Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 891 : Compromised

*Leo*

The weekend approached at breakneck speed and soon Saturday night had fallen upon us. I knew that Bianca started school in only a couple days, Tuesday, if I wasn’t mistaken so I decided at the last minute to take her out for a little fun.

God knows she wouldn’t have as much time for me once she was swamped with school from her classes and going out to parties with friends. It was both a blessing, in that she wouldn’t be so suspicious of me all the time and I would be able to maneuver behind the scenes better, but also a curse in that I loved her and being able to spend time with her was the highlight of my day.

But every good thing comes with drawbacks.

It was past noon when I arrived back at home. I texted Bianca, alerting her that I was there and waiting outside for her. I leaned against the hood of my car, the sunglasses blocking out the heat from the shining rays as I waited patiently for her.

It was rather last minute so I was expecting to wait a bit but as always, Bianca saw my expectations and threw them out the window. She came barrelling out of the front door, a huge sunny grin on her face.

She was dressed in a long yellow sundress, the thin spaghetti straps contrasting with her sun-kissed skin while the pattern of butterflies and flowers flowed out beautifully around her ankles.

“Leo!” she called out to me as soon as she saw me and my lips curled into a massive smile as she raced over to tackle me into a hug. I easily caught her around the waist and she looked up at me, her chin resting on my collarbone.

“You look beautiful, love,” I chuckled, giving her a quick peck on the lips. She returned eagerly, finally stepping back to show off her new look.

“I haven’t had a chance to wear it yet but today seemed as good as any,” She retorted brightly. “So, where are we going? I’m expecting it to be good if you’re gonna drag me out in this humidity.”

“It’ll be worth it, I promise,” I laughed as she fussed with her ponytail. The curls in her hair had already started to frizz up but I didn’t point it out as I laid a kiss on her forehead, taking her hand as I walked her to the passenger side.

As the gentleman I am, I helped her in before running over to the driver’s seat to get in. I made sure we were both buckled before jetting off in the firebird. With the windows down, Bianca turned up the radio and loudly started singing along to whatever was on. She didn’t know all the words exactly, mainly referring back to her native language of Italian, but it was beautiful to hear anyway.

The sky was a bright blue, not even a wisp of a cloud out and it was the perfect day for what I had in mind. As we pulled up, Bianca’s excitement practically exploded as soon as she saw the gorgeous coastline of the beach.

She stepped down onto the asphalt before I could round to help her out and a grin as wide as the ocean before us stretched across her face.

“It’s the beach!” She cried excitedly, then inhaled deeply, her eyes falling closed like she was savoring the scent. “It smells exactly like what I imagined.”

“You’ve never been to a beach in Italy?” I asked curiously.

“Of course I have.” She rolled her eyes, putting her hands on her hips. “But the American beaches are another thing entirely. It has a different feel from anything back in Italia. More salt content, maybe?”

She pursed her lips, nonplussed about it as she surveyed the beach before us. Unfortunately, we weren’t the only ones who had thought it a good day for a swim because hundreds of tourists and locals swarmed the sands.

Bianca didn’t mind though as she grabbed my hand, pulling me across the sand. It took exactly one minute of her trying to walk across the sand in her sandals before she made a look of distaste and took them off.

“Stupid American sand, we have rocks in Italia, and the sand we do have actually stays together,” She muttered under her breath, making me laugh quietly to myself even as I pretended not to hear.

I carried her sandals for her as we walked up to the sealine, the scent of strong salt and the mist of the waves hitting me full force. The moment her bare feet stepped into the water, I swear I saw her entirely change before me.

Like a siren who’s finally returned home, Bianca threw her arms out in bliss, laughing brightly as she ran knee-deep into the water. The waves crashed against her but she only laughed even harder. It was mystifying seeing her play so carefreely in the ocean, fearless and bright like she was an ethereal being I could reach out to but never touch.

But once she noticed I was standing still on the beach, she came running back.

“Come on, Leo!” She offered out a hand, the light of the sun shining off her back and giving her a glow that almost made her seem like an angel descending from heaven. “The water’s perfect. Or are you scared of a little seawater in your fancy shoes?”

The challenging glint in her eyes and the small smirk on her lips knocked me out of my daze.

“I really can’t win against you,” I said quietly to myself. This little realization only made me more aware of how deep my feelings for this woman ran. Love was almost too light of a word.

So I grinned, taking her hand and challenging her and letting her pull me and my fancy shoes into the water. It was cold, bitterly so but I didn’t feel anything but her warm hand pulling me along the tides. She pulled me into a cove in the rocks, away from the sight of anyone else.

The water was up to our waists now and her sundress was absolutely soaked, the fabric floating around her gracefully.

When we were far enough, she turned to me, wrapping her arms around my neck as I held her closer. Her dress was stuck firmly to her skin, and she was like a heater compared to the water around us, especially her lips.

