Chapter 7: A rough start

It was cold. Leo sat on the balcony of the local motel. His hair a mess, beer bottle in one hand wearing his usual torn, at the knees, jeans that fit him snug: Wrapping himself in a beige sweatshirt. Dangling his legs over the side he took a long drink from the bottle.

"Why the long face?" A voice called out from the parking lot below.

Looking down, a man stood waving at the boy. Having brown hair that was red in some lighting, a black shirt with a brown, leather, jacket covering him. Wearing faded jeans.

He walked up the metal stairs and sat next to Leo.

"Hard day huh?" He asked: grabbing the beer from Leo and taking a swig.

Leo leaned back on his hands. They felt like they were burning as they pressed against the metal surface of the balcony. He opened his mouth and breathed out slowly, watching his own breath escape into a fleeting cloud that traveled up and evaporate.

"I made a stupid mistake that's all". Leo sighed.

"I can tell", the man smirked.

"I don't know Max, I feel like I need to stop doing this, it just doesn't feel right anymore."

Leo looked at his friend.

Max, leaning back on one hand, handed the bottle back over to Leo.

"Come on man, it was just a small fluke. Frankie said to not sweat it." He punched Leo's arm in an attempt to cheer him up.

"Besides the old man sees you as a part of the gang now, no other Omega has that privilege." He smiled.

Leo smirked.

"I just think I should really lie low. I wanna try and live a normal life."

Max sighed in discontent.

"Look. Just do this last job for Frankie so we can get those big bucks. After that we'll talk to the old man alright?"

Max wrapped his arm around Leo's shoulders giving them a tight squeeze.

"C'mon, let's get down to Lucky Luke's for a good drink, not this crap, my treat of course." Leo laughed as the two of them stood up.

"So where did Frankie say this new target would be?"

Max scratched his head.

"The glory...somthing or other hotel. Why do you ask Leo?"

The Omega went to speak and his voice was suddenly cut out.

"Leo?" Max asked again.

"Leo....Leo?....Leo!"

Leo sat straight up: startled. Gathering his bearings he found himself in the penthouse. Laying in the oversized king bed, the drapes pulled back from the windows to let in the sunlight: Noah standing bedside to him.

He looked up at Noah: a bit dazed and his hair a wreck.

"I'm sorry I woke you, but I was told I had to have you up at seven in the morning. During the week".

Leo flopped backwards on his back. Rubbing both his eyes with his palms letting out a loud yawn.

"I am required to be at Mr. Blackthorns side today for his meetings. There is a car prepared for you whenever you need to leave today."

"Okay" Leo sleeply agreed with Noah. It was a bit hard to concentrate on what he was saying after having been woken up.

"Mr. Blackthorn and I will be back later in the evening."

He handed Leo a piece of paper.

"This is my personal cell number. Please add it into your conta to when you retrieve your phone.

Leo took the paper from him.

Noah looked at his wristwatch.

"I must go now, please have a good day!"

He saw himself out shutting the door on his way out.

Leo remained on the bed: staring up at the ceiling. Blinking a couple times trying to concentrate.

He sat back up and looked around.

The room was relatively warm thanks to the sunlight.

Fall was just around the corner. Most days it had become chilly.

Pulling back the covers Leo hopped out of the bed. In a conjoined room withing the bedroom was a private bathroom suite.

Scratching the back of his head he stood in front of a grand mirror. The lights around it illuminating his entire body. Having only slept in a pair of pants Leo took a look at himself in the mirror.

He ran the water and splashed it on his face. Grabbing the towel next to him he dried himself off.

He looked back into the mirror, tossing the towel to the side.

His green eyes trailed down his chest and pecs: he moved his arms checking his biceps and forearms.

His eyes eventually caught sight of the mark.

Tilting his head he gently ran his fingers across it.

"Guess all I'm good for is making mistakes huh?" He smirked.

His eyes trailed down to his lower stomach.

He took his hand and gently placed it on it.

"What about you, huh? What do you think?."

Leo waited.

"What am I doing? This is stupid." He removed his hand and walked over to a discarded shirt on the floor.

"I could wear this another day." He gave it a one over before tossing it on.

He brushed his teeth and brushed out his hair.

Walking back into the bedroom he grabbed his sweatshirt and threw it on as well.

"Let's do this". He whispered walking out into the main living space.

He found his way to the kitchen.

Inside were a couple of cooks. It looked as if they were meal prepping. Leo's presence startled one of them.

"Oh! You must be Mr. Meadows!" One of the men wiped his hands with a towel. The other two kember sof staff stopped what they were doing.

"Please, don't mind me I was just going to get somthing quick to eat and be out of your way!" Leo exclaimed with a friendly smile. The three cooks didn't smile back. Instead they looked at one another with a puzzled look.

"If you have a request please tell us." The second chef said.

"We can make anything you desire."

Leo was starting to feel awkward.

About to protest again he saw it would have done him no good.

"Just...toast?" He asked.

The head chef was taken back.

"Is that...all?" He asked.

Leo nodded.

The chef didn't argue. He had Leo sit at the bar as he prepared his breakfast: Toast.

Setting the plate in front of the Omega the chef took a couple steps back. Him and the other two stood, hands in front: as if they were waiting.

Leo looked at them. The four of them just stared at one another in an awkward silence.

