Michael was gripping his cell phone so tight he could have snapped the damn thing in two. He was furious. He'd been waiting for two hours for them to go. First, that blond bitch had gotten there before him and now, these guys. "Who the hell were they?" One thing he knew for sure, he didn't like it one bit. He didn't want anyone sniffing around what was his. Michael was getting restless, since he had done away with William; Leigh had distanced herself from him even more. However, He'd made sure she knew he'd be around, keeping an eye on her.
He knew everything about her, including her complaints of harassment and her attempts to expose the truth about him. He was well covered and didn't need to worry about it. But since she started working in the Office, she began to get closer. Instead of getting him pissed at her, it actually excited him even more, especially when she acted defiantly. It made him want her more.
Five years ago...
"...We therefore commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life."As she heard the priest's final words, Leigh stopped crying. Right there she swore to herself she would do everything in her power to hold Michael accountable for her father's death. She knew he was involved before she read the letter William had written to her explaining how he found out the truth about Michael and told her how he feared for her life and his own. He told her how he gathered some evidence but it wasn't enough to prove much, apparently he wouldn't get much help either. She was alone now. She knew none of her father's friends on the force would help her. They wouldn't want to be involved. Michael was there by her side, playing his role, and people believed he cared.
When she found herself standing by the coffin she felt him approach. "I am here for you, Leigh" She hated his voice, it has always made her sick. "Don't talk to me, don't come near me ever again." She said as she was leaving not daring to look behind and missing the smirk on his face.
********
"You will come to me, Leigh." he was becoming hard just thinking about it. The door of her house opening pulled him back from his thoughts. But what he saw then infuriated him. The men were leaving, and one of them held back, turned back to the door where Leigh was standing and cupped her face, brushing her cheek with his thumb. Such an intimate gesture that only himself was allowed to do. Nobody was to touch her. Jerry, the guy he sent to warn her had found out the hard way. Now looking at the scene unfold at her fort door he contemplated. I should make that motherfucker join Jerry in hell"
But it was too risky, he knew. Nobody would miss Jerry around, but if those guys were cops as Michael suspected, it would make things more difficult for him. Leigh would start with accusations again and if attention was drawn to him once more, he knew Salvatore would not appreciate that. He needed to find out who they were and why there were at her house. "I'll come back, Leigh."
************
Salvatore Visconti had been in this business far too long. He became boss of the crime family more than twenty years ago, succeeding his cousin who had been deported back to Italy. Gino never took it lightly when any of his people were sloppy on the job; Gino was aware that Michael had become careless for some time now. He knew the reason for Michael's distraction and if he slacked once again, there would be no mercy.
He needed Michael's knowledge and connections on the force but he could always get someone new. Michael was dispensable and Salvatore would make sure he knew it.
***********
When they left her home after telling them what she knew about Michael and the letter from William confirming all her suspicions, she felt partially relieved and hopeful for the first time in years. But she never mentioned Michael harassing her. She didn't think that it was relevant to the case.
But Leigh could not get Damien's face out of her mind. He seemed genuinely concerned for her and had promised to check on her later on. It was late in the afternoon, she had talked Lucy into going home since she was feeling much better. She had just finished her bath when she heard a knock on the front door.
"Coming!" Leigh hurried out of the bath quickly; drying her body and putting on a robe. She rushed to the door without a second thought of safety and she opened it.
"That's what I call a treat. Hello dear, Leigh. I heard you weren't well" She cursed herself for her carelessness, in front of her stood the one person she despised the most.
