Page 50 of Unraveling an Enigma
“Holy shit,” he mumbles under his breath as he pivots around in a circle taking in the entire room.
Brandon’s words are more reserved than Hugo’s are when he enters. A string of illicit curse words filter from his mouth. Every wall in the master suite is covered with photos, magazine cut outs, CD covers, and posters of Isaac’s brother Nick and his bandmates. Some photos appear to be taken by paparazzi, but at least half of them aren’t professional pictures. There are hundreds of long range shots of Nick in various poses, but the most concerning ones, the ones that make my stomach churn, are the up close and personal ones. A handful are of Nick sleeping, but the majority are of him in various stages of sexual activities with a lady with strawberry blonde hair. I thought the bathroom in Megan’s hotel room was bad, but this room is ten times worse.
My stomach tenses when I reach a desk in the corner of the room.
“Is this Jenni, Nick’s fiancée?” I lift one of the many photos with her eyes gouged out and blood trailing down her legs.
Hugo’s ashen face slants to take in the photo. Drawing in a long, shaky breath, he nods.
The pit in my stomach enlarges. “Does Isaac have someone watching them?”
“He has Peters watching Nick from a distance, but I don’t know about Jenni. His security team determined the threat pertained more to Nick than his fiancée.”
A dull ache gnaws in my chest. My intuition is telling me something isn’t right. “You need to get protection for Jenni.”
My gaze shifts to Brandon. “What is the closest division associated with this district?”
Hugo saunters my way. His pupils widen as his breaths turn ragged. “Don’t call the authorities until Isaac’s security team gets a look at this first,” he requests, his voice hoarse.
A knot twists my stomach as I seek Brandon’s opinion. He takes a few moments to deliberate on my soundless question before mumbling, “It’s up to you, Izzy. I’ll go along with whatever you decide.”
A stretch of silence crosses between us. The only audible noise is my big pants of breath. I’m truly terrified of what Isaac’s reaction will be once he fully comprehends the complexity of the situation with Megan. Nothing Isaac has done the entire time I have been a part of the FBI team investigating him has been classified as illegal, but this could be the very thing that topples him into doing something unlawful. He loves his brother, and he’d do absolutely anything to protect him—anything at all—but if I keep this from him, and something happens to his brother or his family, I’ll lose Isaac forever.I can’t handle that.
After running my hand across my nape to remove a layer of sweat beaded there, I dig out the cell phone Hugo gave me earlier and thrust it toward him. The tension straining his face slackens as a smile curves on his mouth.
Brandon stands next to me, but I can’t take my eyes off Hugo as he dials a number he knows by heart and lifts the untraceable cell phone to his ear.
Hugo’s gaze suddenly shifts from looking out the window to glance at me. “She is fine. She is right in front of me,” he reassures Isaac.
My heart swells that Isaac still cares enough about me to be concerned about my welfare.
Hugo’s anxious gaze scans the room. “I need you to send the security team to Parkerville. Tonight.”
Several heart-clenching seconds pass before Hugo mutters. “It’s not about Izzy. It’s Nick.”
Isabelle
“Feel free to tell me to buzz off,” says a distinctive voice to my side. “But what is a beautiful girl like you doing in a shithole like this?”
When I turn toward the voice, I'm met with the grinning face of a ruggedly handsome man. His jawline is covered with a thick, full beard. His hair is dark brown in color and is parted at the side. He is wearing a red and black checked plaid shirt rolled up at the sleeves, showcasing his vast collection of tattoos, and a pair of well-fitted jeans, with black boots.
Screwing up my nose, I roll my eyes. “That is the worst pick up line I’ve ever heard.”
He smiles so broadly, wrinkles crinkle his dark eyes. “I highly doubt that, sweetheart.”
He gestures to the spare stool next to me Brandon just vacated. “Feel free,” I say. “But just a warning, I’m not the greatest company tonight.”
His chuckles vibrate through my chest. “That’s okay, I’m never good company, so I’m sure I can handle your moodiness for a night.”
His witty comment is awarded with my first genuine smile of the night.
I gag when I take a delicate sip of the wine the bartender replenished in front of me. My tastebuds were spoiled the last month with Dom Perignon wines and other expensive bottles I’ve never heard of. So, they're protesting about the harsh bitterness of the three-dollar a glass house wine this pub is serving.
After signaling to the bartender, my new companion adjusts his position so he can accurately assess me in vigorous detail. Although his gaze rakes my body, I don’t feel threatened or invaded by his enthusiastic review.
“Let me guess what brings you to this fine establishment this evening,” he says, his voice full of wittiness and a slight amount of fake poshness. “Relationship problems?”
A broad smile etches on my lips. “All that from one glance of my body?”
