Chapter 9: Ripples

Leo and Marzia dated throughout the college and Marzia never mentioned this to Marcus, Leo only met him once in his college Life, and Marzia always used to skip any conversation about her father. Leo graduated in political sciences and started preparing himself for the civil services while Marzia took up a job as an investigative journalist for WBC. They were madly in love with each other and stood as a perfect couple until the day Leo messed up.

22 days ago...

Everything was going normal, there was no Predator in the lives of people of Winterwich, The protests around the city against the laws passed by the government were stagnant, crime rates were increasing exponentially.

As trees throughout the Winterwich shed their leaves to invite the cold snowy winters the sale of cocaine witnessed a peak, It was said that the dormant subordinate of Mario, named Joel Jackman, had become active again. Joel was a rich fat businessman to the world but he was a loyal dog to the underground, he worked as a switch to the drug supply for the whole western part of the Winterwich, occupied by the elite celebrities and corporate sharks. The drug-obsessed rich pigs eventually became slaves to their addiction and money machines to Joel, making him one of the most powerful subordinates of Mario De Mean.

Upon the orders of his boss, Joel remained dormant for about three years and his activity mysteriously rose after a long time, the Narcotics control agency didn't understand his move, so to investigate this, Leo was assigned to gather information from Joel's ex-girlfriend Erina.

"Leo...make sure you don't miss this opportunity...Erina arrived at the location," said Surge through the radio.

"I know what to do...stop pushing me," said Leo as he looked at Erina entering the cafe, through his monocular from across the street.

Leo walked into the cafe and confidently sat in front of her. She was sipping her Latte when Leo called the waiter.

"Two Ice blue Lattes"

"Why two?" asked Erina.

"The beautiful lady sitting in front of me has to wait to talk to me," said Leo, looking straight into her eyes.

Her blue eyes twinkled as she blushed, she removed the beanie off her head and swayed her silky blonde hair.

"I know that you are Joel's ex-girlfriend...I am a cop...act cool," whispered Leo.

The blush on Erina's face vanished and her forehead wrinkled.

"No... don't be angry, I'm Leo, and you are truly gorgeous...but I really need your help."

Erina chuckled and said, "well...I don't know about any of his ventures...I'm useless to you."

"You aren't, you are the only hope I have now ...I just want to know why he remained dormant all these years."

Erina remained silent and contemplated Leo, as he was on a questioning spree, she got attracted to him. Leo didn't realise that his way of being extremely nice to people would be enough to make an abuser's ex-girlfriend go crazy for him.

"All I know is Mario wanted to keep the city dry...but recent events suggest that he changed his mind," said Erina as she tried not to look at him.

Leo held her hand and said "Erina...I just need one evidence against him, please."

Erina felt a slight tingle in her spine when she felt Leo's touch.

"I...I'll text you the address of his domain," muttered Erina.

Leo asked her to unlock her mobile and he installed his number in it.

"Be in touch...," said Leo and before he could finish speaking, she moved forward and planted a kiss on his lips, Leo wanted to push her away but he didn't want to mess with her as she was the only channel to Joel.

The camera in Marzia's hand dropped as she witnessed her boyfriend kissing someone else, she was standing outside the cafe, investigating the sudden activity of Joel Jackman for her article when she saw Leo sitting with Erina and she didn't want to disturb his proceeding, Marzia knew he was trying to get information from Erina but she completely misunderstood the kiss and Leo was clueless about Marzia's presence.

Leo slowly moved away from her lips and Erina wiped her lips with the back of her palm.

"I didn't mean it that way," whispered Leo.

"I'm sorry...but ...you liked it, didn't you?"

"Ummm...yea...yea, it was good," said Leo trying to ignore eye contact with Erina.

"I'll give you a call...bye Leo," said Erina as she left chuckling.

Leo sat there regretting the past two minutes when the waiter appeared at his table with the bill.

"Hope you had a good time sir."

"Not so good," said Leo as he placed the money on the bill and left the cafe.

Later that night...

Leo finished the paperwork and documentation of that day's investigation and reached his flat, he was filled with guilt and didn't know how to convey things to Marzia. As he opened the door a burst of fragrance engulfed him, his home was decorated with candles and rose petals, Leo wondered if there was any occasion, she was wearing a creamy white off-the-shoulder and exposed her beautiful shoulder blades.

"How's your day boyfriend?" asked Marzia looking sideways at Leo.

Leo didn't want to disturb her mood but on the contrary, Marzia was expecting a confession from guilty Leo.

"It was good and you made it better darling...let me change and let's rush to the bedroom...damn...you look amazing," said Leo as he unbuttoned his shirt hurriedly.

Marzia wanted the answer but she did not want to force him, although she was ninety per cent sure that the kiss was just a part of work yet she was extremely jealous and wanted him to apologise. After an hour of passionate lovemaking, giggles and loads of happy moans, they both were lying on their bed and Marzia's head rested on Leo's chest as he gazed at the roof, He didn't want to hurt her and decided not to confess his guilt and that turned out to be the worst decision.

"So how was your day? She asked again.

"It was good, I mean it was normal...why are you asking again?" replied Leo, who had no idea about Marzia's presence at the cafe.

"It's normal for you to kiss some other girl...what happened to you Leo?" said Marzia with a louder tone.

Leo was shocked and kept staring at Marzia with his widened eyes.

"Speak Leo, what didn't I do for you?, I was expecting you to tell me and apologise but you kept hiding it, what else are you hiding from me?" said Marzia bursting into tears.

Leo was still confused, the guilt returned and his face turned pale.

"I had no other way Marzia...I was about to tell you," said Leo, he knew he messed up.

"No you weren't ...if you wanted to tell me, you would do it when I asked you about your day...stop lying Leo...tell me what didn't I do for you."

Leo was struck with enormous amounts of regret yet he became defensive.

"I told you it was part of work...why don't you understand?" said Leo with a wrinkled face.

The emotions on Marzia's face disappeared and Leo instantly rued his words, Marzia covered herself with the blanket and walked to her closet and threw random clothes on the bed.

"Marz...I'm sorry, I should have told you earlier, please don't do this to me."

"You didn't want to tell me Leo and I don't think I can withstand seeing you," said Marzia as she packed her clothes in her suitcase, she had no expression on her face.

"Are you crazy?... Marz, it wasn't my mistake."

Leo tied his blanket to his waist and tried stopping Marzia.

"Yes, I'm crazy Leo, now let me go," she yelled as she pushed Leo away and stomped towards the bathroom.

She got dressed up inside and walked out of the bathroom, all this time Leo was trying to convince her while banging the bathroom doors.

"Marz..please...It wasn't my mistake," said Leo trying to convince Marzia to stay, but she barely considered his plea, she was heartbroken and her mind went numb. He tried to stop her by holding her hand one last time before she reached the door.

"Now you are physically hurting me, Leo."

Leo couldn't hold her hand after hearing those words and she slammed the door behind her and walked out of the flat, Leo didn't know how to revert things to normal, with the hope that time will heal everything, he sat on the couch when his phone buzzed, it was a text from Erina, she sent the location of Joel's domain, Leo forwarded it to Surge and deleted her contact from his mobile. His head started feeling heavier and his eyes were moist, he wanted Marzia's company but it was too late.