15. Isabelle

15

ISABELLE

“You ready?”

I looked up at Knight, closing my magazine as I cocked my head at him. “Ready for what?”

“We’re going out.”

Panic tore through me as I remembered what happened last time. “Uh…you know, I’m good.”

“I need help.”

“No—I…it’s not a good time.”

“Well, I still need help.” He walked over to my closet and opened the door, grabbing a jacket for me.

I stood, my heart racing as I thought about going out again. It wasn’t like I stayed inside at all times, but after what happened the last time…Ebarardo wouldn’t like it.

“Hudson—”

He turned at the plea in my voice, but that didn’t stop him from walking over to me and handing me the jacket. “Please,” he asked sincerely.

I studied the jacket way more than any person should. “I don’t like the jacket. It’s…I never wore anything with long sleeves if I didn’t have to when I was on the island. The air was warmer and?—”

And Ebarardo didn’t like me wearing long sleeves. I’d put on long sleeves out of sheer necessity here. It was colder and there was no way I could walk around without something warmer. But after what happened the other day, I was more aware of all the ways I was failing Ebarardo.

“Look,” Knight sighed. “Kate has to go in to work and I need to watch the kids today. I don’t know if you’ve ever been around kids before, but they’re a pain in the ass. I could really use your help.”

I chewed my lip, warring between going with him and finally meeting these little people I’d heard very little about, or staying behind where I was comfortable, where I knew Ebarardo would want me. I really wanted to meet them, but I could hear Ebarardo’s voice in my head, telling me it wasn’t safe.

“Isabelle, do you really think he wouldn’t want you to meet your family?”

Actually, I was pretty sure he would tell me everyone was a threat.

“How about just for a half hour? I’ll have you back before lunch.”

I glanced at the clock, still uncertain this was a good idea. But what could it hurt to go for only a half hour? “No longer than that,” I said, trying to sound confident and in control.

He nodded and headed for the door. I found it curious that Knight never waited for me. When he was ready to leave, he left. Ebarardo always held my hand or guided me into a room. I wasn’t used to feeling like this—so adrift. I followed close behind him, pulling the jacket on as we walked through the tunnels and then made our way up in the elevator. I tried my best not to fidget and pushed the accusatory look I knew Ebarardo was giving me to the back of my mind. It was a half hour. That was nothing. I would be back before Ebarardo even knew.

If he was still alive.

Once we were in the parking garage, I followed Knight to his truck. I hadn’t been in a vehicle since they brought me here from the hospital. “We’re not leaving, right?”

“No, I live on the property.”

At least I had that going for me. He didn’t help me into the passenger side or wait for me to get my seatbelt on. His gaze didn’t stay fixed on me as if I would bolt at any moment. It was so odd, and it made me uncomfortable, but I didn’t want to examine too closely why that was.

We pulled up to a two-story house and I was immediately on edge. This was it. I was about to meet my family. Little humans that didn’t know me or have any idea about all I’d lost in the last few months. Maybe that was a good thing. They wouldn’t ask a bunch of questions, right?

I opened the door and climbed out of the large truck, terrified out of my mind. I could do this. I would be fine. Knight opened the door and was nearly hit by some orange thing flying through the air. His hand closed around the object and he glared at someone further inside. My insides curled up at that look. I recognized it all too well. He was pissed, and when men got pissed, things went south fast.

I was already backing up when Knight snapped at whoever it was. “Griffin, your aunt is here to meet you. Put down the Nerf gun and pretend you have some manners.”

I prepared for Knight to run forward and take out his anger on his child, but that didn’t happen. In fact, he turned to me and waited patiently. Maybe the reprimands would start once I was inside. Did I really want to go in there where it was a big world of unknowns? I’d always trusted Knight so much. Well, maybe trust was the wrong word. I felt comfortable around him. But right now, I wasn’t sure of anything.

Then a little head peeked out around the door with a mop of dark curls and the same eyes as Knight. He couldn’t be even two years old yet, but he had a head of hair like an adult. With orange all around his mouth, it was clear he’d gotten into something, and the mischievous grin on his face made it clear that whatever he was planning next wouldn’t be fun for anyone but him.

My eyes rose to Knight in question. Was I supposed to do something? “Uh...I’m Isabelle.”

He cupped his hand over his mouth and giggled, then turned and ran into the house.

“Was it something I said?”

He shook his head. “No, that’s Maddox. He’s…” He sighed heavily. “I guess you’ll find out.”

And with that, he walked further into the house. Hesitantly, I followed him, peering around the corner. I didn’t want to intrude, but he did bring me here. What I saw, I totally did not expect. Knight was sitting on the ground as Maddox climbed all over him, pulling his hair and smacking his hands over his dad’s cheeks. And Knight…he didn’t even look upset. In fact, I was pretty sure I saw a smile touch his lips.

I closed the door, but stood only in the entryway, not wanting to disturb anyone. But when I was bumped from behind, I almost jumped out of my skin.

“Sorry!” I said a little too loud, pushing myself back against the wall.

“Raven!” Knight snapped. “Watch where you’re going.”

My eyes widened as Knight got to his feet. My heart thundered in my chest as he stalked forward toward the girl. Oh, God. He was going to hit her because she had bumped into me. Nausea swirled in my stomach with every step he took. I didn’t think. I just reacted, throwing myself in front of her and closing my eyes as I prepared for the hit.

