When I found my seat on the plan, I fought the urge to pass out and dialled Leo's number as they did the safety speech.

"Ella," he said after picking up. "Where are you?"

"On the plan and your men are with security. Turns out, two men dragging an almost unconscious girl through a busy terminal raises suspicion," I replied a little spite in my tone.

"Is Max on the plane?" he asked.

"No," I replied. "Why would he-"

"Get off it immediately," he growled in his Alpha tone. "I'm not fucking around Ella. I mean it."

I shook my head as a tear ran down my face.

"I'm sorry, Leo," I sniffled. "I'm going to Mexico to get our son and there is nothing you can do to stop me. Alessio and Xanthus did everything they could and I am begging you to be merciful on them. Especially Alessio, he has a young family and-"

"If you want me to be merciful then I suggest you get your ass home now. Then I won't touch his fucking family," Leo growled shortly after I heard him punch something solid. Hopefully an inanimate object.

"Don't be like this, please," I pleaded.

"Just come home, Ells," he said in a much softer tone. "I was wrong to tie you up and cut you out of this so come home and we can work it out together. There is no reason for you to sacrifice yourself to a man highly unlikely to follow his part of the deal."

"You've met Andrea. He's ruthless. He doesn't have a single hint of mercy. If he realises you are trying to outsmart him, he will kill Cato without hesitation," I replied. "I know that you aren't used to following other people's orders but this time, we don't have a choice."

"There's nothing I can say or do to stop you is there?" he asked with a sigh.

"No," I replied quietly.

"When Cato is safe, I'll come for you," he said. "And if you are already gone, Andrea will die. For real this time."

"That's if I haven't killed him first," I replied.

"Death seems to good for home," Leo said. "I'd rather-"

"Leo," I interrupted in a stern tone as I realised what he was insinuating. "I didn't spend years trying to install morals in you for them to disappear the second I leave. Don't stoop to his level whether you think he deserves it or not. Doing more than is necessary to end his life is immoral. Remember that."

"Nothing like a lecture about treating the literal devil with morality," he said. "You're too good for your own good, Ella."

"Just promise me that if I'm not there to keep you in shape, you won't slip back to your old self, Leo," I said. "Please."

"I promise. But you are coming back," he replied. "You're a cockroach, remember? No one can kill you."

"Yeh, I'm a survivor," I agreed.

He laughed a little before sniffing his own tears back.

"We're about to take off," I said. "I have to go."

"Call me when you land, okay?" he said. "I can't say goodbye yet."

"But just in case, I love you, Leo," I said more tears falling down my cheeks.

"I love you too," he replied before I had to hang up.

I couldn't deal with anymore for fear of running off the plane and straight back to him. I wiped the tears off away before leaning against the window as we were all told to turn out phones on aeroplane mode.

Shortly after, we began moving along the runway. I noticed what looked like a security car speed up to the plane and a couple of security officers pile out. Leo must have had something to do with that but they were too late, we were gone.

With the relief of a successful escape, I closed my eyes and le the powerful effects of the pill take over.

Hours later, I awoke to the sound of the plane thudding on the runway. I bolted up right from the shock of the rude awakening and looked around me to see all the other passengers excitedly awaiting their vacation to Mexico, or getting ready for a boring business trip, or thrilled to be visiting their families.

Not me. I wasn't in for nearly such a fun time. As soon as we were allowed to turn our phones off aeroplane mode, I called Leo.

"I've landed," I said as I followed the busy crowd off the plane. "Am I going to have trouble with security here? I saw a car of officers try to stop the plan which I don't doubt you were behind."

"I tried but unfortunately it's difficult to pay off security already paid off by Andrea Martinez," he replied with a sigh. "You won't be stopped anywhere in Mexico by the police. So what's your plan?"

"Andrea, texted me his number. I'm going to call him," I replied.

"So you're just going to go along with it?"

"I figured that that is best. I don't want to risk provoking him," I explained.

"Ella Jones. I feel like I don't even know you anymore. Why couldn't you ever go along with what I said?" he questioned.

I laughed before sitting on a bench just before passport control.

"Because you don't have a gun."

There was a breath moment of silence.

"Leo?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you mad at me?" I asked.copy right hot novel pub