Chapter 7: we're age mates.

ISABELLA'S POV:

I punch the duffel bag for what felt like the hundredth time and my hands were burning. I didn't care for the hurt, I encouraged it, I welcomed it. My head was pounding, heart was racing and my anger rising, whoever is the cause of this feeling will pay dearly when I find out thier identity.

“Your punches are weak and your stance is wrong” I hear behind me and I turn swiftly lunging my knife towards the voice.

My vision clears and I realize it's Justin,“Don't you ever sneak up on me again” I breath hard and drop the knife, “what are you doing here?”

“Getting acquainted with the environment” he says non chalantly, “why are you here? It's past midnight”.

I take off my glovers and let my hair fall, “I have insomnia and this is my house” I scoff and walk past him.

“Right”.

“Why are you here? You resume work tomorrow, don't you need rest?” I ask with a bit of concern.

“Like I said I'm getting acquainted with the environment”, he picks up my gun, “you need to train, you're not going to get better by whatever it is you were doing just now”.

The nerve of this idiot

I scoff, “and what? you're going to train me?” I snatch my gun from him.

“I mean, it's not in my job description but I'm willing to”

“No” I say sternly, “go to bed Warren and mind your damn business” I pick up my training bag and trip but he catches me in the blink of an eye.

“Careful now” his voice became deeper. I looked Into his eyes and the hue in his eyes seemed darker, I didn't understand why my heart rate increased or my body was stiff, I blame the tiredness.

I push myself off him, “don't you ever touch me” I scoff and walk away as fast as I could.

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

Morning came faster than I realized but I just laid there on my bed staring at the ceiling, it was another day to put on my non chalant amour and continue to run this cartel. I was a strong person, I just got tired and weak sometimes, plus fighting exhaustion every time was taking a toll on me and my insomnia wasn't necessarily helping.

I shower, put on minimal makeup, my hair in a bun, wore a long flowy sundress that swept the floor so I'll be easier to hide knives and weapons. Mr Leonardo was an easy man, he liked physical things, eye catching and seductive like me, I didn't need to do much, just needed to get him talking so I can figure out how I'll get his claws out of my business.

I hear a knock, “come in”.

Cara steps in, “meeting day?”

“Meeting day” I sigh, “why are you up? It's 7am”

“Work” she smiles a little, “met your bodyguard yet? He's a real eye catch” she giggles.

I groan, “please Cara don't sleep with my bodyguard okay? And you might hate it but one would be assigned to you today”.

“Hate the idea of a sexy man following around? Please I live for that kind of attention” she smiles and lays on my bed, “be careful Isa” she sadly says.

“I know” I breathe out.

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

Throughout the whole drive to his vineyard, I kept clutching my necklace and tapping my leg silently, anxiety was crippling inside of me. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I was terrified of being alone with Leonardo, he was a sexual offender and a drunk. The last time I saw him he basically tried harassing me and I was with my father, so the thoughts of what he'll do today were killing me. I sip my coffee and stare out the window lost in my world of thoughts.

“Did you know that caffeine makes anxiety worse?” Justin says as we stand still in traffic.

I sip my coffee again, “I don't care. Shut up and drive Warren” I scoff.

He chuckles silently, “it's okay to be scared you know” the traffic lights turn green and he continues driving, “admitting to fear isn't so bad”.

I take a deep breath and annoyance creeps into my head, “I need quiet Warren and your voice is annoying the shit out of me”. Our eyes meet through the rearview mirror. I can actually swear that time stopped and I could feel his eyes on my very skin, goosebumps appear on my skin, I look away, “stay quiet Warren” I hear myself say but my heart was racing like crazy.

After what felt like years, we finally arrived at the vineyard and I see Mr Leonardo already at the front porch waiting for me. I muster all the courage in me, place a fake smile on my face and come down from the car.

“Mr Leonardo” I say as I give him a side hug, “lovely to meet you once again” I peck his cheeks.

He smiles from ear to ear, “My Isa, no hoy Miguel hoy?”

No Miguel today?

I subtly look at Justin, “él está ocupado con otras tareas importantes, sin embargo este es mi guardaespaldas Justin”

He is on other important duties however this is my bodyguard Justin.

“Nice to meet your acquaintance,” Justin said with a small nod.

“¿Él entiende español?”

He understands Spanish?

“si pero entremos y hablemos de negocios que para eso estoy aquí” I say with a small smile.

