Isla woke up the next morning with a dull headache but feeling refreshed. For a moment, she didn't move as her eyes scanned the unfamiliar room. Then the memories started rushing in. The fear, being unable to breathe, the pain and Enzo coming to save her. She turned her head quickly, her heart skipping. Enzo lay beside her with his eyes closed. She slowly sat up and stared at her swollen and bruised fingers before lifting her head to scan the room.
It was beautiful and big.
The room was expensive-looking, with soft cream walls and an expensive chandeliar. The bed she was sitting on was huge, far too big even for two people and the silk sheets felt like water against her skin.
Isla sighed and slid off the bed. A shiver ran through her as soon as her feet touched the cold marble floor but she didn't stop. She slowly tiptoed out of the room and took the long hallway, passing several rooms before she finally saw the stairs.
Isla was amazed at how huge the house, she doesn't stop looking around as she went down the stairs. She walked to the dining room and gently carressed the expensive looking chairs and table in awe.
As her fingers traced the polished edge of the table, a voice cut through the silence.
" You should be wandering alone."
Isla jumped, turning around so fast.
Lorenzo stood at the entrance of the dining room, smiling.
" Sorry," he said, taking a step forward. " I didn't mean to scare you."
Isla let out small breath and relaxed. "You didn't," she forced a smile.
"Have you eaten?"
Isla shook her head.
"Typical," he muttered, pulling out a chair for her. "Sit, let me make something for you."
Isla's face lit up at the mention of food. " Are you going to make waffles for me?"
Lorenzo chuckled and nodded. " I'll make waffles and pancakes too."
" Thank you," Isla flashed him a smile.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lorenzo was watching Isla stuff her face with pancakes when the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the stairs.
It was heavy and fast.
Lorenzo barely had the time to react before a voice cut through the air.
" Isla!" The voice was sharp, almost desperate, causing Isla's fork to pause midair.
" Shit," Lorenzo groans, getting up to talk to his brother.
"Chill bro, she's here," Lorenzo rolled his eyes, pointing to the dining room.
Enzo walked past him, his jaw tight.
"Why did you walked out?" Enzo's voice came out harsher than he intended.
Isla blinked, confused.
" Relax Enzo, you're scaring her," Lorenzo chuckled, leaning casually against the table.
Enzo shot him a warning look before shifting his gaze back to Isla.
"Next time tell me." He commanded, voice full of authority.
Isla nodded with tears in her eyes.
" I'm sorry," she said, her gaze dropping to her plate. Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"What?" Lorenzo frowned.
"I didn't mean to cause trouble. You were asleep and ....." her voice cracked.
That was when Enzo realized she was crying even before he saw the tears. He went completely still because threw him off completely. He could handle danger, chaos and blood without blinking..but this?
"I....." he paused, struggling to find the right words. "Fuck," he muttered, confusion flickering across his face.
"I...You....It's not...." he exhaled sharply, running his fingers through his hair in frustration.
"You didn't..." he tried again but gave up halfway.
Lorenzo let out a quiet chuckle from the side.
"Congratulations Enzo, you scared her," he said, amused.
"Shut up," Enzo shot him a glare.
"No, seriously," Lorenzo grinned. " You should have seen yourself in the mirror. You looked like you were about to start a war."
"Shut. up."
"I'm just saying.....maybe don't yell her name like that next time."
Enzo looked back at Isla and his expression shifted. It was softer this time. He moved cautiously towards her, as if he was scared she would run away.
"I didn't mean to scare you," he said, his voice more controlled now. " Just don't disappear like that again." This time it sounded less as an order and more like concern.
Isla nodded.
"Finish your food," his tone was neutral.
Isla nodded before picking up her fork again but she had lost appetite.
He watched her for a moment before speaking again.
"Get ready after that."
"For what?"
Enzo hesitated for a second. " We're going out."
"Out?" Isla blinked.
"Yes."
"Where're we going?"
"You need clothes."
"I already have new clothes at home." Isla frowned.
"This is your home now." Enzo said.
"Wow, didn't even ease into it,huh?" Lorenzo teased but Enzo ignored him.
