Chapter 16

Leila POV

I stood in the cemetery in the sweltering Detroit heat, today was unusually hot and humid.

Reading Tommy's headstone, and it still wasnt resonating with me that he was gone, even though it had been 14 years since his death.

"Here lies Thomas Marcel Tate, loving son, brother, and cousin"

"Once upon a time you were the life of the party, now look at all the people that claimed to be your friends" I snorted as I stepped forward and brushed away some dust before placing the flowers down and stepping back "Those mother fuckers weren't shit in the end"

"Even in a cemetery, you're a sight Miss Leila" I heard a deep calm voice behind me that held a hint of humour "That brother of yours would be proud you're just as firey even now"

Turning towards the voice I gave them a side glance.

"What can I say, he pretty much raised me"

He chuckled "You don't say"

"How's life been treating you beautiful? Ruin any men's lives lately?" He said moving next to me as I turned to face him "It's been a minute since we caught up"

"It's been treating me quite well thanks Christan, you know me well, I'm not happy unless I'm ruining men's lives" I said giving him a kind smile "How have you been? Break any laws lately?"

He smirked at me "I miss your smart ass being around, I was devastated when you left the force, my inside woman was no more"

"Please, it was full of men and they were all pigs, I'm much happier now"

He nodded and looked towards Tommy's grave "I wish we could have bought his killer to justice for you Leila, I still feel the guilt of his death heavily on my heart"

I shook my head "I wasn't your fault he was shot, he knew what he was doing was dangerous, we all knew, it was just bad luck"

"Drug dealing gone wrong doesn't have anything to do with bad luck Leila" Christian sighed.

I waved him off and heard him sigh.

"Did you get the concert tickets?"

"We did, thanks again, it was great as always, Alec and I had a good time"

"It's the least I can do every concert, in honour of your brother" Christian said, looking at me with a small smile "You know, I feel like Marshall would have loved your brother, they were a lot alike"

I quietly nodded.

He was right.

"How's you momma doing these days?"

I sighed "In and out of the Psychiatric hospitals, I wished the alcohol and drugs had taken her instead, would have been a lot better than watching her mind just dissipate to nothing but a drug fucked zombie, I can't even call her my mother anymore"

He nodded sympathetically "And your daddy?"

"Hopefully dead, I haven't heard from him in about a year, can't complain at least he hasn't turned up on my doorstep demanding money"

He chuckled "Tell me how you really feel about them, baby girl"

I shrugged, it was my father's fault she was like this, but unfortunately, I can't blame him for the alcohol and drugs, she did that herself.

"I don't know if I could ever repay you for the amount of kindness you've shown me over the years"

He looked at me confused "Don't be stupid, you're family, I always promised your brother id look after you, he and Alec were like sons to me after all"

He laid down the white rose he had been holding next to mine at the base, and held his palm to the headstone for a moment.

He then pulled me into a hug and kissed my cheek, before pulling away.

He stared at me for the moment before winking.

"Give 'em hell kid"

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Marshall POV

Walking through the corridor after a day packed with meetings, I came to a stop when I heard the beats of one of the new songs I was working on, coming out of the studio I kept for my own use, recognizing the body that was standing at the soundboard listening, I stepped inside.

I watched her for a moment, she seemed unaware of my presence, completely zoned out.

After learning more information about her, the behaviour started to make sense, the reason she was so guarded.

Some of her facade became translucent to me, I could now somehow see through it.

She was as damaged as the rest of us.

I moved forward until my front was almost close to her back and reached around, switching off the music, her body tensing up in front of me.

My primal instinct started to go crazy over the smell of her jasmine and vanilla scent.

She turned around, facing me, our faces inches away from each other.

Her expression quickly shifting to her usual unreadable one.

"Dangerous place to be, don't you think Leila?, you do realize you're in the lion's den right?" I said as I moved closer, her body backing up to the onboard, almost sitting on it.

She stood unmoving, eyes staring into mine.

I leaned in a little more, whispering.

"Did you enjoy my concert?"

She frowned at me, leaning back a little "How do you know I was there?"

"I got my ways baby, you underestimate me"

"I didn't do it for my own pleasure, trust me superman" she spat at me, pushing me back.

There she is.

Except this time there wasn't a flirtatious tone to her voice, there was no fight in her eyes.

I took a quick look at her again.

I hadn't realized when I first walked in but it was possibly the first time I had seen her like this.

I mean she's a beautiful woman of course, but today she wasn't in her heels and usual perfectly dressed manner.

She was dressed down in minimal make-up, a messy bun, a pair of daisy dukes, a LL COOL J t-shirt, and Nikes.

This was Laila on a bad day.

"I'm sorry you lost your brother"

She looked at me in confusion, eyebrows furrowed.

It seemed to be a moment until she spoke, but when she did finally speak her face twisted in disgust.

"You really don't remember me do you?" she snorted.

I was confused.

Remember from where?

The many concerts she's apparently attended?that I've only just now learnt of?

"What? No, Alec told us, what the fuck you on about?"

She leaned back again, briefly looking disappointed and then went back to looking unreadable.

"Thanks, today's the anniversary of his death"

"I figured, normally you put up a good fight"

"Maybe today I'm not in the mood for mind games?" She said simply, leaning up against the soundboard again.

"What are you doin' in here then?"

She thought for a moment and I moved forward towards her again.

"I was waiting for Monica"

I moved my body closer so I was pushing her up against it, almost so that she was sat on it.

"Well, I can help you wait if you want..." I said in a low tone, into her ear, licking it.

She inhaled sharply, and shuddered, assuming it was because we were in such close proximity.

"Leila I'm ready-" Monica's voice came from behind us, stopping abruptly.

I don't think I ever moved so fast I'm my life.