Yes, but let's go in and discuss business as it's the reason I'm here.

“Of course, come in” he takes my hand and I follow him in.

I remembered his house like the back of my palm. It had a wooden theme with wide floors and unnecessary numbers of chandeliers. His office was just as annoying as his face, with every corner of the room so was his portrait plastered on the wall, so self absorbed. I turn back slightly and see Justin following me silently and his eyes not even moving an inch from me, with every step I took I could feel his eyes burning into my back.

“Sit please” he pulls out a chair for me and I sit, “whiskey?”

“Water” I smile.

He hands me a bottle of water, “hydration, real important” he laughs, “so you received my message yes?”

“I did”, I inch a little towards him adjusting my dress a little showing cleavage, “money laundering? That's…alot”.

“Yes yes, your father may his soul rest in peace allow me do it” he looks into space like he was trying to find the right words, “business enlargement, expand”

“I understand, I know” I sip the water, “so what do you want now?”

He laughs, “partnership amor”, he stands up and sits beside me, “we can be partners, with me as the perfect face for business and you? You help move my money. The FBI has been looking into your business for a while now, you know this…we can be partners”

My blood begins boiling but I had to keep it cool, there was no way I was going to be partners with this old idiot “but there's no connection between your vineyard and my cartel, what partnership are you suggesting? plus the FBI knows better than to poke their nose in my business”

He smacks his lips, “oh Isa” he smiles and subtly but clearly looks at me boobs, then back to my face, “no te hagas la desentendida, estoy hablando del matrimonio, mi amor”

Don't act so oblivious, I'm talking about marriage my love.

My head and my heart goes scrambled for a second, “ma…marriage?” I breathe out, “what?”

He holds my hands and moves my hair from my face, “si Isa”

Yes, Isa.

I didn't know what was worse, his proposal or the fact that I might actually kill him before another word leaves his mouth. I remove my hand from him, “Mr Leonardo” I laugh a little, “we can't get married”.

The smug on his face disappears, “why?”

“why?” I repeat with shock, “cause…”

He grabs my hand and I hear Justin behind me almost immediately, “why Isa?”

“I suggest you let go of her hand right now sir” Justin says as he clocks his gun and points it towards him.

He lets out a laugh and looks at Justin, “sir? We're age mates” he smiles and brings out his gun, “this doesn't concern you, muévete o te vuelo la cabeza”

Move or I'll blow your brains out.

I wiggle my way out of his grip and bring out my gun, “both of you drop it. Now”, they drop their guns and I keep mine, “I'm not marrying you Leonardo, I didn't come here to make reason with you or find a middle ground and I am damn well sure that I don't need your old face as cover for my cartel, fuck the FBI and fuck you too. I want you out of my business or I swear to God I'll make your life a living hell”.

“Big mistake Isa” he claps slowly and stands up, “De verdad crees que puedes sobrevivir sola? Necesitas a un hombre, Isa” he smiles evilly and sips his whiskey, “Te ahogaras en el ma y yo estaré allí viendo como se desploma tu ciada”

You really think you can survive on your own? You need a man Isa, you'll drown in this sea and I'll be there watching your downfall unfold.

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

As much as I am a woman of my words, I knew when to accept defeat, I was quick to recognize my losses and also identify my weaknesses. I walk towards Justin's door and I freeze midway as I was about knocking. I didn't know why but I didn't want to give him the satisfaction that I was wrong and he was right, it annoyed me, but remembering what happened today was the only motivation I needed.

“So you're just going to stand there? Staring into space?” I hear Justin behind me.

My heart skips when I hear his voice and I turn ice cold but of course I mask it, “walking around at weird hours is questionable Warren” I fold my hands.

“At least I'm not in front of your door,” he looks at me weirdly, “why are you in front of my door?”

I take a deep breath in, “I have decided to swallow my pride”.

He smiles sheepishly, “im listening”

“Train me. In combat, I need to be able to defend myself from bastards like Leonardo”

He walks towards me slowly, “you're sexier when you admit defeat Isabella” his voice drops and he pushes my hair behind my ear making my breath hitch, “how's the arm?”

“Be.. better” I say and clear my throat, “so?” I move back, creating a reasonable distance between us.

He stares into my eyes and a hint of lust passes through sending shock waves down my spine, “5am Isabella” he walks past me into his house, “don't be late” he shuts the door.

Well, here goes nothing.