Chapter 28: Fight (Leo's POV)

I stepped out of the room but stopped at the top of the stairs when I heard Claire talking. I saw Ace and Max running past me but stuck my leg out. They both halted and looked up at me. "Don't look at me like that, sit down," I whispered. They both sat down in their spots and stared up at me while I listened. 

"You're the one hell-bent on making your son a monster, not me," I heard her say. 

"I'm making him a monster? Me?" my dad replied. 

"Yes, you. Why do you make him do this? Close these deals for you, collect money for you, speak to your clients for you? That's not his job. He's your son, Mr. Jackson. You should never have introduced him to all this, you should have just let him live his life the way he wanted." 

My grip tightened on the railing while I continued eavesdropping. 

"I offered him a way out, Claire. Almost two years ago, I offered him to leave it all behind and go to New York." 

"Go to New York? Leave everything behind and just leave?" 

"What does he have, Claire? He has Flynn and that's it." 

"Mr. Jackson, what have you let him have? You-" 

"He's a monster. He'll trap you here, take your chance and leave." 

"I am not going anywhere. Thank you for your concern. If my dad has no problem, and I have no problem, and Leo has no problem, then frankly, I couldn't care less about what you have to say." 

I smiled to myself as I heard her response. She defended me. She stood up for me. Only makes me like her more. I nodded at the two little devils by my feet and removed my leg. They went down slowly and ran up to Claire while she stood up and headed to the door. 

"I think you can see yourself out," she said. 

"I need to speak to Leo." 

"About what?" I asked while going downstairs. 

"I'll give you two a minute," she said before picking up the two and taking them out to the backyard. I kind of wish she didn't leave. I turned to my dad but didn't hear the backyard door open. 

I looked to the left and saw Ace and Max running back with Claire behind them. "Actually, nevermind. I'll just listen in," she shrugged, folding her arms across her chest and standing there. 

I glanced at her and bit back a smile. She raised her eyebrows at me before turning to my dad while I did too. 

"This is not allowed," my dad gestured between us, "You're meant to keep her safe. When you're distracted by your emotions, you'll fail to do that. You'll get too attached." 

"I've been attached for a while now, I'm keeping her safe just fine. And sending her home will get her killed." 

"You're scaring her, Leo." 

"She's scared of being without me," I almost growled. What has gotten into me? Why is the thought of her leaving making me so angry? 

"She's scared of dying, Leo." 

"Being here, she's safe. Who's going to keep her safe there?" 

He fell silent and stared me down. "You can fight for her, you can save her from Seth, but you can't save her from you, Leo." He's right, I can fight for her and I will. Would he be right about the other bit too? 

"I don't need to be saved from him, Mr. Jackson. He's the one keeping me alive," she spoke up. 

"Suit yourselves then, you're the only that can save yourself now, Claire. Leave while you can." 

"Goodbye, Mr. Jackson." I opened the door and he saw himself out. I closed the door and locked it, turning to her with a sigh. "No offense, your dad's a fucking prick," she huffed. 

"I know," I nodded, "That's why I don't live with him," I grinned. She wrapped her arms around my torso and hugged me. I pulled away moments later and looked down at her. "You fought for me," I stated. 

"I'll always fight for you," she shrugged, "I'm kind of hungry though, do we have any-" 

I cut her off and immediately kissed her as hard as I could. She even stumbled back but I caught her by the waist and kept her up. She took a few steps back but I pulled her up and balanced it out. Once we steadied ourselves, I took some steps forward and she retreated hers until her back hit the door. 

After a while, she began taking steps forward and led us to the kitchen without breaking the kiss. My back hit the countertop and I turned us around and picked her up, seating her on the counter while I stood between her legs. 

We heard barking and I pulled back with an agitated huff and looked down. "Do that one more time," I said to Ace. He sneezed before running around with Max while I turned back to her. "Where were we?" 

"I don't know, care to remind me?" she teased. 

I tucked her hair behind her ear while smiling, "I think somewhere here," I smirked before leaning in and taking her lips with mine. She pulled away and looked up at me with a smile. I pecked her lips and pulled away again seeing her smile. Then I pecked her lips again. And again. And again. 

She grabbed my shirt and pulled me down into another kiss, holding this one out. Her legs wrapped around my torso while she pulled me closer. "I-" she chuckled. I didn't let her talk, I kissed her again but she was just desperate to say something. "I should really-" She wasn't going to shut up so I started trailing kisses from her jaw down to her neck. That shut her up. "Leo, I-" she said breathlessly. She placed her hands on my chest but she didn't push away. 

If she applied even a little pressure or told me to, I would stop. "Do you want me to stop?" I whispered. 

She shook her head lightly, "No," she mumbled. 

But I did. Because the fucking front door beeped open. I grunted before pulling away and she pulled her legs closed. It was Flynn with Aesha. "Hey," they said in sync. They went and sat on the couch, Flynn introducing Aesha to Ace and Max. 

While they began playing with them, I turned my attention to Claire. "You're coming with me," I said, keeping my voice low so they wouldn't hear. 

"Am I?" she smirked. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her off the counter with a jerk. She stumbled forward and crashed into me. "I guess I am," she mumbled. I pulled her up the stairs and to my room. She sat down on the bed while I closed the door behind me. 

I turned to her while she sat there, raising her eyebrows at me in amusement. "Wipe that look off your face," I murmured while walking over to her and leaning down, kissing her. Instead of hovering over her, I kneeled in front of her while I kissed her. 

She rested her arms around my neck, her fingers running through my hair. "Claire," I mumbled. Neither of us broke the kiss until I gathered the courage to finally say it. "I think I'm falling for you." She stopped kissing me and pulled away. 

I think I've just fucked it. 

"I know," she nodded. 

"You do?" I asked, extremely confused. 

"You um-" she cleared her throat, "You mumbled it in your sleep," she smiled softly. 

"No." I sat on my knees. 

"Yeah," she nodded, giggling. I put my head down in her lap, groaning. "I think it was cute," she said, lifting my face, looking me in the eyes. "And if it helps." I stared at her hoping she would say what I wanted to hear. "I think I'm falling for you too." 

"You are?" She nodded. "How?" I asked. 

"What do you mean?" she asked in confusion. 

"Just because I fought with my dad doesn't mean I disagree with what he said. I am a monster, Claire." 

She shook her head, holding my face in her hands, "No, you're not." 

"Claire-" 

"Leo, you're not. You trust me, don't you?" I nodded in response. "Then trust me when I tell you that you're not a monster, okay? Trust me," she said reassuringly. 

If things keep going like this if she keeps acting like this. I'll fall in love with her. And that's way worse than me getting attached. If I fall in love with her... If I fall in love with her then I'll never let her go. 

And I don't just mean it in the way where I say I'll always fight for her and keep her safe, but also in a way where she'll never be able to get away from me. Even if she wants to. Even if she tries to. Even if I try not to, I'll trap her. Even if I don't want to, I'll lock her in a cage if it means she's still be mine. 

Whatever it is that's going on between us, has to stay exactly where it is. It can't escalate any more than this. We have to stop falling so deep into our feelings for each other. 

I'll hurt her if she gets too close. I can't fall in love with her. I can't do it.

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Chapter twenty-eight

He's so scared of falling in love with her I feel bad.

Imagine someone loving you like that but being so scared to tell you how they feel

:(

next chapter: My love