Silent Scars

CHAPTER 42

MARCUS HASTINGS

Marcus glanced at Leonardo, seated at the head of the table, his shoulders taut with stress as he scrolled through emails and reviewed documents on his laptop.

Even though Leonardo hadn’t said much since their argument about leaving without informing him, Marcus knew his silence wasn’t fueled solely by anger.

Leonardo’s guilt was written all over his face.

He always blamed himself.

Marcus thought with a sigh.

Even when it wasn’t his fault.

Leonardo had done everything he could for them growing up. He worked tirelessly to keep them safe, to provide for them, to ensure they had opportunities he never did.

Yet, no matter how much he gave, it never seemed enough in his eyes. He bore the weight of the family’s past and present on his shoulders, refusing to let anyone else carry the burden.

Even now, he was holed up in with works instead of taking a break. There was too much going on, especially with the attacks on their warehouse, which had suspiciously started after Ariana’s arrival.

It's all too coincidental.

Marcus thought, his jaw tightening.

Is she really involved in this?

He didn’t want to believe it, but the thought lingered.

If she was connected to the family’s enemies or had been sent as a trap...Could Leonardo handle it? Could any of us?

His thoughts were interrupted by the sharp buzz of his phone. He answered it immediately, and whatever the caller said made his expression darken. Ending the call abruptly, Marcus stood and headed straight to Leonardo’s office.

Marcus didn’t bother knocking, he didn’t need to. He barged into Leonardo’s office and dropped into the chair opposite him.

Leonardo barely looked up, still scanning documents, but the tension in his posture made it clear he noticed Marcus’s arrival. When Marcus didn’t speak immediately, Leonardo finally set his pen down and gave his full attention.

“What’s wrong?”

Marcus didn’t waste time.

“I’ve been digging into Ariana, with help from one of my contacts in LA.”

Leonardo’s brow furrowed, his voice sharp.

“What do you mean by that, Marcus? I already told you, I’ll handle her.”

LEONARDO HASTINGS

The moment Marcus said he had been investigating Ariana, something boiled inside me. I clenched my fists under the desk, trying to keep my voice steady.

I'm scared to dig into her past.

I admitted silently.

What if she’s involved with our enemies? What if this is all a trap?

But then I thought of her, how small and fragile she looked, how she barely ate, how her silence reminded me of someone trying to disappear into the background.

She’d unknowingly carved a place in my heart, even as I tried to keep her at a distance.

I wanted to check on her. To talk to her like Luca and Kendric did. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it. All I did was talk to her harshly, pushing her further away. What could I even say to her now?