Chapter 14: breath Isa.

JUSTIN:

 “He wasn't lying, he did work for your father”I push the file to Isabella.

She goes through it, anger on her face, “how's..how's this possible? I was there, since the beginning, how didn't I know he worked for my father” she scoffs in disbelief.

 “Well maybe he wasn't relevant,” I point to the file,”investigation shows he was more or less like an errand boy, like I said irrelevant”

She sighs and closes the file, “God” she says softly, quietly.

 “You need to breathe Isabella, you're stressing”

 “It's my family's business Warren I'm allowed to stress over it, what the fuck is wrong with you?” 

 “I'm just saying, what can Montez really do huh? He doesn't have any seat of power whatsoever in this business, I have also done my research”

 “Congratulations” she scoffs, “he has worked with my father, he knows things, secrets, things that if they leaked it'll ruin my image..hell this whole organization's image and you want me to..to calm down? God Warren” she facepalms. Her hands were shaking subtly, her breath uneven, her feet kept tapping the table quietly..she was having an anxiety attack, “breathe Isa” I hold her hand and she stiffened.

She looks up at me, fear crosses her eyes, she keeps shaking and trying to calm her breathing. I could feel she was scared, conflicted but she pulls away as usual, “don't touch me ever again” she scoffs and leaves her office.

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

   I switch off the gas and pour the hot water into my teacup when I hear a small knock on my door, I peek and see Cara holding a small basket and wait nervously.

 “Don't tell me you're drunk again” I open the door and cross my arms.

 “Quite the contrary,” she smiles, “I have come to appreciate you for…you know taking me home” she gives me the basket.

I smile a little and move for her to enter the house, I close the door behind me and rest on it, giving us quite a distance, “thanks, how are you?”

 “Good” she sighs and sits down, “woke up with the nastiest headache but I'm better now” she smiles.

 “Great” I keep the goody basket on the table, “so asides…your appreciation, to what do I owe this pleasure?”

 “Well…” she takes a deep breath in, “I came to talk to you, you know about…”

 “Your sister, I can tell.” I sigh and sit down, “what's happened?”

 “That's what I want to know, she's..she's been too stressed even, she barely sleeps or eats and when she does sleep she wakes up screaming…it's scary” her voice quivering.

 “She…she wakes up screaming?” 

 “Yes, it's been happening too much of late, she…” she sighs, “she's always had nightmares, even when we were kids, but now she doesn't talk rather she'll shoot things. That's why I'm here Justin, I want to know what's happening to her, is there anything or anyway I can help?”

 I take a deep breath in, trying to calm myself from this new information, “unfortunately Cara there's little to nothing you can do, your sister is a really strong woman, I'm sure she has everything under control”

 “But she doesn't, Justin..” she moves closer to me, “she's not as strong as she looks, I hear her crying sometimes or taking overdose of painkillers to calm her anxiety, it's..” her voice low, “I'm scared for her”

 “Cara,” I hold her shaking hand, “I'm her bodyguard and sometimes I ask myself why am I bodyguarding her if she has herself? she might be…soft at times, when she chooses but her standing up everyday and standing tall in a world of ruthless men, now Cara, that is strength, exceptional strength”

She calms down, takes a deep breath in, “I'm just worried is all”

 “We all are, but she's handling it..I'm merely her assistant. Why…why don't you talk to Miguel? I'm sure he'll have more answers for you”

She scoffs, “unfortunately I can't stay in the same room as Miguel without imagining him naked” she chuckles softly, “plus he is…he is just like Isa, uptight and quiet”

 “I see” I stand up, “tea?”

She smiles, “yes, i would love that”

I go into the kitchen and pour her a cup, “what's Miguel's deal anyways? He always has something up his sleeves”

 “He is just like that. Isa and him basically grew up together, his father worked for my father so you know, it brought them close, everyone thought they'll eventually fall in love and get married too” she chuckles, “they didn't…sadly, they'll make an amazing couple”

My shoulders become tense, the thought of them kissing made my stomach turn, I hand her the tea and sit down, "I would have never guessed” I smile dryly, “but has she ever been in love?”

She sips her tea, “once,” she sighs, “Isa wasn't the typical girl growing up, when others where struggling with nail polish she was already going on missions with my father, but when she fell in love, she…changed, became softer, calmer, started…living”

 “What happened?” curiosity getting the best of me.

 “He lied, all through the relationship, he lied” she sips the tea again, “he destroyed Isa and then she just became…well the Isa we all know and love, but I know deep down, she's still that soft woman”

I rest my back into the couch, taking a deep breath in. This wasn't in her files, there wasn't any record of her falling in love, was love her hidden weakness? Is it why she hates touch so much? I wasn't supposed to care, this feeling in my chest isn't supposed to there, I internally grunt,I sit up, “I would have never guessed Isabella is capable of love”

 “No one would have” she chuckles, “I on the other hand fell far away from the apple tree, my mother took me out of the country almost immediately after I was born, so…”

 “Expected, no parent would want to make the same mistake twice”

 “What about you? Do you have any siblings? Parents?”

I grip my cup tightly, anger rising in my head,memory of Luca’s blood blood on my hands flash through my head, faint screaming echoes in ny ear, “none, I don't talk about my family”

 “Oh” she says softly, “sorry I asked” she stands up, “okay um.. thanks for the tea” she laughs dryly, “and the talk, I feel better. I keep forgetting Isabella is a strong woman, even with everything going on she still smiles and makes sure I'm fine”

I stand up and put my hands in my pocket, “well it's easy to forget when you're not around her all the time, I can't forget..if anything she's my bodyguard” I hold her hand, “trust me when I say Isabella would be okay and don't worry I'll be your personal informant" I laugh and wink a little.

 “Thank you” she hugs me and settles into my arms, “thank you Justin” 

 “Any…”

 “Warr..” my door flies open, “Cara?” Isabella's eyes landed on Cara in my arms, then on me. Empty, cold pale, my heart stops…fuck!