She tasted like sea water and I quickly lost control of myself, deepening the kiss as I pressed our bodies closer but I should’ve known Bianca had a few tricks up her sleeve.

She pulled back, pulling her teeth against my bottom lip as she did so and I went to chase her, out of my mind with want for her until I saw the mischievous look in her eyes. Before I knew it, her hands slammed against my chest and I lost my balance as I tumbled into the water.

I was a good swimmer, and it was shallow water so I floated back up easily. As soon as I broke the surface I heard her laughing, her eyes bright and full of so much life.

I grinned, half my face still under the water and I dipped under again before grabbing her waist and pulling her under with me. Her eyes were wide but still full of laughter as we both fell under the waves and I grinned, holding onto her tightly as I dove to her lips to finish my kiss.

My last breath flew into her lungs and she held onto me like I was a lifecraft. But oxygen was not limitless down here.

We broke the surface, both gasping for the precious air around us. Her hair was a wet mop around her face, her skin dripping with the water and her eyes red from the salt but her lips pulled up into a brilliant smile, her giggles lighting up the air.

I swear to god, she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen at that moment.

It was once we returned to shore to dry off and take a bit of a rest that we ended up running into a familiar face.

“Isabel!” Bianca called out happily as she spotted her friend under one of the umbrellas. Bianca pulled me along, her hand still in mind to meet the girl. I’d never officially seen her before, but I knew about her.

She was a friend of Bianca’s from the university, and she was a mousy girl with full square glasses and had what looked like a drawing pad out. She looked up as Bianca pulled me up to her.

“Bianca!” Isabel smiled, “How nice to run into you.”

“I know. Oh, um, Isabel, this is my boyfriend, Leo,” Bianca introduced us immediately, smiling hopefully. I gave Isabel a polite but friendly look. I had to make a good impression here.

“Nice to meet you. I heard about your help with Bianca’s school books, thank you for being so kind to her,” I grinned.

“Oh, it was no problem at all!” Isabel rushed to her feet, brushing her knees and outfit of invisible specks of sand. She awkwardly held her hand behind her back, looking very much the part of the shy mouse, just like the guards I had on Bianca had reported. “I’d already read all the schoolbooks for the year so since Bianca needed it more than me, it was just the right thing to do. Oh, speaking of, Bianca, are you ready for class on Tuesday?”

Her awkward expression when addressing me melted away while facing Bianca, something I couldn’t help but take notice of.

“I’m prepared,” Bianca told her then sighed. “Well, for the classes, at least. The people, not so much. I still barely know anyone here.”

Isabel’s eyes lit up. “Oh, then you can come to this dance party that they’re hosting for new and old students tonight! They call it a dance party but it’s more like a get-together for the new students-” She then cut herself off, glancing at our intertwined hands. “Oh, but I don’t want to intrude or anything if you guys are out on a date or something.”

“Not at all,” I answered before Bianca could refuse. I glanced at my girlfriend with a smile. “You should go. Have fun and get to know more of the students.”

“But, Leo-” Bianca frowned, unsurely. I could tell what she was thinking, thinking of me before herself but silently, I was thanking Isabel.

This worked out perfectly for me. I was wondering how I could sneak away to meet Franky later tonight without upsetting her but this was the perfect excuse.

“I have some work to finish up later anyway,” I told her with a reassuring smile. “So go have fun.” 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

“If you’re sure you’re okay with it,” Bianca said at length, giving me time to change my mind but I laughed, squeezing her hand.

“I am,” I said confidently.

“Okay then,” She turned back to Isabel with a smile, “I’d love to come.”

“Wonderful!” Isabel clapped her hands in relief, “I was wondering who I could drag along with me, so this is perfect! I’ll text you the address. Meet me there in one hour, okay?”

Then Isabel rushed to grab her things and she darted off, calling back to make sure Bianca didn’t forget once more. Bianca and I exchanged a look of surprise then burst into laughter.

We headed home so Bianca could shower and change for the party and I told her to use my driving service to get down and back, which she thanked me with a kiss for. It worked out well - I knew she would be safe with my guys driving and this way, someone armed would be with her at all times.

After she left for the party, I headed out to meet Franky, who was not happy in the slightest.

“What’s this about a dead switch?” I demanded as soon as I got into his space. Franky had dark shadows under his eyes and a look of pure annoyance on his face.

“Manuel,” Franky croaked with his hoarse voice, sounding like he needed ten gallons of water to be normal again. “He set up a dead switch. Upon his death, it sent out all the info he had to Elijah. It’s how Elijah knew to move everything ahead of time.”

“And you’re just telling me now?” I snapped.

Franky gave me a look like I was an idiot.

“If I had known before, we would’ve kept that piece of shit alive but now potentially everything has been compromised, Leo! Including the compound!”

Well, fuck.