Free Deception and Lace by Katie Ross

face turned blood red as he cleaned the traces of blood from her and left again.  He slid into the bed next to her and covered them both.  “Are you sure you have to go?”
    “Yes I am sure Leo.  It is something I need to do.  I will see you again.”
    “You bet your ass you will.”   She fell asleep quietly as he watched her drift off.
    Leanne had woken up a couple of hours later.  Reaching out she thought that Leo would be there.  When all she got was air she sat up.  On the pillow was a letter.  She opened it up and as she did a king of hearts fell on the bed.  She read the letter.
    My love,
    I don’t do goodbyes.  One day you will be the queen to match my card.  I am always within sight and hope you find what you need.
    Love,
    Leo
    She gathered the letter and had quickly put her clothes on.  It had been him all along.  She would never accept the help that he tried to give her so he had left envelopes of money and food not ever telling her it was him until he found out she was leaving.  Maybe he thought there was no reason to keep it up.  That was the last time she saw him as she had packed her and Denise’s things and moved them to another city.
    Leanne sat up and realized that night had been almost 17 years ago.  Time had flown by.  It was amazing how fast.  She wondered where he was.  He had been her first love and the only person she had during some of the darkest moments in her life.  He was probably married with 3 or 4 kids by now.  Men like that were grabbed up quick.  She just hoped he was happy.
    Dinner was great and Denise found out that she really did like Demarion.  The next three weeks flew by.  It was the night before their wedding and Demarion had come to her bed.  They had spent every night together since he had returned.  They had decided to go with the blue bonnets and white roses that Denise had mentioned.  Leanne had asked Mick to walk her down the aisle since her father was not there to do it.  She thought she saw tears shimmering in his eyes when he told her he would be happy to.  Brad stood in for the best man and of course Denise was to be her maid of honor.  She laid in his arms snuggled tight. 
    “You know I am going to have to go back to my room.”
    She sat up quickly. “Why?”
    “It is bad luck to see a bride on her wedding day before the wedding.  I will see you tomorrow but first I want to give you a gift.  No now don’t say anything except that you will wait until I am in my room before you open it.”
    “Ok.”
    He kissed her quickly before he slipped on his pants and walked to the door. “Remember everything I have told you when you open it.”
    “Ok.”  She said it quietly and started to unwrap the box when he shut the door behind him. 
    Leanne sat there looking at the contents of the box in shock.  Inside the box laid a row of pictures her and Leo had taken when she was around 17.  Underneath the pictures was a piece of paper.   When she opened it up a king of hearts fell out as well a queen of hearts.  On the paper was one little line:
    I am glad you finally are going to become my queen.
    Love
    Demarion Leonardo (Leo) Delvinci
    It all clicked in place at once.  The reason Leo had always known they were in trouble.  How he could afford the money and food.  How Demarion knew so much about her.  Everything fell into place.  She quickly pulled on a robe and walked to his door.  Not even knocking she walked into the room.  He was standing with his back to her looking out the window.
    “Why didn’t you tell me?  You could have saved yourself a lot of trouble you know.  That is why you would never tell me your last name when we were kids.”
    “Yes I was ashamed of my family even back then.  I never told you now because you never said it back.”
    “I never said what back?”
    “How you feel.  You never said how you feel Leanne.”
    She quickly ran to him and jumped into his arms kissing him deeply.  “I love you.  I