Chapter 5
Chapter Five
ISABELLA
Palms damp, chest aching, I pulled away from my brother, not quite sure which one was holding me at the moment.
My head whirled, and I sucked in deep breaths far too quickly.
My vision grayed again, and someone kept talking to me.
Telling me to breathe at a different rhythm.
To calm. But all I could do was feel the hand on my chest, tearing out my heart.
Couldn’t they hear that siren? Feel the pressure on their chest like I did?
“Isabella. Are you hurt? Talk to me.”
I blinked, finally hearing the bite in Aston’s tone.
I had never heard him speak that way. Yes, I knew he could.
After all, he dealt with a multi-billion-dollar business every day and had to worry about people trying to take over and take advantage of him.
I knew he had probably spoken to our father’s lawyer in that same tone after we had left, as well as his own mother. And maybe countless others.
But never so icy toward me. Even though I knew it had nothing to do with me, I still flinched.
Aston immediately took a step back and looked me over. “Talk to me. What did the police say?”
We were in one of the many various empty offices they had on the eighth floor of the main building.
This is where people who wanted to work remotely, and didn’t want a full office, or anyone working for a short period of time, or just visiting would work.
It was empty for now, and the best place according to the others for us to regroup.
The police had come and gone, as had the paramedics.
I hadn’t needed them, thankfully. But my heart rate was still racing.
I hadn’t even realized that Aston had been the one holding me as I shook in his arms. The only reason my best friend wasn’t here was because Blakely was out on a call.
I had a feeling that nobody had told her or she would have broken through the police tape to get to me.
I knew that Aston hadn’t told her because he was worried that whoever had attacked me was still in the area.
He was protecting Blakely, and for that I was thankful. Because I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if Blakely got hurt because of me.
Because it could have been me. All of this could be my fault. Right?
“They don’t know the guy, but they have him in custody.
He just wanted to get my purse.” I swallowed hard, my throat dry.
Aston immediately handed over a bottle of water, and I was appreciative.
I sank down on the couch, wondering why we needed such a large office for guests. Then again, I was grateful for it.
“You didn’t know him?” Flynn asked before shaking his head.
“Of course you don’t. I’m so fucking sorry, Isabella.
I’m just glad we caught the guy. But, sister mine?
You’re pale as a ghost. You should have let the paramedics take a look at you.
” My brother had held on to me for a moment when we had been in the parking garage, before he had run after whoever had attacked me.
I wasn’t sure I was ever going to be able to get past the sight of my brother in an expensive suit and shoes running down a darkened parking garage and right into danger.
And I knew Aston would have been right along with him if he hadn’t stayed with me.
I had grown up with Kyler. But he was my baby brother.
He always tried to protect me now, but I had never had a group of men so overprotective and growly, it was a little disconcerting.
And if I was in my true element, not stressing out, I would probably resent it.
But part of me was so confused about this odd nature, that I was letting it happen.
“I’m fine,” I lied, and when my brothers looked at each other and then at me, I realized that I wasn’t lying very well.
“You’ve had a panic attack, Isabella,” Aston whispered. “And while it was understandable, you didn’t let the medics take a look at you, and from the dark circles under your eyes, your sleeping hasn’t gotten any better since you went to Cage Lake to get fresh air.”
I ran my hands over my face and knew I should tell them what I had already told the cops. “Did Blakely tell you?” I asked, uneasy. Blakely and Aston told each other everything. I knew that. But I wasn’t sure how I felt about my best friend telling Aston something so personal. So traumatic.
He shook his head, and relief filled me. “No.” Then he let out a breath and continued. “But before I met all of you truly and got to know you, I did a background check.”
I stood up quickly, wobbly on my heels. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. I’m serious.”
“Aston,” Flynn muttered.
Aston didn’t look the least chagrined, but did hold my shoulders as my heart threatened to beat out of its chest again.
“And as you can tell, I didn’t share with everyone else.
I’m the only one who saw anything. And I didn’t go beyond public records.
But for all I knew, you were vicious harpies like my mother.
Rather than the people that I’ve come to know.
All of that information is burned by the way.
Nobody else can find it. And I don’t know the details, Isabella. I only know from the initial report.”
I sank back into the couch, chugging my water. Flynn’s shoulders dropped as Aston just stood there, ready for me to yell at him. I looked at Flynn, knowing he was confused. “A few years ago I was attacked by a man named William.”
“Isabella, I’m so sorry. You don’t have to tell us details.”
I held up my hand, noticed it shook, and set it down. “Aston, I don’t blame you for the background check. Your family comes with a lot of strings. A lot of money.”
“It’s your family now too,” Aston corrected.
I froze, wondering if I was ever going to get used to this new dynamic.
There were so many people in my family now.
It was hard to keep up with everything. I had eleven brothers and sisters.
Eleven people who were now part of my life, and even though I felt alone most days, we were still finding our way.
I had no idea what the hell my father had been thinking keeping us from each other, and now forcing us together.
I wasn’t even sure the fact that we were somewhat getting along was what dear old Dad wanted.
But he was dead and there was no asking him.
He had taken his secrets to the grave, and I still didn’t understand why my mother had gone along with it all.
“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” Aston continued. “If the police are already aware, then that’s enough.”
“You’re right. I don’t need to know. No one needs to know.” Flynn paused. “Though it might be good if Ford knew. Considering he owns a security company and deals with protection services. In case of stalkers, or things like that.”
“The others know. At least the Cage Dixons,” I clarified.
