"That's your name, right?" I probe, even though I already know I'm right, not only because of his unique identifying features, but also from his reaction.
"How do you know that name?" he asks, his voice quiet as he stands from the chair, pocketing his phone as he steps towards me, worry lines spreading across his forehead.
I raise a brow, glancing around the grand, marbled lobby, and I shrug, a smile playing on my lips, knowing I can use this to my advantage.
"How about we make a deal?" I ask, looking up at him, my eyes searching his, waiting to see what his decision will be.
His nostrils flare, and he kisses his teeth as he tears his eyes away from mine, staring out at the front of the lobby, giving me the perfect, up close view of his scar. I struggle to contain the proud smile that wants to spread across my face at the sight of it.
"Fine," he grumbles, turning back to face me, stepping closer, towering over me as if expecting me to cower, but I smile in delight, and I see the curiosity in his gaze before he steps back.
"You allow me out of here, and I'll tell you all about how I know your name," I propose.
He sighs and shakes his head, warring with himself for a moment, before he steps to the side and sweeps his arm out in front of him, indicating for me to walk past him.
"You even think about running, or trying to lose me, I'll drag you and that fluff ball back here, with or without the informationI need."
I tut at his dramatics, and Jellybean barks, as if she knows what he said.
"I don't have a clue where I'm going," I tell him. "I'd be stupid to run. Besides, you look like you can handle yourself, so I think it'd be smart to keep you by my side in case anything happens."
"Don't jinx it," he grunts, leading me through the lobby and towards the golden-framed glass doors. "This family has a habit of getting themselves into situations they're lucky to get out of."
I roll my eyes. "It's kind of part of the lifestyle. I thought you'd know that,bodyguard."
His eyes snap back to mine, and seeing such an intimidating, terrifying man like him seem frightened just by a word coming out of my mouth puts a pep in my step as I hop down the steps and onto the bustling streets of London.
"Come on, scar face," I shout over my shoulder. "I need some coffee, and then we can go on a little walk and talk."
After getting coffee from a cute shop on the corner, Leo leads me to a gated park. The winding paths are surrounded by large patches of grass and trees, along with beautiful flowers scattered around the further we walk through.
Jellybean is off the lead, bounding around us as she zooms back and forth as quickly as she can, spreading her tiny legs and happily yapping away as she sees some pigeons and chases after them.
Moving to a bench beside the paved slabs beneath our feet, I sit down, leaning against the flaking wood as I keep my eyes glued to her, making sure she doesn't run too far away from us.
Leo sits on the other side of the bench, eyeing me cautiously as I sip the piping hot coffee from the takeaway cup. I let the molten liquid warm my insides as I suppress the shiver wanting to pass through me from the cold air biting at my skin.
"Are you gonna get on with it?" he grinds out, glaring at me.
Flicking my eyes over to him, I nervously gulp as a trickle of fear runs through me at the sight of him.
His eyes soften ever so slightly seeing my reaction to his cold look directed at me, and I silently sigh. I break our stare off, looking back at Jellybean as she sniffs around the trunk of a tree.
"I knew Avery," I tell him, watching his reaction from the corner of my eye.
His face is stoic, his eyes darting away from me as he stares out across the park, and although he seems unfazed by what I've said, I can tell by the way he swipes his hands across his pants he's somewhat affected by the mention of my old friend.
"That's why you thought my name was Leo Black," he says, his eyes now watching my dog as she walks back over to us and sniffs around his feet.
When she doesn't growl at him or try attacking him, I smile down at her, and the tension in my shoulders dissipates.
Jellybean's a good judge of character, and although she's growly with everyone when they're too close to me, she's usually extremely reactive to men when she and I get a bad vibe from them, so seeing her relaxed around him makes me feel slightly more comfortable.
"Are you telling me that isn't your name?" I ask, peering over at him, my curiosity piqued.
He shakes his head.
"Not exactly, no."
