44. Innocence

Issac was in the warehouse glaring at the unconscious Jasper who was attached to the machines which were keeping him alive. 

A few of Victor's men were there keeping an eye on him. The doctor hasn't seen any recovery in the bastard. 

Issac stepped out of that place and stalked out of the warehouse. Taking out his cigarette, he lit it and dragged a puff before exhaling some smoke as he stared at the dark inky sky. The sky was darker than ever, and the stars and the crescent of the moon sparkled beautifully. 

The cool breeze of the approaching winter felt soothing, and the tip of his ears and fingers turned red from the slight cold. 

"You good?" A deep voice from behind him rasped. Issac didn't turn around because he already knew who it was. He just gave a slight nod as smoke clouded around him. 

Victor came to stand beside him as he pulled his cigarette out and lit it as he smoked in silence. He knew there was so much going on in his friend's mind but he didn't say anything and let the silence surround them for a while. 

"The doc said there are chances that guy might wake up soon," Victor said. Victor had called the best doctor from the States to treat Jasper and there have been some improvements. Victor was crazy. But he was the best friend Issac could ever ask for. 

"He has to wake up soon. He has no other choice," Issac said, exhaling smoke as Victor nodded. 

"How shall we kill him once you are done interrogating him?" Victor asked with a sinister glint in his eyes. The f*cker was always thirsty for blood. 

"Brutal," Issac said glaring at the sky as Victor smirked. 

"I'm getting married next month. Make sure to be there on time," Victor said. 

"Don't tell me you're marrying your enemy's daughter," Issac said, a bit stunned as he stared at him. Victor seemed unfazed as he stared at the sky with a void look on his face. 

"It doesn't matter," he said coolly. 

"That's crazy. Marriage is no joke, mate." Issac said calmly as Victor finally faced him. 

"Says the one who threatened the girl to marry him," Victor said casually, making Issac narrow his eyes at him. 

"At least I love her. You don't even love that girl and to top it all, she's your enemy's daughter. Are you some masochist or what?" Issac rumbled lowly but Victor was so calm. 

"She's the only heir of capo dei capi. Their weakness," Victor smirked like an ominous demon. Issac couldn't help but feel sad for the girl who'd be his wife because Pakhan was crazy. 

Issac didn't say anything further. There was a lot on his plate that he needed to deal with. 

Now the rage of what he witnessed that night slowly dissipated. He regretted telling Innessa to leave the penthouse. No matter what had happened he shouldn't have told her to leave like that. It was wrong of him. Even if she did everything, he still didn't have the right to tell her to leave. 

At the academy, he was done with his classes as he made his way to the parking lot when his phone rang. It was his mom. He answered the call. 

"Dear, how are you? Why are you ignoring my calls lately? I was so worried." Harper's worried voice sounded on the other side of the phone. 

"I'm sorry, mom. Don't worry, please. I'm fine." He lied but he hated making his parents worried for him. 

"You can share it with me, honey. If something is bothering you, you can share. Please don't close off on me like that-" Harper sounded so worried and he felt like shit for hurting her like that. 

"It's not like that mom. Remember the girl I told you about," He said. 

"Innessa, yes. What happened?" 

"We were dating but then some misunderstandings happened. So, yeah. I was just taking some time for myself. That's all. You don't have to worry so much." He tried to assure her. 

"It's okay, honey. I know things get hard in relationships sometimes. But I know my son is strong. Communicate with her, and be gentle with her. You both will overcome the hardships. Why don't you come to visit me? You didn't even visit me during your semester break," she said. And he couldn't help but ponder on his mom's words; communication, be gentle... 

"I know, mom. I'm sorry. I was a bit busy," he said. 

'Busy threatening Innessa to marry him.' The voice inside his head mocked him. 

He was aimlessly staring when his eyes darted to the girl standing near the entrance. It was Innessa looking so adorable in that blue skirt with black leggings and shirt with her hair up in a high ponytail. But she wasn't alone. The guy who he saw with her at the match was now standing there talking to her. 

His first instinct was to march over to them and stake his claim on Innessa but he refrained from doing so. They were holding papers and discussing something. Maybe he was from her department. A project partner or something. 

