Page 6 of Fractured
“We are still digging. Sebastian’s been at his desk for hours trying to get into the bank, but Roberts has his own genius hacker, so he’s blocked at every turn."
My father leans forward in his chair. “He’ll be here tonight. He can run his programs while we watch the bastard.”
I shift in my chair, “So are you going to bring this forward to The Family at the meeting? Or do we keep this between us till we get all the answers to hang the prick.”
My father steepled his fingers to his lips.
“We keep it here. He is gunning for us. The marriage, the port, the Mine, the kidnapping.” He waves his hand in the air. “It’s all connected somehow, and we need to figure it out soon.”
I jolt my head back, kidnapping? What the hell is he talking about?
“Kidnapping? Who the fuck got or is kidnapped?” I snap at him.
He narrows his eyes at me. “Jesus, son, didn’t you read the folder I gave you?”
I can feel my cheeks heat. I’m not sure what folder he’s actually talking about.
His voice is laden with censure. “I suggest you read it when you get home. Now go and get me answers.”
We both get up and head towards the door, “Alexander.” I stop short and look back at him.
My father’s tone is harsh; “I don’t condone your behavior towards Isabella in any way. But for once, your temper led you to make the right choice. He’s planning something, and she’s too innocent to comprehend the danger she may be in.”
I just nod; I’m too shocked to say anything right now.
"I matched you to Isabella for a reason. Protect her."
Shame floods me and I turn to leave. I never intended to hurt her; I just don’t know how to be any other way with women. She brings out this,this… thingin me that makes me push too far and I don’t know how to control it with her.
James is just heading down the hall with the coffee, grabbing a cup off the tray as I walk away, sipping it as I go. I need caffeine so badly. Carlos laughs as James offers him the other cup, but he waves his hand, pressing the button.
We get on the elevator heading down to our floor and I sip my coffee. The door opens and we head to our room. I just want to go lay down for a bit. Catch my breath. Sebastian will be here and all hell will break out once he knows Isabella ran away and is now on lockdown.
Carlos opens the door and I head over to the couch, plopping down. I suck back the rest of my coffee, set my cup on the table and take out my phone. I need to see her.
I bring up the app and click on her screen. She’s in the window seat again, her legs crossed, her plate on her lap. At least she’s eating. I zoom in, trying to look at her hands. But I can’t get a good look.
Carlos sits across from me. I look up at him quickly, then go back to watching her eat.
He lets out a heavy sigh. “You’re breaking her, Alex. And I don’t mean the sexual kind. The spiritual kind. The one I warned you about.”
He just looks at me. I say nothing.
“Did you know she could speak Italian?”
I jolt upright, remembering what I said about basically dumping her ass after the wedding. She must have heard andunderstood us. That is why she fled from me when I dropped her off at work. Damn it!
“She told me she’s made up her mind. She said this will be her last defeat.”
He sighs and gets up, walking into his room and shutting the door.
What the fuck does that mean? I look back at the screen and Isabella gets up from her seat with her empty plate and puts it on the tray taking it to the door. She comes back to the couch and resumes the position she’s been in most of the day.
I zoom in on her hands. She has a bandage on her finger now, thank god. She is just sitting there, pulling on the ends of her hair absently with the tips of her fingers. I can’t see her face; she is hiding behind that curtain of black satin hair again.
I get up and go to my room. Taking off my suit, I hang it up. I pull the covers back, propping the phone on the guest side pillow of the bed. I crawl in and lay on my side, watching her.
She doesn’t appear defeated; rather, she appears like they had thrown a sad doll on the couch. I rub my chest once more. I can’t say that I’m content with her punishment. But I know I’m right; she needs to be monitored. This situation with Robert has me questioning everything, including her.
