Page 22 of Our Darling Isabelle

“Thank you for coming, Dede.” I say, helping Markus lay on the bed while Jared tucks Isabelle in beside him. She immediately takes his hand in hers. Dede is our personal doctor, gunshots and hospitals never work out well and we deal with this more than I’d like to admit. They’re a common problem in this line of work though, so we hired the short spitfire to head up our personal medical team, and she takes good care of us.

Dede shakes her head, her short blonde hair bouncing around her cheeks.

“Dragging a girl into this mess now?” She admonishes us while putting gloves on.

Chapter 17—Markus

Waking up with Isabelle tucked into my side was heaven. All of two seconds before the agony ripped through the shoulder she was lying on and I groaned. She shoots up, screaming and swinging her hands wildly until Alec grabs her and pins her to his chest.

“It’s me, darling. It’s Alec. Slow down.” He murmurs to her in a gentle tone, pressing his lips to her temple. Her body is still coiled tight, and he rubs her arms while she looks around and gets her bearings. She looked like Hell. There are bruises on her cheek, cuts on her arms and legs, and bandages on both wrists. I have to look away from Isabelle’s torn-up knees and force myself to focus on her face. The night rushes back to me in a blur.

“You look rough.” She says sadly, hugging herself and leaning into Alec. Something has changed between them, and it makes me happy. He presses a soft kiss onto her forehead and guides her back onto the bed.

“I feel like it too.” She grins at me, sitting back down and biting at her lip.

“She blames herself for you getting shot.” Alec says, and she gives him a glare, making him crack half a smile.

“It is your fault.” I say. She pulls back as if I’ve slapped her, and Alec takes a step closer, no doubt ready to throttle me.

“It’s your fault that bullet didn’t rip through my heart, your fault that I’m still alive and it’s your fault I have a raging hard on.” I say, smiling at her as she blushes and covers her face. When her hands drop, the broken look that has set into her eyes hits me.

“When I sleep, he’s there. His threats, his hands on my body.” She admits quietly. Rage makes my lip curl as I take her hand.

“Nobody is ever going to touch you again, Belle. I swear it.” I mean every word I speak to her. She nods but doesn’t look convinced, and that hurts more than any physical wound I have ever suffered. We all sit in a sullen silence, my jaw locked tight as I struggle to find the right words she needs to hear.

“Jared saw my vagina.” Isabelle says, breaking the silence when Jared walks into the room. He nearly drops the cup of coffee he carries towards her.

“Jesus Christ.” He hisses, shoving the drink into her hands and rolling his eyes. Alec’s face turns cold as he pins Jared with a look that could kill.

“The fuck did you just say?” I snap, and Isabelle grins and flips Jared off.

“You sneaky little shit.” He crosses his arms, shaking his head at her. He’s huge and towers over her, but there isn’t a hint of fear or discomfort on her face. She’s getting comfortable here.

“Got something to tell us?” Alec’s voice is calm but terrifying. Isabelle bursts into laughter, making my brother and I look at her in confusion.

“He told me I shouldn’t be such a hussy running around without panties.” She smiles and he rolls his eyes.

“Then she said she was going to tell you guys I was peeking at her crotch.” He looks disgusted and turns to leave.

“That’s right, her panties were in my pocket last night.” Alec says, nodding as if it all makes sense.

“You boys are disturbed.” Jared calls as the door closes behind him.

“We have to kill him.” I say, sighing dramatically after Jared leaves. Alec goes along with it, pulling his gun out and making a show of unloading and reloading it.

“Wait a minute! It was a joke!” Isabelle panics, stepping up to block him from getting to the door. Alec cracks a smile, and she drops back down beside me with a pout.

“That’s not funny.” She mumbles, making me laugh, and I clutch my shoulder while the stitches strain against the motion. Alec holds his hand out to her, helping Isabelle stand and she winces from the motion on her legs. She and I were in rough shape, but we were all alive, and that was enough for me.

“I’m taking her shopping for some new clothes.” Alec says and Isabelle frowns, looking down at the baggy t-shirt and boxers she wears.

“What’s wrong with what I wear?” She asks. I raise a brow and Alec makes the same face at her, unsure if she’s screwing with us.

“These were my ex-boyfriends, and he always said I looked cute in them.” She bites her lip and tries to dart for the door. Alec snatches her around her waist and throws her onto the bed beside me, where she bounces with a squeak of surprise until I pin her down with my body. My shoulder aches, but the look of hunger in her eyes is the only thing I can focus on. I see her face scrunch in pain when I grab her thigh, but a sick part of me only feels a sliver of remorse.

“You were already on thin ice, Belle. My patience is nonexistent today.” I grumble, taking hold of the waistband of her bottoms and ripping them in half. Her eyes go wide as she smacks at my hands.

“Stop that. These are my comfiest pair! I was just fucking with you guys.” She huffs when Alec grabs her shirt and tears it down the middle while I sit back, grinning at her. She tries to hold her shirt together and cross her legs, but Alec pins her hands above her head while I force her knees apart. The burn in my shoulder becomes less than a dull ache when I stare down at her pink lips, slick with arousal.

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