“No. I don’t want your money.”
“I owe you for letting me stay, and for putting you in danger.”
She shakes her head. “No, you don’t. Keep your money. Bella and I are doing fine by ourselves. Thank you.”
“Can I ask? Where are your parents?”
She laughs. “Around.”
Well, okay, didn’t expect that answer.
“Look, Issy, I hope you sort out whatever it is you’re running from. But I’m going to have to ask you to leave in case they come looking for you. I don’t want that near my house ever again.”
I nod. “I just wanted to thank you. You didn’t have to do what you did. And I was hoping this money will help you and Bella.” I offer her the money again and she shakes her head.
“I don’t want it, Issy, and honestly, I’m glad I was able to help.”
There’s a loud knock on the door and she walks out to open it. “Issy,” she calls, and when I walk to the door Ace is standing there.
“Time for you to come home, pink.”
“I’ve only been gone a few hours,” I complain.
He shrugs. “Boss’ orders.”
“Issy,” Sharon says, turning to me. “You have to go, and don’t come back. Please.” I nod, walking past and leaving the cash on the counter by the door as I go.
The minute I’m out the front, Sharon shuts the door, and Ace chuckles. “She ain’t fond of us, now is she?”
“No, you scare her. She has a little girl.”
He nods. “I know.”
I climb into his car and see Carter’s already in the one I took from their house, starting it up, and pulling out onto the road.
“That changed him, you know? What happened to your parents… it changed him.”
“I didn’t know.”
“He spoke of you as a child and how scared you were, and how evil his father was.”
“You were there when he killed him?”
He shrugs. “Yes, I wasn’t in the room. But I was in that mansion. He came down with a look on his face like he realized what he’d just done was about to change everything. And it did. The men whom were before us had no qualms about raping and murdering when they wanted. They simply didn’t care about anything. Jasper can kill, don’t get me wrong. But he does it for the business’ sake, and to keep people in line. It’s why he’s succeeded for so long. Why he’s stayed at the top with no one threatening to take him down or remove him from power. All of his men respect and honor him both as a person and a boss.”
We stay quiet for the rest of the drive. When we arrive at the mansion, I walk in the door and over to the ten men who are here, who are mostly standing with only a few sitting. I look back to Ace, but he doesn’t give me any explanation, he simply nods his head to the door leading to the kitchen where we were this morning.
I spot Jasper first. All the men are now standing as I step inside. Two men are speaking closer to Jasper and are whispering in his ear as he looks up at me. He looks fresh, clean, as if he wasn’t just shot.
He stands, his hands dropping to his sides as he looks me over. I’ve changed, because I didn’t think I’d be coming back here again.
“Isadora,” he says my name and I melt just a little. “Follow me.” He starts walking, and I take tentative steps following until we reach a door. He pulls out a key, opens it, and steps down the stairs. I look down, confused, and wonder what’s going on. “Isadora.” I’m hesitant, but I take the first step, following him. Each step creeks under my feet until a bright light comes on, and Jasper’s standing at the bottom of the steps with his hand outstretched waiting for me.
Stepping into him, he takes my hand in his and squeezes tightly.
“Are you okay?” I ask him, confused by this situation I now find myself in.
“I think I love you, Isadora. Tell me… how does that make you feel?”
I’m shocked by his words. “Quite simply… scared,” I tell him the truth. Everything I wanted and worked toward no longer exists. I no longer know what I want in this life.
He nods. “Good. Now you can feel what I’ve been feeling. I don’t like it. I don’t even know you. Only what you show me, and that’s been limited. But now I want you to know me, Isadora.” He steps away, his hand staying in mine as he pulls me, and I follow until we reach a solid door. His eyes stare back at me before he reaches for another key, placing it into the lock and turning it with a heavy click. When he turns the key, all I can hear is a loud noise and I go to take a step back, but Jasper keeps a firm hold on my hand.