Chapter 21

“Miss me, Isabella?” said David from behind her.

She whirled around, truly startled. Isabella knew this was a trap, that Agent Lahey, Sheriff Hardy, and Jack were all waiting nearby listening in, but she was still scared. Because for the first time in several years, she was alone with David again.

“David,” she whispered.

“You haven’t behaved very well, little Isabella,” he said in a calm voice as he looked at her. “Kissing other men. Opening your quaint little coffee shop. Tell me, did you sleep with him, too?”

“With Jack, you mean?” she asked.

“Hmm. Yes. Jack the lawyer.”

Isabella swallowed hard past the lump of fear in her throat. “Yes,” she whispered.

She watched as the look in David’s eyes darkened and his voice became as cold as ice. “You shouldn’t have done that, Isabella. You belong to me. No one else.”

“But Jack-“ she began before he interrupted.

“Jack is a nobody who doesn’t know anything about you, Isabella. He doesn’t know your family history or all the pain and suffering your father put you through. He doesn’t know how you struggled and how much you fought to get away from this place. He might know your body, but he doesn’t know your heart,” David said in a gentle voice as he walked closer to Isabella and cupped her cheeks in his hands. “But I do. I know you, all of you. And I have loved you for years, even when you rejected me.”

The problem wasn’t that David’s words hurt. It was that there was a note of truth in them. She had only known Jack for such a short time and he knew very little about her. The doubt began to creep in and consume her mind. She remembered how Jack had kissed her at the wedding. Had he really only been after her body? Had he ever truly cared for her or about her?

“David, I-”

“Shh, it’s all right. I understand,” David whispered before he leaned down and kissed her sweetly, softly. It was a gentle brush of his lips against hers, so similar to how it had been when she had first started dating David.

“It’s okay, my Isabella. I forgive you,” he whispered as he pulled back and looked into her eyes.

A tear slipped out and rolled down her cheek. No, she couldn’t let this happen. She couldn’t let David worm his way back in, the same as he had done when they were younger. She had to fight this, but it sounded so true, so real, so believable. But that had always been David’s weapon of choice. He could make her believe anything, as persuasive as he was. And she had been so young and eager for approval and love from a male figure that she had fallen for him.

But she wasn’t as young anymore or as eager for approval and love. She was a grown woman, who had struggled and fought long and hard to get to where she was. And she would not give that up.              

Isabella reached up and grasped his hands, pulling them away from her face. She held them in her own as she bent her head and thought, portraying the perfect picture of penitence and regret as he looked down at her.

“I have something to show you,” she said in a soft voice when she finally looked up at him.

She released one of his hands and pulled him along with her to the study.

“Oh, would you like coffee or tea first? This might take a while,” she said with a small smile.

“Coffee would be nice,” he said. David watched her move around the kitchen. “I was surprised with how good your coffee was and that you finally opened a coffee shop of your own.”

“There was this little indie coffee shop on campus when I went to college. I worked there for two years and the owner told me I had a natural talent for it. So I changed my business plan and decided to open a coffee shop here in Gull’s Hollow since we didn't have one,” Isabella explained as she finished making coffee for them. It was the elevator pitch she had practiced and used over the years, so it wasn’t difficult to say it around David.

She turned around and walked over to David to hand him his coffee.

“Lucy helped me with the bank loan and setting up the business. And then, things just sort of took off,” she said.

“You never really talked about owning a coffee shop when we dated,” David mused.

“I wasn’t really sure what I wanted then. I was so young and had never really had that freedom before,” Isabella whispered and looked down again.

“Never mind that now, Isabella. What did you want to show me?” David asked in a gentle voice as he lifted her chin with his hand.

Isabella nodded and took his hand again hesitantly. As long as David believed she wanted him here, he would open up to her. At least, that’s what she hoped. She would much rather have this than his anger and his fists, even if it meant Jack and the others heard her voice and personality change completely over the microphone. David’s hand tightened around hers and she felt the invisible iron shackles begin to close around her wrists, the ones he had used to tie her to him for so long. But she wouldn’t let them close completely.

She led the way down the hall and into the study. David looked at all the gifts he had given her spread out on the coffee table set in front of two large chairs. Isabella sat down in one of the chairs and took a sip of her coffee while she waited for his response.

“I was cleaning out the closet the other day and I found all these. Do you remember giving them to me, David?” she asked as she reached out for the emerald and gold brooch and looked up at him, her eyes innocent.

He sat down in the chair next to her. “I remember. I didn’t think you still had them.”

“I think Lucy wanted me to get rid of them but I put them in a box to hide away in the closet. I forgot about them completely until the other day,” she said with a soft smile.

David leaned forward and picked up the diamond necklace, caressing the diamonds with his fingers as he watched the light reflect off of the gems.

