28. Isabel
28
ISABEL
A dull ache lingers in my limbs as I stir awake, my body heavy, unwilling to move. My head feels clouded, thick with exhaustion and the remnants of whatever they drugged me with, making it difficult to pull the scattered pieces of last night back together. But I remember enough.
I’m in my bed.
No . Not my bed.
My lips press together as I force my eyes open, blinking against the morning light filtering through the curtains. The room is familiar, but it doesn’t belong to me. It never has. The Whitmore estate isn’t my home, no matter how many nights I’ve spent trapped within its walls, no matter how my body sinks into the mattress like it remembers the shape of me.
Still , the sheets are warm. The scent of Theodore lingers—on my skin, in the air, woven into the fabric around me. A shiver prickles down my spine. I barely remember him bringing me here, tucking me in, his body molding to mine as if it had always been meant to. But I do remember the way he looked at me: like I belonged to him.
My stomach twists. I shouldn’t have let it happen.
Yet , when he told me I was his, when he touched me like he meant it, I broke.
I squeeze my eyes shut, swallowing against the shame creeping in.
A knock at the door pulls me from my spiraling thoughts. Before I can even process it, Julian’s voice follows.
“ You ready?”
I groan, yanking the covers over my head. My body protests the movement, aching in ways I don’t want to acknowledge. “ I’ll be out in ten,” I mutter into the pillow.
A soft chuckle drifts through the door.
His footsteps retreat, but I don’t move right away. Instead , I burrow deeper beneath the blankets, inhaling Theodore’s lingering scent from last night.
When I finally make my way downstairs and see Julian , the memories of him and Maxwell trickle in, on their knees before me, making out, their hands on my skin, their mouths on my body.
I swallow hard.
Julian glances up from where he’s leaning against the counter, then silently hands me a steaming travel mug of coffee. In his other hand, he holds a muffin, golden brown and slightly misshapen.
I arch a brow as I take it. “ Did you make this?”
“ Yeah .”
A slow smile tugs at my lips. “ Thank you.”
Julian doesn’t respond, but the corner of his mouth twitches.
Before I can take a bite, a familiar chuckle cuts through the air.
“ How’d you sleep?”
Maxwell appears out of nowhere, his eyes gleaming.
Heat creeps up my neck, and I force my expression into something neutral. “ It was fine.”
His smirk deepens, and I don’t miss the way his gaze roves over me, reading between the lines.
Julian stays quiet, sipping his coffee, but his posture is stiff.
I break off a piece of the muffin, shoving it into my mouth just to keep myself from saying anything else.
Julian pushes off the counter, nodding toward the door. “ Let’s go.”
Maxwell doesn’t follow. Instead , he lingers. Then , as I pass, his lips curl into a smirk. “ See you soon, Starling .”
I ignore the way my stomach flips at the name and slip out the door, following Julian to his car.
The drive is silent.
I don’t know if it’s because Julian isn’t in the mood to talk or if he can sense I’m still unraveling. Either way, I don’t try to break it. Instead , I stare out the window, gnawing on my nail, my nerves coiling tighter with every mile.
We finally pull into the underground garage. The moment we cross the threshold, we’re swallowed by darkness.
Julian kills the engine, gets out, and starts walking. I follow, my heart hammering, my hands clammy. I have no idea what to expect today.
We step into an elevator, and Julian presses his finger on a scanner. The doors slide shut, and we ascend in silence.
When I step out, expecting the familiar lounge I’ve worked at for months now, I don’t see the Vanguard I know.
The floors gleam under the recessed lighting. The walls are darker, the decor sleeker, richer. There’s no music, no casual chatter from the patrons I’ve grown used to serving. Everything feels more exclusive.
“ This isn’t what you’re used to, huh, Siren ?”
I freeze.
Theodore steps forward, hands in his pockets, his deep gaze sinking into my bones. I feel him from the inside out.
I shift on my feet, unsteady because of last night and everything I shouldn’t feel but do.
Theodore says, “ Follow me,” and all three of us head down a long hallway before stepping into an office.
A heavy wooden desk dominates the center, its surface cluttered with stacks of papers, open books, and a single glass of dark liquor left untouched.
Theodore gestures to the room as he strides inside. “ This is the patriarch’s office—my father’s old digs.” He moves toward the desk, resting a hand on a pile of documents. “ But it’s mine now.”
He taps a finger against the papers, nodding toward the mess. “ That’s all the research I’ve been able to do since he died.”
My feet carry me toward him, and I let my gaze drop to the neatly stacked pages peeking out from beneath the folders.
Cautiously , I reach for one, hesitating for a fraction of a second before glancing at the brothers. Theodore nods. Julian doesn’t say anything, just watching me.
I flip it open.
