Dominic_ “I don't think you should go and confront her in this state.” Joseph said from across the room. “I don't care what state you think I'm in. I'm going tonight. This woman has messed up my life for far too long.” “You might not get all the answers you're looking for.” I hated that he was right. “I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. I want to see her face when I point a gun between her eyes.” “What about her father?” He asked calmly. “What about him?” I hadn't thought that far. “Do you think he was also involved?” He was trying to get me to reason in the same calm matter that he was doing. I sat down. Feeling exhausted, it had been a long night. One that was far from over. “I don't know any more. I thought he was okay with me, but I don't know any more.” nothing was as it seemed. “He seems like an honest man. It doesn't seem like him to go behind your back like that.” “Kate had seemed like a nice lady. I thought we had both agreed.” I reminded hi
Isabella_I woke up to people talking in my room. When I listened closer, I could recognize the voices. It was Dominic and Cesare. When I opened my eyes, I had to adjust because of the light that was coming though the open curtains. The sounds were coming from beyond the open door, and they talked loud enough that I had thought they were in the room.I sat up straighter, there was no point in staying in bed, I needed to pee anyway. When I came back from the bathroom, they were both gone from where I thought I'd heard them.I took my bathrobe and walked out of the room. There was no one there, and the more I walked towards the stairs, the house was dead silent. I was not losing my mind. I took the stairs down. I could hear some activity in the kitchen. I followed to where the voices were coming from, praying to God that I find people. Losing my mind was not high up on my list of things I wished for myself.
Isabella_ The drive out of the estate to the cabin was surrounded by stifling silence. I did not enjoy the journey. There was nothing to look forward to in the cabin. But it was the only place I wanted to be, it was the only place that we had been truly happy together. When the car came to a stop, Cesare raced towards the cabin. I had told him that we were taking a short holiday, and he had been thrilled. I didn't know what else I was going to tell him. Vini carried the leather bag Inside, and I stacked it away in a closet. “I'll take my leave now.” Vini said, looking awkward. He knew everything and probably felt sorry for me. I was in no mood to convince him to stay for tea or anything that would require small talk, so I said my good-byes. After he left, I walked around the small cabin. This was it, until I could face the world again. But until then, I wanted the solace of the woods. The dense tress were the only thing I wanted to see before I closed my eyes and the first thing
_Isabella The following day, I woke up early and made breakfast for Cesare. I was hoping that I could see Nick while he was out for his walk. I had warmed up to the old man. He was like a grandfather I never had. I put on the same clothes I'd been wearing on my trip to the cabin. I was running low on changing outfits plus some basics for the pantry. The day before he had been walking past the cabin around past ten in the morning. And it was almost that time, I rushed to put the kettle on the stove, but a knock came from the door. “In here. I was just putting water for tea.” I shouted for Nick to come through. “I usually prefer coffee but if you offering...” A different voice said.I looked up and “Joseph, what are you doing here?” I asked, he was the last person I'd expected to see. "Thought you would be happy to see me." he teased and stood in the middle of the kitchen holding a small bag. "I am. I was just..." I let that sentence trail. I didn't know how much I should te
_Isabella “I wanted to go down to get more supplies for the pantry.” I said as an answer to his early comment, knowing that he would not be commenting anytime soon on the bomb he had just dropped, and I was tired of reacting to everything. “No need to do that. Joseph is bringing your chef, he will get your food.” Another matter was decided and concluded without my input. “Why is he coming here?” I asked. "It's overkill even for you, Dominic." Finally, I had hit a nerve. He looked at me. “Because I want my child to have a right start in life, and you need proper food.” “I can cook for myself. This place is small. Where is he supposed to sleep while he's here?” “He won't be sleeping. He would drive back every night.” “How practical.” “I know.” "I was being sarcastic." "I know that as well." he was back to being his unbothered self. “So what is this? You are just going to get in here and start rearranging my life, making all the big decisions concerning my life, is
_DominicWe were back at the house and Joseph was standing by the doorway and wouldn’t stop looking at me. “How long are you going to play this game? Just tell her the full story.” He said softly.I paused and gave him my full attention,“I can't dump everything on her, not until I have tied up all the loose ends”. I stood up to put away the files I’d been using.When he didn’t say anything, I added, “If you have anything else, please, I have a meeting and you are welcome to join me.” I winked at him.“She seemed preoccupied, like she was expecting anyone but me.” He finally spoke up.A chuckle passed my lips at his words.“She is in a cabin in the woods, who can she possibly be meeting, the rabbits and foxes?” I asked him.“Are you going to leave her without protection all alone with your son?”“She has protection.” I sighed, Joseph was not going to let this one go until he got whatever he came for.“Not from what I saw and what Vini told me.”“Vini? what does Vini have anything to d
