AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The red-haired woman behind the counter glances up and does a double take. She draws her bottom lip between her teeth and chews on it. A thoughtful expression crosses her face as she pushes her stool back and stands up. In silence, she prepares a bouquet of somber, darker-colored flowers and hands it to me. After paying, I step outside and catch the confused looks on my cousins’ faces.
I don’t blame them.
I have no idea what the fuck I’m doing either or how to help Isabella mourn her father properly.
Hell, I’m not even sure how much longer we can stay in the hospital without becoming prime targets for the Philipses and Natoris. But I know that I don’t want to rush her through this.
Not after everything she’s been through.
When I make it back to Isabella’s room, she’s washed her face and is perched on the edge of the bed. She is startled when she sees the flowers and keeps glancing from my face to the bouquet.
“Who are they for?”
“For you,” I reply, thrusting them out in front of me. “You did tell me that you like flowers.”
“I didn’t think you were listening.” Isabella buries her face and inhales, looking far more vulnerable and youthful than I’ve ever seen her. “You’ve never brought me flowers before.”
“You deserve whatever the fuck your heart desires, dove,” I tell her before taking a few steps back. I set the food down on the table and shove one hand into my pocket. Using my free hand, I make a vague hand gesture. “Look, I’m not good at the hearts and flowers thing. Even before the family business, it’s just not the kind of person I am, but I want you to know you’re not alone.”
Isabella blinks and gives me a confused look. “What do you mean?”
“I can’t bring your father back, dove,” I continue in a whisper-soft voice. “And it’s not because I don’t want to. Believe me, if there was anything I could do, it would be done.”
And I wouldn’t hesitate either.
Isabella is worth everything I own and everything I’ll ever own.
Isabella lowers the flowers and gives me a teary smile. “Thank you.”
She slips her hand through mine and leads me out of the room. I drape an arm around her waist and use my other hand to hold the bag of food. In the elevator, she tucks herself into my side, and I press a kiss to the side of her head. Through the glass doors, I see Ernesto pacing, the SUV parked dangerously close to the curb, and lines of worry written all over his face.
His expression turns relieved when he sees us. “I was about to call in the cavalry.”
“Take us to Anita’s,” I say without looking at him. In the car, Isabella snuggles up to me and promptly falls asleep. Ernesto holds my gaze in the rearview mirror and gives the flowers a pointed look. I shift so Isabella’s head is in my lap, and she stretches her legs out on the rest of the seat.
“Her father passed away this morning,” I whisper, pausing to brush her hair out of her face. “It’s a good thing we got here when we did. If the Philipses or the Natoris had gotten a hold of her in this condition…”
“Poor thing.” Ernest lets out a deep and heavy sigh. “May his soul rest in peace.”
The rest of the car ride is spent in silence.
When we pull up outside Anita’s house, Tristan is already waiting for me outside. He jumps to his feet when I come out, cradling Isabella against my chest. I give him a meaningful look on my way past, and he hangs his head in shame. Voices follow me up the stairs to my room, but I ignore them all. Once I set Isabella down on the mattress, I rummage through a dresser drawer and pull out the box.
Isabella stirs awake after I’ve slid the ring onto her finger. She gasps and scrambles to sit up. “What is this?”
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I didn’t plan on asking you like this, dove, but I figured this is as good a moment as any.”
Isabella’s mouth moves, but no words come. Finally, she clears her throat and lifts her gaze up to mine. “Is this what I think it is?”
“You’re not alone, dove.” I take her hands in mine and look into her eyes. “I’m here, and I want to be your family.”
And I never want her to feel alone again.
Not so long as I was alive.
Isabella’s eyes fill with tears. “Carter, I… I love you. Of course, I want to marry you, but you know you don’t have to ask me because of what I said earlier.”
I shake my head. “That’s not why I’m asking you. I want you to be my wife, Isabella Julis.”
