The silence on the other end thickened, making Jay's grin falter. Then Leo spoke, slow and sharp. "Careful, Jay. You should know when to stop running your mouth."
Jay swallowed audibly, holding the phone away from his ear for a second. "Alright, alright! I was just teasing. No need to go full executioner mode on me."
Leo didn't bother with a reply, only exhaled once, heavy with warning.
Jay muttered quickly, "Still scary as hell, even on the phone…" before cutting the call with a nervous laugh.
***
Leo was in a bad mood after what had happened. The memory of last night's encounter with the intruder, the endless reports from his men, and the looming pressure of his grandmother's arrival clawed restlessly at his mind.
But the moment he sat down at the dining table and saw Bella sitting there with her cheeks as red as ripe apples, his lips curved despite himself.
