AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Exhaling, I glanced at the iPad, pressing the button for the tenth time. I’d noticed she had a deceased sister, but it didn’t seem important to delve into. I tried to concentrate, leaning forward and placing the glass on the coffee table. As I flipped through the pages collected by an unknown source, the information provided was an overview at best. As I read what little there was regarding Angela Adams, there was nothing troubling that I could find regarding the circumstances of her death. Sadly, the event was a tragedy, Angela perishing in a horrific car crash.
Why would Isabella believe her father had anything to do with it? From what little I knew about the woman, she didn’t strike me as being the type to accept hype or gossip without confirming the accuracy. There was more to the story.
I put the iPad on the table then moved toward my office. As soon as we’d arrived, I’d cut the satellite feed to ensure no one would trace our location through the IP address. While chances were slim given my anonymity, I refused to risk the possibility. Hell, it was risky as fuck to turn it on again, but I had five minutes of a search to try to determine if she was right before the line was traceable. I switched on the power then booted up my main computer, only needing to wait a few seconds before I was able to gain access to the main pool of information as established by the folks behind Eagle Force.
What I wasn’t expecting was to hit a damn brick wall. Even with my Yankee White classification level, the highest in the country, I hadn’t been given access to any other information on the vice president. The dossier I’d received on him and his wife could be found on any freaking google search. What the hell? At this point, there was no way I would or could call Broderick out for not providing detailed information.
I immediately shut down, trying to determine the possibility of what she’d told me was true. By now, someone would have found it out. Certain members of the press were like hound dogs going for the kill. There wasn’t a single human alive who could hide perpetually from a reporter. Everyone left a footprint.
As soon as I returned to the living room, the same irritation I’d experienced since meeting my mark roared back to life. She had the iPad in her hand, flipping through the private information. Why the fuck hadn’t I locked it down before leaving the room? I knew better. She was likely waiting to try to find out more details. Why was she so interested? In order to find a way to prove the allegations she’d made? She didn’t notice me right away, allowing me to study her actions as she chewed on her inner cheek, twirling one finger in her disheveled hair.
She’d changed into a tee shirt and nothing else, finding one of mine in the chest of drawers. With her legs curled under her, the appeal was just as strong as it had been before. She looked natural, as if she was born to wear my shirts.
Fuck. This had already gotten out of hand.
“What are you doing?”
She lifted her head, looking at me as if she wasn’t doing anything wrong. “I want to know everything. You wouldn’t tell me. This was sitting there in plain view with my picture. How could I not look at it?”
“Because it doesn’t belong to you.”
Shrugging, her expression told me clearly that she had no intention of following the rules. Who the hell did that sound like? I rolled my eyes and moved toward her.
“You have all the glossy crap about me. What about the dirt?” She lifted her head, a clear look of mischief in her eyes. Damn it. A new rush of adrenaline kept my heart thudding rapidly.
“What do you mean?” I yanked it from her hand.
“There’s no mention of the six months I spent in a mental institution when I was twelve. I would think that you’d need to know I was a loose cannon, capable of vicious bouts of anger.”
I wasn’t entirely certain whether she was kidding or not. “You’re serious?”
“There are many things in life that I’ll make jokes about but that’s not one of them. Before you ask, it was because I was prone to horrific and often dangerous temper tantrums that could put myself and others in harm’s way. In other words, my parents got to send me away for six months for anger management. I assure you that they didn’t publicize it, if asked likely telling everyone I was taking special classes given my high level of intelligence. You can look this one up yourself. There must be a record at Pine Haven in Connecticut. During the time of my incarceration, they took not one but three very expensive trips. Italy. Japan. I think the last one was in Brazil, but I might be wrong. They certainly didn’t bring me back any gifts from any of the excursions.”
The way she laughed was sad, almost maniacal. What the fuck was wrong with her parents? A better question was what the hell was wrong with this entire scenario? Bristling, I fisted my hand, uncertain I could remain professional around the man if I ever had to meet him. As I fumed, she acted as if it didn’t bother her, but I knew differently. I had to yank her out of her pity party.
“What this tells me is why you’re worth all the trouble. You’re the real deal, Ms. Adams. You’re someone that all little girls should want to become.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“What, a role model?”
“That and Ms. Adams. I prefer just Izzy, a girl trying to make her mark in the world, not buy it or use it.”
“Let me guess, your mother and father prefer Isabella.”
She stared into the fire, blinking several times. “They do, even condemning my friends when they use my nickname. After a while, what few friends I was allowed stopped coming around any longer. As far as boyfriends. Imagine being grilled, frisked, and asked very pointed sexual questions before being allowed to go on a date with me. Does that sound like a lot of fun?”
I had no idea what to say at this point.
“Tell me something, Cobra. Does my life sound like it was filled with fancy parties and glorious boyfriends, parents who love me unconditionally? Maybe I am spoiled, but not in the way you think.” She jerked up from the couch, moving toward the stairs, purposely trying to shove me out of her way.
I reacted just as I’d done with her every time before. I snapped my hand around her wrist, this time wrenching her arm as I pulled her against me.
“What I know is that you’re a beautiful, highly intelligent woman who managed to rise above the bullshit and tragedy you were handed. That’s a gift few people ever get and almost no one twice so don’t take it for granted.”
“You know nothing about me.”
“I know enough to realize you’re crying for help, but I don’t think you really need it. You’re stronger than you think, Isabella. Much stronger.”
