Page 77 of Five Fingers of Death

“Why did you move? You’re not as close now?”

I was pretty sure I was only a few houses away.

“Carli, let’s give her some space,” Jason said, tugging his daughter backward, but he didn’t move. His eyes tracked me as I shut the car door, watching my every move. Was he worried I was going to pounce on his child?

“You look good, Isabelle.”

Honestly, I had been expecting him to tell me to stay away from his daughter, which was kind of silly considering he was standing here waiting for me to get home. But he was the one who found me. He’d seen me at my worst. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he didn’t want me around his child.

Before I could say anything, he turned and walked away with Carli.

17

ISABELLE

After pretty much everyone and their brother welcomed me home, I finally walked inside with Vira and Eva, enjoying the silence once more.

“There’s nowhere to sit,” I noted as I looked around the empty space. It literally did not have a single piece of furniture or decoration on the walls. It was a blank canvas all for me.

“I told you, it’s for you to design,” Eva grinned.

“I bet you didn’t think about where I’d be staying tonight.”

She smirked at me. “I have an air mattress upstairs for you, along with some blankets that are on loan. I want them back when you’re done with them.”

I bit my lip, wondering about everything else. “What about my clothes?”

“Yeah, we’re going shopping,” Vira grinned. “Which just so happens to be one of my favorite things to do.”

They both seemed so excited, but to me, it just sounded so overwhelming. There was so much to do.

“Isabelle—”

“Izzy,” I instantly corrected. I wasn’t sure why, but Isabelle just didn’t sound right anymore.

They shared a look before Eva continued.

“Izzy, we’ll just take it one day at a time,” Eva added. “I thought for today, we’d pick out your bed. That’s simple enough and you’ll want that most.”

A bed. All I had to do was pick out a bed. “I’ve never done that before.”

“Then this is your chance!”

“But…I don’t have any money.” You sort of needed money for shopping. And filling an entire house with furniture and decorations…I didn’t even want to think of the cost.

“There’s plenty of money for you.”

“How? I don’t have?—”

“Cash set up an account.”

I shook my head immediately. “No, I won’t take his money. You should save that for your kids.”

“He has plenty. We both do. Trust me?—”

“Eva, this isn’t borrowing a couple hundred dollars to buy some new clothes. We’re talking about thousands of dollars. I could never repay that. I can’t do it.”

I didn’t care what she said. I just couldn’t stand the thought of owing her that money. But as soon as I said the words, a guilty look crossed her face and I knew she was hiding something from me.

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