NINETY-FIVE

NINETY-FIVE
DRAKE’S POV
Gosh!!! What kind of man have I turned to? The look on her eyes hunted me and those were eyes that always reminded me of her mother. Those eyes were now looking at me with intense hatred. Now they were sharp, cruel, filled with loathing. And every syllable she spat cut deeper than claws.
‘I hate you Dad for being absent in my life. I wish you are dead’
I dragged a hand down my face, feeling the sting of her voice replaying in my skull. My chest tightened. Damn it, I hated this. Hated that I wasn’t strong enough to shield myself from her words. I wasn’t supposed to bleed, not in front of anyone.
And yet, when I turned again, Isabel still stood behind me, weighing one foot after another.
I hissed and left the scene to my room. I was filled with rage, pain and bitterness. I hated myself for letting the one person I have always shown my strong and terrorizing side see me slumped in the hallway with tears in my eyes.
I didn’t want her around me at that time. I needed my space and privacy.
I shut the door behind me, sat down and held my head in my hand.
Fuck!! Did I really deserve all that? How can my own daughter say that to my face? I have never had this kind of encounter with Shirley before.
And these fucking tears just keep coming, I kept sniffing until I completely broke down in tears. I was literally crying like a baby.
The slight creak of the door got my attention.
It was Isabel.
She stood by the door, her hand clutching the frame, her wide eyes locked on me as though she had seen something forbidden. For a moment, neither of us spoke. I could feel the heat rising under my skin, not from anger, but shame and embarrassment.
I wiped my face quickly, furious at myself for letting her catch me like this. ‘How long have you been standing there?’ My voice came out harsher than I meant, low and raw
‘Not for so long….I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to listen to all that’ she whispered.
Her voice wasn’t mocking. It wasn’t cruel. If anything, it was soft. Curious. Almost… caring.
I looked away, my jaw clenching. ‘But you did listen, you saw everything that happened and you weren’t supposed to see it.’
‘I…I’
‘Why didn’t you just walk away?’
She took a step forward, cautious like she was approaching a wounded animal slowly ‘Drake…’
I hated how her voice made my chest ache. Hated that her eyes weren’t filled with fear or disgust, but something worse understanding, pity.
‘Don’t even pity me for a second. I won’t take that from you’ I said in my usual growl way.
‘I’m don’t pity you’ she said, avoiding my eyes.
‘Your eyes say otherwise’ I pointed out.
She blinked ‘I’m sorry’
I shouted ‘Stop saying sorry’
‘Then, what should I say to make you feel better?’
She was fidgeting, I could tell she was nervous.
‘Since when did you start caring about how I feel?’
‘I’m just trying…’
I interrupted her ‘Stop trying, you don’t know what it’s like,’ I muttered, pacing the room, raking my hands through my hair. ‘To have your own daughter look at you like you are a monster. To hear her tell you openly she wishes you are dead’
Isabel stayed quiet. Too quiet. I could feel her watching me, and it made my skin burn.
‘I know I’m a monster, I’m heartless, I’m mean, but I love my daughter. I’m just struggling, no one understands me, no one sees me, no one can help me, I have no one on my side, everybody hates me.’ I confessed, the words spilling out before I could stop them.
‘My Maria made everything easy for me, she was there, she listened, she was everything…. Do you understand what it’s like to watch the only woman who ever gave a damn about you bleed out in your arms? To hold her while she begged you to take care of the daughter you can’t even look at without seeing her?’
I swallowed hard, my chest heaving. Isabel’s lips parted, but she didn’t interrupt.
‘I see her mother every time I look at Shirley,’ I went on, my voice rough, shaking. ‘Her eyes. Her smile. And instead of love, all I feel is… guilt. Because I failed her. I failed both of them. That’s what I always do, I’m such a failure. Why am I even telling you all these?’
My fists curled at my sides, the urge to smash something clawing at me. But then Isabel moved.
She stepped closer, her hand almost reaching out before hesitating in the air. ‘Drake…’
I turned to her, and damn it, the pain in my chest collided with something else. Something hotter. The way she looked at me…her eyes full of fire, confusion, pity, and something dangerously close to desire…was unbearable.
‘You shouldn’t be here,’ I rasped, my voice breaking. ‘You shouldn’t see me like this. Just leave me alone, I’m a loner and I’m better this way.’
I meant the opposite, I didn’t like her seeing me like this but for some weird reason, I didn’t want her to leave too.
Her breath hitched. ‘I want to be here. I’m even surprised I’m saying this, but it’s true.’
The words struck harder than Shirley’s hatred. My body stilled, my heart slamming against my ribs. Her scent filled the space between us, sweet and warm, and I realized how close she was standing. Too close.
‘Isabel…’ My voice dropped, rough with warning and need.
Her gaze dipped to my lips, just for a second, but it was enough. Enough to snap whatever restraint I had left.
I moved before I could think. My hand cupped her jaw, tilting her face up, and I pressed my mouth against hers. The kiss was raw, desperate, full of everything I couldn’t put into words. She gasped, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she melted into me, her hands grabbing my shirt, clutching me like she wanted more.