Chapter 86

ISABELLA

The apartment felt unusually empty without Jax. He’d had to take a leave of absence and head into the office for a few hours, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I sat on the couch, absentmindedly running my hand over my growing belly. It was strange how much I missed him, missed all of them, when they weren’t around. It wasn’t that I needed them constantly, but their presence had a way of grounding me, of making me feel safe in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time.

But right now, all I could think about was how much I wanted mint-chocolate ice cream. I’d been craving it for days, and after last night’s episode with the fridge, I figured I deserved a treat. The problem was, there wasn’t any left in the freezer. I’d considered calling one of the guys to bring me some, but it felt a little over the top. I mean, it was just ice cream, right?

I sighed, knowing I wouldn’t be satisfied until I had that minty, chocolatey goodness. I could handle a quick trip to the local supermarket on my own. It wasn’t far, and honestly, the fresh air might do me some good.

I grabbed my coat and headed out, the cool air hitting me as I stepped onto the street. The city was alive with its usual hustle and bustle, but there was something in the air today that made me feel…watched. I shook off the feeling, convincing myself it was just the security team Asher had hired. I knew they were around, even if I didn’t always see them. Deep down, I understood why they were there, but it still bothered me that the guys hadn’t told me upfront. A little heads-up would’ve been nice.

The supermarket was just a few blocks away, and I kept my head down, trying to ignore the prickling sensation at the back of my neck. I grabbed a tub of mint-chocolate ice cream and quickly made my way to the checkout, eager to get back home. But as I stepped outside, I ran into someone I hadn’t expected to see—Dominic’s mother, Amanda.

“Oh, Isabella,” she said, her voice dripping with a sweetness that made my skin crawl. “It’s been so long.”

I forced a smile, trying to keep the encounter brief. “Hi, Amanda. Yes, it has. How have you been?”

She looked me up and down, her eyes lingering a little too long on my belly. “I’m fine, but I was hoping you might’ve heard from Dominic. It’s been strange, him not giving any news.”

My heart skipped a beat. I hadn’t thought about Dominic in months, hadn’t wanted to. The memory of him was a dark shadow I’d done my best to outrun. “No, I haven’t heard from him,” I replied, keeping my tone neutral.

Amanda’s polite mask slipped slightly, and something cold and sharp flashed in her eyes. “You haven’t? That’s odd. You were his wife. I thought maybe he would’ve reached out, especially now that you’re…” She paused, glancing at my stomach again. “Pregnant.”

I stiffened at her sudden change in demeanor. “No, he hasn’t,” I said, a bit more firmly. “I’m sorry, Amanda, but I really need to get going.”

But she didn’t move, blocking my path. “Are you sure about that? Because I’d hate to think that you’ve done something to keep him away. You know how protective I am of my son.”

I stared at her, shocked by her aggression. This wasn’t the Amanda I remembered. She’d always been cold, but never this hostile. Before I could respond, I felt a hand on my arm, gently but firmly guiding me away.

“Come on, Isabella,” a man’s voice said, low and calm. “Let’s get you home.”

I barely had time to react before I was being led into a vehicle parked at the curb. I didn’t resist, assuming it was one of the security guards sent to protect me. But as I settled into the seat and the door closed behind me, I turned to thank the man—only to find myself staring into the eyes of the stranger from the bookshop.

My breath caught in my throat, and I felt a cold wave of fear wash over me. This wasn’t one of the security team. This was him. The man I’d seen watching me. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to process what was happening. How had he found me? What did he want?

I glanced around the car, realizing too late that I’d walked right into a trap. My ice cream tub sat forgotten on my lap as the car began to move, taking me away from the safety of the familiar streets. Away from Jax, Asher, and Knox.

I was alone. And I had no idea what was going to happen next.

My heart pounded in my chest as I fumbled for the door handle, hoping—praying—that I could get out before this nightmare took a darker turn. But when I tried to open it, the door wouldn’t budge. Locked. I tugged harder, panic rising, but it was useless. I was trapped.

The man beside me remained unnervingly calm, his hands steady on the wheel as he started the car. “Relax, Isabella,” he said, his voice smooth and composed. “I mean you no harm.”

“No harm?” I repeated, my voice shaky with disbelief. “Then why are you doing this? Where are you taking me?”

He didn’t answer right away, his eyes focused on the road as he maneuvered the car through the busy streets. I glanced out the window, watching the cityscape blur past, feeling more and more disconnected from the world outside. The normalcy of it all felt surreal, like I was in some twisted alternate reality where people went about their day while I was being driven away by a stranger.

Finally, he spoke, his tone as calm as ever. “I’m taking you home.”

“Home?” I echoed, my mind racing. “My home? I don’t even know you.”

He glanced at me, a flicker of something—pity, perhaps?—crossing his expression. “As I told you before, I’m here to protect you.”

Protect me? From what? From who? I didn’t know if I should believe him, but there was something in his voice, in the way he carried himself, that made me hesitate. He didn’t seem threatening in the traditional sense, but that didn’t make this any less terrifying.

“And who are you?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. “Why do you want to protect me?”

He sighed, as if he was explaining something obvious to a child. “You’ll learn everything in time, Isabella. For now, just trust me.”

Trust him? How could I? Every instinct screamed at me to fight, to get out of this car and run as far as I could. But the door was locked, and I was alone. What choice did I have?

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “If you’re really trying to protect me, then let me go. I have people who care about me, who will worry if I disappear.”

“They’ll know you’re safe,” he said simply. “That’s what matters.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. My thoughts were a jumbled mess of fear and confusion. The only thing I knew for sure was that I needed to get out of this car, and fast. But as the seconds ticked by, my options seemed to dwindle. All I could do was wait, hoping for an opportunity to escape—or that someone would come for me before it was too late.

The man kept driving, the city giving way to quieter streets. I had no idea where we were headed, but every mile that passed felt like a step further away from the safety of my mates, from the life I’d fought so hard to rebuild.

“Please,” I said, my voice trembling now. “If you care about protecting me, just let me go.”

He didn’t respond this time, just kept his eyes on the road. The silence was deafening, pressing down on me as the car sped along. And all I could do was sit there, helpless, as the world I knew slipped further and further away.