Chapter 27: Cuddles (Claire's POV)

I was lying in bed, almost crying from my cramps. I was right, I got my period. Flynn finally woke up and was downstairs with Leo. I had Ace up here with me, Max stayed downstairs. I was trying to get cuddles and Ace was very happily giving them to me. The door wasn't closed so when I looked down, I saw Max running in. 

"Look at that, your brother climbed the stairs, now you go," I patted Ace's back, "Go to Leo, go, go." I set him down and he ran down, slowly taking one step at a time. I picked up Max who cuddled me just as nicely. The door was still open, it's not like Ace could close it on the way. 

I heard them talking and it was louder than earlier so they were closer to the stairs. "What?" I heard Leo asked. 

"Yeah, she's probably in bed with cramps or something. Cuddle her." I listened as Flynn talked. "It worked with Aesha." 

I bit back a laugh and tried going to sleep so I could get some rest when Leo walked in, Ace trudging behind him before he closed the door. "Does that work?" he asked. 

"Does what work?" 

"Cuddling you?" 

I shrugged, "It might. I've never been cuddled for cramps before," I mumbled into the pillow. 

He picked up Ace and put him on the bed before lying down beside him. "Does it hurt that bad?" 

I nodded. 

"Do you want a pain killer?" 

"Already had one," I mumbled. 

"Do we have to cuddle with the puppies here?" I nodded again and he sighed in frustration. He put an arm around my waist and locked his legs with mine while Ace and Max fell asleep between us. 

"It's like we're parents," I chuckled sleepily. 

"I would not raise a kid like this," he replied. 

"I would. Why wouldn't you let your kid sleep in your bed? It's adorable." 

"And it makes it ten times harder to get them to sleep on their own." 

"Oh, whatever," I said dismissively, "I would cuddle my baby." 

And then I must have dozed off because next thing I know, I'm waking up to the dogs gone and Leo fast asleep beside me. I lay there with my eyes closed for a while before I absentmindedly began running my fingers through his hair. 

"You know what, Claire?" he mumbled. 

"Leo?" I asked but he didn't say anything. 

Is he talking in his sleep? 

"I think." Then there was silence for a long time. He was talking in his sleep. "I think I'm falling for you," he said sleepily before his grip around me tightened. 

"Leo, are you awake?" Nothing. My fingers lightly brushed his cheek before I kissed him lightly. 

He kissed me back even in his sleep before stirring awake when I pulled back. "What? What happened?" he asked, alert and looking around. 

"Nothing," I chuckled. I decided not to tell him that I had heard what he said in his sleep. 

He can tell me that when he's wide awake and willing. "What time is it?" he rubbed his eyes. 

"It's two in the afternoon," I answered. 

"This is why I don't take naps," he groaned, "I get all cranky afterward." I chuckled before pushing the covers off of my legs and slowly standing up only for him to pull me back down. "Where are you going?" he asked. 

"To the bathroom," I giggled.

He let go of my wrist and put his hands up in surrender, letting me go. I went to the bathroom, did what I had to do, and then came back out while drying my hands with a towel. 

"Leo," I lay on my stomach, "There's something I have to ask you." He looked down at me in anticipation. "Next week, it's my Nan's birthday. She's at the hospital not too far from her," I cleared my throat, "Is there any chance I can go see her?" I peered up at him through my lashes, praying he'd say yes. 

This is my mother's mom. I had her after I lost my mother but recently, she got sick. She's been in the hospital for a few months now after she got a severe asthma attack and they're monitoring her. Luckily, she's out of danger now but she almost had a heart attack. I didn't get the chance to see her before I was brought here, so I want to see her now. 

"Claire," he sighed, staring up at the ceiling. I began gnawing at my bottom lip while staring at the bed, trying not to cry. 

I'm extremely close to her and once she moved to the hospital, I rarely got to see her. She's getting old, her health is deteriorating, I just want to see her every chance I get. 

