Chapter 12: Everything going wrong

The next morning Leo was awake by a loud thud. Or rather it was multiple thuds. He turned and checked his phone. The morning sun was barely peeking over the horizon: five o'clock in the morning.

Leo groaned. The loud noises hadn't subsided. Having not slept well that night he was in a state of irritation.

Pulling the blankets off he trudged over to the bedroom door: opening it.

He walked around one of the privacy walls to see David in the living room. It looked as though his temper from last night hadn't subsided.

Leo did dare move any closer.

David was standing in the middle of the room. Some of the decoration on the tables: such as small statues of the sort, had been thrown to the ground: shattered. The Alpha almost acted like he was throwing a tantrum.

Leo found it mildly funny.

David turned around to see Leo looking at him. He gave the Omega a dark glare and stormed off back towards the kitchen.

"Looks like no early breakfast for me". Leo laughed nervously.

He took this time to get dressed for the day, hopefully giving David time to cool his head.

His phone vibrated.

Reaching over to thr nightstand he looked over his screen.

From max.

*Frankie told me to tell ya to come to his place tonight.*

Leo gulped.

He quickly text back.

*I don't think I will be able to go, but I will try*.

There was a long pause. Max hadn't text him back. Leo set his phone back down and continued getting ready.

Once dressed he picked his phone back up. There was still no reply.

He shook his head and stuffed the device into his pocket.

He opened the door.

Everything was quiet.

He softly walked in the direction of the dining room. Looking around as he went.

"Maybe he left?" He figured.

Opening the door to the dining room he stopped in his tracks.

At thr head of the dining table was David. Drinking the usual black coffee in a mug and a newspaper in front of him. He looked up at Leo. The dark circles were prominent under his eyes. His expression was cold and menacing.

Leo casually turned around to leave.

"Where are you going?" David growled from behind.

Leo gulped.

He turned his head.

"You look like you're busy I'm just gonna go and-"

"Sit!"

Leo pulled up a chair towards the other end of the table.

While living in David's home he had never actually sat down at the same table with him. It felt odd.

One of the cooks had come out to refill David's coffee when he noticed Leo.

"Do you want your usual Mr. Meadows?"

David glanced at the Cook and then back at the Omega.

Leo nodded as he accidently made eye contact with the Alpha.

He averted his eyes quickly.

The cook had gone back to the kitchen, leaving both men alone again.

Leo looked around the room to seem busy. He had even pulled his phone from his pocket to check his notifications.

When he had occasionally glanced at David he had noticed the Alpha had been glaring at him. Leo couldn't stand the tension any longer.

"What?" He finally squinted at David.

The Alpha folded his arms and turned his head away, not saying a work.

Leo just raised an eyebrow.

The cook came through the door with Leo's food, setting the plate in front of the Omega.

Leo looked down and smiled.

Taking his hand he grabbed the fork, stabbing the food, he raised it to his mouth to take a bite.

Mid-way he heard a loud scoff from the Alpha.

David abruptly stood up, grabbing his phone from the table, and stormed out.

"What the hell?" Leo asked watching him leave.

"What the hell is his problem?"

Having eaten and thanking the cooks Leo made his way to the couch. He flopped on the cushions: pulling his phone out.

Max still hadn't replied.

He tapped the screen and put the phone up to his ear.

It rang.

He waited and still nothing. The phone went to voice-mail.

Hanging up, Leo began to get increasingly worried about him.

He sat up straight on the couch.

Noah happened to be passing through when he noticed the concerned look plastered on the Omega's face.

"Leo?"

He jumped, startled by the secretary's voice.

Leo was about to protest as usual but stopped. He looked at Noah.

I need to go and see a friend. There isn't a problem with that right?

Noah pondered a moment.

"I don't see why not as long as you bring one of the bodyguards with you".

"ALL RIGHT!" Leo jumped up and headed for the elevator.

"Wait! Leo-!"

But he had already began his descent.

