Chapter 157 The Blood We Share

Chapter 157 The Blood We Share
The hospital air was too clean, too sharp. I sat on the edge of the exam table, my sleeve rolled up, watching the nurse label the vials for the NIPP test. Mateo stood at the foot of the bed, his presence so massive and dark it seemed to suck the light out of the room.

I looked at him, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. "I’m going to see him after this, Mateo. I’m going to see my father."

He didn't move a muscle, but I saw the way his pupils blown wide. "That look on your face since yesterday, I thought as much," he said, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, sleek black clip—no bigger than a button. "You aren't going without this."

I stared at it. "A bug? Really, Mateo? You’re bugging me now?"

"I’m protecting my investment," he said, though the heat in his eyes said I was far more than an investment.

I gave a small, shaky laugh. "You’re a creep."

He stepped closer, his thumb tracing my jawline with a possessiveness that made my skin tingle. "I’m your creep, Isabella. Remember that."

I pulled out my phone and messaged Nathan. 

Me: Where are we meeting? I want an open place. A Cafe..

A few seconds later, the address popped up.

Dad: The Blackwood Café, 42 Dunch Church Street.

Not far.

The car ride was suffocating. Jake sat in the front, a silent statue behind the wheel, but I knew he could hear every word. He did that a lot in Berlin.

"I’m getting bugged and followed. Is this the new normal?" I complained, crossing my arms over my chest.

Mateo didn't look guilty. "I’m dropping you a block away. Jake will follow you inside. He has his security license; he’s armed, but he won't fire unless he has to."

What?

I looked at Jake in the rearview mirror. "Is he right, Jake? Is this the right thing to do?"

Jake’s eyes met mine for a split second before he gave a slow, professional nod.

"See? Even Jake thinks you’re evil," I teased, though my stomach was doing backflips. Mateo didn't argue; he just reached over and started tickling my sides until I was a mess of breathless laughter, momentarily forgetting the monster I was about to face.

The café was busy, filled with the clinking of porcelain and the low hum of chatter. I walked in, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. Jake was a few paces behind me, his eyes scanning the room.

Nathan was sitting at a corner table, looking more rough Ryan I saw him. Apparently, wickedness makes one age faster.

As I approached, I felt a wave of rage so hot it made my hands shake.

"Order something," he said, not even looking up.

"I’m not eating with you," I snapped, sitting down. "Why did you come to London? You could have handled the 'disowning' over a phone call. Why now? After all you have been ignoring my emails, letters, calls, even on social media"

Nathan hesitated, his fork hovering over a plate of eggs. "I used to live here. With my Aunt, that was way back when I was still a teenager and Mateo was my best friend." 

There was a small pause as if he was thinking "Now imagine the utter shame. When I heard about the... disgrace you’ve brought on the family name, I decided some things were better said in person."

"Disgrace?" I whispered, the shame hot in my cheeks. I looked to the side and saw Jake at the next table, his hand twitching toward his jacket. I signaled him to stay put.

He wasn't going to just shoot someone because Mateo said so. Not my dad.

Nathan dropped his fork. He looked at me, his eyes cold and he looked so fed up. "You know... when you were stabbed in the chest with a syringe full of narcotics as an infant, I expected you to die. But here you are."

I froze. "What?"

He pointed casually at my chest, near my rib. "That red birthmark. That wasn't a gift from God, Isabella. That was where your mother stabbed you after she gave birth to you in a London alleyway."

The world tilted. "You’re lying," I choked out, my voice rising. "You bloody liar!"

I stood up, tears blurring my vision, but then I stopped. Walking toward our table, looking like a queen of ice, was Valentina.

"Why?" I looked at my father, my breath coming in short, jagged gasps. "Why is she here?"

"Stop being dramatic and sit," Nathan said. "You're causing a scene."

I sank back into the chair, my legs feeling like water. Valentina sat down next to Nathan, her eyes fixed on me with a terrifying intensity.

Nathan wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked me dead in the eye. "Isabella Hartley, meet your mother. Valentina Cortez."

I couldn't breathe. It was like someone had reached into my chest and squeezed my lungs dry. I looked at Jake; even his stoic face was cracked with shock.

You are alive because of me. I should have killed you when I had the chance.

The text messages. The cryptic warnings. It all crashed down on me at once.

"I look nothing like you," I whispered, shaking my head violently.

"That's because you look like this bastard," Valentina said, her voice dripping with venom as she pointed at my father.

I couldn't take it. I stood up and started walking toward the door, my vision tunneling. Valentina was behind me in a second, yanking my arm back.

"I was fifteen! Imagine being from a value-minded family here in London" she screamed, her voice echoing into the street. "My mother wanted me to be perfect! I made a mistake, I got pregnant with you, and what did I get? I got kicked out! You were a curse from the moment you were conceived, you little bitch!"

Why was she saying all these?

"How is it my fault?" I sobbed, struggling against her grip.

Jake was there in an instant, stepping between us and prying Valentina’s hand off me. Nathan followed us out, watching the scene like he was watching a movie he’d already seen.

I saw Mateo then. He was walking toward us from the black SUV, his face a mask of pure fury.

"If I had killed you, I would have gone to jail!" Valentina screamed, ignoring the people staring at us. She turned to Nathan. "And then this bastard ran back to New York? I had to fly from London just to drop the baby off with his family because my father told me to! Even after all these years, you just had to carry your bad luck back into my life!"

Mateo reached me, his arms wrapping around me like a shield. He didn't say a word to them; he just started walking me back to the car.

"Since you like DNA so much!" Valentina yelled, her voice following us like a ghost. She gave a hollow, manic laugh. "Run it! Run it with me and your father! Lucian and Isabella are fucking half-siblings. Let's see how you deal with that!"

Mateo shoved me into the car and slammed the door. I scrambled to the window, rolling it down as Valentina lunged toward the vehicle.

"Just know no one ever wanted you!" she shrieked, her face contorted with years of repressed hate. "Not me! Not your fucking father! Not even your damn grandparents! You were always alone!"

The car sped off, the tires screeching. I looked back and saw Nathan standing there, silent and still, watching us leave like he had just finished a business transaction.

I collapsed against the seat, the air finally returning to my lungs in a scream I couldn't hold back.