Page 63 of The Veiling

“Then tell me what’s going on.”

Instead of telling me, we dined together in silence for the first time since we met. Not wanting to make her more uncomfortable, or mad, I remained respectful. Eventually, I got tired of the awkwardness and tried to carry a conversation, keeping it light. She only offered one-word answers.

For once, I could not wait to leave what was supposed to be a romantic date. The moment we were finished, and I paid, Noah and Joseph escorted us back to my car. I gave her space on the way home, turning on her favorite genre of music. She stared out the window once again, but I could see she was mouthing the lyrics subtly in her reflection.

I slowed to a stop in the driveway, just in front of the mansion. Joseph and Noah hopped out of the car in front of us. Giacomo and Tate dashed outside, with William not far behind them.

“What the fuck is going on?” I jumped out and jogged around to Isabelle’s side, shielding her from whatever was causing the alarm in their tone.

The guys marched directly to me.

William glanced back and forth before huffing. “V, we have a problem.”

I dropped Isabelle’s hand, muttering under my breath, “What?”

“He has been beat up…badly.”

“Who?!” Isabelle retorted, taking a step to the side.

“Uh.” I darted my gaze back and forth between her and the others.

She crossed her arms, glaring at me. “Felipe?”

Shit.

Deceit

“Isabelle, I—”

Before I could say another word, she rolled her eyes and stormed toward the house. I took several steps after her and twisted around, throwing my arms out to the side. “Giacomo! You were supposed to be watching her!”

“Don’t you dare yell at him, Valentino!” Isabelle screeched.

I whirled around to see her standing at the entrance with her fists on her hips.

“He did nothing wrong. You, however,” she gritted her teeth, pointing at me, “brought the one thing on earth you know I’m terrified of, into our home! The place you tell me I’m the safest! My safe place is no longer a safe place.”

Noah took a step toward her, but she yelled, “And you knew about this, didn’t you?!” She tightened her gaze at each of them. “You all did, and you kept it from me! Fuck all of you!”

Isabelle rarely used profanity outside the bedroom, but she had snapped. I did not blame her at all. It was my fault, and I knew I should have told her, but I also wanted to protect her at all costs. However, bringing him to our home was probably the wrong thing to do, too. I should have just killed him in Colombia and let Miguel’s men deal with the clean-up like they did with Jesse.

She spun on her heels, storming into the house. William opened his mouth to speak to me, but I lifted a hand. He snapped it closed instantly.

“Find out who the fuck’s been in the basement and text me.” I ran my fingers through my hair. “I need to go fix this. Call Marco and get him back here immediately.”

“Where is he?” Joseph asked.

“He went to AC with Alessio for a few days. I told him he could.” I rushed inside the house and up the stairs.

The elevator doors opened on our floor and Isabelle stepped out at the same time I rounded the corner. I took her hand in mine. She jerked it away and peered into my eyes with a tearful, betrayed gaze. She then tore it away and marched toward the bedroom. I followed her, but she disappeared into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her.

Taking a deep breath, I laid my forehead on the door. “Isabelle.”

Sobs erupted on the other side. I twisted the doorknob, expecting it to be locked, but it was not. I entered and waltzed to the closet, leaning in the archway. Weeping, she wandered around, taking off her jewelry. She stood in front of the mirror, struggling with the zipper on the back of her dress.

I stepped over, gently pushing her hands down, and unzipped it for her. She watched my reflection in the full-length mirror with a frown. I wanted to plead my case. To tell her I was sorry. It was useless. I had messed up. Several times, I opened my mouth to speak, but couldn’t.

“There’s nothing you can say to make what you did acceptable.”

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