" We leave in ten minutes," were Enzo's last words before he walked out of the kitchen.
"Don't worry," Lorenzo chuckled. " My brother is an asshole," he said when Enzo was out of earshot.
"Don't say words like that," Isla scolded him with a slight frown, causing him to grin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The car ride was quiet. Isla sat by the window watching the city and cars pass by with a facinated look.Enzo was busy tapping away on his phone but every now and then, his eyes flicked towards her. It was as if he wanted to make sure she was there.
Lorenzo, who was driving couldn't stop stealing glances at them from the rear-view mirror.
"You know she won't jump out of the car, right?" Lorenzo said, seizing the moment to tease his brother. Enzo shot him a glare but didn't respond.
Minutes later, their car stopped in front of the boutique and Isla jumped down immediately. She waited for Enzo to come out before hookimg her arm in his, unaware of how his body immediately tensed up by her action. The moment they stepped inside, Isla's jaw dropped.
The place was beautiful, filled with expensive lights, polished floors and racks of clothes that looked like they stepped out of magazines.
"Pick whatever you want," Enzo's voice had her looking up at him.
"Anything?" She asked, eyes wide.
"Anything."
She nodded excitedly and let go of him, skipping towards the clothes.
A dress caught her eye and she held it up against her chest, smiling proudly. Enzo looked at her, then at the dress.
"Try it."
A shop attendant showed her the fitting room and Isla eagerly run there.
Seconds later, she stepped out of the fitting room. Enzo was busy on his phone so she looked at Lorenzo who nudged him brother.
Enzo looked up and froze.
The dress was soft and simple but on her, it was something else entirely. It fit her perfectly.
"Don't you like it?" Isla pouted, shifting slightly under his gaze.
Enzo cleared his throat softly, looking away for a second before nodding.
"It's okay. You can get it."
They got more clothes after that before moving to other stores to get shoes, more clothes and jewelries. They even got things Isla insisted she didn't need but Enzo wasn't having it.
By the time they stepped out of the last store, Enzo and Lorenzo had their hands full whiles Isla skipped happily in front of them.
"That was fun," she told Enzo with a smile.
A faint smirk almost revealed itself at the corner of Enzo's lips.
Enzo and Lorenzo had just finished packing the bags into the trunk when they turned to see Isla's gaze fixed on something. Enzo followed her gaze and looked back at her.
"You want ice cream?"
She nodded.
"We're getting ice cream."
"Two scoops?" she asked, holding up two fingers.
"You can have as much as you want."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few minutes later, they were back in the car with Isla holding a bowl filled with ice cream. She got a scoop of vanilla, strawberry and chocolate each, with sprinkles. She looked at Enzo when she was halfway through her own.
"You're not eating yours?" she asked, looking at his untouched ice cream.
"I don't eat that."
"Then why did you get it?"she asked, licking her spoon.
He glanced at her and let a deep sigh.
"You made me get it." Enzo said, through clenched jaws.
"So you should eat it before it melts." Isla shrugged. " Ice cream makes people happy." she added, finishing hers.
She turned to look at Enzo whose head was now leaned back with his eyes closed.
"Will you eat your?" she asked, making Enzo's eyes snap open.
"No," he said, his voice firm because he knew exactly where the conversation was heading now. "You've had had three scoops and it enough."
"But you're not eating yours," she whined, with a pout.
"And I'm not giving it to you either."
"Just a spoon?"
"No." Enzo replied, closing his eyes again.
"Please?"
"No."
"Pretty please."
"Isla don't be stubborn."
"It's melting. Why did you get it if you're not going to eat it?"
"Isla...." Enzo said in a warning tone.
" I want want a spoonful of the strawberry and I..."
"Goddamn it Isla, I said no!"
Lorenzo stepped on the brake without a warning, causing them to jerk forward as the car tires squealed against the asphalt.
"What the hell is wrong with you Enzo?" he turned to look at his brother.
"Fuck, just drive."
There was a pause, before Lorenzo slowly turned and started the car again.
" I don't like you," Enzo heard Isla mumble and his grip around the ice cream cup tightened as he felt something tug at his chest.