Page 35 of Reclaiming Izabel

I couldn’t stand the sight of him and looked out the window. The awkward silence in the van made me aware that in my anger, I’d forgotten we had an audience. Drake remained quiet beside me except for the rustle of his clothes as he moved.

My phone vibrated with a text from Mr. King. I gripped my phone, undecided on how to reply, and my sheer inability to do so only frayed my high-strung nerves.

I’d been building a life without him, but Drake and his secrets were ruining it.

Drake

Izabel fumed beside me.

I was pissed at myself for losing patience with my wife, but Marcus’s betrayal hit me hard. And now words were spoken between us that could never be unsaid.

Let the dead stay buried.

Five words. Five words that hollowed my chest and shredded my heart. Maybe Viktor was right, and we needed a mediator because I sure as hell was digging myself into a deeper hole. I knew fuck all how to reach her.

“I had a very important meeting with the foundation manager,” Izabel spoke tightly. She was not looking at me, but out the window. “You and your friends better have a good excuse to give my office.”

“We’ll have Tim leave an anonymous tip that you and Harrelson were abducted,” Brick said. “Your company vehicle is still at the site. I’m Brick, by the way.” He thumbed at our driver. “He’s Edmunds.”

Izabel was shaking her head. “This was Marcus’s last chance to prove himself.” Sadness tinged her voice. I wanted to grab her and roar that he was a traitor who never deserved to live. “You’ve ruined that for him, too. Has he not suffered enough?”

Not even close.

“There’s a good reason we took Harrelson,” Brick said.

“More than a few saw you guys haul us away.”

“We’re taking care of that,” Edmunds piped in for the first time.

“What does that mean?” Izabel asked incredulously.

Viktor had someone pay them off. But no one was volunteering to enlighten her.

Izabel’s phone kept on pinging with text messages.

“Better turn that off, sweet cheeks,” Brick said.

“Don’t call her that,” I growled.

He chuckled. “Sorry, chief.”

“Where are you taking us?” she asked as our vehicle entered the interstate.

Edmunds’ eyes met mine in the rearview mirror.

“Got it,” I muttered, hating to have to do this part because it was gonna be another reason for her to hate me.

Izabel turned away from the scenery. Wariness stole over her face as her eyes pinged between me and the guys. One thing was certain; she still could sense my change in tone when something was wrong. “Got what?”

“I have to do this, baby.” Her beautiful eyes widened in surprise before I threw the hood over her.

chapter

ten

Drake

I carriedmy unconscious wife into Castle Rock’s basement. Hooding Izabel had been the last straw for her; I didn’t recognize the screeching banshee that cursed me behind the black fabric. Not only that, she’d become violent, attacked me with her nails that I was left with no choice except to sedate her.

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