"I'm...good. you don't have to wait on me". Leo chuckled nervously: smiling.

The head chef looked at the other two: giving one another unsure looks.

The went back to prepping and cleaning: occasionally glancing over at Leo.

Keeping his head down he took a bite of his food. Leo glanced back up only to be met with the cooks eyes again.

He was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable.

"I'm actually not that hungry". He pushed his plate back and stood up from the stool.

"It was delicious though, thank you".

He thanked the chef and walked out.

He stood with his back against the wall as the kitchen erupted into a mumbled discussion. He didn't want to stay and listen.

His stomach growled in protest. Leo chose to ignore it.

Finally finding the chaufer Leo went ahead and left the penthouse to retrieve some items from his apartment.

He sat in the back. While the driver and bodyguard were in front.

No one spoke to him.

Leo spent the duration of the trip looking out the window.

The privatized garden of trees turning to city buildings made Leo breathe a bit easier. The familiar surroundings made him feel less suffocated.

The car had pulled into the parking lot of his apartment. The bodyguard opened the door for him as he stepped out. Some people were out and about in the morning. Some of the thugs from the neighborhood were standing around one of the abandoned shops across the road from him.

Taking a hit off their blunt they eyed Leo.

"I'll go ahead alone." Leo told the man.

"I must insist I go, I was told-"

"Please." Leo gave him a look.

The bodyguard judged the apartment distance from the car as well as the people who were around.

He nodded. Deeming it safe enough for Leo to retrieve some stuff and leave.

Leo climbed the four flights of stairs to his door. He froze.

From a couple of feet away was his apartment door. It was apparent that someone had broken in.

He cautiously moved to the door. It was slightly ajar.

He pushed it open with his fingers: peering inside.

"Shit..." He muttered.

Flipping the light switch his place was a disaster. It looked as if someone had rummaged through every nook and krany and pulled out everything onto the floor. The TV in the living room was gone, the kitchen was in a deplorable state with some downed light fixtures and missing wires.

His bedroom was in the same sorry state.

Some clothes were thrown onto the floor while others were missing.

Any item of value that wasn't tethered down was gone.

Walking back into the living room he looked around: moving couch cushions and other items.

His phone was gone as well.

"To be expected I guess." He threw down somthing clothing he had picked up.

Leo assessed the situation and deemed it a loss. There was no point in taking anything with him. Along with the ransacked apartment it also reeked of cigarettes. Leo always detested their smell.

He walked back out into the hall and shut the door. He didn't find a point in locking it so he turned and left.

As he made his way back down to the car, Leo was trying to make some sort of plan. He had no clothes, no phone. He got back down to the car.

"You don't have anything? Did you need help bringing anything down?"

Leo smiled and shook his head.

"I just decided not to that's all."

The bodyguard gave him a concerned look but didn't press and further.

He got Leo back into the car as they began to pull out.

Leo sat in the back. He slumped down I to the seat. He didn't know what to do.

---

David sat in his conference room with some of his investors. Going over the stocks as well as the overall financial gains the company acquired throughout the year.

The Alpha adorned one of his expensive, name brand, suits. Black in color with a navy tie and white undershirt. His cufflinks and buttons shimmered in gold as he had his hair neatly slicked and brushed to the side.

Putting on his fake facade for the people admiring him.

Noah walked next to him as a middle aged man was giving his speech.

He whispered into David's ear.

"What?"

David looked at Noah.

He turned back to the group.

"Gentleman if you could please excuse me I have an urgent matter to attend to." He gave them all a smile leaving the room.

Once outside David stormed down the hall. Noah was nearly running behind him.

David stepped onto the elevator and pushed the button for the parking garage.

The elevator dinged as David got out, Noah still hot on his trail.

He spotted the black vehicles near the front. He got closer as the door opened.

Leo stepped out, keeping the door open.

David glanced around to make sure no one was listening.

"What made you think you could come here?" David whispered with a hiss. He was clearly not happy.

Leo took a deep breath.

"You said if I needed anything to just ask."

He held his hand out.

"I need a new phone."

David stared in disbelief.

"You came all the way here just to ask that?"

He wanted to make sure he wasn't going crazy.

"Also new clothes and other items".

Now David was getting a bit hot headed.

"So that's how it is. Because now you think you can get whatever you want is that right? Now that you are living the high life?"

Leo grimaced at David's words.

He averted his gaze to the concrete floor.

David crossed his arms.

"So I'm right it seems?" He smirked.

Already having a bad day: Leo skipped on breakfast, his home was broken into, he had not a single penny to his name: and it was partially David's fault.

"If I agree will you give me what I need?" Leo asked with a determined stance.

David laughed.

"Yea, if you can say you're just a money hungry Omega I'll give you this". He pulled out a black credit card.

Leo took a breath.

"Fine, I'm just a money hungry Omega. Happy?" David smirked as Leo snatched the card.

"I was going to give it to you anyways but thank you for the free confession."

Leo turned and stepped back into the car.

David took a step back and watched it drive away.

"You see? That's what all Omegas want. To be wined and dined and given a fancy life by an Alpha. The poor ones are no different" David stood smug.

Noah watched the car roll out too.

He knew somthing wasn't right. As David made his way inside; Noah pulled his phone out and texted someone in his contacts.

Sending the message he turned back to the building and followed the Alpha back inside.