Leo

I couldn't get it out of my head. The kiss, the feel of her lips against mine, her taste.

I wanted to kiss her so bad when she was in the car with me, but I didn't want to scare her away. I thought I could just give in to my urges and kiss her once, but I'd fucked up. I'd underestimated my feelings for her and now I couldn't go back and stop myself.

How did she feel about it? Is she thinking about it? What is she doing right now?

Not only had I kissed her, I also knew her secret now and the reason she was involved in this situation and I couldn't let her go now. Not until she was safe and not until I had the people who hurt her suffer.

I was thinking if I should tell Ares or not. Now that I knew that Tessa was definitely not on their side and she probably wanted them to end up how we wanted them to, Ares would make sure she was safe and wouldn't involve her.

Right?

But I couldn't bring myself to tell him.  That guy had some crazy ideas sometimes.

It was two in the morning and I was standing outside her house, waiting for her to reply to my text. People would probably think that's creepy but I had to see her.

I sighed and took out my phone to call her. It rang a few times before she picked up.

"Leo?" She said. She didn't seem like she was asleep before, which was weird because I couldn't see any light from her window and it was also closed.

"Are you home?" I asked having a weird feeling.

She hummed in reply, which wasn't very convincing.

"Open your window then" I said.

There was silence on the other end until I speak up.

"If you don't tell me where you are right now-"

"Why would I?"

"I can easily track you down"

"I-it's none of your business!" 

I knew by the tone of her voice, she was in trouble.

"It's dangerous, Leo"

I couldn't hold back my laughter.

Dangerous.

"What's funny?"

"I can handle it, Tess"

She sighed and told me the location. I quickly got in my car and started driving there.

The place was really dark and secluded. I couldn't believe she wad here alone and would be here alone if I hadn't called her.

What if something happened to her? I would never forgive myself.

"What the fuck-" She turned around and gasped startled by my voice, "-are you doing in a place like this at this hour?" I asked.

She put a hand on her chest, "You scared me"

"Tell me, Tessa"

She looked at me with nervous eyes wandering around and she clasped her hands together, "Well don't be mad but, I've been keeping an eye on the people who killed my mom and-"

I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair closing my eyes, "Tessa"

"I've been really careful-"

"Yes! That's why I had to save you twice"

"Twice?"

"Just tell me already"

"This is one of the places they meet"

"And what are you planning to do? Attack them?"

"I want to get proof that they do illegal stuff and-"

"You think police is going to care? These are dangerous people with connections" I said.

I knew that well. Ares had connections everywhere. One of the reason he was never scared.

"How do you know that?" She asked crossing her arms.

"I'm not answering that now"

"Yes, you will"

"No, I'm not the one putting his life on the line here"

That was a lie. I did that everyday.

I heard a sound nearby and listened closely.

"I just want to-"

I grabbed her hand and took her to a place where we couldn't be seen.

"What-" I put her hand on her mouth to stop her from talking.

Just then we saw three guys walk to where we previously were. I looked to see Tessa shocked and a bit nervous.

"That girl has been trouble lately" One of them said.

They're probably talking about Tessa.

"Do you think she's one of Hale's people?"

Fuck they just had to mention him in front of Tessa.

She threw me a weird look, but kept quiet. My hand was still on her mouth as I was standing behind her. I slid it down to her neck and caressed it to calm her down.

"I don't know, but we have to be careful. She's trouble for sure"

"Maybe we can do something to scare her" A guy who hadn't spoken up till now said.

I felt my heart beat increase.

What are they going to do to her?

"Maybe visit her family"

Tessa stiffened in my hold and tried to go forward, but I held her back.

Another guy chuckled, "We might do that if she's not being a good girl"

And with that, they left. We waited a few minutes until we were sure.

"Leo, what am I going to do!?"

She was clearly in panic, hyperventilating. I had to calm her down.

"Hey listen" I said and cupped her face, "I won't let anything bad happen to you or your family" I promised.

"How can you be so sure?" She asked frowning.

I smiled thinking of how much she doesn't know yet, "Trust me on this. No harm will come to you or your family"

"What aren't you telling me?"

Her breathing bad calmed down a bit but now she was suspicious of me. I wanted to tell her, it would be so easy to just tell her, but I couldn't.

What if she thinks I'm just like her mother's killers and hates me? I can't lose her now that I've got her.

"It's a story for another day" I said.

She looked down, "How can I trust you when I know you're keeping things from me?"

"Tessa, it's not the right time. As soon as we get you out of this mess I'll tell you"

She nodded after a small pause, "I trust you. Don't disappoint me"

The last sentence made me nervous. Would she be disappointed when she found out?

"Thank you" I said and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

God, I just want to kiss her lips again, but it'll have to wait.

"Let's get you home, sweetheart" 

The ride to her house was silent. She just stared out the window lost in her thoughts. She was probably thinking of what that guy said. She had every right to be upset and worried after hearing that. I would be too.

Even if I've never had a real family.

That day I promised to myself that I would never let anyone in her family get hurt. I wouldn't let her feel the pain of losing another family member.

"Leo?"  She called out my name. I hummed in reply while keeping my eyes on the road, "What's your family like?"

I didn't expect to hear that question and I couldn't help but feel upset.

What was my family like? Would she get scared if she knew?

"I'd rather not answer that" I said firmly.

I could see from the corner of my eye how she dropped her head slowly and fiddled with her fingers, "Okay" she murmured.

No one said a thing after that. Not until we reached her house.

"We're here" I said.

"Leo, can I ask you a favour?" She asked quietly.

"Of course"

"Could you please stay the night? I'll just feel safer after what I've heard and-"

"Yes"

"Really? Thank you!" She said throwing her arms around me.

She sneaked me inside since her father and her sisters were asleep.

We were in her bed watching TV, but I couldn't pay attention to the movie. All my attention was on her.

Should I talk about the kiss?

"Tessa" I called out her name quietly, half hoping she wouldn't hear me. She turned to look at me and hummed in reply.

I cupped her cheek with my hand and leaned in before kissing her. I felt relieved that I had her lips on mine again, that I had her in my arms.

What is this feeling?

She put her hands on my face and I helped her get on my lap. I couldn't even describe how good it felt to have her this close.

"I can't get myself together around you. My emotions overpower my logic"

"It's too soon to say things like that" She said looking down between us.

"I won't lie to myself and deny them because it's too soon"

"B-but-"

"But? You don't feel the same?" I asked smirking. Her face said it all

"I do" She said quietly.

"We're taking it as slow as you want" I said.

I couldn't even believe what I was saying. I had never wanted something so much. I was never interested in anything, only focused on work.

The smile she gave me next made my heart melt, "You know, for some reason I trust you and I feel safe with you"

I looked down.

Trusts me.

She shouldn't trust me. Even if I want her to. I want her to trust me.

"Tessa, about that-"

I was interrupted by a strange noise that sounded like someone was trying to get in, or had already succeeded.

We both looked at each other with wide eyes and quickly stood up. She grabbed an object, which I couldn't see in the darkness of her room, for protection and I put my hand on my gun.

I always had one on me. I hated that she would have to know.

We left the room quietly and headed to where the sound came from to see who it was.