Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 885 : Salt in the Wounds

*Leo*

She left.

Leaving me standing in my room, glaring at the bed she had just been in and feeling like the biggest dick in the world. I hated this.

I knew she did too, probably more than me since she was kept in the dark but I didn’t see any other solution. When I saw her there on my bed in the pretty little lingerie I’d gifted her, I swear to God all I wanted was to just ravage her right then and there.

Block out the rest of the world and just be Leo the man and not the boss who was needed every second of every day. Yet, I took on the responsibility of the Don when I accepted the position. People’s lives rested on me and I couldn’t just leave them to die.

I know she’s going to get tired of this - get tired of me. But what option did I have?

I couldn’t tell her the truth, that would put her in more danger but I couldn’t lose her either. I loved her more than I loved anyone in this world. She was the only light in my life, the only thing keeping me sane and not transforming into a heartless monster like previous heads had done.

Even if I had to be the Boss, I didn’t want to lose myself in the process.

Bianca kept that from happening. Kept me wanting to be a better man for her. But I knew this couldn’t go on for much longer. She was already starting to ask questions I couldn’t answer, snooping around and getting tired of the lies and excuses I paraded upon her every time a ‘work emergency’ came up.

No, all I can do is deal with it and hope that we can come to an understanding. Later, when we aren’t so irritated. But not tonight.

Tonight I had other things to take care of.

Which, speaking of the devil... I glared at my phone as it rang and picked it up with a sour, “What?”

Franky paused on the other end, probably debating whether to hang up or call me out for my bad attitude but ultimately, he just plowed on.

“Are you leaving yet? We have something you need to see, right now, Leo,” Franky sounded just as irritated as I was, probably not helped by the way I’d chewed him out downstairs, fighting not to come in.

Franky won, though as he always did. Preying on the moral standing of people like me was how he stayed in this business. And he was damn good at it.

“I’ll be there soon,” I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. I could feel a headache forming in the back of my skull so I’d better get this over with quickly. I hung up on Franky, knowing he wouldn’t care so long as I got to the warehouse quick enough.

I grabbed my jacket and headed out but paused as I reached the stairs. I looked down the west hallway where Bianca’s room was. A part of me wanted to at least knock on her door and let her know I was leaving but the rational side of me knew that wouldn’t end well.

She was pissed. She had a right to be.

Space was probably the best thing I could give her right now.

I heaved a sigh as I continued down the steps and out of the compound. I made sure to set two extra guards posted around the compound just for extra security and then took off blaring at high speed down the street.

The length of the drive to the warehouse was enough time to get my head back in place, pushing away all of the stress of everyday life as I focused only on what Don needed to do. The place was crawling with our guys everywhere, running like rats in a maze when I arrived.

I knew a good majority of our guys were on security and our best force was out waiting for orders from me. I climbed the stairs with purpose, finally ready to get this feud over with.

Franky was waiting for me, the whole room smelling of coffee as he stood in front of the monitors watching something intently.

“Took you long enough,” Franky said grouchily as I took my place beside him. He took a sip of what looked like pure black sludge. I grimaced as he swallowed it. Even the smell was toxic.

I liked my coffee black but that wasn’t just black - it was pure poison.

“Do we have the go-ahead?” The radio hooked up to the monitors buzzed back, a little interference breaking up his voice but he came in loud enough to be heard. The footage on the screens was of the body cam footage of our guys.

Franky gave me a pointed look, gesturing to the radio and then to me. I rolled my eyes but grabbed the radio.

“Breech now, I repeat breech now,” I ordered the men, my blood pumping in victory as I watched them receive the go-ahead and get ready. They set up with the charge, taking cover and the explosion wasn’t heard over the radio but it certainly was seen over the camera.

Our men pushed through the debris into the building, rushing forward with guns drawn.

“Uh, sir?” One of the men asked in confusion, the camera swirling around in the building we had been so sure was the location of the LA Mafia.

But it was clear as day that the entire building was empty.

My teeth gnashed together as I watched the screen in fury.