"I'm your mom, Issac. Just call me often so I don't get worried for you, okay?" Harper's gentle voice filled his ears. 

"Okay, mom. I will. Love you," he said. His eyes were still fixed on Innessa. 

"Love you more, son," she said as they dropped the call. 

Issac shoved his phone in his pocket. His eyes narrowed at the guy. While Innessa was pointing something at the papers, that dude was staring at her face. His gaze was soft. Issac knew that emotion all too well. He found Innessa lovely. 

He tried his best to stay rooted to his place and not to stomp over to her. 

Issac couldn't peel his eyes off his wife. She looked so f*cking adorable that he wanted to eat her up and leave no crumbs. He missed her. F*ck he missed her so damn much; his heart was aching. And he didn't know how to stop the hurt and he hated himself for missing her when she had done that to him. He should be smarter than this but he couldn't help it. 

There was this divine pure aura surrounding her which pulls him so f*cking strongly that it goes out of his hands every f*cking time. He wants her. No, he f*cking needs her and it was pathetic of him to still want her despite what she had done. But the voice inside his head kept whispering what if she never cheated on him? 

Issac didn't know but the corner of his lips was quirked up and his eyes were soft as he stared at her. But when that guy stepped closer to Innessa and the girl didn't seem to notice because she was so into the papers in her hand, Issac lost it. 

He prowled over to them as if pulled by a magnetic force. Innessa raised her eyes and their gaze locked. She stiffened upon seeing him approaching and that night's threat raked her mind. He would tell Niall about them. 

Sweat broke through on her forehead as she watched him on alert. He smoothly stood beside her, draped his arm over her shoulder, and pulled her closer, dropping a kiss on her temple. That wasn't enough for him as he grabbed her face and kissed her cheek lovingly, almost squishing her face. He wanted to bite her cheek. So, he did exactly that. He gently bites her cheek. 

"Owwww," She winced as he pulled back and gently rubbed his thumb on her soft cheek to smoothen the faint teeth mark. 

"You look adorable. I want to eat you up," He rasped as she gaped at him with wide eyes. Issac took advantage of her surprise and kissed the tip of her nose as she faintly jerked back, an involuntary reaction and he smirked seeing those big ice-blue eyes gaping at him dumbfounded. 

Issac glanced at the papers and sure enough they were related to some project. He looked up at the guy who was staring at him with wide stunned eyes. 

"Knight," He whispered and Issac smirked. 

"Nice to meet you, man. My girl told me she's working on a project with you," When he said those words he noticed Innessa taking a double look at him from his peripheral vision. 

Issac was still holding Innessa hostage in his hold. She was small so it felt like he was resting his arm on her shoulder. 

Innessa couldn't help but be shoved into the beautiful memories of the old days when they were dating. He used to kiss her like this, hold her close, and talk so sweetly. 

"Y... Your girl?" Niall stammered and Issac smirked. He knew who Issac was so this was his chance to stay away from Innessa if he wanted to live. 

"Yeah, my girlfriend," Issac rasped, grabbed her jaw, and pulled her in for a kiss but before his lips could touch those soft tender lips, she placed her fingers on his lips stopping the kiss. 

The shock had vanished as she now stared at him calmly. He didn't tell Niall that she was his wife. Nor was he threatening him. He was letting Niall know that Innessa was off-limits. 

Innessa didn't say anything. She didn't want Niall to get hurt because of her nor she wanted to create a scene. 

Issac kissed her palm gently as she pulled her hand out of his grasp lightly. 

"I didn't know that," Niall said as slowly the shock dissipated and he got the hint of what Issac was implying. It was obvious he wanted Niall to be far away from his girl. But Niall thought she was single. 

"Thanks, Innessa. I'll work on this and will send you the file. If you need something to change in that then let me know, and we will discuss it," Niall said, taking the papers from her as her brows furrowed. But they still needed to discuss the current file properly. 

"I'll send you the articles which will help with this topic here," she said pointing at the paragraph as Niall nodded. 

"Alright then, see you later," Niall said, smiling at her softly. 

She smiled back nodding. 

Niall's smile vanished away when he met Isaac's cold eyes which looked menacing. Niall quickly walked away from there leaving them alone. 

