Page 73 of Bound to You

“Hello, honey.”

My lungs falter, like all of the air has been sucked out of the room. Goosebumps creep up my arms, but not the good kind.

I’m frozen in place; all I can feel is the hairs on my arms standing up.

“You’re a hard woman to track down.”

I gain enough control of my mind to wriggle free of his grasp and will my voice not to falter when I finally speak. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to bring you home, what else? You’ve had your fun but it’s time to come home, I can’t believe May dragged you all the way here.” He says it as if I had no choice in the matter, as if I didn’t need to get away from him.

“She has always been a bad influence on you, Isla,” I cringe at my name coming out of his mouth.

“Please honey, this isn’t you.” The sweet nickname he used to call me now sounds sour on his tongue. He looks me up in down, taking in the outfit I felt confident in until just now. He reaches for me again.

“I suggest you take your hands off the lady.” Caio’s tall form towers behind Brandon. His voice a lethal calm as to not draw attention.

“Excuse me,” Brandon spits, not caring if everyone hears him as he turns around to look at the man behind him. “Who do you think you are?”

“Someone who doesn’t appreciate people touching what’s mine.”

I’m frozen watching what feels like my two worlds colliding, Brandon showing up here, now. It feels like the universe forcing me to remember that my life here isn’t my reality. That soon enough this will all be a memory I’ll look back on. Photos in an album that see the light of day once in a blue moon.

A spark at my pinky finger brings me back to the current moment as Caio is suddenly standing at my side. His fingers brush along mine, reminding me that I’m not alone.

He’s always had the ability to quiet the part of my mind that’s running one hundred miles per hour, and that little gesture slows my racing heart, dragging me out of my intrusive thoughts.

Brandon’s eyes flick between us, before flicking to where our hands connect between us. A moment of realization flickers in his eyes before he slides on the mask of cocky indifference that I know all too well.

“Oh, I see now,” he huffs a laugh, his eyes disapproving.

God he’s such a slimy bastard. How he managed to finally get my father to give him a job I don’t know, but any shock thathad me stuck in place has now worn away, leaving nothing but disgust as I look at the man that used me for years.

“So that’s what this is all about.” His voice raises with every sentence, drawing more attention to the three of us with every word.

Caio’s fingers intertwine with mine now, squeezing once, showing me he’s here, quietly giving me strength. Further proving the difference between him and the man in front of me.

“What? You just ran away so you could fuck someone new for the summer?” His eyes look Caio up and down and a wave of defensiveness washes over me. “Come on, Isla, don’t kid yourself. You’ve had your fun, now stop acting like a little whore and come home where I can get you under control.”

Caio’s hand squeezes mine again, but it doesn’t feel like comfort anymore. It feels like anger, and as I look up at him beside me that’s all that I can see in his eyes. That usually warm ocean now frozen over.

“I’d think very carefully about what you say next,” Caio says.

Out the corner of my eye I see the rest of the boys walking up to us, pure fury in their eyes and despite the situation I almost want to smile. More than ever I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be. Where I have people around me who support me without question.

“Brandon, you need to leave. I’m not coming home, and even if I was it would be as far away from you as possible.”

Caio’s warm, steady presence beside me gives me all the courage I’d ever need. I can face anything with this man by my side.

Brandon takes a step towards me. “Don’t be a silly little bitch—“ he grunts as a punch lands to the side of his jaw.

“Watch your fucking language.” Rafael shakes his hand out. I stare at him for a moment, surprised by his defensiveness overme. He winces looking down at his knuckles before he catches my eye, throwing me a wink before he focuses back on Brandon.

I too bring my focus back to my ex. I want this over with. This is my special place, and I won’t let him taint it.

“I’m not the naive girl you first met Brandon, andfuckam I glad. You won’t ever get the chance to manipulate me again, I’m not that person for you anymore and I’m ashamed that I ever was.”

“Okay Isla,” he scoffs looking around the room, finding my friends looking back at him. “You can’t live in this fairytale forever, and when you come home, you’ll regret this. I’ll make sure of it.” His eyes move from me to Caio. “I hope you enjoy my leftovers man,” he looks back at me. “She was only ever a half decent fuck anyways, could barely even get a reaction out of her.”

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