“I never did thank you for the gifts. I was never grateful for anything that you did for me back then,” she whispered, the words hurting her to say but she knew David would never trust her if she didn’t. It was even worse knowing that Jack was listening.

“No, you never did, Isabella,” David said, his voice dark as he looked at the diamonds before he glared over at her. She saw his eyes soften slightly and held still as he reached over to run his fingers down her cheek before he grabbed her chin to bring her face closer to his. “You were never grateful,” he hissed.

“I know, David. I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I was so young and I didn’t know how to respond to gifts like these. You know my father never approved of frivolous things. I guess I was scared he might find out.”

It wasn’t a complete lie and Isabella knew David would hear the truth in her words. She hoped it would be enough to convince him.

“I’m sorry I never appreciated the time, effort, and money you always spent on me. I don’t know how much any of these are worth, but I’m sure they weren’t cheap,” she said. Careful, Izzy, don’t dig too much or he’ll shut down.

He studied her for a moment. “No, they weren’t easy to get. But I always thought diamonds would look lovely wrapped around your neck.”

Isabella held still as David leaned over and put the necklace around her neck. It was like a chain that would choke her. “Beautiful,” he said. “Like something out of a Tiffany’s catalog.”

“Oh, thank you, David. Is it from Tiffany’s? I always liked looking at their jewelry,” she said with a smile as she reached up to touch the necklace. The weight of it around her neck was heavier than it should have been. It must be because of the guilt that comes with a stolen object.

“I know. I saw you looking at them whenever we walked past the store in the city,” David said and sat back in the chair, drinking his coffee.

She heard it then in his voice, the blame. He had used her as an excuse to case it out for his next theft.

“I had forgotten about some of these,” he said.

He reached forward and grabbed the brooch again. “A brooch doesn’t really suit you. We could have the emeralds removed and the gold melted down into something else. What would you like?”

Isabella was about to refuse, but she hesitated. That was the response the old Isabella would have given. And while David didn’t need to know how much she had changed, she had to at least act grateful for his gift.

“A bracelet would be nice. Don’t you think so?” she asked and purposely held up her wrist, the one with the scar.

He grabbed her wrist and held her tight as he looked at the scar despite Isabella trying to pull away from him out of instinct. Eventually, she relaxed in his hold and prayed her words wouldn’t set him off.

“It’s just a scar,” she said. Her heart pounded in her chest and for a moment, the only sound she could hear was the blood rushing in her ears.

“How did it happen?” he asked as he placed a small kiss on the scar.

Don’t touch me she wanted to scream at him. But she didn’t. She had to play her part, however much it made her want to throw up.

“I was attacked after an event on campus one night. We were walking to our cars and then someone jumped out at us,” she said.

“We? Who were you with?” he asked as he finally looked up at her.

“A man I was dating at the time,” she whispered and her heart sank as she said those words and watched David’s eyes lose their gentleness.

“Who was he?” David ground out.

Isabella swallowed hard. This was dangerous now. “We had a couple of classes together and he would come into the coffee shop a lot when I worked there.”

David’s eyes darkened even further and his grip was painful around her wrist.

“David, you’re hurting me,” she said in a soft voice as she reached out her other hand and place it over his on her wrist. “I never loved him. He was kind and he took me to events on campus. But he was always more of a brother to me.”

“Did you sleep with him?”

“No,” she said.

“What happened to him?” he asked.

“We were both taken to the hospital. I had a broken wrist. He died of internal injuries three days later,” Isabella said.

“Jasper should have stayed away from you,” David hissed.

Isabella froze and stared at David, her eyes wide and her breathing shallow. “I never said his name was Jasper,” she whispered in horror. She had the truth now.

David looked up at her with a cruel grin on his face. “Didn’t you? I’m sure you did, little Isabella,” he whispered as he tightened his hand around her wrist even more.

“No, I never said his name,” she whispered and tried to pull away.

“Yes, you did, Isabella,” David hissed at her as his grip tightened. “Do as I say.”

“You killed Jasper,” she said in a broken whisper as her eyes filled with tears.

“Of course I did, little Isabella. He was in the way.”

“How could you? He didn’t do anything to you!”

David laughed and said, “He took what belonged to me. You.”

Isabella shook her head as a tear slipped down her cheek. “You killed him,” she whispered.

“And I’ll kill Jack, too, if you don’t leave him,” David said as he stood up and pulled her with him.

“No, not Jack,” she whispered.

David grabbed her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his. “You belong to me. No one else. I don’t want to hear another man’s name come from your mouth ever again. You. Are. Mine.”

Isabella was terrified now. Terrified of the man before her in a way she never had been before. “Potato,” she said.

“What?” David asked, sure he hadn’t heard her right. “What did you say?”

