Chapter 13: friendship.

ISABELLA:

 I stare at the letter again and again and again, tears at the brink of falling, my heart beating extremely fast, I grip my sheets in fear, my legs shaking…my anxiety was through the roof. I fold the paper neatly and lay down on my bed trying to calm my breathing, trying to understand what was happening and who I have wronged so badly that they are doing this to me. I popped two painkillers in my mouth because my head was going crazy. I stayed away from the drugs I sold…it was a mantra, no one was to use products that are to be sold.

  “May I come in?” My door opens slowly and I see Cara peeking through.

 “Yea” I sniffle and sit up, 

She enters and sits on my bed, “ho..how are you?”

 “Good,” I showed her my arm, “healed up nice too.” I smile a little.

She holds my hand, as if knowing something was wrong, “Isa…”

 “Cara I'm fine.. training has been fine too, Justin’s been of great help”

 “Okay…” she said softly, “I'm sure you already know, but..I came home drunk yesterday”

 “Yea, you're not so sleek, Justin too” I chuckle, “where was your bodyguard, why didn't he bring you back?”

 “I..sneaked off, don't…don't punish him, it's my fault” she pleads.

I tuck her hair behind her ear, “I won't, but I'll punish you. You might be grown but you're still my little sis..”

 “Isa…” Miguel barges in, “you have a visitor”

 “Who?”

He takes a deep breath in, “Carlos Montez”.

*************

Like a stare down, I stared at him with my blood boiling, I grip the chair turning my knuckles white, Justin stood behind me, I could feel his heartbeat radiating through me..it calmed me a bit.

 “Speak” I cross my legs, trying to fight the urge to shoot him right in the head.

 “Hello to you too” he smirks, “I came to check on you”

 “Check on me? What is this? Daycare check up?” annoyance laced around my tongue.

 “I'm trying to be your friend..it is a dangerous world we're in, our friendship can go a long way…especially for business”.

I scoff, “friendship?”

 “Yes Isabella, friendship..we can be..” he sighs, “partners”

 “What is it with mediocre men and trying to be reasonable?” I laugh but my face straightens almost immediately, “just like I told Leonardo I don't want any form of partnership with anyone, let alone…you”

 “Why? If..of course I may ask”

 “Two reasons, your business is on the brink of failure meaning you have not made a single profitable deal, if I partner up with you, you'll drag me down with you, two…you are a failure, I should know you stink of it. Questions?” I fold my hands.

He chuckles, “oh Isabella, already done your research I see.. nice”

 “Look Montez, I don't have the time to waste on useless people like you so just like the way you came in, leave” I stand up.

He stands up too, blocking my path, Justin moves to try and stop him but I hold my hand up stopping him. He tucks my hair behind my ear, “Isabella….”he tsks.

I bring out my gun and press it on his lower abdomen, “don't you ever touch me again or I'll be the last thing you'll ever touch” I seeth already irritated.

He moves back with a smile on his face, “ got it” 

I push past him, opening my door, but I stop in my tracks, realizing hitting me, I turn stiffly to him, “how…how did you know something happened to me?”

 “You don't know this but we're all connected Isa, your position in this drug world is the most sought after” he lights his cigarettes, “everyone is out for you Isabella, just like they were for your father, and look how he wounded up, until you're dead, they won't stop”

My breath hitches,I clench my fists,“my father died under natural causes, everyone knows that”

He chuckles, “natural causes? Isabella please you are one of the smartest women I know, you can't believe that crap, that's bullshit for the press, the FBI..not you”

I walk slowly to him, “what are you saying Montez? Someone killed my father? Within his house? Huh?” anger already slipping out of me.

He smiles, “your father was too trusting, too naive, ruthless yes but soft…like you” he sighs and sits down, “you have to be careful”

I scoff, “you don't know anything about me or my fam…”

 “Oh I do, I do. More than you can ever imagine, worked for your father for seven years, I'm pretty knowledgeable about the…great Morretti’s” he laughs, “partner with me Isabella, you have nothing to loose”

 “Bullshit, i knew all about my father’s employees and a low life like you would never be there.” I point my gun at his head, “how do you know about my father's death? Play games or lie and I'll blow your brains out this very second, don't test me Carlos”

He smirks, his eyes subtly looking behind me..where Justin was, he looks back at me, my stance already tense, my blood boiling, “poison” he smiles and stands up.

Blood drains from my face, I shift back a little, my step staggering a little, “that's..that's not possible” 

He leans in, lips brushing my cheek, with a poisonous smile plastered on his face, “trust kills Isabella, it'll kill you too. I'll be waiting for your response on my proposal” he looks at me, “I might be the least on the food chain, but trust that I have just as much or even more power than you” he smiles at me, then he's gone leaving smoke, silence and a storm brewing in my chest.