Page 75 of Unraveling an Enigma
Brandon inhales sharply before nodding. “The drug is found stateside in New York City. Small minority groups there use it for illegal terminations when they can’t afford a doctor.”
A painful knot twists in my stomach. “Isaac is not going to. . . He isn’t going to handle this. . . He loves his brother.”
“I know. That is why I haven’t passed on any of the information to Hugo or Isaac yet. I wanted to get your opinion first.” Brandon stares intensely into my eyes. “You’re the only person I trust, Izzy.”
I jump in fright when the security officer unexpectedly touches my shoulder. “Ms. Brahn, there is a gentleman by the name of Hugo requesting to be informed if you're in the lobby,” he advises, nudging his head toward the reception phone sitting on the shiny white desk.
My heart clenches in my chest before my eyes shoot to Brandon. “Do you have your car here?”
Brandon nods.
“I need one final favor,” I request staring into his hazel eyes.
“Anything, Izzy,” he replies without hesitation.
I lift my gaze to the security officer. “Please inform Hugo that you have not seen me this afternoon.”
Ignoring the security officer’s shocked expression, Brandon and I clasp hands and dash toward the glass revolving doors. The wild beating of my heart intensifies with every step I take.
Isaac
Iwait for the elevator to arrive at the floor of Isabelle’s apartment before I pull out of the managers’ car space and head to my office at The Dungeon. Spending the last forty-eight hours away with Isabelle has stretched my time a little thin on several important projects I’m presently undertaking, but it was well worth the sacrifice. I’ll never get enough of Isabelle’s provocative body and beautiful face.
Last night, I hardly slept a wink. It wasn’t Isabelle’s sexual prowess that kept me awake; it was her nightmares. Generally, her dreams are filled with sweet little moans and sighs that make my cock as hard as stone. But last night, she kept whimpering and crying in her sleep. The ghastly image she witnessed yesterday morning is playing havoc with her mind. I’ll give it a few nights to see if I can settle her dreams by reverting them back to pleasurable fantasies. If not, I’ll seek professional advice on helping her through this traumatic time. A shiver runs down my spine when I recall the visual of yesterday morning, so I can imagine how much it plagues her thoughts.
Due to traffic, by the time I pull into my nightclub, it is a little after 5 PM. The drive took longer than predicted as I took the scenic route to enjoy the beautiful vision of Isabelle sitting in the passenger seat of my car. She was dressed in her regular jeans and a beige-colored jacket, but her smile made her dazzle like a diamond in the sun.
Leaning over, I grab the framed photo of Isabelle from the cabin out of the glove compartment. I plan to place it on my desk for the world to see. I'm no longer willing to hide my relationship with Isabelle. She is mine, and everyone will be acutely aware of it. Including Col Petretti. I’m primed and ready if he decides to make a move. He won’t know what hit him if he tries to harm or threaten Isabelle again.
Tina’s head lifts from replenishing the glassware under the counter when she hears the back door of the club opening. “Hey, you’re back. How did the negotiations go in New York?” she queries.
I lift my chin in greeting. “Good. Everything is going great.” I stride to my office.
I shrug off my suit jacket and sling it over the coat rack. When I glance at my desk, I catch sight of the documents and photos Isabelle presented to me at the dingy hotel. I still can’t fathom that Nick was so foolish not to read the entire document his lawyer supplied him. I happily paid his lawyers account, but I assumed he had read the full report. I shouldn’t be surprised, though. Nick has always been the goofball that cruised through life, happy to see where things took him. He was the very definition of a “player.” Which isn’t surprising, considering he learned most of his finest traits from me. Well, that was until he met his fiancée, Jenni. She was his game changer. Just like Isabelle is to me.
Gathering the documents off my desk, I place them into the top drawer as the shrill of a cell phone sounds at my side. My heart gallops when I realize it is my untraceable cell. I quickly pace across the room and dig my hand into the breast pocket of my jacket.
“I found Megan,” Hunter informs before I can greet him. “I got her on a CTV image at a local deli this morning. I’m backtracking the video footage, so I can follow her through town.”
My palms slick with sweat. “How long will it take to find her?”
“Ten, twenty minutes maximum,” he replies as a keyboard being tapped sounds through the phone.
A figure outside of my office captures my attention. Nick is standing on the nearly empty dance floor. The club won’t fill with patrons for a few more hours. Even though it is a Monday night, I'm still predicting a few hundred people will mill through my doors by midnight.
“Let me know as soon as you've found her.” My voice is firm.
“Will do.”
Snapping the phone shut, I stride toward my office door and prop my shoulder on the doorframe. “You know how to fucking pick them,” I remark, my tone harsh over Nick’s stupidity for how he has handled this situation. I know he is only twenty-two, but he is an adult, and now a father, so he has to learn to take care of his responsibilities.
Nick’s head shoots sideways as his wide eyes glare at me. His pupils dilate as his breathing turns winded. “Do you know where she is?” His angry voice echoes through the quiet club.
I nod. “I’m taking care of it.” I push off the door and walk back into my office. Nick quickly follows after me.
“What do you mean you’re taking care of it?” he asks, walking into my office. Sweat beads his temples, and his hands shake.
I sit in my leather chair and motion for Nick to sit in the chair across from me. I gesture more firmly for him to sit after he denies my request with a shake of his head. I know my brother. He should be seated when I show him the information Isabelle unearthed.