He pulled her towards him, but she threw her coffee cup at his head and pulled away from him.

“And the gifts? Did you steal them?” she shouted at him once she was across the room, several feet between them.

“Obviously. I wasn’t going to waste my money on you,” he sneered at her.

“You’re a monster,” she said, voice confident as she looked at him and held her wrist to her chest.

“Come here, Isabella. We don’t want to disturb the neighbors,” he said in a threatening voice.

“No. I don’t belong to you. I never belonged to you. And you know what, David? I love Jack. Not you,” Isabella said in a strong voice. Where is Connor and the Sheriff?

She backed out of the room and out into the hallway. David followed, stalking her through the house. She had to get to the door. If she could do that, then she would have a chance. She just had to get to the door. That was it. She was so close.

“Isabella, don’t run away from me,” David warned as he reached out a hand towards her. “I’m not letting you go this time.”

“I’m not yours,” she said as her heart beat furiously in her chest. “I never was.”

David lunged for her but she was just a bit too far out of his reach. She backed up another two feet as she kept her eyes on him. Suddenly, a strong hand on her shoulder pushed down and a voice said, “Duck.”

She obeyed without question, dropping to her hands and knees and not moving. Isabella looked up and saw David, saw his cornered expression and knew he wouldn’t give up so easily.

“David Lassle, you’re under arrest …” Agent Lahey began but David turned toward the back door.. Isabella heard Connor’s huff of annoyance as he murmured, “Why do they always have to run?”

No, he can’t get away!

“Going somewhere, son?” asked a gruff voice from in front of David. Isabella leaned over and saw Sheriff Hardy standing in front of David, shotgun up, barrel trained on David’s chest, a bored look on his face.

She wilted against the wall in relief. It was over. She was free.

“David Lassle, you’re under arrest for embezzlement, fraud, money laundering, theft, murder, attempted murder, and, what the hell, let’s throw in breaking and entering, too,” Agent Lahey said with a shark like grin.

Strong yet gentle hands reached for her and she looked up into those gray eyes she loved so very much. Tears began to slip down her cheeks in both relief and fear.

“Izzy. Izzy, it’s okay. It’s all right. They got him. It’s over,” Jack said in a soft voice as he held her face in his hands. “It’s okay. I’m here,” he crooned.

Isabella nodded her head but David’s voice made her flinch.

“Get your hands off of her! She’s mine! Mine!” David screamed at Jack as he struggled against Agent Lahey and Sheriff Hardy who held him between them.

“Shhh, it’s okay. He can’t get to you anymore,” Jack said.

“They’ll never convict me, Isabella. Never!” David yelled.

“Let’s get this off you, Izzy,” Jack said as he unbuttoned the top buttons of her shirt and gently pulled the wire out.

David stopped his struggling as he looked at Isabella with wild eyes. She met his gaze steadily and lifted her chin, knowing she was safe now.

“You betrayed me!” David cried out.

“Happily,” she said in a shaky but strong voice.

David stared at her in disbelief.

“Come on, let’s go,” Agent Lahey said as he pulled David along towards the door, where the sheriff’s deputy was waiting for them.

“I’ll be right back to take the wire from you, Isabella,” said Connor. “Just hang tight for a minute.”

Isabella nodded and reached out to Jack for comfort. “Will you call Lucy and tell her?”

“Of course,” Jack said as he pulled out his cell phone and called Lucy. Isabella listened to the quiet and short conversation, letting the deep baritone of Jack’s voice roll over her senses as she leaned against his chest. It was over. She was free.

“Here, Isabella, I’ll take that now,” said Agent Lahey as he crouched down and took the wire from her. “Thank you for everything you did tonight.”

“I remembered to say potato,” she said with a small smile as she leaned her head back against the wall.

“That you did. You were wonderful,” Connor said.

“Where is she?” demanded a voice from the front door.

“Jessica?” Isabella asked as she looked for her friend.

“Sheriff Hardy told me I might be needed tonight. So, here I am. Let me look at you,” Jessica said as she knelt down next to Isabella. “Move over, you giant,” she said to Connor who did as she commanded with a glare in her direction.

“Did he hit you?” Jessica asked as she took Isabella’s pulse.

“No. He grabbed my wrist, but I don’t think I have any injuries,” Isabella said. “Thanks for coming, Jess.”

“Anything for you, Izzy. We’ve been through the wringer together a time or two before,” Jessica said with a soft smile as she ignored Connor’s curious look. “Okay. At most, you have some slight shock. Jack, I’m assuming you’re staying. Keep her warm and hydrated. And get some food into her.”

Jack nodded his understanding as Jessica gave him orders.

“Izzy, call me if anything changes. Even if you don’t think it’s important. I’m only a phone call away. And I can bring a doctor with me if needed,” Jessica said.

