Page 35 of Our Darling Isabelle

“How dare you?” She says, shoving his chest. His body doesn’t even waver under her attempts, but I can see a spark return to his eyes that left the day she did.

“You just jump into bed with everyone who kidnaps you?” He says with a half-smile. Isabelle pulls her hand back and slaps him across the face, the sound echoing in the surrounding silence. Alec’s head whips to the side and he sighs. I’m sure his mind is flashing back to the first time we fucked her, and she slapped him as he pinned her to the bed.

“Right where I socked him. That’s my girl.” I laugh, cheering her on even as she turns her glare on me.

“Let me get one thing clear. I don’t belong to anyone.” She says, putting her hands on her hips to challenge me. I cup her jaw, dragging my thumb over her lip and watching the way her eyes soften as I put my lips to her ear.

“You will always belong to us, Belle. Admit it or I’ll steal you away right here and now.” I warn her. She sucks in a breath, bracing her hands on my chest as she looks up at me.

“They’ll kill you,” she warns. If only she knew I was dying every day that I spent away from her. I shrug, grinning at her, and she bites her lip.

“She doesn’t want us anymore, Markus. She said as much last time.” Alec says, sliding into the back seat of the car. Isabelle steps in the way, blocking the door when he tries to shut it.

“I didn’t want anyone to die for me, Alec.” She whispers, looking at the ground. Alec shoots up, bracing his hands on each side of her on the door as he leans close to her face. Her eyes are rounded in surprise at his sudden burst of emotion.

“It’s not up to you to decide if we live or die.” He says, his voice steady even as his shoulders rise and fall with sharp breaths. His dam of emotions has finally burst and is going to drown us all. She meets his eyes as I walk up, hands behind my head with my lips curled up.

“Belle, don’t you worry that pretty little head. We aren’t dying anytime soon, I promise.” I say, tucking her hair behind her ear. She rolls her eyes, crossing her arms defiantly even as we have her backed into a corner.

“Every day you put your lives on the line for this life. You can’t promise me that.” She says, her voice so broken it hurts me. Alec grabs her chin, jerking her head up to look at him.

“Then come home and give us something to fucking live for.” He says.

“Give us a life worth living.” I say, taking her hand in mine. Isabelle bites her lip, looking between us. Until a gun cocks, the barrel pointed at my temple.

“Here we go again.” I snort, smiling at Lucian from the corner of my eye. Isabelle tries to lunge between us, but Alec crams her into the car and blocks her from getting out.

“Don’t do something irrational, Lucian.” Vincent warns.

“Listen to him, Luce.” Alec says, pulling his own gun out, but he doesn’t aim it. Isabelle throws herself out the opposite door, scrambling to run around the car.

“Stay back, Belle.” I warned her, angling my body to stay between her and her father. But Isabelle shoves past me to grab the barrel of the gun and hold it to her own forehead. Lucian yanks his gun away in horror and I grab her arm, slamming her into my chest.

“What the Hell are you thinking?” I shout in her face as my heart races. A gun pointed at my head didn’t elicit fear from me, but I’d seen her on the wrong end of a barrel too many times.

“Are you insane!” Lucian yells over me.

“Stop pointing those damn things at them!” Isabelle snaps at her father, pulling her arm out of my grip.

“They tried to take you from me, Isabelle.” Lucian pleads, his face softening when he looks at his daughter. For a moment, I almost felt bad. But just for a split second because to Hell with anyone else. Isabelle shakes her head, waving her hand around.

“I don’t belong to you, papa.” She says sadly, walking towards her father. “You are the only family I have. Nothing would make me happier than us being close, but I’m not just a pet you can keep chained up.” Isabelle has fire in her soul but that scared little girl peeks her head out as she steps into his open arms as he gently pats her head.

“I just got you back. I can’t lose you again,” he says, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. Isabelle shakes her head, wiping her cheek with her palm.

“You won’t lose me. I just need the chance to find out who I am,” Isabelle says. Alec and I share a look, both of us knowing if we continue this, she will only suffer more. I sigh, nodding to Lucian as I walk around to the passenger side of our car. Isabelle watches me, her brows scrunched in confusion.

“I’m not done with you yet, Belle. You know where to find us.” I say, opening the door and sliding into my seat. Alec climbs into the seat next to me, rolling the window down.

“Don’t expect us to wait forever.” He warns her. I roll my eyes, knowing it’s total bullshit and he would wait a lifetime for her.

Chapter 27—Isabelle

They just left, driving away while I stood there in the waves of every emotion imaginable. I could feel each pair of eyes sealed to me as I held my head high. Alec wasn’t as unaffected as he wanted me to believe, and that knowledge gave me more hope than it should have. Could Markus and Alec accept the life I wanted? Or could I accept the life they had chosen? My thoughts are interrupted when Aden clears his throat behind me and I jerk.

“Izzy?” He asks. I lock eyes with him and his sharp jaw tightens and I know without a doubt he can see what I am feeling plain on my face.

“They kidnapped you, held you against your will. How could you love somebody like that?” Aden’s voice rises and I step away from him with a shake of my head. No reason to deny that word when I felt it so deeply inside of myself.

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