Chapter 82

ISABELLA

The bookstore was alive with the sounds of excited chatter, much of it coming from children tugging at their parents’ sleeves, eager to explore the colorful pages of Little Forest of Wonders. The atmosphere was magical, filled with the innocent energy of little ones who couldn’t wait to dive into the whimsical world I had created.

As I stood in front of the crowd, my heart swelled at the sight of so many families gathered for the reading. Parents held their children close, some perched on laps, others standing wide-eyed at the edge of the small stage, ready to be transported into the enchanted forest that awaited them.

My pregnant belly was just beginning to show, a subtle curve that I found myself gently resting a hand on as I read aloud. The story flowed easily, each word bringing the characters to life in the imaginations of the children before me. As I glanced up, I caught the proud smiles of Alex and Chase, standing off to the side, beaming like two older brothers. Freddie and Rebecca were there too, looking on with the kind of warmth that made me feel like their daughter. And Maggie, with her eyes glistening with tears of joy, was a comforting presence, reminding me of how much I was loved.

As I wrapped up the reading, the room burst into applause. The children clapped their hands, some even jumping up and down with excitement, while their parents offered me kind smiles and words of encouragement. The warmth of the moment filled me with a deep sense of gratitude.

I moved through the crowd, signing books and exchanging a few words with the families who approached me. The joy on the children’s faces was contagious, their excitement making every moment feel even more special. But as I continued to meet people, a strange sensation crept up on me—an inexplicable feeling of unease.

It was then that I saw him. A tall, dark-haired man standing toward the back of the room, his gaze locked on me. There was something off about the way he watched me, something that made my skin prickle. He didn’t belong here, not amidst the cheerful families and eager children. His presence was a stark contrast to the light, joyous atmosphere, and it sent a chill down my spine.

I tried to shake the feeling, to focus on the smiling faces around me, but I couldn’t ignore the growing sense of dread. Before I could process it further, the man disappeared into the crowd, leaving me with an unsettling sense of foreboding.

Knox appeared at my side, his presence grounding me immediately. "Isa, are you okay? You look... worried."

I glanced back to where the man had been, but he was nowhere to be seen. "There was a man... tall, dark hair. He was standing over there, watching me. Something about him didn’t feel right, Knox. He didn’t seem like he belonged here."

Knox’s expression hardened, his eyes scanning the room. "Where is he now?"

"I don’t know," I admitted, my voice tinged with frustration. "He was there one moment and gone the next."

Knox’s jaw tightened, his protective instincts clearly on high alert. "I’ll keep an eye out. No one’s going to mess with you, Isa, especially not here."

I nodded, trying to shake off the lingering unease. The rest of the event continued, with more parents and children approaching me to have their books signed, but that man’s image stayed with me. Who was he, and why had he been there?

As the event wound down, I was surrounded by the familiar faces of my loved ones. Their presence helped ease my worries, but in the back of my mind, I couldn’t stop thinking about that stranger. I didn’t know what his appearance meant, but one thing was certain—I wouldn’t let it tarnish this moment. This was a day of celebration, surrounded by those who loved me, and whoever that man was, we would face it together.

KNOX

After my conversation with Isa at the bookstore, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. She’s not one to get rattled easily, so when she mentioned that guy—tall, dark-haired, staring at her like he didn’t belong—it stuck with me. And it wasn’t just her words; I could see it in her eyes, that flash of fear she tried to hide.

As we left the bookstore and headed back to the penthouse, the unease gnawed at me. I waited until we were inside, safe from prying eyes and ears, before I brought it up with Asher and Jax. They needed to know what happened, and more importantly, we needed to figure out how to keep Isa safe.

We gathered in the living room, the city lights casting a soft glow through the windows. Asher sat on the edge of the couch, his usual calm demeanor showing just a hint of tension. Jax leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a concerned look on his face.

“I need to talk to you guys about something,” I started, getting straight to the point. “At the bookstore, Isa noticed someone watching her. A guy who didn’t seem like he belonged there. It freaked her out.”

Asher’s brow furrowed. “Did she describe him?”

“Yeah,” I nodded. “Tall, dark hair, gave off a bad vibe. She said he was staring at her the whole time. When I asked her about it, she couldn’t stop looking around, like she was waiting for him to show up again.”

Jax frowned, his worry deepening. “And she’s sure he wasn’t just some random guy?”

“She seemed pretty certain he wasn’t there to buy a book,” I replied. “It’s got me thinking... We’ve been pushing hard with this plan to get Asher on the throne. We’re making moves, and people are going to notice. What if our ambition is putting Isa in danger?”

Asher’s eyes narrowed, and I could tell he was already considering the possibilities. He was always the strategist, thinking ten steps ahead. But this time, the stakes were even higher, because it wasn’t just about us—it was about Isa and the baby.

“I hate to say it, but you’re right,” Asher said after a moment of silence. “We’ve made some enemies, and there’s no telling what they might do to get to us. Isa’s safety has to be our top priority.”

Jax straightened up, his expression serious. “So, what do we do? We can’t exactly keep her locked up in the penthouse.”

“I’ve been thinking,” I continued, glancing between them. “Maybe we should set up a protection team for Isa. Something discreet, but effective. She doesn’t need to know, and it’ll give us peace of mind knowing she’s being watched over.”

Asher considered this, nodding slowly. “It’s a good idea. We can’t be with her 24/7, especially with everything going on. A security detail would allow us to focus on the bigger picture without constantly worrying about her safety.”

Jax sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, and if anything did happen to her because of us... I couldn’t live with that. We need to make sure she’s protected, no matter what.”

The three of us fell silent, each of us lost in our thoughts. I could see the concern in my brothers’ eyes, mirroring my own. This wasn’t just about power or titles anymore. It was about making sure that Isa, the woman we all loved, was safe and secure.

“I’ll reach out to a few contacts,” Asher finally said, breaking the silence. “I know some people who specialize in this kind of work. They’re professionals, and they’ll keep a low profile.”

“Good,” I agreed. “Let’s get it done as soon as possible. I don’t want to take any chances.”

Asher nodded, his expression resolute. “Consider it handled.”

With that, I felt a small weight lift off my shoulders. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it was a start. We were doing what we could to protect her, to make sure that no one could harm her or the baby. But even as I tried to reassure myself, a lingering unease remained.

Because I knew, deep down, that we were playing a dangerous game. And in this game, the people we loved could become targets. We had to stay one step ahead, be smarter, stronger, more vigilant. Because failure wasn’t an option—not when it came to Isabella.