Chapter 3 - THE SECRET BEHIND THE HEADPHONES
Three days later, Tessa received a phone call.
“Mr. Gallagher wants to speak with you.”
She nearly hung up.
Instead, she asked, “Which one?”
“Declan.”
Tessa sighed.
“Tell him I'm not interested.”
“He says it concerns Leo.”
She stopped.
“Where?”
“Private office downtown.”
Two hours later, Tessa sat across from Declan Gallagher.
He placed an envelope on the desk.
“You're being offered five thousand dollars.”
“For what?”
“To disappear.”
Tessa pushed it back.
“No.”
Declan's eyes narrowed.
“You don't understand the situation.”
“I understand exactly.”
“You have no idea what kind of life my son has.”
“Then perhaps you should have treated him like a person.”
Silence.
Declan leaned back.
“You think you're helping him.”
“I know I am.”
“You've known him for one evening.”
“He needed someone.”
Declan's jaw tightened.
“You're becoming emotionally involved.”
“So?”
“That makes you dangerous.”
Tessa stood.
“If you want me gone, fine. But don't pretend this is about protecting Leo.”
She turned.
Declan's voice stopped her.
“His mother died when he was sixteen.”
Tessa turned back.
“She was the only person who understood him.”
Declan looked down.
“After she died, he stopped speaking for almost a year.”
Tessa's expression softened.
“You blamed him.”
“I didn't.”
“You allowed everyone else to.”
Declan didn't answer.
Tessa left.
That night, Leo found her.
He stood outside her apartment building.
Tessa nearly screamed.
“What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to apologize.”
“For what?”
“My father.”
“You didn't do anything.”
Leo looked around nervously.
“I brought something.”
He handed her a small box.
Inside were new headphones.
“They're noise-canceling.”
Tessa looked at him.
“They're expensive.”
“Yes.”
“I can't accept these.”
“I need you to.”
“Why?”
“Because the old ones broke because of me.”
“No. They broke because of your cousin.”
Leo looked down.
“I know.”
Tessa studied him.
“You should be angry.”
“I am.”
“Then why don't you do something?”
Leo looked at her.
“Like what?”
“Stand up for yourself.”
He smiled sadly.
“You think I haven't tried?”
“What happened?”
“My father took my voting shares away.”
Tessa frowned.
“What?”
“After my mother died, I inherited part of the company.”
Leo lowered his voice.
“Then my father said I wasn't mentally capable of managing it.”
Tessa stared at him.
“That sounds like a lie.”
“It is.”
“Can you prove it?”
Leo hesitated.
“I have records.”
“Where?”
He looked toward the street.
“Somewhere safe.”
Before Tessa could ask another question, a car accelerated toward them.
Leo grabbed her.
A gunshot shattered the night.
They dropped behind a parked vehicle.
Another shot hit the brick wall.
Tessa's heart exploded with fear.
Leo pulled her closer.
“Stay down.”
“You know how to handle a gun?”
“No.”
“Then why are you acting like this?”
“Because my father taught me one thing.”
“What?”
“Survive first.”
A black SUV screeched around the corner.
Two of Declan's men jumped out.
“Leo!”
They rushed toward them.
Tessa looked at Leo.
“Your family?”
“Yes.”
“Why are they shooting?”
“They aren't.”
Leo looked toward the street.
The men were shooting at the attackers.
The ambush lasted less than thirty seconds.
When it ended, Leo stared at the blood on the pavement.
Tessa saw something strange.
He wasn't frightened.
He was focused.
“Leo?”
He looked at her.
“That wasn't random.”
“How do you know?”
“They knew where I would be.”
Tessa's stomach tightened.
“Who knew?”
“My father.”
A terrible possibility formed between them.
“Do you think your father ordered this?”
Leo shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
May you like
Leo looked toward the empty street.
“Someone inside my family.”
