I said, cutting him off.
"What?"
I pulled Ryder up from under the desk with my hands on his hip.
I could not let him know.
Not now.
"Oh, sorry, was I interrupting something?" He asked, and I nodded.
"We can talk about it later," I said, and Leo nodded.
"Bye, boss."
"Goodbye."
I pulled Ryder onto my lap and kissed his neck. "Aren't you so cute?"
"Get off me, freak," he said, laughing.
I kissed him one more time, and then he stood up.
"Bring a chair over here and do your knitting right here," I said, pointing, and he nodded.
My computer was back on, so I typed in my password.
The workday was almost over, but I still had some stuff to do. By "some stuff to do," I mean figuring out a way to keep Matteo at bay until I have an actual plan in place.
"Your legs okay?" I asked with a smile.
He gave me this look, then sat down and continued the sweater he was making for me.
"They're fine," he said sheepishly. "How about you?" He kicked me with his leg. "You didn't even come."
I laughed, "It's normal."
"Is it?"
"You got me pretty close if that makes you feel better. It's been a long time," I said, making sure his broken leg was okay because he decided to kick me with it.
"Well, I guess that gives me something to look forward to," he said without looking up from his knitting.
"So are you saying we will do it again?"
"Now I never said that," he said, not looking up at me.
I laughed and went back to my computer, opening my email.
Leo,
I am emailing you mainly because I don't know where my phone is, but I think Isabella should stay home from school tomorrow, and I also need you and Ryder at home, in my sight. I don't know what he said to you or what his obsession with you is, but I need you guys close.
Dom.
I clicked send and then closed Gmail.
I need a game plan.
Game plan.
I hit my fingers against the desk.
Game plan.
I opened Gmail back up.
Leo,
I know I just emailed you, but I have a plan now. I don't know when to act it out. Still, it has to be in the next few days. I know Matteo and all the shit he has, and I don't know what he is going to do next. Still, it is going to involve either you or Ryder. I don't think he would take Isabella. Still, it's going to be with you or him. I don't know if it's going to be a drive-by or what, but I think kidnapping is extremely unlikely. I feel like he would never do that because he thinks before doing most things, and he would have to time everything perfectly.
I know you fucking hate it when I do this. Still, I am going to have to put some more bodyguards near you. I know you are strong enough to take down anybody. However, I still want to be sure that you are safe. I need more bodyguards for all three of you. And, I also have a surveillance plan. Basically, I want to set up eyes where Matteo's eyes are, if that makes sense. Like, put our men where he has his men. I can't risk anything right now, especially you guys.
Sorry for the long email, but also setting up a trap for him would be a good idea, and I am going to use you as bait Sorry, not sorry You should have told me what Matteo said to you; then this wouldn't have happened Just kidding I think once we set up the bait, that would be a good time to attack and ambush If you have any better ideas, please let me know I'm also going to cut off resources starting tomorrow.
Dom
God, this is exhausting. Maybe I should ask Ryder if he saw anything at his sister's track meet.
I sighed.
I don't want to do that to him.
I feel bad.
"Ryder."
"Yes?"
I turned around in my chair. "Did you see anything at your sister's track meet?"
"I saw people running," he joked.
"Besides that," I said, pushing him.
"Uh, I don't think..uh, there was this one guy, but I think he was just watching his kid run," Ryder said, and I nodded.
"Okay, let me know if you see anything weird," I said, and he nodded.
I turned back and continued checking emails and trade routes.
"Dominic, is being a CEO hard?"
I looked up "Yeah, kind of. There is a lot of competition, and that gets really annoying."
"I." He stopped, "I don't think I have ever heard of a CEO whose competition is trying to kill his loved ones."
I felt myself freeze.
"How many CEOs have you met?" I said, not looking at him.
I couldn't look at him.
Not while I am lying to him.
I just couldn't.
He didn't respond.
"When you are extremely successful, it's a dog-eat-dog world," I explained.
"Hmh."
I'm sorry.
After that, the day went by slowly.
And then finally, the time hit 5 pm.
During this time, Ryder had been walking around the room, knitting and listening to music on my speakers.
I turned off my computer, and he went back to looking at the different photos in my room. "Do you have any larger photos of you in your football uniform?"
I stood up. "Yeah, I also have some in my basketball uniform as well."
"You played basketball?" He asked, with wide eyes.
"Yep, I played in college too; I got a full ride," I said, and he smiled.
"Not surprised, you are." He looked me up and down, "Huge."
Chills.
I itched my stomach as my dick started to twitch.
Fuck.
I shouldn't…I can't be acting like this.
"Haha yeah," I said, awkwardly, as I felt myself getting horny standing there.
"Why did you stop playing?" he asked.