The first thing I see is a series of articles from The Black Quill , each one dating back nearly twenty years. There are headlines about unexplained disappearances, cryptic investigations, whispers of corruption buried between the lines of careful journalism. But then, further down, something catches my eye.
Sotelo .
My stomach tightens as I trace the ink with my fingertips, my pulse picking up speed.
Julian steps closer, peering over my shoulder. “ What is it?”
“ I recognize this name.”
I look up at them. A part of me hesitates to share this part of me, but if anyone would understand what it’s like to search for answers buried in shadows, it’s them.
“ When I started looking for my parents, my research led me to the Sotelo family.” I shake my head, staring back down at the article. “ I never knew my parents’ names, but when I started digging, I found ties to the Sotelo family. I just don’t know whether it’s through my mother’s side or my father’s.”
Maxwell exhales sharply. “ Well , shit.” He appears out of nowhere, interrupting our conversation. “ The Sotelo family was apparently wiped out decades ago. You think you’re connected to them?”
“ I can’t be sure, but I have a lot of documents at my place that go into detail about the Sotelo family. There’s definitely a connection.”
The brothers exchange a look. Theodore leans back in his chair, which could easily be mistaken for a throne, his fingers steepled in front of him as he studies me. “ We’ll go get them.”
I hesitate for just a second before nodding in agreement.
* * *
We arrive at my apartment, and the brothers follow me inside. It’s clear they’re not particularly comfortable here—it’s small, not the kind of place people like them are used to, but they don’t complain.
As I step inside, a tinge of sadness hits me. It’s strange to be back. I haven’t been here in months, and the familiar sight of my little sanctuary feels almost foreign now. Things don’t feel the same. I’ve been away so long, and so much has changed. I miss it, though. I miss the freedom, the space to breathe. But most of all, I miss the life I had before all of this.
I push the feeling aside, focusing on the task at hand. I begin sifting through the boxes of files I’ve collected over the years, trying to find the documents about the Sotelo family.
The brothers work quietly, flipping through books and files, each of them engrossed in their own thoughts.
As I’m flipping through the papers, my eyes drift to them. Theodore is hunched over a pile of documents at my dining table, his sharp features softened in concentration. Maxwell is sitting on my small couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table, focused on a book. Julian is leaning against the wall in the living area, eyes scanning the room, like he’s always watching for danger.
I can’t help myself. I take a moment to just look at them. Really look. They’re the reason I’m in this mess, and yet, they’re also the ones who make my heart race in ways I can’t explain.
Theodore suddenly looks up, catching me staring at him. A smirk curves at his lips as he leans back in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine. “ Oh , Siren ,” he murmurs. “ It’s okay to like what you see.”
Heat rises in my chest, and I quickly look down at the papers in front of me, my heart pounding in my ears. “ I — I wasn’t…” I trail off, feeling a little embarrassed.
Theodore chuckles darkly. “ You don’t have to be shy about it.” He lets out a breath and leans back, running a hand through his blond hair. “ We all know what you want.”
Maxwell glances up, a smirk pulling at his lips. “ You can’t keep pretending like you’re not enjoying this, Starling .”
I shift uncomfortably, my fingers curling into the papers in front of me, trying to focus on anything other than the tension rising in the room.
It’s impossible.
“ I’m just here to find answers,” I manage to say.
“ And you will,” Julian chimes in, pushing himself off the wall and striding over to where I’m sitting on the floor. He kneels, gently pinching my chin between his fingers and lifting my face to meet his gaze.
Every instinct in me screams to close my eyes, to break the intense connection, but I force myself to stay grounded.
His thumb brushes over my lips, and a shiver runs through me at the touch. Heat rushes through my body like it has been there all along.
“ Eres tan hermosa,” he murmurs. “ Como un ángel caído del cielo. Nosotros no merecemos algo así.”
( Like an angel fallen from the sky. We don’t deserve something like that.)
He slides his finger into my mouth, and I inhale sharply, the sudden intrusion making my pulse spike.
“ Suck ,” he commands.
I obey, my lips wrapping around his thumb as I swirl my tongue around it.
“ I think about this perfect mouth wrapped around my cock all the time, mi corazón,” he whispers.
He removes his finger, a small trickle of saliva trailing down my chin. My legs close to relieve the pressure building in my core.
Theodore watches us from the side with a dark gleam in his eyes. I look up at him for a moment, and that’s enough for him to give me an order.
“ Crawl to Maxwell , Siren .”
I shift onto my knees, the coldness of the floor biting at my skin, my body following the order without question. It’s not like I have a choice.
Maxwell’s eyes widen in anticipation, his legs spread wide. He’s sprawled back on the couch, every inch of him exuding sex . His chest rises and falls with each breath, his posture relaxed but with a predator’s focus.
Just as I reach him, his hand moves to his side, pulling a knife from his ankle. The sight makes my pulse quicken.