Innessa hadn't told Issac that she was doing a project with Niall. Maybe he figured it out on his own. 

She stepped away from him, pushing his arm off her shoulder as she began walking away. 

Issac glared at her back. Her long ponytail slightly bounced with each step. He wanted to wrap his hand around her ponytail and trail kisses down her spine. 

He walked right behind her until he was walking in steps with her. "Why didn't you tell me that he was your project partner?" He asked but got no response from her as she fastened her pace and headed to the bus stop. 

He didn't want to get mad so he remained calm. Why the f*ck was she ignoring him? 

"I asked you something," he demanded rudely as he stood in front of her blocking her way and causing her to abruptly step back as their eyes met and she glared at him. 

"At the penthouse, you told me not to show my face again if I didn't want to die," Her words caused him to flinch as he stared at her. Her face was expressionless as she said those words. 

"I'm not going to kill you," he said calmly. 

"We don't know that; you tried to choke me that night." She said, again mentioning that horrendous night making him clench his jaw as he inhaled deeply. 

"Where are you going?" He asked; changing the topic. Innessa lowered her gaze and tried to walk past him but he blocked her way again. 

"I asked you something," He demanded. 

Issac was being plainly unreasonable and stupid. She was so frustrated with his behavior yet she remained calm not wanting to create a scene and put her scholarship in jeopardy. 

"I'm going to work," she said in a defeated tone as she checked the time on her wristwatch. 

Issac stared at her slumped shoulders and the way she was avoiding looking at him. He felt so f*cking stupid. What the f*ck was he doing? He was the one who told her to stay away from him. He was the one who was left broken by her cheating and yet here he was finding her f*cking adorable, wanting to kiss her so f*cking badly, and threatening other men to stay away from her. 

She has ruined him. He was pathetic. 

He quietly stepped aside and she blinked at him, surprised. Innessa didn't wait as she hurried to the bus stop and got onto her bus while he ambled to the parking lot of the academy with his hands tucked in his pockets. 

Why did he fall in love with her? 

Her scent still drives him crazy. 

After everything he saw, he still wants her. And if she apologizes. He would f*cking accept her without another question. He was nothing but pathetically in love with her. 

As he got into his car, his phone vibrated as he answered the call. 

"Jasper is out of coma," Isaac didn't need to hear anything further as he roared his car to life and sped down the road, zooming past the cars. His heart was beating fast as he pulled over the car with a screeching noise. 

He hurried into the warehouse and dashed into the room where Jasper was. 

Issac barged inside and found Victor's men in the room as he prowled over to the terrified-looking Jasper. Issac grabbed his collar and jerked him closer. 

He grabbed the gun from the man's holster who was standing the closest as Issac shoved the barrel of the gun in Jasper's mouth. Jasper was trembling like a leaf. 

"I'll ask you once and I'll ask you nicely. Better tell me the truth or I won't hesitate to blow your brains out," Isaac's voice was dangerously low. His eyes had a maniac shine in them as Jasper trembled, tears brimming his eyes and saliva dripping down his chin as he nodded. 

"Tell me what's your relationship with Innessa?" He hissed, pulling the gun out of his mouth as Jasper coughed. 

"S... She's my employee a... and nothing else," Jasper croaked out. 

"F*cking lies!" His voice boomed. 

"Why were you kissing her that night?" Issac growled, his blood boiling in fury. 

"I... I liked her. I... I even gave her hints but she never understood. She was just so innocent. I... I wanted to marry her. That night I kissed her to confess my feelings to her-" 

"You forcefully kissed her," Isaac's voice was low. Deadly. 

"I... I'm sorry. I... I shouldn't have. P... Please don't kill me. I... I really liked her. I... Didn't mean to but I... It just happened-" 

Issac aimed the gun at his thigh and fired a shot. A deafening silence was soon followed by his screams of pain and he wailed in agony holding his thigh. 

Issac shot his other leg as well, and Victor's men grabbed the gun from him. Issac stumbled out of the room as he held his hair in fists and his whole body trembled in fear and raw guilt as he dropped to his knees. 

"What have I done?" He whispered, shaking in gut-wrenching regret.