I went back to my desk to get whatever I needed and found my stupid ass fucking phone that was just sitting on the floor taunting me.
"I don't know; I kind of hated it. I was good, good enough to get a scholarship, but it wasn't really my thing, you know?"
"I feel that, what was your thing?" He asked, putting his knitting in his bag and grabbing two picture frames off the bookshelves, "I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all; take as many as you want. Uh, I really wanted to be a swimmer, but I actually never even learned how to swim," I said.
"Bitch, you are 6'5; you are the height of the deep end; just stand up," Ryder said, and the two of us started laughing.
We walked to the door, and then I held it open for him. "I know it's embarrassing, but my dad crushed that dream early and thankfully so because he got a D1 basketball player out of it."
"Don't you have a pool?"
"I do," I said.
He gave me a weird look, "Bitch, why if you can't swim?"
I shrugged, and we got in the elevator.
"Rich people shit, I don't know Leo wanted it really badly, and then he doesn't even fucking use it," I said.
He laughed as I clicked the button. Then he stood in front of me, and I instinctively smacked his ass.
He whipped around really fast and pointed at me.
I put my hands up and started laughing.
Then the elevator door opened, and people on the floor below us started to fill it.
I grabbed Ryder's waist and brought him closer to me.
He put his hands on my chest, and I smiled at him.
"Don't think you got out of my lecture," he mumbled, and I held him with a smile.
"Good afternoon, sir," a voice said, taking my attention off Ryder. "Are you going home at 5 today?"
I nodded, "Yeah, gotta get home," I said.
"To the misses?"
I smiled, "He's right here."
Ryder hit me.
The guy nodded, "That's nice."
The elevator took us to the bottom floor. Everyone unloaded, and Ryder and I got out and walked to my car.
Then we got in the car and drove in silence with Ryder on his phone and me staring at the road ahead.
"You can connect to the radio if you want," I said, and he nodded.
He plugged in his phone and started playing his music through CarPlay.
The car ride felt awkward.
There was music, but we weren't talking, so it felt like silence.
I think this is the most remorse and guilt I have ever felt for the whole mafia thing.
I pulled into the garage and parked.
I feel fucking awful.
Ryder got out without a word, and I grabbed all my shit.
"Are you hungry?" I asked, following him.
"Nah, not really."
Oh.
"Well, I… there are leftovers in the fridge if you want any," I said.
"Okay," he mumbled and walked up the stairs slowly.
"I'll see you in a minute; I need to talk to Leo," he nodded.
I pushed open my office door, and I smiled.
There, Leo and Isabella were passed out on the couch.
Leo was on the floor with his head on the couch, and Isabella was sleeping on it.
I pulled out my phone and took a picture.
Then I put my phone away, I put my stuff down, and walked over.
"Babycakes," I whispered in Isabella's ear as I shook her gently.
I watched as her eyes slightly opened.
"What, Daddy?"
Aw, my baby girl.
"Go sleep in your own bed if you are tired, not in here. You are going to hurt your back," I said, and she slowly blinked.
She nodded and rubbed her eyes. "Where's Ryder?"
I smiled, "He's in my room; I think he is working on some knitting," I said, and she nodded.
"Make sure you shower before you sleep," I said, rubbing her back, and she nodded.
I sat down on the couch and heard the door shut behind her.
"Get up, princess," I mumbled, stroking Leo's hair.
Leo stirred lightly, "Matteo."
WHO?
Leo's eyes opened, and we made eye contact.
He froze as my mouth dropped open, "Who?" I asked, and he gave me this thousand-yard stare.
"Don't tell me you are a traitor," I mumbled.
"Not in a million years I was just reading your emails before I went to sleep and I was thinking about him, because of that, yeah," he said and I watched as his eyes trailed off behind me.
Yeah, right. This bitch never reads my fucking emails.
I raised my eyebrow.
"Okay, I didn't read your emails, but I swear to God, on my life, I am not betraying you. I would genuinely never fucking do that, I'll…I…I will tell you tomorrow," he said.
"Why tomorrow?"
"Because I don't feel like it; it's a long story, and I am too tired for all of your judgment right now. It is not me betraying you, I would never do that, dude," he said.
"Promise?"
"Pinky swear," he said, putting his finger up.
We locked pinkies, and I nodded.
"Anyway, you sleep well, sleeping beauty?"
"No, my back hurts."
"Of course it does." I got up and walked over to my computer. "I know you didn't read my emails, so let me show you them."
Leo stood up and sat down on the couch.
"Bring it over here, please," he said in a baby voice, and I sighed.
I grabbed my laptop and sat down next to him on the couch.
"Damn long ass email."
