While I was in the middle of draining all the coffee down the sink, there was a knock on the front door and it opened.
I was startled at first, but then I saw Isabelle standing in the living room, looking at me with a warm smile. I didn’t really know this girl. I’d barely even call her a friend—but boy was I glad to see her!
“Hi, Elsie!” she exclaimed cheerfully. I saw she had a bag of sweet treats and three paper cups of coffee in her hands.
“Your brother…he left,” I stammered.
Isabelle shrugged and handed one of the coffees to me, abandoning another one on the kitchen island.
“Even better. It means you and I can catch up in peace,” she said.
I watched while she made herself comfortable on one of the kitchen chairs, proceeding to pick out a danish pastry from the bag. When she offered the rest to me, I refused. I had no appetite. Tristian’s behavior had left me feeling cold and sick to my stomach.
Being heartbroken had a physical effect on me that I hadn’t expected.
“Are you doing okay? You look shaken up. Did something happen?” Isabelle asked when she finally paid attention to the ashen complexion of my face.
I shook and nodded my head at the same time—whatever that was.
The last thing I wanted to do was badmouth her brother behind her back.
“Is it Aldo? Did he try something?”
“No. I’m fine. I haven’t heard or seen him since I escaped.”
Isabelle searched my eyes, sighing.
“Did you and Tristian argue or something? I know he’s a hot head. All my brothers can be difficult to live with. They have their own issues, you know? And most of the time, they don’t know how to deal with it.”
I said nothing, and my silence was all the answer she needed.
“Their mother was murdered when they were kids.”
“Both my parents were murdered by Aldo a few weeks ago,” I said.
Tristian and I shared similar histories, but that didn’t compel me to push him away. In fact, it seemed to have the opposite effect on me.
Isabelle sighed again.
“I’m sorry to hear that, honey. I’m really, very sorry for you.”
I sat down at the kitchen table, feeling my lip tremble as I tried to regain some composure.
“I don’t know if I can stay here anymore,” I confessed. Those were my innermost thoughts—thoughts I couldn’t make myself confess to Tristian because I didn’t know how he’d react.
“But you can’t leave, not yet. I mean, I don’t know exactly what’s going on with you and what kind of danger you’re in, but all I know is that you shouldn’t be messing around with Aldo Baron. Whatever your situation is, you are safest here where Tristian can keep an eye on you.”
“I’m sure there’s somewhere else I can go and stay safe,” I insisted.
“Maybe there is, but you should discuss it with Tristian or someone from the family first. Maybe Aidan would be able to help you, maybe even Dad might be open to it.”
I said nothing. I didn’t want to admit to her I’d already doubted trusting the Dohertys. Not that I mistrusted them. I had witnessed their core values and warmth. They trusted me, so I trusted them. But placing my safety in Tristian’s hands had been a bad idea. Especially since I was so attracted to him.
Isabelle watched me closely, like she tried to read my thoughts.
“Hey, Elsie, look at me, honey,” she said in a calm but stern voice. When I met her eyes, she gave me a warm smile. “Don’t do anything stupid, okay? Don’t do anything that could put you in real danger, okay?”
I nodded.
I didn’t even know what that was supposed to mean. What was real danger? Wasn’t that all just subjective?
Currently, I was in danger of losing my mind because of Tristian and wasn’t that even more frightening?
“Now, drink some of that coffee and eat a pastry. An early morning sugar rush always helps me get things in perspective,” she added, handing me the paper bag again.
I forced myself to smile and took one, just to placate her for now. I didn’t know what I’d do, but I knew I couldn’t tell Isabelle about it. As much as I trusted her, I knew her loyalty would always lie with the family. She’d have to tell Tristian everything I told her. So, whatever I decided to do next, I’d have to act quickly.
Fourteen
Tristian
I told Elsie I had shit to do when I stormed out of the apartment earlier, but that was a lie. I didn’t actually have anything to do or anywhere to be. I just wanted to get out of there so I wouldn’t be tempted by her again. Because the only thing I wanted to do when I saw her in my kitchen cooking me a big hearty breakfast was throw her over the kitchen counter and spread her legs out for me.
So I went to see my brother Nolan instead.
He took ages to come to the door. If I had to guess, Isabelle probably had a key to his place though. She had a key to all our places.
“Yo!” Nolan exclaimed when he finally opened.
“I’m coming in,” I growled, pushing past him.
I saw the naked chick in the kitchen right away. She was wearing literally nothing while she sat on top of Nolan’s breakfast bar, eating cereal out of a big bowl.
“Right. Okay. Tristian, this is…” Nolan struggled with her name and I wasn’t surprised by it. Nolan wasn’t the type to ask a chick her name before he banged her.
The girl twisted her face up bitterly. I saw she was insulted by my brother’s lack of real interest in her.
“My name is Cheryl,” she said sternly.
“Cheryl, this is my brother, Tristian.”
She rolled her eyes and continued eating her cereal. I clenched my jaws in irritation and turned to Nolan, who grinned. He thought this whole thing was funny.
I should’ve gone to see Brendan instead. Nolan was
