Fumbling, I yank my cell phone out and silence it before it wakes Brandon. I sneak out of the conference room while glancing down at my phone screen. Confusion smashes into me when I read Harlow’s message.
Harlow:Get your coffee at Starbucks this morning.
My heart thrashes my ribcage as I dial the number for Harlow’s bakery and press my phone to my ear.
“Harlow’s Scrumptious Haven, how can I help you?” Harlow’s voice greets me.
“Hey, Harlow, it’s Izzy. Is everything okay?”
“Oh, hi, Mom, how are you?” she replies quickly.
I remain quiet, completely dumbfounded.
“I heard you and the ladies from the bowling alley got into a little mischief last night.Dadis not happy with you this morning. How many times have you been told, if you're going to spend all night out with yourfriends,you should inform someone?”
“What the hell are you talking about, Harlow—”
“Hey, give the phone back. I’m talking to my mom.” Her voice muffles in the background.
I can barely control my panicked breaths when the deliriously seductive voice of Isaac Holt sounds down the line two seconds later. “Where are you, Isabelle? And don’t you dare say your apartment as I know you haven’t been back there all night.”
One, how the hell does he know that? And two, he has no right to be questioning me. Hisdateshaven’t stopped since we returned from our weekend away. The long line of women didn’t even falter after I kicked him out of my apartment two weeks ago.
Before I can form a response, Alex walks through the glass door of our office. When he notices my wide-eyed expression, he closes the distance between us. He appears surprised to see me in the office so early.
“Good morning, Isabelle,” he greets, his voice extra throaty from the early morning hour.
“Morning,” I babble, trying my hardest to ignore the angry growl of Isaac grumbling down the line.
“If he touched you, I’ll break every fucking bone in his body,” Isaac snarls viciously.
Although I can’t see him, I can imagine how fast his jaw is ticking right now.
Unleashing my inner bitch, I reply, “I’m sorry, I’m indisposed right now, but be sure to say hello to Tatiana for me,” before disconnecting the call.
There must be something wrong with me, because not only is my blood rushing through my body so fast my veins are bulging, but my sex is soaking wet. An angry Isaac is a sexy-as-hell, so imagine what an angryandjealous Isaac would look like?
Raising my hand to fan my flaming cheeks, I catch Alex’s confused gaze raking over my face.
“Are you okay?” he questions, noticing my flushed expression.
Unable to form words through my lust-filled haze, I smile and nod. I may be treading in shark-infested waters, but I’m fine nevertheless.
I freeze as part of Isaac’s statement runs through my mind. “I’ll break every fucking bone in his body.”
My heart rate quickens as I skedaddle back to the conference room to rustle through the folders my eyes skimmed early this morning. My quick movements wake Brandon from his restless sleep. He rubs his eyes before moving to stand next to me.
“How many years ago was Col Petretti’s son admitted to the hospital?” My words come out in a hurry.
Brandon takes his time considering a response to my question. His brain is obviously still jumbled from only two hours of sleep. “Umm, around six, seven years ago,” he eventually replies.
After I find Col Junior’s (Cj’s) hospitalization record, I move to the stack of Isaac’s bank records, which date back to when he was a freshman in college. My eyes dart between the date on the hospital files and Isaac’s bank statements.Bingo. I’ve found a connection between Col Petretti and Isaac.
“Look.” I thrust the papers toward Brandon. “Isaac’s hefty Monday morning cash deposits during his first two years at college ceased the weekend Col’s son was admitted to hospital. Cj’s medical report indicates he was extensively covered in bruises, and he sustained multiple broken bones and fractures.”
Brandon examines the extensive medical report.
“Isaac was a fighter in the underground fight ring, just like his fighter Jacob is now. I'd put money on it that Isaac and Cj fought that weekend. . .” I suddenly stop talking, realizing I just spilled private information on Isaac I gained in confidence.
