Page 84 of Unbreakable Thread

He opens the door with a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Hey.” He gestures for me to come in.

“You haven’t come around, and you missed Beth. She left already,” I say, looking around his place. It’s a typical young guy’s bachelor pad. Unwashed dishes, a variety of sugary sweets sitting on the counter.

“I’ve had a cold,” he claims.

“Bullshit.” I jab a finger at his chest. “What the hell is going on, Leo? Why am I getting the impression that you and Carlos are up to something, or you know something?”

He sighs, sitting on the sofa, elbows on his knees. “I’m not up to anything with him. He tried to get me to convince you to leave Max…”

“And well, you kinda did. You encouraged it.”

“I’m sorry, and I didn’t encourage it because I wanted you two apart. I said it because I felt you needed to find yourself on your own. I had nothing to do with Carlos. I didn’t listen to Carlos.”

I rub my head. It’s been throbbing. I’m not sure if I can take something for it. I’ll have to call Lana and ask if she knows. Moving toward Leo’s La-Z-Boy recliner, I settle myself and exhale the stress that keeps coming. “What is it about me that Carlos hates so much that he wants me away from Max?”

“Honestly, at first, all he had told me was that you’re holding Max back, and he said that if I care about Max enough as a brother, I should convince you to let him go… How much did you hear?”

“Enough to scare the shit out of me. Why… I don’t understand what makes it his business.” Pulling the handle on the recliner, I lean back. “Why does he care if I’m pregnant? I’m trying to piece it all together and find a reason why the man would prefer to match him up with Annette.” He called her to drive him home when he was drinking. “I left when he said for you not to tell Max. What else did he tell you? Did he threaten you?”

Leo’s lips press into a thin line. His eyes fix on the coffee table, where his cup sits abandoned, a ring of cold dregs at the bottom. “He didn’t say anything else.” He averts his gaze. “I think he’s jealous, and Max has only been a tool for him.”

“Leo, I can tell something is bothering you. If it has anything to do with Carlos, you need to tell Max. He’s not talking to me. He wants nothing to do with me,” I whisper, my heart sinking farther into the abyss. “Carlos has what he wanted.” I sit with that for a moment.

All those months of believing I was making a noble choice, letting Max go so he could shine. And the whole time, someone had been pulling the strings, using my worst beliefs about myself to do it. I handed him exactly what he needed. I’m sure Max will find another woman, or maybe Max went and fucked that bitch like he said he would. Every word sliced my insides and knocked the air out of me. Max has never spoken to me so crudely. I understand he dislikes Mills, but I was only seeking his expertise.

Leo frowns. “I just have a lot on my mind. I return to work with Max tomorrow, even though I want to tell him. I can’t.”

I stand to my feet and sit next to him. “What did he threaten you with?”

“He said he would hurt you. You, Max, and Xander are all I have. I can’t let anyone hurt you.”

The words landed somewhere cold. Leo watches my face. “How long have you been sitting on that?” I ask quietly.

He looks at the floor. “Too long,” he says.

I reach for his hands and place them in mine. “Don’t worry, Leo. I’ll take care of this. I’ll find a way to talk to Max about it, and if he doesn’t believe me…” I lift a shoulder. “Then I tried.”

Leo is young, and it’s a lot of weight on him. He’s had a rough childhood; he doesn’t need to deal with this on his conscience.

“Everything will work out,” I assure him.

“Thank you.” He exhales. “All this has been bothering me. I was worried you’d be upset with me.”

At first, I thought Leo betrayed me, but after carefully piecing everything together, I see Carlos is a manipulative fucker. He attacked me at my weakest.

“Never, Leo.”

Something in his shoulders finally releases. Like he’d been holding them up for days and just remembered he didn’t have to.

“I’m heading to Mrs. Debbie’s, delivering some baked goods. Would you like to come?”

He’s already reaching for his phone and keys.

Twenty minutes later, I’m pulling up in the driveway. The hot July breeze licks at my skin as if I walked into the gates of hell. Opening the door, Mrs. Debbie twists to glance up while mixing something in a big pot. “Hello, dears.” She leaves her task and opens her arms wide for us. “My sweet girl, how have you been?”

“I’m doing well. How are you?”

She limps toward Leo. “I’ve had better days, love. My bones ache.” She pinches his plump cheeks. “How are you, little Leo?”