It was hard to call my initial group of siblings just my brother and sisters considering I had a whole new slew of brothers, and I wasn’t sure how to qualify them without making someone feel left out.
It wasn’t as if there was a manual on what to do when your dad had a secret family.
Maybe I should write one. And now my thoughts were spiraling again.
“I was attacked a couple of years ago. I was walking through the parking lot at night after working far too many hours, and this guy pressed me up against the car, put his arms around my neck, and I blacked out. He dragged me to the bushes and beat me in order to wake me up. He didn’t get to do anything else though, because a random stranger was jogging at night, and he got the guy to run away.
He didn’t chase after him though, instead stayed with me until the ambulance came.
” I shuddered, bile rising in my throat.
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore though. About what could have happened.”
“Shit, Isabella. I’m sorry. So damn sorry.” Flynn met my gaze, and I knew he didn’t have any more words.
Then again, neither did I. Not the ones that would help erase the memories at least. “He didn’t, he wasn’t able to do anything else.
But he was able to do far worse to the next girl.
” I shook my head. “But because he left DNA evidence, he was caught. And he was supposed to be in jail for a long time. Because it’s a class four felony.
At least that’s what he was in for. Two to eight years in prison.
And he got one. One year because it took so long to get through the system, and he got out for good behavior. ”
Those were the letters that William had sent. Taunting me that he was out.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Aston snapped. “They just let him out like that. You were alerted?”
“Yes. And he sent a letter.”
Flynn began to pace, running his hands through his hair. “Does anyone else know about the fact that he’s out or the letter?” he asked, his shoulders tense.
“I told Kyler, and according to the police, William is still in Wyoming with his parole officer in Cheyenne,” I said, my voice soft. “So while this mugging wasn’t connected as it’s not him, it brought it all back and that’s why I’ve been having panic attacks.”
“Fuck,” Aston muttered. “So it wasn’t him.”
“No. But I thought it was at first. So it was some other lunatic out trying to harm women. And between that and William sending letters, I’m just tired.”
“Isabella!” Blakely called as she pushed through the door, past my brothers, and pulled me into her arms.
I didn’t cry. I was the eldest sister. The strong one. I was the one that my sisters and Kyler needed to lean on. But as soon as Blakely wrapped her arms around me, I burst into tears. The pressures of the week, of waiting for the next shoe to drop, hit me, and I just let Blakely hold me.
“I’ve got you. It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
“It wasn’t him,” I muttered.
My best friend’s hold tightened. “They caught the guy and he’s going to go to jail. He’s just lucky I didn’t get to him first or I’d kick the crap out of him.”
“Blakely, it seems William is out of jail,” Aston murmured, and my chest felt as if it were gripped in a vise. I knew he had to tell her because I couldn’t, but everything felt as if it were falling out of my hands and control, and I couldn’t focus or deal.
“I just don’t want to be a burden.” I leaned back and wiped my face.
“Isabella Cage. You are not a burden. Do not call yourself that.”
“I’m going to let her yell at you for that,” Flynn added dryly.
“I just, I don’t know what to think. It just brought it all back, and I’m tired. Maybe I’ll just go home and breathe. And the police will find everything by the next day.”
The guys met each other’s gazes as Blakely ran her hand up and down my back.
“Maybe you should take some time off,” Flynn put in.
I narrowed my gaze. “I’m not weak. I just need to pull it together. I don’t need to take time off. I’m fine.”
“I realize that technically we’re your bosses, but this is a tricky situation where I don’t want to have to tell my sister what to do,” Aston said as diplomatically as he could.
“He says that because it gets tricky when he’s my boss as well.”
“James is your boss,” Aston corrected.
“How about you go to Cage Lake?” Flynn blurted.
I froze and stared at him. “How is me going to a small mountain town going to help anything? I’m fine.”
“Isabella,” Blakely whispered, and I knew that I wasn’t fine. I was still shaking.
“You can still work remotely, take some time off, and frankly, there’s a few paperwork things that we need to do for the businesses, and I am running a little behind.”
I glared at Flynn, not sure he was telling the truth or not.
He held up both hands. “I’m not lying. We have that huge acquisition coming up, and I don’t like putting things on Hudson’s shoulders.
Hell, he doesn’t like doing it at all and will refrain.
But we are landlords, and there is paperwork and other things to approve. So why don’t you go out to Cage Lake.”
“And you’ll be able to get fresh air like before but have it be a little more long term,” Blakely added, studying my face. “I want my best friend to be healthy. And you had a scare tonight.”
“I’m already talking to my therapist,” I stated, not caring if my brothers knew. I truly didn’t want my panic attacks to be their burden.
“And they told you what last time?” Blakely asked as my brothers listened in.
“That I should rest,” I mumbled.
Blakely cleared her throat. “That’s settled then. You can breathe, work because I know you can’t stop, and get to know Cage Lake.”
Flynn stepped in. “It’s a small town, where everybody knows everybody. It’s hard to do anything without people knowing what you’re doing. Especially if you’re living there and not just at the resort. Hudson will be around, and frankly, it’ll be good for everyone.”
“So you’re just trying to get me out of the city?” I asked, feeling so confused.
If I went to Cage Lake, Weston would be there. The man I was trying to avoid. And yet the man I was still texting. I swallowed hard, then remembered the hand over my mouth, and how it felt like that hand over my throat. Even though it was two different people.
“Okay. But not for too long. Because you need help with paperwork,” I qualified.
I looked at my family, at Blakely, and realized that maybe I did need a break. Because I could feel that touch. Hear his voice.
But it wasn’t William’s voice.
It was someone else’s.