_Dominic"What are you planning?" Joseph asked me the minute we were safely alone in the car."Nothing fancy, just dinner with Ludo. I might even get dessert depending on my mood later on.""The only problem is that you hate the man." he pointed out the obvious."Yes, I do. It's just dinner, I'm not asking him to be my life partner." at the mention of his name my phone beeped, and I showed Joseph the message."Prepare for dinner, I need you looking your best sharp self tonight." I typed some keys on my phone, dinner plans were already in motion."Any particular plan I should be made aware of? I don't want to embarrass you in front of polite company." He looked at me with a slight smile.I liked this side of Joseph, the other sides were debatable."You catch on fast. The usual plan will be fine." I said and he nodded. "You need to get the chef in town on time, tell him he has a gig, only his best steak will do for tonight.""What about his mashed potatoes?" Joseph asked and we both sta
_Isabella After Dominic and his entourage left the cabin. I prepared Cesare for his bath and sat In the lounge long after he had gone to bed. I still hadn't said anything to Dominic about Nick. And I was starting to worry that I should have said something. The way he ran out when he saw that I had a visitor was suspicious. I went into the bed and opened the only closet in the room. The bag of money was still where I had left it. If someone knew about the money…if the wrong person knew, I would be in deep trouble. Was Nick the wrong person? What if he was an investigator who knew about Dominic's extra activities on the side? I was getting tired of the uncertainties, I was going to get answers. I pulled the closest sweater and looked around the room. There was still the bag that came with my change of clothes. I took the clothes out and stacked money inside the bag before putting some clothes back. But that didn't seem like a wise idea, so I took the clothes and money out a
_Isabella As Kate got dressed and modelled out of the room, I folded my arms and stared at Dominic. “What the hell is going on here?” I asked, we were both surprised at my tone. “It's nothing you should concern yourself about. There is nothing between me and her. I don't know how she got in here.” That was saying a lot for someone who seemed to know everything all the time. “You're right, you don't seem to know anything lately.” I blindly threw my weapon, and it seemed to land on its mark as he blinked twice before looking at me again. Maybe he had been right all along. Dominic was losing focus, and this was no place to raise kids. Everyone did as they pleased, any time. “The stress is unhealthy for the baby. You've had a long night and need some rest. IL sort this out.” He said as he recovered from his mini shock. Even though I didn't believe that he was thinking about the baby at that instant, I got worried as well. I felt my cheeks getting heated. I was embarras
_Isabella The mansion felt strange after my time in the cabin. Although I hadn't been there long, the tension between Dominic and me was palpable. After he picked us up from Nick's truck, he'd only asked if we were hurt before retreating to his study. I spent time with the chef, who made me a delicious steak that I devoured in seconds. If anyone noticed the tension between Dominic and me, they were too polite to mention it. "Don't mind him, he's under a lot of pressure," Joseph said from nowhere, tension must have been written all over my body, as he was speaking from behind me. "I know." there was no point in pretending that I hadn't been thinking about him. Embarrassed that I'd been caught, I got up from my chair and headed to the sink to put my plate. "You bring warmth to this place," Joseph said, He was leaning against the wall. "I thought I brought trouble," I replied, taking my sit to sip on my juice. I realized with a pang that my dietary needs had been changed; the ch
_Isabella Nick took a sharp left, switched off the pickups lights, and then we zigzagged into a country road, before coming to a stop behind an overgrown hedge. I looked behind us and our pursuers were nowhere to be seen. “How do you know they won’t find us here?” now that the adrenaline was wearing off, I felt numb and shaken. “Because not many people know about this off-ramp, it has saved me many times before.” There was a story there, but maybe later. He turned off the engine and opened his door. “Where are you going?” I asked, wanting some fresh air myself. “To take a leak, that was close.” He shut his door with a bang. I opened the passenger door and jumped out. The night was still, without a leaf rustling out of place, but the midnight air still stung. I wrapped my arms around myself and stood against the body of the pick-up. “The stars look more bright from here than anywhere else.” I said, enjoying the gulps of the fresh air, making the most of the gift that
_Dominic Once everyone had settled, the drinks started flowing and so did the conversation. Even Ludo's speaking volume had gone up another annoying inch higher. When a waiter surfaced from the back to take out orders, I could tell Ludo was well on his way from the slap he gave the young woman's behind. "As I was saying, Montego, the shipments of girls is increasing..." I fet my body tense up at the mention of the flesh business, but I made a mental note to keep my body relaxed."Which means more money for us." I said enthusiastically and took my glass to wash off the bad taste in my mouth. "Yes, it's more money." He said with a more sombre mood than I expected from him."Then why do you sound worried?" I asked and Ludo leaned back on his chair with a worried expression on his face. "The quality of girls has been dropping in recent months, it seems like someone has been taking a dip into our business." into his business he meant. I didn't want my name tainted with such."Mm..."