Traveling in the car,he had instructed the driver to bring him to Max's home. Once again he found himself in another questionable neighborhood.

Looking up at a tall, run down, apartment building, Leo got out slamming the door.

The bodyguard by his side.

"I'm fine from here, it will only take a minute."

The guard stiffened.

"Sir I don't think it's wise t-"

"It's fine. Besides I'm not a sir to you so loosen up." He smiled leaving thr guard baffled.

He ran for the stairs and began his climb to one of the upper floors.

He stood outside Max's apartment and knocked on the door.

He waited.

Not hearing movement He knocked on the door again: this time with a bit more force.

The door finally creaked open.

Max stood on the other side. Leo could tell by just the Crack that he was pretty beat up.

"W-what happened?!" Leo pushed his way into his friends home.

Having gotten a better look, Max had a couple of scratches on his face and neck, a black eye and a busted lip. Leo hovered his hands over the marks on the man's body.

"I'm fine but why are you here? And what are you wearing?"

Leo didn't take the time to throw on a jacket before leaving the Blackthorn residence. He looked down to see his newly tailored clothes that made his appearance the rich type.

The Omega searched for a good explanation.

"Nevermind me!" He exclaimed.

"What happened to you?! Who did this?" Leo took the attention off of himself.

"Who do you think?" Max lowered his gaze.

Leo gulped.

"Why would he do this?"

Max pulled his phone from his pocket. He saw the message you sent me.

Leo flinched.

"I didn't know he was around you when you messaged me. I'm sorry..."

Max sighed and lightly shrugged.

"It is what it is, though Frankie is not happy with you now."

"Is he at his place?" Leo's chipper demeanor shrunk.

Max nodded. A hand on his hip as he leaned.

"It doesn't make sense. He's never gotten angry over somthing like this before."

Max gave a sharp sigh.

"You just don't get it do you? You stopped contacting him and the rest of the guys after you left that charity event a month ago, which by the way really fucked Frankie over. He had to dish out money from his own pocket to please the client."

He poked Leo's chest with his finger.

"Then just recently you suddenly up and move from your apartment and you're going around dressed like you are a somebody now. How do you think it would make the rest of us look with you coming around this this?"

Max lowered his hand.

"Why won't you tell me anything? I thought we were best friends? Why all the secrets?"

Leo bit his lower lip.

"So naturally boss man is gonna be pissed."

Leo had remained quiet. Listening to his friends quarrels.

"So take a good look. This is what happens when you go against Frankie."

Leo whipped his head back to Max.

"Wait so you...?"

"I took the beating for you dumbass."

This made Leo feel worse.

"I won't tell you what to do, but my advice is to just do as he says."

Max folded his arms across his chest.

"He told me that you have until tomorrow evening to go and see him". Max added on.

Leo felt a headache coming on.

----

Back at the apartment David had locked himself up inside his office. Noah stood by his desk as he hastily went through document after document.

He looked at the secretary.

"Well? Did you find me another one?" He hissed.

"Yes sir." He handed a paper to the Alpha.

"All records indicate she is clean-"

"Good. Set up a time to meet with her on friday."

Noah sighed.

"Sir if I may?"

David gave him a dark glare.

"What?"

Noah bit his tongue.

"Nothing Mr. Blackthorn."

David leaned back in his chair. He couldn't understand it. Having been lied to by the minx in the hotel, he couldn't stand the smell of her pheromones. She smelled rotten.

His mind wandered to Leo.

"It's not me. That woman smelled rancid and his were fine. It's that woman's fault."

Noah watched as the Alpha continued to mutter to himself. He had a bad feeling about this.

Noticing that the Alpha barely touched his favorite coffee.

----

Leo said his good yes to Max as he returned home. It felt wrong to hide what was happening to him. Especially about having the Blackthorn family's baby.

So Leo made a critical decision.

"I'll meet with Frankie and work with him on this hustle. When it's finished I'm done for good."

Leo knew he wouldn't be able to hold in his secrets for much longer.