Page 70 of Enigma: The Complete Collection
“So, Jacob is the one forcing Isaac’s association with Henry. It has nothing to do with the mob. Jacob just wants a chance at a fair rematch?”
Smiling, I nod. “Henry’s ex-wife, Delilah Winterbottom, started working at Destiny Records one month before her husband filed for divorce. Destiny Records is owned by Isaac’s best friend, Cormack. Some may say it’s a coincidence, but I think Isaac did Henry a favor by getting Delilah out of his hair in the hopes Henry would help him find a way for Jacob to fight Curtis.”
Brandon’s brow arches as his lips curl into a grin. “It’s plausible.” He seems genuinely surprised. “I’ll put it in a report and see what Alex has to say in the morning.”
I smile, glad that Brandon’s views on Isaac are swaying toward the positive. Even being hurt by Isaac, I’ll continue to defend his integrity until I find a credible reason to believe he’s the man his FBI file portrays him to be. My Uncle Tobias may not have taught me to cook or clean, but he did teach me to make my own informed opinions.Oh, and how to shoot a pistol like a real gunslinger, but that’s a story for another day.
“So that’s one mystery solved. Now, onto the much bigger one.” Brandon’s eyes lower to the stack of boxes.
Following his gaze, I catch a glimpse of the time on my watch. My eyes bug when I realize it’s almost two in the morning. “Holy crap, it’s close to 2:00 a.m.!”
“I’m so sorry, Izzy. I didn’t know it was that late,” he apologizes. “I hope I’m not keeping you from anything.”
I expel a puff of air. “Watching re-runs ofSex and the Cityor unearthing the secrets of an enigma. I’ll take what’s behind curtain B, please, Roger.”
Deliriously fatigued, I giggle louder than usual at my pathetic joke. My immature laughter halts when I catch Brandon’s admiring gaze watching me in awe.
“What?”
I pull up the sleeves on my shirt since the room has become stiflingly muggy.
“You have a beautiful laugh, Izzy.”
Through heated cheeks, I respond, “Thank you.”
After the severe beating my ego took two weeks ago with Isaac and Tatiana, I’ll accept any compliment I can get. Not giving us the chance to slip into uncomfortable territory, I grab a handful of the manila folders in the vast Col Petretti section. When I sit back at the desk, Brandon smiles before holding out his hand for his share of the pile.
Mumbling, I shift my head away from the sharp pointy object digging into my cheek. A groan rolls up my throat before I reluctantly open my eyes. The morning sun is barely contained by the white vertical blinds on the window in the conference room. My head is thumping from the minimal amount of sleep I got, and my mouth is parched from being left hanging open.
Peering down, I soon discover what was piercing my face the past few hours—my open red ballpoint pen. I run my hand down my face to check that there are no red smear marks on my cheek.
A ghost of a smile forms on my face when I catch the figure of Brandon slumped on a hard chair across from me. My smile enlarges to a full-toothed grin when I discover Brandon’s blazer jacket draped around my shoulders. He must have placed it there after I’d fallen asleep. Brandon is a real sweetheart, but for some reason, I’m drawn to an alpha male who infuriates me more than he nurtures me.
My bones creak when I stand to stretch my weary body. After spending three hours reading Col Petretti’s file, we’re no closer to finding any connection between him and Isaac. Other than me personally knowing they’ve met, there’s not one shred of information in Col’s file that alludes to them knowing one another privately or in business.
“Shit,” I croak when my cell phone beeps in my pocket.
Fumbling, I yank my cell phone out and silence it before it wakes Brandon. I sneak out of the conference room while glancing down at my phone screen. Confusion smashes into me when I read Harlow’s message.
Harlow:Get your coffee at Starbucks this morning.
My heart thrashes my ribcage as I dial the number for Harlow’s bakery and press my phone to my ear.
“Harlow’s Scrumptious Haven, how can I help you?”
“Hey, Harlow, it’s Izzy. Is everything okay?”
“Oh, hi, Mom, how are you?” she replies quickly.
I remain quiet, completely dumbfounded.
“I heard you and the ladies from the bowling alley got into a little mischief last night.Dadisn’t happy with you this morning. How many times have you been told if you’re going to spend all night out with yourfriends,you should inform someone?”
“What the hell are you talking about, Harlow—”
“Hey, give the phone back. I’m talking to my mom.”
I can barely control my breaths when the deliriously seductive voice of Isaac Holt sounds down the line two seconds later. “Where are you, Isabelle? And don’t you dare say your apartment as I know you haven’t been back there all night.”
