Chapter 65 Close to him
Isabella POV
Varos insisted on taking me home even though I told him I would take a cab. It was past seven in the evening, so there was no way I could ask him to drop me off at Dante place. How would I explain that?
After five minutes of arguing, I finally got into the car, and he took me back to my apartment. He held Sapphire hand on the middle console, his fingers pressed in between hers. He drove with one hand on the wheel, taking peeks at his fiancée from time to time. Looking at them made me jealous. Jealous that I wouldn’t live long enough to find something like that. I was in the most passionate relationship I’d ever had, but it had no foundation of friendship or love. It was just violence and sex.
My phone vibrated in my pocket with a text message. I pulled it out to see a message from Dante. Where are you going?
You’re such a stalker, where are you going?
He would just keep asking the question until he got the answer he was looking for. My place, your ass belongs over here. Varos wouldn’t let me take a cab and I couldn’t have him drop me off at your place. Why not?
I rolled my eyes good night. I’ll see you tomorrow. He didn’t write back. Varos dropped me off five minutes later, and he locked the car at the street with Sapphire inside before he walked me to the door. “You don’t need to walk me to the door. We aren’t high school kids on a
date.”
“You’re my little sister. I’m gonna walk you to the door even if you’re eighty, alright?” He leaned against the door and watched me unlock it but it wasn’t locked. I tried to play it cool and pretend everything was normal. “Thanks for dinner. I’ll see you later.”
“Night.” He brought me into his chest and hugged me. My brother and I never hugged, unless it was a holiday or something. “You’ve been hugging me a lot lately…”
“I almost lost you. Made me realize I shouldn’t be such an ass to you.”
“You were an ass to me earlier.”
“You know what I mean.” He pulled away, giving me a thoughtful expression the same way my father did. “I just worry about you. After what happened, I’m scared leaving you here by yourself. Now that you aren’t going
to school, maybe you should live with us. You can’t beat the view.”
I knew Varos didn’t want me there, so his fear for my safety outweighed his need for privacy. “That’s sweet…but I’m fine here.”
“Are you sure?”
If only he knew what was really going on. It would break his heart, which was why I never wanted to tell him. “I’m sure, Varos. Really, don’t worry about me. I’m a tough girl.”
“Woman,” he corrected. “You’re a tough woman. Sometimes I forget how strong you are, and then I see you in action and realize how incredible you are. That makes me feel better, but then I start to worry again. I can’t wait until you get married. I never thought I’d say that, but it would make my life easier.”
“You growl anytime a man goes near me.”
“I know…” He rolled his eyes. “I just want the right guy to go near you. I want you to marry a guy who can take care of you.”
“I don’t need a man to take care of me. I can take care of myself.”
“You know what I mean, Isabella. It would give me peace of mind knowing you lived with a huge guy who could scare off anyone that looked at you twice…just the way I do with Sapphire.”
Little did he know I already had that, but my protector was also my murderer. “I hope you find that soon…so Father and I can relax.”
“You’d find something else to get worked up over.” I tried to keep the conversation light because his words were killing me. My brother loved me so much and worried about me. He would do anything for me, and right now, I was trapped. I was trapped, and he couldn’t help me even if he wanted to. I was protecting him, making sure Dante never laid a hand on him or Sapphire.
But Varos had no knowledge of the sacrifice I was making and I wanted it to stay that way.
He smiled before he placed his hand on my shoulder. “Call me if you need anything, alright?”
“Alright.”
“I mean it. And if you change your mind about living with us, let me know.”
“I won’t change my mind, but thanks anyway.”
He finally walked away and took the stairs back to the car at the curb. I stepped inside my apartment, letting my face fall back into its look of sorrow. I was back to my prison, back to my cage. In the shadows, I saw Dante sitting on the couch. Fully dressed with his
blue eyes focused on me, he stared at me from his spot in the darkness. “How the hell did you get here so fast?”
The only response I got was a cold look from his icy eyes. “Forget it…I don’t care anyway.” I walked past him and headed to my bedroom, the ache in my chest too much to carry. It was the second time my brother was right next to Dante without even realizing it. I didn’t like them being so close together. I tore off my clothes and immediately got into bed, even though it was only eight in the evening. It was way too early to go to sleep, but I had no
motivation to watch TV or do anything else. I just wanted to lie there, to let myself be swallowed by my own self-pity.
His footsteps sounded in the doorway, and then his clothes started to hit the floor. I wanted him to leave, but I also wanted him to stay. He was the source of my misery, but he also had the power to make me feel better. When his strong arms were wrapped around me, I felt like nothing could hurt me. He lit a fire in my veins, made me yearn for him in a way I never yearned for anyone else. His hard chest and strong-beating heart consoled all my terrors. When our bodies were connected and my fingers were digging into his back, all the bad thoughts stopped. There were no thoughts at all. It was just the two of us. His heavy body shifted the mattress as he maneuvered beside me. He pressed his chest against my back and wrapped his arm around my waist. His head moved to the back of my neck and he breathed gently, his warm breaths
drifting across my skin.