128

Isabella

"Frederick," I said, rather than ask. "So what do I owe this... sudden pleasure?"

"I don't think you get to be like that with me," he said, his voice proud. "But whatever it is you think you're doing here, it's going to kill you."

"And here? Where is 'here'?" I asked.

"I've been hearing rumors that you're here. Even if it's true, even if it's not true, I shouldn't even be hearing those rumors in the first place. So like I said, if you are behind the rumors—"

"I'm not behind anything," I cut him off. "Is that all you wanted to say?"

He paused for a moment before speaking again. "I hear from reliable sources, strong sources, that you are here. Isabella, I don't like that."

"It's Abella. And I didn't think you got to call me by my name. And even if I was in the city..."

Julio walked up to me and mouthed, "Who is that?" I pulled the phone away from my body and whispered, "Frederick," then put him on speaker.

"What are you saying again? I got caught up in something," I said.

"I he