Page 80 of Bling

Isabelle wanted to ask who ‘they’ were, but she didn’t want to pressure her. For the next twenty minutes, the group made small talk while Carmen ate.

“Is there any way you can put money on my account? I need some things and I wouldn’t mind getting some more paper so I can draw something for the girls.”

Isabelle smiled. Carmen was a talented artist.

“I can spare twenty dollars. Is that enough?”

Carmen nodded and Isabelle didn’t miss the tears glistening in the corners of her eyes.

“Thanks, sis. Come see me again soon.”

They stood and Isabelle hugged her sister tight before they left. When they were through security and on their way to the parking lot, Garrett quietly slipped his hand into hers and squeezed.

Garrett’s driver was waiting for them. In the car, he pulled her close and she let him. “I always feel so bad for her. At the same time, I feel bad for the people she hurt with her actions.”

Garrett pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Thank you for setting that up for me. I know it was difficult, but at least we know Darren wasn’t working alone. It will give us somewhere to look, even if we have no idea who he was working with. It will give Jax someplace to start.”

“Did you talk to him already?”

He nodded. “He’s supposed to have his first update for me later today.”

“I just want to go back home,” she murmured.

“I can take you. You can work from home and take a nap if you want.”

She shook her head. “No. I mean I want to go back to living in my apartment. The house is nice, but it’s a symbol that my family is in danger and I want everyone safe.”

He kissed her head again. “I do too, Doll. I can’t say I want you going back to that apartment complex—not in the state it’s in—but I definitely want to rid you and your family of the current danger you’re in.”

Isabelle rolled her eyes. Her apartment complex was perfectly safe and had been for years.

“Let’s just focus on making things safe for you again and then we can discuss your living situation,” he said as he turned her chin upward and pressed his mouth to hers.

If he hadn’t taken her breath away with his kiss, she might have objected to any discussion of where she would live. For now, she let herself get lost in his taste.

“What do you say we go back to my hotel for a nap before work?” he asked when he pulled away.

Isabelle grinned. “As long as my boss won’t fire me for being late, I think a nap sounds lovely.”

He chuckled and leaned forward to tell the driver to divert to the Glenview.

“I think your boss will be pleased if you’re late, Miss Alvarado. In fact, I think he insists.”

She smiled and snuggled close. “Good. And maybe while we’re there you can tell me about Helen Peters.”

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