“I’ll be fine,” Isabella said.

“I’ll call if anything changes,” Jack said.

“Good man. I’m going to see your sister after this, so I’ll tell her to bring some soup for you tomorrow,” Jessica said.

“Thanks, Jess,” Isabella said.

“Sleep well, Izzy. The monsters are gone, now,” Jessica said softly.

Isabella nodded as another tear slipped down her face and smiled at her friend.

“Jess, it worked. It’s finally over,” Isabella whispered.

“I know, Izzy. You’re free now,” Jessica whispered back and wiped away Isabella’s tears.

“The FBI aren’t so bad, Jess. At least, not Connor,” Isabella said.

Jessica looked in Connor’s direction and quickly glanced away when their eyes met. “If you say so, Izzy. Jack, make sure she gets plenty of rest.”

“I will,” Jack said as he kissed Isabella’s forehead.

“Bye, Izzy. I’ll see you later,” Jessica said.

“We’ll be leaving now, too,” Connor said to Jack. “Lock up after us.”

Jack nodded and let go of Isabella. “I’ll be right back, Izzy.”

She let her head rest against the wall as she watched Jack walk Connor and Jessica to the door. She was tired. More than tired, she was exhausted. Seeing David, talking to him, acting like she had missed him, had all taken a huge amount of mental and emotional energy.

“Stay with me,” Isabella whispered as Jack came back to her. “Please don’t leave me alone tonight.”

“Never again,” Jack said as he wrapped his arms around her and held her against his chest. “I’ll never leave you again, Izzy.”

She smiled against his chest. She was safe. She was free. She was home. With Jack. And neither knew about the storm brewing outside.

“What’s your problem with the FBI?” Connor asked Jessica once they were outside and Jack had locked the door behind them.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jessica said in avoidance as she walked to her car.

“Really? Because you’ve been nothing but hostile to me since we met,” Connor said as he crossed his arms and glared down at her.

“Maybe I just don’t like you,” Jessica suggested and ignored him as he walked next to her.

Connor grabbed her arm and stopped her before she could get in her car. “And yet, you don’t know me.”

“I don’t need to know you. You’re FBI. That’s enough information for me,” Jessica said.

“Well, it’s not enough for me,” Connor argued, his face losing its stoicism in favor of annoyance.

“That’s not my problem,” Jessica said.

“I’ll be in town for a while. Don’t get in my way,” Connor warned.

“Don’t worry. I’ll avoid you like the plague,” Jessica retorted, the heat in her voice unmistakable.

“Is that so?” he countered.

“Yes,” she said.

They stood there, staring at each other. Tensions ran high after the secret mission they had run in Isabella’s house. And neither noticed just how close they stood to each other now, barely inches apart. That is, until Connor reached forward and kissed her.

Jessica didn’t resist. She stood there, stunned into silence, as Connor’s mouth moved against hers. It was everything she had ever wanted in a kiss. Strong, long, demanding but not controlling or painful. He was expertly skilled at kissing and his touch made Jessica weak at the knees. His tongue traced the seam of her mouth and she willingly opened her lips for him, tangling her tongue with his. He pulled away with a few biting kisses to her lips.

“I’ll be in town for a while,” he growled against her lips.

“Did they teach you that at Quantico?” she asked after she had a minute to get her bearings again.

“Not exactly,” Connor said with a smirk. “Have a good night, Jessica.”

She stood there and watched him walk off. Stupid, Jessica. That was stupid. You can’t go around kissing an FBI agent. But it had felt so right, so perfect. She got in her car and gripped the steering wheel tight in her hands before she leaned forward and rested her head against the steering wheel.

Jessica sat up and looked at the gentle glow from Isabella’s house. She smiled. “I’m glad you got your happy ending, Izzy. It’s about time. And now, I’m going to need you to help me keep my head around Connor because I don’t think he’s going to let me forget that kiss,” she whispered in her empty car.

But she would try to forget it. She had to. There was no point in having any sort of relationship with that man. It would only lead to heartache and cause problems in the meantime. And her family would never forgive her if she had anything to do with someone in the FBI. It just couldn’t happen. Even if she wanted it to.

A tear slipped down her cheek at that thought. It was her family’s wishes above her own, just like always. Jessica knew that. She turned the key in the ignition and wiped her tear away. She would just have to be strong and put an end to anything before it started. Otherwise, it would be more than her heart that was in trouble.

But for now, she would let Isabella have her well-deserved happiness. Her friend needed this time with Jack and Jessica didn’t want to interrupt that. Not now that Isabella finally had her freedom.

As Jessica drove off into the night, she steeled her resolve. She would keep her distance from Agent Connor Lahey. It was the only way. There could be nothing between them. She just hoped Connor saw things the same way.