Chapter 3 Keeping To The Shadows

• Leo King
• From the minute that smarmy, Italian prick laid eyes on her I hated him and his fucking accent. He looked at her as though she was his prey, well there is no way in Hell I’ll allow him to get his hands on Allegra. I’m not stupid her business was running smoothly for the past three years, yet he took over his family business and shit started happening to Allegra's businesses.
• Now the club getting torched is one thing it could be a disgruntled punter, but not the warehouse. That was a professional job the fucker turned off the sprinkler system and turned off the cameras. Frank is useless, but he keeps a good record of maintenance and has always been a bit pedantic with that kind of shit.
• Plus whoever did this knew the place was full of cash, the arms deal for the AK47’s and the other stuff had at least 300k sitting in used bills in the back office. Frank had tried to get to it, that's how he ended up in hospital. No, this was all too much of a coincidence he arrives back then all this happens after so long of everything running peacefully.
• Him sniffing around Allegra is pissing me off, I keep telling myself it’s because she is my best friend but there is a nagging voice in the back of my head telling me it's more than just that. We have worked so hard to keep the letchy vultures at bay, marriage, date’s and every other fucker wanting a bit of her enterprise. Allegra is top tear when it comes to her elegance and respect for herself, she holds herself like no other woman.
• The minute I spotted her leaving in that tight dress and her hair up, my blood was boiling but why. She is just my friend so why did it affect me so much her being dressed up and alone with him? This is the first time she has gone anywhere at night without me, and it hurts. Like all of a sudden she doesn't need me anymore, well she was mistaken if she thought I was letting that prick be alone with her.
• As soon as they got in his sports car I followed, I mean it’s not like there is a lot of custom quarter of a million dollars worth of Masirati’s floating around. It’s easy to keep up with when I am on my bike, plus I always have a tracker on Allegra’s phone. It’s my job to take care of her to make sure she is safe. Keep telling yourself that, the voice at the back of my mind says.
• Ignoring that nagging feeling I push on in and out of the traffic keeping one eye on his car. As soon as I watch him lead her to the top floor I curse the prick for making sure she was on her own. Making myself invincible, I keep to the shadows watching and listening. I hear two of the waitresses talk about what Mario has been up to with most of the female staff not only here but also his club.
• Don't get me wrong, what a man does is up to him, it’s not like I am a monk but this sleaze is sleeping his way through his entire female staff. The minute he asks her about her dating life I swear I almost break a back tooth. I clench my jaw so hard. I have to stop myself from laughing when she answers him, maybe she isn't as stupid as I thought.
• Her tone changes the minute he mentions me, that's my girl I think when her tone changes to the one I know too well. She stands up suddenly “I am tired, please excuse me it’s been a long day” She says to a very pissed off looking Mario, he grabs her wrist as she goes to turn away. “Allegra, please I am sorry if I upset you. Please stay for dinner then I will take you straight home” She looks down on him then to his hand that is holding her.
• He lets go and she gives him the look I know means, I do not trust you. She sits back down but her guard is firmly in place; good girl. She fiddles with her phone and my phone buzzes in my hand. It's a text from her.
• LEGGY: Leo please come pick me up asap at the Thorntree. A x
• I smile down at it, Leggy is what I called her in college, she has legs that go on forever and with her name I just started calling her Leggy. She made me promise never to call her that in front of anyone else but at home she is still Leggy to me. Turning I fired her a text back.
• ME: Sure thing Leggy. L x
• She checks her phone and smiles at it before putting her phone back in her bag.
• It takes me about thirty minutes to get back to the Thorntree, so I send her a text.
• ME: Outside Leggy. L x
• LEGGY: On my way. A x
• She steps out followed by Mario, she smiles as soon as she sees me. He spots me and frowns and I can't help but smile at him; Fucking prick. He leans in to kiss her cheek and I almost growl. He opens the door for her, never taking his eye off me. “Thank you for tonight, I’ll call you and hopefully we can see each other again soon” She just smiles and nods.
• I don't wait any longer before I take off, leaving his slimy ass on the sidewalk. “Enjoy your date?” She scoffs “He is an ass, why do you think I called you?” She smiles at me “Oh and it was not a date” She says before laughing. We drive home in a comfortable silence, the argument from earlier forgotten, that's how we are.
• She slips her heels off and relaxes, she looks exhausted. Parking in the underground car park, she stumbles out the car heels in hand. I scoop her up like I have done many times before, “Come on Leggy, let's get you to bed” She leans her head on my shoulder and closes her eyes.