_Dominic Everything was set, and the chef was already at the back preparing the meal of the evening, but Ludo was nowhere to be seen. “Where is that fat bastard?” I asked Joseph, who shrugged in response. I was getting agitated with each passing second. “He will be here, calm down. Everything is ready to go.” He finally said when he noticed that I was blowing air like an angry bull. Plus, I hated the fact that he was calm, while I felt like a boiling kettle. “Stop checking your watch, it will not make the time to move any faster.” He said looking at my wristwatch, I hadn't even been aware that I was checking it. We were at the restaurant that Ludo had picked. It was empty because we had booked the entire place for the night. And now the idiot was running late. The bell on the door ding donged, to signal that someone had arrived. I fought the edge to turn my head and look, but once the door closed, I heard the sound of a women's shoes clicking against the floor. Now I had
_IsabellaNick's truck was as reliable as him. The pickup drove steadily out of the woods and towards the city.Although I watched the woods slowly fade away and the scenery change into a flat road that stretched on for miles, my mind was a few miles ahead of us, playing different scenes of what sort of outcome was going to come out from the trip. Nick kept on stealing glances in my direction, and I was very much aware of his glances, but I kept quiet. In the short while that I had known him, I knew he wanted to say something, maybe ask about the money. So I thought I would make it easier on him.“You must be wondering where I got all that money?” I said, my voice feeling croaky. “No.” he answered softly. I sat up straighter and looked at him. “What do you mean, no, I've seen the way you have been looking at me since we left the cabin.”“I'm worried about you, Isabella.” He said, looking at me before focusing on the road again. “Why?” I asked, and as soon as the words left my mo
_Isabella After Dominic and his entourage left the cabin. I prepared Cesare for his bath and sat In the lounge long after he had gone to bed. I still hadn't said anything to Dominic about Nick. And I was starting to worry that I should have said something. The way he ran out when he saw that I had a visitor was suspicious. I went into the bed and opened the only closet in the room. The bag of money was still where I had left it. If someone knew about the money…if the wrong person knew, I would be in deep trouble. Was Nick the wrong person? What if he was an investigator who knew about Dominic's extra activities on the side? I was getting tired of the uncertainties, I was going to get answers. I pulled the closest sweater and looked around the room. There was still the bag that came with my change of clothes. I took the clothes out and stacked money inside the bag before putting some clothes back. But that didn't seem like a wise idea, so I took the clothes and money out a
_Dominic"What are you planning?" Joseph asked me the minute we were safely alone in the car."Nothing fancy, just dinner with Ludo. I might even get dessert depending on my mood later on.""The only problem is that you hate the man." he pointed out the obvious."Yes, I do. It's just dinner, I'm not asking him to be my life partner." at the mention of his name my phone beeped, and I showed Joseph the message."Prepare for dinner, I need you looking your best sharp self tonight." I typed some keys on my phone, dinner plans were already in motion."Any particular plan I should be made aware of? I don't want to embarrass you in front of polite company." He looked at me with a slight smile.I liked this side of Joseph, the other sides were debatable."You catch on fast. The usual plan will be fine." I said and he nodded. "You need to get the chef in town on time, tell him he has a gig, only his best steak will do for tonight.""What about his mashed potatoes?" Joseph asked and we both sta
_DominicWe were back at the house and Joseph was standing by the doorway and wouldn’t stop looking at me. “How long are you going to play this game? Just tell her the full story.” He said softly.I paused and gave him my full attention,“I can't dump everything on her, not until I have tied up all the loose ends”. I stood up to put away the files I’d been using.When he didn’t say anything, I added, “If you have anything else, please, I have a meeting and you are welcome to join me.” I winked at him.“She seemed preoccupied, like she was expecting anyone but me.” He finally spoke up.A chuckle passed my lips at his words.“She is in a cabin in the woods, who can she possibly be meeting, the rabbits and foxes?” I asked him.“Are you going to leave her without protection all alone with your son?”“She has protection.” I sighed, Joseph was not going to let this one go until he got whatever he came for.“Not from what I saw and what Vini told me.”“Vini? what does Vini have anything to d