Dipendenza

Chapter 27

Leonardo

I gently rubbed balm onto Ronald's knuckles. He looked off to the side with a conflicted look. After he beat Titian to death he shut down. He was silent and almost nonexistent. He cleaned himself and we went home together but after that he just came and laid in bed. I had to clean his hands that still oozed with blood.

"My love it's been hours. You should get some sleep." I gently caressed his head. His long dreads were tied away from his face showing his perfect face structure.

"I'm not sleepy." He rasped. His eye was swollen and his bruises were turning a nasty yellowish purple color. I wanted so much to step in during the fight but I couldn't. I knew I couldn't. This was his battle not mine.

"Yes well that doesn't mean you shouldn't sleep. It's been a long day and your body is probably still running on adrenaline." I said.

"I don't want to be alone." He whispered.

"You won't. I'll be here while you sleep." I smiled. He took my hand and kissed each of my fingers before turning away from me. Not too long after I heard soft snores falling from him.

This has taken a toll on him. The way he cried after Titian was dead was heartbreaking to watch. I've lost my wife and it was hard but to lose your mother is so much worse. She seemed like the only thing that kept him together in some aspects. When I met Ronald I knew he was reckless with a reason. He never cared about his life or consequences. I'm lucky he wasn't a psychopath that did anything extreme but the things he did were done without much thought.

This whole time he's been driven by the goal of finding who killed his mom and now he's done it. What will he have to live for after completing his mission?

I watched over him as he slept. His body shook a few times and he started crying. Tears fell from his eyes but I didn't disturb him. He needs his rest. I'm scared of what he'll say when he wakes up.

*~*~*

"Please stop." I groaned, swatting the hand away from my face.

"Bababa." William spoke. He started grabbing my cheeks again roughly.

"Who allowed you in here?"

"I did little daddy." I heard Ronald voice.

I must have fallen asleep yesterday while watching him.

"To terrorize me it seems." I grabbed the baby and sat up fully.

"Maybe." He smirked. I watched as he was packing a baby bag for William.

"What's this?" I asked. I took the baby and put him on his back and started moving his legs around.

"Angel suggested giving us a few days completely alone. He told the staff to leave out for a few days, so he booked him and William an apartment. He's even taking Peter." At the sound of his name the cat jumped into the bed and meowed. William quickly scrambled to his knees and that started the cat chase on the bed. Peter stayed in the bed never going too far to the edge so the baby wouldn't fall off. I genuinely think the cat is a human in disguise.

"That's a lot to have happened over night." I mumbled. I stood from the bed and walked to my partner. "We have to talk once the house is empty." I kissed his cheek. He nodded softly.

I walked into the bathroom and relived myself and started a shower. I wasn't in there long before I felt hands on my back. I sighed and relaxed into the rough touch of my partner. Ronald started kissing my shoulder blades and rubbing my arms up and down.

"Your bandages." I said taking his hands. I wrapped his arms around me and hugged them.

"Angel left some supplies for you to fix them up." He whispered in my ear. "Thank you."

"For?"

"Not intervening, patching me up, not screaming when you saw my face." He laughed softly.

"I've seen worse. I've looked worse." I sighed. "You remember when you asked if my teeth were real?" He hummed in agreement. "About four of my molars are fake. They were punched out in a fight I had with a rival leader."

"I knew they looked too good to be true." I turned in his arms.

"I'd love to kiss you." I let my finger tips dance across his lips. "But I'm afraid it'll hurt too much."

"A little pain ain't going to stop me." He smirked and leaned down. He pecked me but winced, pulling back. "It's stopping me." He glared.

"It's other places I can kiss." I laughed.

"Oh we're getting freaky." He grinned.

"Not before a talk." I paused. He nodded and slumped down.

We finished showering and after getting dressed we both went to the kitchen. I said I'd cook and even though he laughed he let me.

"Have you spoken to detective Brown yet?" He asked. I was whipping up the eggs and seasoning them.

"Not yet. I saw some of the men in the photos being taken to jail." He nodded with a hum. "How do you feel? No actually what's next?"

"What do you mean?"

"You've been living for two years trying to find the killer and kill them. You did, so what's next?" I set the bowl down.

"I don't know. I've been living for something else and now it's over I think I just wanna live for me. Before you I thought after I got this closure I'd give up. I'd just do whatever till I died but after you I know it's other things to be happy about. I know there's so much more to life now and I want it all. I want to experience it with you." He smiled. "So yeah, I don't know what I'm going to do but as long as you're there I'm sure it'll work out."

"I'm happy to hear that. I was worried." I said softly. I looked back at his confused face. "I thought this was the end. You accomplished your goal. The goal that brought us together actually."

"Oh yeah. I haven't been to that club since then." He laughed.

"Good because you're banned." I said seriously.

"Understandable." He laughed. "I have a new goal though." He stood up. "I want to live the rest of my life with you and spend it making you happy." He came by my side.

"I think that's achievable." I smiled.

"You think?" He asked, smiling wide. I nodded, leaning into the kiss. We kissed softly but I could feel his hands taking control of the pan I was using.

"I'll cook." I said confused.

"How am I supposed to spend the rest of my life loving you if I'm dead?" He smirked.

"That's not funny." I glared. "I'm trying. I just can't figure out all this seasoning and measuring. Why can't we just eat nutrition blocks for subsistence?"

"Yeah Leo, get out the kitchen." Ronnie had a blank face. I sighed and turned to leave. At least I don't have to fake like I know what I'm doing on the stove.

"Ronnie?" I questioned before walking out fully. "Why do you have a new goal? Why not make it about yourself?"

"Easy little daddy, I know you depend on me but shit more than that I depend on you." I turned to see his smile. That laid back smile that he wore when we first met. A smile that means much more than my own life to me.

I am so sorry it took me so long to upload this. I had a hell of a 2024 which caused severe writers block. I'm trying to get into writing again because I have so many ideas in my head. One step at a time I guess. Thank you for reading! The epilogue is half way written so it should be out soon but knowing me maybe not. Thank you again.💜