Chapter 23 Chapter 23
Leo's point of view
"How have you lost her again?” Antonio asked in a deep tone. "Do you have no control over that girl?"
I was sat in the chair in my office, my head in my hands, as my father paced up and down furiously.
"She's not a girl anymore. She is a woman,” I corrected wearily. "And no. As you know, it is very difficult to control a Jones."
"Girl, woman. Who cares? She is a female and you are the most powerful Alpha in the world yet you have allowed her to escape from you not once but twice!" he argued. "Are you trying to ruin your reputation?”
"I don't give a flying shit about my reputation right now. All I want is my mate back so unless you have something to say that can help me with that, can you fuck off?" I snapped.
He's my father but as he rightly pointed out, I'm the Alpha now and I don't like being disrespected.
"All I can suggest is that when you do find her you put her in the first place once and for all. Properly scare the shit out of her. You only have to do it once and she'll comply forever. Break your no beating rule if you have to. I would have done the first time and I don't know why you didn't-"
"l did, Dad," I interrupted. "I did hit her. Twice in fact."
He paused for a moment, a little confused and slightly taken aback. "Then why has she-?"
"Because she is fearless."
"You apologised didn't you?" he said. "You promised to never do it again, right?”
I stayed quiet refusing to look him in the eye.
"You are too soft with her, Leonardo. That is your problem.”
"I felt horrifically guilty for using my strength to hurt my own mate. How is that meant to help anything? I want her to be happy, not live terrified of her own mate," I replied.
"You want her to be alive too. If you don't put an end to this soon, she won't be for much longer,” Antonio retorted. "How did she even get her passport?”
"She has two and I forgot to hide the other one.”
"Who has two passports?”
"This is irrelevant.”
"Would you like me to talk some sense into her?" he asked.
"Sure....oh wait...she's not FUCKING here!" I shouted. "She's not fucking here and my IT technician can't get the tracker in her phone to work and I don't even know where to even begin looking for her and the kids are asking questions again and she could be hurt or dead or-"
I was interrupted by a forceful impact on the left side of my jaw.
"Pull yourself together, Leonardo,” Antonio snapped. "You're Alpha, not a fucking snowflake. Man up and fucking do something.”
"What the fuck?" I growled standing up and bringing my hand to my jaw where my own father just punched me.
"That's better,” he said. "That's the son I brought up. Now get out there and find your Luna.”
He then stormed out of my office and then out of front door.
I have to admit, he's got a point though. I can't just sit here doing nothing. But why I needed to be punched to see that I do not know.