Leonard Burns Novels & Stories

The initial burn subsided, replaced by a deeper, stranger sensation of being filled. As if he understood when his body needed it, Leonard moved his finger, a slow in-and-out that made Dave's toes curl against the rug. A second finger joined the first, the stretch sharper, making Dave gasp. But Leonard was relentless in his care, scissoring him gently, working him open until the burn melted into a throbbing, needy ache. “There,” Leonard said softly, his fingers crooking, brushing a spot inside that made Dave see stars. A broken cry tore from Dave's throat as pleasure so shocking that he felt he might faint, radiated out from that point, coiling around his spine. “That's it.”

He drenched a blanket in it, wrapped it around himself, and plunged through the fire. He reached Sophia first. “Sophia… no, no—come on, wake up!” he pleaded, freeing her from the chair. Thelma’s voice cracked through the flames. “Leonard! Leonard, I’m here! Don’t leave me!” Leonard looked at her once, pain flashing in his eyes—but only for a moment. Then he turned back to Sophia. “I’ll come back,” he said, but Thelma knew in her gut what that meant. With Sophia in his arms, Leonard ran from the flames, shielding her body with his own. The smoke tore at his lungs, but he didn’t stop.

he said, pointing the glass at Pablo who had been beside him. “Yes, Mr. Leonard.” Leonard continued to observe the people working to move the valuables that needed to be sent to Catterpilar. Even so, Leonard's smile looked satisfied because this part of the shipment had gone according to his plan. Leonard's brain had calculated how much profit he could enjoy once all the goods were sold. “You can't be too greedy, Damian,” Leonard muttered with a chuckle. “You should have monitored this shipment from the start. Otherwise, this is what would have happened.” With one sip, the wine in his glass disappeared down Leonard's throat.

“There isn’t a soul on this earth I can’t find if I want to. Did you really believe a name change and a wedding ring would hide you?” Her heart pounded violently. “Rowan Vale” Leonard continued lazily, “Or shall I say, Damian Greyhound, my dearest nephew” Her breath hitched. “He ran after I kicked him out. Changed his identity, his name, built a little empire and thought himself clever.” Leonard’s eyes gleamed. “I been watching him this entire time.” She shook her head in disbelief. “You’re lying.” “he’s only lived this long because I let him go” Leonard said. “Because it’s far more satisfying to destroy something once it believes it’s safe.”

"I came to end this. I’m going to kill you, take the codes, and buy Marco’s freedom." Leonard didn't flinch. He didn't even look at the gun. He looked at Dante’s face with a terrifying, fatherly pride. "Look at you," Leonard whispered. "The fire in your eyes. The way you hold that weapon. You aren't the trembling boy from the factory anymore. You are the Architect. You navigated a global syndicate, bypassed a high-security vault, and infiltrated a mountain fortress. You did it all because I gave you the reason."

Leonard spoke out harshly, standing far from Bernardo only 1 meter with his feet parted and his arms crossed, ready to listen with full attention but limited patience. "You are performing so well. Pretending to be honest when this morning, you, the bastard had sent your animals to burn my pub to the ground!" "How do you know that it was me?!" Leonard asked and tilted his head with his eyes narrowed. "The stupid guys that you sent said that you were the one who ordered! " Bernardo snapped loudly. One quick move, he hurled to catch the neck of Leonard's shirt. Meant to thrash the fist down to his face.

“But I didn’t get his name.” “Leonard, I want you to meet one of our beloved editors of team A, Mr. Leslie Campbell. Leslie, I formally introduce you to one of our largest sponsors; Mr. Leonard Grey. I have introduced you at the book launching but he could not come because of personal reasons.” Uncle Bob explained as Leonard stretched his hand. “A pleasure to meet you Leslie. Please call me Leo.” “Likewise, Mr. Grey.” I replied. “You seem to be cold towards me, Leslie.” Mr. Grey said.

“You don't know how much I prayed for this day to come.” “I'm sorry it took so long, sir,” I muttered. “You took the time you needed, son,” He said, turning to the room full of men and women still with an arm around my shoulders, his thick voice echoing through the station as he addressed them all. “Ladies and Gentlemen, many of you know who this man next to me is and how much he gave of himself in his active years, and for those who don’t know, I present to you Lieutenant Jacob Coleman, one of the most passionate and professional firefighters I’ve ever had the pleasure of having under my charge. An example to follow in this station.”

And I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever it was, it was connected to The Burning. “I found something out while I was out there,” Ben continued, his voice barely above a whisper now. “Something I didn’t want to believe at first.” I frowned. “What do you mean?” Ben looked around, making sure no one was listening, and then leaned in closer. “One of the soldiers in my unit—his name was Carter—he died in the first wave of attacks during The Burning. But before that, he told me something… something strange.” “What?” Ben’s eyes were intense, his voice low and urgent. “Carter said he’d been in contact with someone here. In New Haven. Before the fires broke out.”

"Honey, I could even give my life for you…" Tears slid down my cheeks. I wanted to grab her, to demand answers, but everything before me was a blood-red blur, rendering me blind. When my liver was removed, I weakly opened my eyes. The doctor, taking pity on me, held my bloody liver in front of me. "Don't worry, Mr. Robles. We're replacing it with an artificial liver. It will be able to sustain you for a while…" When I saw the gaping hole in my abdomen, my whole body ached as if my organs were being wrung out. I instinctively tried to reach out and touch it, but I couldn't lift my broken arms.