I sit back on my heels, waiting patiently for their next command. Julian shifts behind me, fingers brushing my hair as he moves it aside, his lips grazing my ear.
“ Take his cock out,” he whispers, and my eyes lock onto Maxwell .
I reach for his belt, tugging it out from the loops, and then I pull his trousers and briefs down just enough to free his hardened length.
A silver ring dangles at the tip, catching the light, and I salivate at the sight before me. I had no idea Maxwell was pierced. I can’t tear my eyes away.
Maxwell chuckles. “ I can’t wait for my piercing to make you feel good, Starling . Now , show me what your mouth can do.”
Slowly , I wrap my palm around his dick, and I angle my mouth just at the tip, flicking my tongue against the jewelry.
Maxwell’s head jerks back, and he groans, pushing his pelvis up so I take him deeper.
I choke when he reaches the edge of my throat, and I begin to bob my head up and down his shaft.
His fingers weave through my hair, gripping hard as he moves his hips in rhythm with my movements. “ Fuck , sweetheart. Your mouth is a dangerous weapon,” he rumbles, his voice rough with the growing tension.
I close my eyes, enjoying the feeling of Maxwell’s cock swelling inside my mouth.
Suddenly , he pulls me off by tugging at my head, and before I can process it, his lips are on mine.
The kiss is hot and possessive.
His hands thread deeper into my hair, tugging me closer as his tongue demands entry, pushing me to open for him. I melt into the kiss, my body responding instinctively, as if it has always known him. His taste is intoxicating, and the way his lips move with mine feels like a storm brewing.
When he finally breaks the kiss, I’m left breathless, my chest rising and falling rapidly. Maxwell’s lips curve into a smirk as he pulls away just enough to speak.
“ Lie down on the couch.”
I crawl onto the seat and settle into the plush cushions. The space feels charged as I wait, unsure of what’s coming next but knowing it will be just as consuming as everything else they’ve put me through.
In one, swift movement, Maxwell pulls off my pants and settles between my legs. He shoves the rest of his trousers down and places his cock right at my entrance.
Oh my God .
Theodore inches his way closer to us for a better view.
Julian follows, placing himself behind Maxwell . His gaze is molten with desire, and he pulls his dick out too, tugging on it a few times, his eyes not leaving mine for a second. I can feel the weight of his stare like a tangible thing, and it drives me wild.
Maxwell glances at me before turning his attention to his brothers, a slow grin spreading across his face. His eyes dart between the three of us, as if savoring the moment before things unfold.
Then , he slams into me, and I let out a yelp. “ Fuck !”
Maxwell begins to laugh, almost maniacally, pulling in and out to help me adjust to his size.
The feeling of the cold metal of his barbell scratches my walls in the most delicious way, and my back arches when he buries himself to the hilt, spreading my legs wider for better access.
He grabs one of the cushions, carefully placing it beneath my back to adjust his angle. The shift in position sends a rush of heat through me, and suddenly, everything seems to blur. His next thrust finds that devastatingly perfect spot, and stars explode behind my eyes.
When I glance at Julian , still standing behind Maxwell , I see him squeezing something from a bottle onto his hard dick. He rubs his length a few times before he puts a hand on Maxwell’s back, positioning himself at his behind.
A wave of heat floods through me as I watch them. It’s as if every nerve in my body is on fire, waiting for what’s next.
Julian spreads Maxwell’s ass cheeks and inches his way in slowly, causing him to groan at the feeling, but Maxwell doesn’t stop his movements inside me.
My heart pounds in my chest erratically, teetering on the edge of alarming.
I don’t think I can handle this.
When Julian is pressed against Maxwell , fully in place, he starts to thrust in sync with Maxwell’s strokes into my pussy. The pressure of the two men on top of me causes me to scream. “ Ah ! Yes , Max . Right there,” I moan as he drills his cock into my G -spot.
A wave of pleasure builds within me, my breath quickening and growing shallow.
I watch Julian slide in and out of Maxwell , groaning and muttering, “ So tight. I love fucking this ass.” My body trembles, every muscle taut as I fight to hold on a little longer.
Maxwell releases a guttural sound, probably overcome with sensation as he gets pounded from behind while I milk his dick with my pussy.
He lowers his head, his breath brushing against my skin as he moves toward my neck. His lips barely graze at the sensitive spot before he sinks his teeth into the tender flesh.
His voice trembles as he whispers in my ear, “ I’m so close. I’m going to make you mine, too, Starling … I’m going to fill you up completely.”
His words are rough and possessive, and it’s the hottest thing I’ve ever heard.
My gaze drifts to Theodore , the echo of those same words hitting me with force. His jaw clenches, his fingers twitching at his sides, as if he’s holding himself back from intervening.
