Saving Her

Chapter 42: Deceit

Audriella's POV:

I didn't sleep much last night. Or at all really. I just sat and stared at the door after Leo left. I hear a door close and steps coming down the stairs before the door into the gym is closed; he's up. I sigh and stand up out of bed and head out of the room. I quickly make my way to the bathroom and do my morning routine. Once I am done I go up the stairs to Zayn's room.

I walk in to see him laying on top of the blankets asleep. He's only wearing sweatpants. I stand by the door awkwardly looking around. Not really wanting to wake him up, but not wanting to go back downstairs and risk seeing Leo. I need to talk to Zayn and get my head straight first.

I turn back to Zayn, he looks so peaceful. Do I really want to wake him up with all this shit? I sigh before going and sitting next to him on the bed. As soon as my hand touches him he stirs and wakes up.

"Hey, Luci" I sigh,

He looks up at me and smiles. "Hey, Tigre. What's up? Are you feeling better today? You never come into our rooms. Not since being back." He observes. I look around the room for a bit. Not feeling as anxious as I usually am when I'm in here.

"Yeah, I guess I am." I smile softly, which makes Zayn's smile grow.

"That's great, Ella, you're doing so well. I'm so proud of how far you've come." He lifts his hand to touch my face before putting his hand on my belly.

"Good morning babies. It's your dad, again." He leans over placing a kiss in both spots where the girls usually are. His head is practically laying in my lap; I chuckle watching him tell our babies how his day went yesterday.

I card my fingers through his hair as he meets my eyes; he smiles brightly at me, his eyes crinkling in the corners. A genuine, happy smile.

A smile that I have to ruin with this stupid conversation we have to have.

I smile back at him, remembering why I came in here, my smile slowly drops. "Can we talk about something?" I ask quietly.

"Of course, love. Anything you want at all." He sits up, sitting next to me.

"You said that Leo went to see Jess? Do you know anything about what happened while he was there?" I ask cautiously.

He shakes his head "No, not at all. He came home really late, all messed up in the head. He kept scowling and talking to himself. He was really distant, wouldn't look at me. He wouldn't talk about it. Said it didn't matter because everything was ruined anyway. I just figured they'd gotten into a fight. I tried asking Jess, but she kept giving like really vague answers like 'they just talked' and they 'had a good time' but, if they had a good time why did he come home so broken? He came home and showered for hours. Literal hours. He locked himself in his room and started avoiding me, nothing I did made a difference." He explained, I just sighed throwing my head back and looking at the ceiling.

"Do you remember when it was?" I continue

"Yeah, it was like a week before we got the ultrasound picture Elio sent. Maybe a little more, maybe a little less. I don't really remember exactly, but it was right around then." He answered, trying to read my face.

"When did she leave?"

"She didn't, Ella. She said she was sticking around. Something about finally feeling normal and like her old self. She wants back in La Cosa, I've been trying to talk to Leo about it, but he refuses to talk about her." I just furrowed my eyebrows at his answer. She never left. She's still around. Has Leo seen her? He said it was only once, but was it actually?

"Do you know if they've seen each other since then?" I ask, cautious of his answer.

"No. Leo didn't even leave the house after the package got here. He started avoiding her like the plague, anytime she wanted to have a meeting to talk about being reactivated he closes off and makes some excuse as to why he can't meet. I mean, I could have just reinstated her, but I need my team to trust and want to be around each other and he clearly doesn't want to be around her. Plus, you're like my business partner now, so I would also want you to approve it first. That and I genuinely don't fucking like her at all. If the codes didn't say I had to let her back in she would never step a foot near any of this ever again."