Page 210 of Enigma: The Complete Collection
“It’s my job to protect you, Izzy, so until we know who’s framing you, and if they are the same person who was tailing you last week,everyonewill be treated as a potential threat.”
Guilt makes itself known with my gut. I’m not trying to make things difficult for him, I’m just sick of not having a say in matters that affect me. This is my life, so shouldn’t I get a say on how it’s run?
“Until Brandon is cleared as a suspect, Boy Wonder over there will remain number one on my hit list.”
When he motions his head to the kitchen during the ‘Boy Wonder’ part of his arrogant admission, the defense wall I was just lowering resurrects. Brandon has always been there for me, but more than anything, he’s my friend.
“Then, I guess it’s lucky I don’t need your permission on where I can or cannot stay.” My tone is edgy with a nasty side of bitchiness.
“You may not needmypermission, Izzy, but do you really think Isaac will let you have a sleepover at amalefriend’s house?” He folds his arms in front of his chest as his smile picks up. “He wouldn’t even let you stay at Hunter’s house because he has the wrong appendage between his legs.”
“Isaac doesn’t seek my approval for whatfriendshe allows to sleepover at his apartment, so why should I?” The anger I felt earlier during my argument with Clara resurfaces stronger than ever. “I’m an adult, Hugo, so how about you start treating me like one!”
“If you get Isaac’s permission to stay here, we’ll stay here. If you don’t, I’ll carry your ass to the car kicking and screaming.”
My mouth forms into an ‘O.’ “You wouldn’t dare.”
He steps closer to me, his expression deadly serious. “Test me, Izzy.”
“You hate Brandon that much?”
His shrug isn’t fooling anyone. “I don’thatehate him, but I don’t trust him. Trust has to be earned, and he hasn’t earned it yet.”
“Says the guy who lied to my face by pretending he got fired!” My roar echoes down the hallway. I’m so angry, I swear steam is close to billowing out of my ears.
“I did that for your safety.” His tone is as low as his brows are sitting. “And if we’re going to discuss the semantics of being deceitful—”
I cut him off with a glare. The guilt I feel for lying to Isaac for months still stings my heart, so I don’t need Hugo throwing it in my face.
Hugo breaks our intense standoff first. “You know I’m not the one who makes the rules when it comes to you, Izzy. If you want to fight the system, argue with its creator.”
“Fine. I will.”
Pretending my heart isn’t racing a million miles an hour, I yank the phone out of my pocket before dialing Isaac’s number. I can barely breathe when the seductive voice of Isaac sounds down the line not even two rings later.
“Isabelle.” My name rolls off his tongue in a seductive purr, but the brashness in his tone reveals his earlier anger is still paramount. “I was just about to call you.”
“Hello.” I roll my eyes at my own dimness. It’s understandable. Even irately angry, my body melts from hearing his knee-weakening voice, but I’m better than this. “Hugowanted me to let you knowwe’restaying at Brandon’s parents’ house this weekend.”
Hugo’s brows disappear into his hairline, stunned I just threw him into the deep end without a life jacket.
“No, Isabelle.” Isaac’s deep rumble booms out of the speakers so loudly, even Hugo hears his reply. “Brandoncan stay athisparents’ house. You and Hugo will stay at a hotel.”
I love the arrogance in his tone, but I act unaffected by it. “I wasn’t seeking your permission. I was courteously informing you of my decision.”
My panties moisten when his sexy-as-sin growl cracks down the line. “You’re not sleeping under another man’s roof—”
“It’s not his house!”
When Hugo’s chuckle screeches through my eardrums, I hit him with the best angry scowl I can muster. It’s convincing enough to stuff his laughter into the back of his throat, but not strong enough to wipe the cheeky grin off his face.
After turning my back on Hugo, I snarl down the line, “I’m staying at Brandon’s parents’ house. If you don’t like it, then come take me to the hotel yourself.”
I snap my phone shut, equally excited and petrified. I just forced Isaac to interact with me. Half of me is beyond comprehension at the prospect of seeing him again, whereas the other half is scared of what the repercussions will be for forcing his hand. If there’s one thing I know about Isaac, it is his dislike of being strong-armed.
When, in the corner of my eye, I catch sight of Hugo sneaking up on me, I spin around to issue him a stern finger point. “If you even attempt to drag me to the car, I won’t hesitate to show you that firing a weapon isn’t the only test I aced at the academy.”
He isn’t the slightest bit intimidated by my threat. If anything, he appreciates the challenge. I’d take him up on his offer if I weren’t thrust into cardiac arrest by my phone unexpectedly ringing. It startles me so much, I throw it in the air with a squeal, only just catching it before it collides with the wooden floorboards under my feet.
