Stars Aligned

Insert 99

THANDO'S POV

The first thing I see when I open my door, ready to head to work is a fisted hand about to knock on my door. The last person I expected to see in my house stands before my door. I gulp, because why not the man is scary, not mentioning how he always looks like he's heading to a funeral with the all black attire.
Me: Leo? What are you doing here?
I'm surprised my voice didn't quiver, I mean the stare was hard as a rock. Making me feel all sorts of uncomfortable. Leo just stands there staring at me. How does Betty live with this man, I have no idea what's going on with that girl. Hell she even has a kid with him. I wonder if she knows what he does. I mean now that I think about it, Leone did mention that everyone knew everything so that answers my question.
Leo: Can I come in?

I eye my watch, seeing as I am probably going to be late for work. I try to tell the man standing in front me that I don't have time right now. Partly because I know what he wants to talk about and I don't want to engage in any conversation with him. I'm just not ready. But, because Leo is the man he thinks he is, he justs burst into my apartment like that. I purse my lips together and look down, a small chuckle leaving my lips. Okay.
Leo: I won't waste your time. I'm here about my brother, he's leaving the country, for good. Before, I never wanted my fratellino around the same place I was, due to some personal matters, so I tried everything to get him to leave and he didn't. That almost costed him his life. Now, I realized that he wasn't my little brother anymore, he was his own man and he was capable of protecting himself, but I want him to stay here.

My heart was beating out of my chest, my eyes stang with fresh tears, but my face was stoic as his as he continued to speak.
Leo: I want my brother here, with my son my family and my friends. Whatever it is you have with him, please solve it before he goes. I know it's your doing he's leaving-
Me: With due respect Mr Capone, I have no input in your brother deciding to leave the country, and-
Leo: Don't interrupt me when I speak little girl.
Then he stares right into my eyes with those black as the night orbs that could pierce through everything and anything. A very cold shiver jolted through my whole body and I knew that I should've spoken while he was talking to him, but I wasn't about to apologize. I broke the eye contact.
Leo: If you love my brother the way you say you do, you'll never judge him for what he was subjected to, what he is.

Leo: Your love shouldn't be that weak that it refuses to see the kind of man Leone is. He's kind, he's stupid but he's. He's reckless but he's responsible, he's annoying but he's loving. My brother is everything you could ever ask for. We not bad people, it's just how we have to live to survive, and we not a bunch of thieves, we have integrity, love and warmth. We also a family and this is our lives, just like yours. Don't you defend criminals, us, in court. I don't think you have any right to judge little girl. I'll take your leave.
The man gave me a last stare before he sauntered through the door and disappeared behind it. Leaving me with a heavy heart, a jumbled mind of thoughts and tears finally streaming down my cheeks.

***

Mark: Good thinking on that case, I mean I could've easily cracked it as well. It was so obvious she was lying about it but I just let you take over...
Mark's voice drowned in my head with the many thoughts swarming in it. I had no idea why Mark was in my office, and why he was talking like we were some old friends.
Me: Please leave Mark, I'm not in the mood.
Cutting off his rambling, Mark scowled at my dull face. He sighed and got up from the chair.
Mark: Anyways, we work well as a team. We did solve case together right, together Thando.
I just stared at his desperate face emptily. He thankfully got the message and sighed, leaving my office. Seriously this man had no self respect. Together my foot.

Ever since Leo came by, and left me a hot mess, I've been like a walking dead the whole day. I zone out, thinking about Leone. My mind was trying to fight my heart and it seemed like my heart was winning. The thought of not seeing Leone again ever, made my heart hurt like hell. It felt like someone was ripping it out mercilessly. The thought of him leaving and forgetting about me and loving someone else made all the thoughts I had about him after I found out he was in the mafia disappear. I love him, and I didn't want him to leave me. I needed to talk to him and maybe, just maybe we could live past everything. With that thought, I jolted from the chair like it burned me. Nothing but myself was stopping me from being with the man I was madly in love with.

Packing my stuff, I hurriedly grabbed my bag, and keys. I was in the elevator, repeatedly pressing on the ground floor button. The smile on my face was so huge, people in the office stared at me like I was crazy. Maybe I was a little, I mean who runs like a mad woman in a building full of lawyers with a huge grin on their faces. Is this how people felt in the movies. Like their hearts was going to burst out any moment, leap all the way to the rightful owner. But though, the running was shit. My limps were tired as hell. Good thing I wasn't running anymore as I approached my car. I hope I don't have to run to the airport if I miss him at his house. I can't run.

I repeatedly checked the time displayed on the car. Cursing myself why I took so long to realize that I wanted to be with this man no matter what. Now I have to rush to get to him. But no problem, as long as I get to have him at the end of all this. Soon, I was packed in front of the complex Leo was staying in. The guard recognized me immediately. I gave him a small smile, as he returned it. He greeted me. And came closer to the driver's window.
Guard: Madam, are you looking for Mr Capone?
I nodded vigorously, my smile widening at the mention of his name. God, did I always feel that way about that man. So whipped. My smile faltered when I saw the guard's face expression. The pity in his face.
Guard: Madam, sir doesn't live here anymore. He sold the building and moved out.

Me: What?
My voice was below the whisper, so strained and filled with pain and surprise. But as soon as the sadness came it was gone when I remembered that Leo said Leone was leaving and that meant he hadn't left yet. He was probably at the mansion because Leone lived there most of the time. I didn't have time to think I needed to be at the mansion immediately. I thanked the guard, I don't know for what. Shooting him a wide smile, because I didn't lose hope yet, he looked so confused but returned the hesitant smile either way. I was on the highway speeding through the cars, breaking so many laws like I wasn't a lawyer. The only thing that mattered was him.

I didn't even switch the car off as I hopped off it running to the door. I rang the doorbell, knocked on the door. Waiting, anxiously for him to be still here and open the door, and just engulf me in those warm arms of his and everything would be good between us. But as the door opened and Betty stared at me with her mouth slightly parted in what I assumed was surprise. Yeah, I couldn't blame her.
Me: Hi. Is Leone here?
Gosh, I sounded like a school girl coming to do her homework at his crushs' and hoping to get some smooch. Alex, wobbled to the door, wiggling his arms to his mother, as his mother picked him up settling him on her hip. I didn't have the time to fawn over the cuteness of that small kid but damn she knows how to make babies that kid was beautiful.
Betty: Oh baby, Leone isn't here. I'm sorry.

Me: Oh.
A barely audible, but heard 'oh' escaped my lips. Dejected, and hopeless I backed away from the door. I could hear Betty speaking but I wasn't listening, all that was running through my mind was that he actually left me.
Me: So he left? How long has it been since he left? An hour, please tell me it's a few minutes.
I was so desperate for her to tell me that it hadn't been that long. That I had a chance at catching him before he broke my heart a million pieces more than he had done.
Betty: Since lunch. It's been a long time since he left.
Lunch was like five hours ago. Swallowing the hurt at the pit of my heart, I ran back to my car and drove out of their house in a speed.