“They got us,” Franky said grimly beside me. I threw down the radio, clenching my fists to prevent myself from punching the goddamn wall because what the hell is this?

I was lying to the woman I loved to be here, expecting a victory but I only got to watch in real-time as we failed so miserably.

“No dust. It’s been used recently,” Our guy reported as he scoped the surroundings. “I say it’s been left for a few days at most.”

“Fuck!” I cursed, kicking the trashcan and watching it tumble over. It was the best I could do to calm my raging fury at the moment. And of course, it was at this moment that the burner cell we had hooked up for Elijah began to ring.

I exchanged a dark look with Franky. There was only one reason that the phone would ring and only one reason the person on the other side would be calling.

The moment I picked up, I heard the bastard laughing hysterically on the other end. I gripped the phone so hard I thought it might crack in two. I glanced over at Franky who had already started trying to track the call and I grit my teeth, having to bare with this fucking asshole rubbing salt in the wound.

Petty and vindictive.

My least favorite kind of person.

“You will regret this,” I threatened him, seething with fury as he finally stopped laughing.

“Oh, I don’t think so,” He replied. “But I’d like to see your best shot. See you later, Leo.”

The call ended before I could say another word and I slammed the phone down. I turned to Franky, livid from the loss today.

“Our number one priority as of now is ending the LA Mafia. No treaties, no ceasefires. I want them burned to the ground,” I growled, making sure my intent was very clear to him.

He frowned, clearly not liking the order but he didn’t disagree. “And what about Alessandro? He said to end this as quietly as we can.”

“I’ll call Al to handle it,” I retorted. “About today and about changing the priority. I want you to focus on finding Elijah and Michael. I don’t care how many resources you need to achieve it- take it. I will make sure every man is at your disposal. Whatever you need to make it happen, Franky. All other priorities are now zero.”

“Understood,” Franky said quietly. I turned to leave, to call Al and make sure everyone else was on the same page regarding our new objective. I was just out the door when I heard a cold, “Leo.” from behind me.

I halted on the steps, turning to Franky. He gave me a serious look.

“We had been given the right information,” Franky reminded me as he settled into the desk. “That was their base of operations until a few days ago. The men confirmed it. So how did Michael and Elijah find out and have the time to move everything under our noses?”

I inhaled sharply at the insinuation.

“You think there’s another rat?” I asked gravely, knowing what that would mean for our operations.

“I don’t know,” Franky answered bluntly, but sent me a look of cold fury. “But I’m going to find out. They made a mockery of us. I won’t be letting it go.”

“Good,” I smirked. Even if it was just for personal revenge, having Franky motivated in the war is our best possible strategy. “I’ll call Al and then send out the message to everybody.”

“While you’re doing that, send me a handful of assistants as well. Especially the tech-savvy ones,” Franky retorted. “Low-level guys, preferably.”

Knowing his cautious but brilliant way of doing things, I nodded in agreement. This time he didn’t stop me as I rushed down the stairs. The first thing I did was mobilize our men currently- getting them all on the same page of what’s happening.

Then I called Alessandro.

It took a few tries to get ahold of him, no doubt because of the time difference there but his grogginess disappeared as I filled him in on what had happened and my plan going forward. It took some convincing but eventually, Alessandro got on board.

We agreed to gather up any products and shipments and have them sent for Alessandro’s team to take over in the meantime. If they were just going to get sabotaged, it would be better to halt it while we focus on the war anyway.

It took hours of planning before I finally got off the phone with Al and made the final preparations. The sun was already rising at this point and I rubbed the back of my neck as I settled into my car.

With the moment to relax from all the chaos, I was overwhelmed by exhaustion and a longing to see Bianca. She was still pissed at me though.

I debated for a moment just sleeping here in the front seat and not going back to the compound at all but I knew that would only make things worse.

I sighed, putting the car into the drive as I decided that it was better to have her be pissed at me in person than let it fester anymore.

Maybe, if some miracle occurred, she would let me off the hook.

I doubted it though.