The tension crackles between us, but I don’t look away when I plead, “ Make me yours, Maxwell .”
The pleasure coursing through my body is almost unbearable.
“ Come for me, Starling ,” he orders, and my restraint snaps.
The world tilts, and I lose myself in my orgasm, the rush of relief flooding me, leaving me breathless.
Maxwell’s body tenses above me, his climax taking hostage as he fills me with his cum, giving me a few last thrusts as he empties himself.
Julian , not letting up his movements behind Maxwell , lets out a throaty noise. “ Fuck . I’m right there.”
But instead of releasing himself inside Maxwell , he pulls out.
I push myself up from the couch, but Theodore’s voice stops me. “ Don’t you dare move, Siren .”
I tense, my body freezing at his command. Theodore’s gaze is searing into my skin, pinning me in place as he takes a step closer.
A strained sound snaps me out of my daze.
Julian , looking every bit the dangerous, God -like figure he is, has his head thrown back, one hand gripping his cock.
Maxwell , still clutching his knife like a prized possession, raises it to Julian’s leg, the blade grazing his skin with a sharp nick. A drop of blood beads at the cut and slowly trickles down his thigh.
Julian lets out a throaty noise, and a deep sound of satisfaction rumbles in Maxwell’s chest.
I watch them, my eyes wide, my mind a mix of shock and arousal.
Theodore chuckles, his gaze never leaving them. “ Those two are in their own little world.”
After a few moments, Maxwell opens his mouth, sticking his tongue out to welcome Julian’s cum.
Julian’s entire body freezes as he releases into Maxwell’s mouth with a barely contained growl.
Mischief gleaming in his eyes, Maxwell spins around and splits my legs apart, bringing his lips down to my center.
Then , he lets the entire contents of his mouth spill out into my pussy. Using his fingers, he pushes the remnants inside, ensuring nothing goes to waste. I gasp.
I should be disgusted, maybe even concerned—but instead, a dark, twisted heat coils inside me, making me feel utterly deranged.
“ I told you we’d mark you as ours in another way,” Maxwell says, his tone sounding almost delirious. “ We’re going to fill you up until you overflow with our cum, my sweet Starling .”
Theodore looks like a volcano on the brink of eruption, his restraint hanging by a thread.
He looks at his brothers, his gaze dark and hungry. “ I think it’s my turn to get a taste.”
Maxwell steps aside, his lips curled into a sly smile, and Theodore wastes no time. He grips my hips, flipping me effortlessly so my legs dangle off the couch. Then , he lowers himself to his knees, settling between my thighs.
In an instant, his mouth is on me, sucking on my sensitive nub. He laps his tongue around my clit, between my lips, inside my pussy. His gaze locks with mine as he devours me with insatiable need. The hunger in his eyes is almost palpable.
“ Fuck , Isabel ,” he grunts, pulling away for half a second before his mouth descends back on me, this time accompanied by two fingers pumping inside me.
I’m fully aware his brothers are standing there, silently observing Theodore lick and suck on their cum leaking out of my entrance.
Theodore’s tongue doesn’t stop its relentless attention, every second heightening the strange, confusing pleasure I feel. Another orgasm threatens to surface, and all I can focus on is the way Theodore’s mouth works on me.
“ God , this feels so good,” I whimper, an electrifying rush racing up my spine.
Just when I’m at the edge of my climax, he stops, and I let out a whine.
“ I can’t let my brothers be the only ones to fill you, Siren ,” he taunts, unbuckling his pants with a quick flick. He frees his cock, and in one, smooth motion, enters me.
I’m so wet from the mix of my arousal and Maxwell and Julian’s cum, I’m able to adjust to his size within a few seconds. I moan loudly, letting the pleasure consume me, my orgasm cresting like the feeling never left.
“ I’m so close,” I mutter, my senses overwhelmed.
“ Not yet, baby,” Theodore groans, fucking me with urgency, like he’s desperate to get closer, push deeper.
This feels too good, though I try to remind myself none of this should be happening. But I feel like I’m being torn between two worlds, one where I’m in control and one where I’ve surrendered to them.
That’s not a problem I can focus on now, not when I can’t even make sense of what’s happening inside me.
“ Now ,” Theodore growls, urging me to release all control.
I let the pleasure consume me, surrendering to the waves of heat crashing over my body. Each pulse sends a jolt through me until my thoughts blur.
Theodore mumbles incoherently as he releases inside me, filling me up in ways I never thought possible.
When my body releases the tension, my muscles ache with the need for more, and I can’t help but crave it. Crave them .
I realize, in that moment, that the brothers have me trapped, caught in a grip I don’t think I can escape from now. I don’t know if I even want to any longer.
They’ve wormed their way into my thoughts, their touch branded into my skin, and somewhere along the way, they’ve found their way into my heart.