"I know, it is because I couldn't find my phone. The first email says that Isabella should stay home from school tomorrow, and I want you and Ryder not to leave the house either. I don't want any of you out of my sight."
Leo raised his eyebrows at me. "Okay, control freak. She has three tests tomorrow; she will not miss those even if you bribed her."
Fuck.
"Okay, what about the day after?"
"I think she should be good."
"Okay, I will talk to her about it, and in the meantime, I want you to pick her up tomorrow," I said.
"Okay, I will do that. What about the other email?'
Should I tell him that I was going to use him as bait? Eh, probably not. "I'll tell you tomorrow," I said with a sheepish smile.
He rolled his eyes.
"That's what you get," I said, pointing at him.
"I know, I am just mad you played me at my own game," he said, yawning.
I yawned too.
"Stop spreading your yawn to me," I said, yawning again and flipping him off.
"Sorry, okay, why don't we plan this all after I get back from taking Isabella to school tomorrow, okay?" Leo asked, and I nodded.
"I am going to hold it to you," I said.
"Same, you better not sleep in!"
I stood up. "I do not sleep in."
"You sleep in literally every single day. If you are not up when I get back, I will shake you out of bed," he said.
I laughed as we walked toward my office door. I then opened the door for him, he nodded, and we walked up the stairs together.
"Goodnight, dude, sleep well," I said, and he nodded, walking to his room. "Leo," I called out, and he turned around.
"One of these days we need to use the pool," I said.
He raised his eyebrows. "You can't swim."
"I want to learn," I said with a smile.
And Leo smiled back at me, "Finally, okay, good night."
"Good night," I said back, and then I pushed open my door.
I sighed.
So much for continuing our freak session.
"What are you guys doing?" I asked, laughing.
Isabella was currently in our room, sitting in my spot on the bed with a face mask on.
Ryder smiled at her; he also had the same face mask on, and his hair pushed back with this weird, fluffy headband.
"Talking," Isabella said as she moved onto her stomach.
I took off my blazer. "About what? Or I can't know."
"You can't know, Daddy," Ryder said, and I nodded.
Isabella got closer to Ryder as she whispered something to him.
He laughed, "That's my favorite part."
I took off the weird shirt Ryder had me wearing, and I traded my pants for shorts.
"Favorite part of what?" I asked, walking over to the bed.
I stood in front of it as the two of them laughed without saying anything.
I walked over to my side of the bed. "Baby cakes, move over; I want to get in bed too."
She slightly moved over as I got under the covers.
She and Ryder were both on top of the covers as Ryder knitted like crazy.
I lay my head back on the headboard as I heard the two of them talking.
My brain was tuning things out as I tried to stay awake.
I just want to cuddle Ryder.
I rubbed Isabella's back slowly.
I love you, sugar plum, but please, I just want to cuddle Ryder.
Oh, Ryder.
I wonder what Ryder thinks about me.
I wonder if he even wants to cuddle me, too.
He shows so many emotions, yet at the same time, he is so indifferent. I don't really know.
It's also been a little awkward since the whole thing in the office, but I just want to be all over him, and I don't even know if he feels the same.
Like, I know I like him.
If all of my actions didn't solidify that already, that sex sure did, but I feel like he is doing this because he has to.
Because I am paying for all of this stuff for him.
I don't think it is real love he feels for me. He just sees me as a wallet.
I want to believe that he is better than that, but I…there's a reason I have been so standoffish my whole life.
I don't like letting people in; it just ruins everything. But he…he came in, and I want him to love me; I want to believe that he is better than that, better than anyone I have ever met.
But I am not a mind reader, and his standoffishness and indifference, I don't know if that's love.
I really don't fucking know, and it frustrates me so much.
I don't even know what he feels or how he feels. I just know how I feel, and I am praying he doesn't end up like everyone else.
Praying he doesn't end up like.
Like.
Lova.
I am praying.
I want him.
I want him to be mine forever.
Mine forever.
And maybe that's selfish.
"You okay, dad?"
I looked down at my baby girl. I blinked. "Yeah, baby cakes, I am okay… just tired."
I blinked again.
"Okay, Dad, I will let you guys sleep; I will see you when I get back from school," she said, and I nodded.
I hugged her and kissed her head.
Then she got off the bed and waved to Ryder, saying, "Bye, Ryder," and Ryder waved to her.
"Can you turn off the light, honey?"
She nodded, turning off the light and shutting the door behind her.
Everything will be fine if I just sleep.
It always is.
I felt Ryder's cold feet hit me.
"You take the mask and headband off?"
"Yep."
He lay his head on my chest, and I rubbed his shoulders.
"I'll see you in the morning, mommy."
"Good night."
It will all be okay.
Everything will be okay.
I took a deep breath.
Everything will be okay.