“You need to understand that I kept it from you because just knowing these things can put people at risk. I’ve spent my whole life keeping that part of myself a secret. My brother is incredibly protective and…he knows who the Belovs are. He knows I am friends with you, but he didn’t want me to say anything in case it caused issues.”
“What issues, though? We're friends. And Josiah is my husband, and he views you like family,” she says.
“Well, that’s the reason why I didn’t want to hide it from you anymore. I’m tired of hiding it, and I felt it was time to tell you the truth. I was just scared…I was scared you would be angry that I lied to you this whole time.”
My heart sits high in my chest, banging loudly as anxiety floods me.
But Kayla smiles and shakes her head. “Of course I’m not angry. You did the right thing in protecting my twins. You didn’t exactlylieto me. I would rather say you protected us,” she says, changing the narrative.
I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Really?” I ask, touching my hand to my chest. “You aren’t mad at me?”
She shakes her head and laughs. “Not at all. I'm happy you felt comfortable enough to finally tell me, though.”
I let out another breath and smile. “Shit, well, I hope Illyin is as understanding when I tell him that I told you,” I grin.
“If you'd like, I can talk to Josiah, and he can contact Illyin. If we pre-smooth things over between the guys, then there won’t be any reason for him to be upset about it,” she suggests.
“That sounds like a good idea, if you don’t mind talking to Josiah. But let me tell Illyin before Josiah calls him. It will be better if I tell him first, considering that I'm the one who went against his word. Maybe we can aim to talk to my brother by tomorrow night? Is that too soon?”
“I’ll speak to Josiah tonight after work. It’s not too soon at all,” she smiles. “We can work together to get the guys to reach some kind of understanding.”
When I leave Kayla’s so she can start her workday, it’s still early morning, and I’m feeling light as a feather because of how well the conversation went.
Glancing at the dashboard in my car, I note it’s almost nine. I want to go home and shower and change, but I may as well stop at the grocery store first. Then this afternoon I’ll be free to work on my new artwork, which I started last night. The conversation with Kayla went well, but it doesn’t mean that the conversation with my brother is going to, so my nerves are starting to spike a bit again.
Drawing will help distract me.
I like to park as far as possible from the store entrance. It’s a healthy habit, if you ask me. It means you have to walk farther, and you can get more steps in your day without having to try too hard.
I climb out of the Jeep and slam the door behind me as I turn to walk towards the store.
It’s quite busy already despite the weather being extra cold today.
“Izabel,” a deep voice demands my attention. I spin towards the man calling my name, not recognizing his voice at all.
But when I turn to face him, I do recognize him, after all.
One of my brother’s right-hand men. He keeps a small circle of guys very close to him because he struggles to trust people. Starke has been working at my brother’s side for years.
“Starke,” I grumble his name in greeting. He looks scary to anyone who hasn’t met him, but I’ve known him for too long to be scared of him in any way.
“You have other come with me now. Your brother wants you in Milwaukee,” he says gruffly.
I scoff. “Actually, I don’t have to go anywhere with you, Starke. I happen to be my own person living my own life,” I snap, agitated.
“Your brother insists, Izabel. I have been told not to leave Chicago without you,” he says sternly.
“That’s hilarious. Because that is exactly what you are going to do. And why the hell did Illyin send you? It’s so fucking dramatic. He couldn’t pick up the phone and call me? He had to send a henchman to drag me away like I’m some escaped convict? It’s so ridiculous!” I say angrily.
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter what you say, I still have to bring you back with me.”
“Well, I’m not going back. I already know what he wants to talk to me about. He’s pissed off that I moved to Chicago without his permission. Well, you can tell him that he took too long to decide, and I am done with waiting for him to choose things for me. This is my life, and I am going to live it how I want to live it.”
Starke takes a step towards me with an ominous focus in his eyes.
“Don’t you dare!” I demand.