I held my breath, noting how the room went silent all around me. When I opened my eyes, a look of horror streaked across Knight’s face and he slowly backed up. Shoving his fingers through his hair, he stormed into the other room, leaving me alone with the kids.

I looked at each of them, but only Griffin seemed to understand why I had done what I had. Then I felt Raven’s arms wrap around me from behind in a gentle hug.

“He would never hurt me, but thank you.”

It felt strange to have someone’s arms around me. An itchy feeling crawled up my spine and I quickly shifted from her grasp, putting some distance between us. I felt like I was suffocating with all of them staring at me.

“Um…I’ll just see how your dad is.”

I didn’t particularly want to see Knight, but the thought of being out here all alone with kids made me just as uncomfortable. At least I understood the boundaries with adults. I scurried out of the room and followed the path Knight had laid out. When I found him, he was in the kitchen, his hands braced on the back of a chair.

“I’m sorry about that,” I whispered. “I didn’t think?—”

He turned, his face back to the neutral expression he always wore around me. “I would never hurt my kids or you.”

I gave a jerky nod, but it was all for show. I just wanted him to think I believed him so we could end this. Even my brother Rafe had beat the crap out of me.

“Sure. Of course.”

“No, Isabelle. I’m serious. I would never put my hands on you for any reason. I’m your brother.”

I swallowed hard, lowering my head slightly. “Rafe was my brother, too. He put me in the hospital.”

“To save your life,” he bit out. “Not that I appreciate how he got you there, but it worked.”

I squeaked out a laugh, then chastised myself for daring to be so disrespectful around him. “He hasn’t even bothered to see me. He said he did all that to save my life, but where is he now?”

I could have sworn I saw Knight pale at my words. He pulled out a chair and patted the back of it. “I think you need to sit down.”

“I’m fine,” I clipped out, staring at the chair that would only block me in further.

He walked around the table, putting himself on the farther side of the room and too far away to reach me. Hesitantly, I took the seat.

“I didn’t know Rafe was my brother until after he went to the island,” he said, his voice a low rumble. “Michael never informed me I had any siblings.”

“Me neither.”

“When I found out why he went, I knew I had to do whatever I could to help. If it were one of my kids, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to get them back. That’s the way everyone around here is. We all fight for those weaker than us.”

I didn’t like being called weak, but I suppose in their eyes, that’s exactly how I appeared. And it was probably true. Since Ebarardo rescued me from my old life, he did nothing but protect me. He shielded me from the ugliness of the world and showed me how good I could have it as long as I followed his rules.

“If I had known you were alive, I would have gone after you a long time ago. Nothing would have stopped me.” His eyes met mine and a cold chill swept over my body. “Which is why when you stepped in front of my daughter?—”

He ducked his head, his voice catching on the last word.

“I don’t want to ever see you afraid of me again, but I know that will take some time. But I want to thank you for being willing to step up for Raven in that way. I hope you never have to do that again.”

I sucked in a breath, the urge to cry suddenly overwhelming me. I didn’t even know why. Nothing happened. I wasn’t in danger and neither was anyone in this house. And yet, my eyes filled with tears at his words.

“As for Rafe…he didn’t forget about you.”

I wiped the tears from my cheek, shaking my head. “Then why hasn’t he come to see me?”

“Because he can’t. Isabelle…he never made it off that island.”

My eyes flashed up to meet his and I shoved back from the table. “Then we have to get him and bring him home,” I said urgently. “With Ebarardo gone—” I pressed my hand to my stomach at the pain lancing through me at my words. “Nothing’s holding him there.”

“Isabelle,” he said softly. “He’s gone. Zavala ordered him to be killed when he found out that Rafe was there to rescue you.”

Black spots danced in front of my eyes at his words. I backed up, hitting something hard as dizziness washed over me. “No. No, I didn’t need to be rescued. I was fine. Everything was fine,” I said, my voice urgent and panicked. “Rafe is—he has to be okay. He has to be—” I bent over, sucking in a deep breath at his words. I cradled my head in my hands, fighting for every pain-filled breath as I remembered the last time I saw him—the way he looked at me as he beat me. I could still feel his boot slamming into my body over and over again. Blood gushed from me, I choked on the metallic tang as it slid down my throat. No, there was no way he could be gone.

“Isabelle—”

“Don’t touch me!” I shrieked as hands wrapped around my arms. They immediately released me as I slid to the floor and curled up in a ball. No, it wasn’t possible. Rafe couldn’t be dead, and Ebarardo wouldn’t have ordered for him to be killed. Not when he knew Rafe was my brother. I gasped for air as another stab of fear rushed through me. What about Knight? Was he safe? And Cash? What would happen to them when Ebarardo’s men found out I was here with them? Would they face retaliation for what they did to get me out?

Screams filled the air, and I was only half aware that they were being ripped from my throat. I shoved off the ground and spun, desperate for something to cling to, some form of hope that would get me through. My brother was dead. My husband was dead. All of it was my fault. If I had only been better, none of this would have happened.

Something pricked my upper arm, plunging me into a fog that made me forget why I was screaming. Everything slowed around me as I stumbled, shoving things out of my way to get out. But I wasn’t strong enough. My legs gave out and I collapsed, only to find myself staring up into the dark eyes that belonged to Hudson.

“You’re here,” I whispered, feeling a tear trek down my cheek.

“I’ll always be here.”