"Can I bring her here?" I looked up at him in shock. "Can you what?" I asked, my voice wavering. 

"Don't cry, don't cry," he sat up quickly and leaned down to me. "Don't cry, please. Can I bring her here? To see you? Is that possible?" 

"I-I don't know, you'd have to ask the hospital," I answered. 

"Then I'll ask the hospital. When is her birthday?" 

"Next Friday," I answered. 

"You'll see her then." 

"Promise?" 

He sighed in defeat, "Yes, I promise. If she can't come, then I'll take you myself, I promise." I stared up at him in awe. "I promise." He stuck his pinky out. 

I locked mine with his before leaning up and kissing him, hard. He fell back and I lay on top of him, hugging him tightly. "Thank you," I murmured. 

"No problem," he replied, rubbing circles under my shirt, on my back soothingly. "Any gifts she might want?" 

I laughed while pulling away, "She knits." 

He nodded, "I'll buy it." 

"You better charge my dad for that," I mumbled, hugging him again. 

"Will do," he chuckled.

 I'm falling for him. 

Like really falling for him. No one's ever taken care of me the way he has. The way he does. Every little thing he's done in my time here is to keep me comfortable and happy but safe at the same time. I've become his priority which sounds a little wrong but it feels so right. 

"I'm gonna go take a shower, I think Flynn went out," he said while running his fingers through my hair. 

"Okay," I mumbled in response. 

He lifted my face to his and kissed me slowly and tenderly. He pulled away a minute later and smiled down at me. "I'll be right back," he said. I climbed off of him and let him go shower while I lay there. I heard the doorbell ring and froze. 

What is it trouble? 

The water stopped in the bathroom and he stuck his head out, drenched head to toe with a towel around his waist. "Go and check. If it's someone you don't know, just ignore it, okay?" 

I nodded before climbing off the bed and going downstairs. I looked through the glass window on the side and saw Mr. Jackson. I answered the door and let him in. "Hi, Mr. Jackson," I smiled. 

"Hello, Claire. Where is Leo?" he asked while walking in. 

"He's taking a shower right now," I replied. He sat down on the couch while I sat a few seats down from him. "Can I get you anything?" I asked. 

"No, that's all right, I was hoping to talk to you without Leo," he cleared his throat and turned to me. 

"Oh, what's wrong?" I questioned. 

"I'm a little worried about you," he began, "I'm worried about your um- bond with Leo." 

I looked at him quizzically, waiting for him to continue but he didn't. "Why?" I asked. 

"He seems to be very attached to you," he said, "And that is not a good thing. When Leo gets attached, he'll cross any line to keep what he thinks is his. But people don't belong to people now, do they?" 

"But-" 

"He would kill to keep you, Claire, I don't know if you realize that." 

"He said-" 

"Do you realize how dangerous that is? He may not let you go. Even after all this blows over. He thinks you're his now." 

"But he-" 

"I can't afford to put your life in his hands when he's not thinking logically. I think you should go back home." 

"Mr. Jackson, I-" 

"My son could really hurt you, Claire. He's a monster in his own way." 

"Mr. Jackson, with all due respect, you made him that way," I snapped. 

"Excuse me?" he seemed taken aback. 

I sighed in frustration. This man just doesn't let you talk. "You brought him into this world of gambling. I don't mean to be rude, Mr. Jackson, but he's lost almost everything because of you." 

"He told you this?" 

"He didn't have to. Don't you see where you've left him? He's killed people for you, his mother is dead, he was thrown into this life when he was seventeen, found out about it when he was fifteen. Mr. Jackson, you did this to him." 

"How are you okay with him being this way?" 

"I have no problem with the way he is, Mr. Jackson. You're the one hell-bent on making your son a monster, not me," I spat.

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Chapter twenty-seven

I want someone to defend me behind my back.

I don't have that.

Instead, I have people talking shit but oh well...

next chapter: Leo