Secrets Leave Scars [EDITING]

35 - Redemption

Isobel's POV:

My eyes slowly blink open, adjusting to the harsh sunlight creeping into the dark room. I struggle to untangle myself from the messy bedsheets, before turning around. Marcus's side of the bed is empty beside me.

I sit up groggily, rubbing my eyes. There's a quiet knock on the door, which shakes me to the core. I quickly hide behind a pillow before shouting, "Come in!" I'm too lazy to get up.

A plump, white-haired lady waltzes into the room. In her left hand, is a fancy breakfast plate, filled with pancakes, sausage, and fruits. An iced coffee sits between her inner elbow. In her right hand, is a fresh pile of clothes. How she carries all of that at the same time is beyond me.

"Hello Ms. Pierce," she beams happily. "Mr. Steele left some things for you, unfortunately he had to leave early for work and insisted that you sleep in." She carefully places the tray of food on the bedside table, and the clothes on the bed. "He also left this note for you," she winks, whipping out an envelope from the pocket in her apron. She hands me the letter, eyeing me curiously, before leaving the room.

"Oh wow. T-Thank you!" I shout, as she hurriedly shuts the door behind her.

I carefully pick open the fancy envelope, marked with my name. The letter reads, "Good morning girlfriend, I'm sorry I had to leave you with Melody, I'm taking care of some business, but I'll meet up with you later today. Stay for as long as you want, and feel free to use anything you find. Mi casa es su casa ;) I miss you already. Love, your boyfriend." I chuckle as I finish reading. Boyfriend. Wow, Marcus Steele is my boyfriend...

I hear another knock on the door, this time a little louder. "Melody you don't have to knock! Come in!" I yell, silently praying that her name is actually Melody.

The door swings open immediately after I finish my yelling. "ISOBEL PIERCE WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?" I look up, terrified for my life. Kol comes charging at me with full speed.

He jumps on top of me, practically crushing my bones under him. "WHAT!?" I shout, desperately trying to breathe as the pillow smothers me.

"I came to see why Marcus wasn't at the meeting, but I guess I know why huh!?" He laughs mischievously. He gets back up, sitting on the edge of the bed. His eyes light up as he sees the untouched food next to me.

"That's mine!" I scold him, slapping his wrist as he reaches for it. His eyes wander to the letter in my hand, and before I know it, he's lunging for it. "Seriously Kol you're like a fly that won't die even after you swat it a thousand times!" He ignores my comment, quickly opening the letter.

"Wait girlfriend?!" He gasps, quickly scanning the rest. "Boyfriend?" He raises his eyebrows at me confused. "It's official?" His eyes widen with excitement. He yanks away the pillow in my hands and begins hitting me with it.

"Alright yes!" I yell, waving my hand to dodging the pillow. "I will never understand how you became a member of the mafia." He rolls his eyes at me as he plops onto the bed.

"Well where is your boyfriend anyways," he sighs, out of breath from the one-sided pillow fight. I snuggle back under the covers, before putting the pieces together.

"Wait he's not at his meeting?" I say, sitting upright. Kol shakes his head no. "Then where the h*ll is he?"

Marcus's POV:

I wipe the sweat off my body and turn off the timer. Finally, I completed my goal of 100 pushes in one minute. After my talk with Isobel, I decided that today was the day. Today was the day, that I stand up to my a** of a father.

Coming to the gym beforehand, would help the conversation along. If I was tired from my workout, I wouldn't give in to the urge to rip out his guts. It's a lot harder than you'd think.

I check my phone for any interesting notifications, before heading to the showers. I turn on the water and jump in, cold water is good for the muscles.

I think about my amazing night with Isobel. She was actually my girlfriend. I actually have a girlfriend. How did a screw up like me, end up with someone as perfect as her? We'd only known each other for a few months, but it felt like I've known her my whole life. I laugh thinking about the first time we met. I knocked her out good.

I dry myself off, before changing into the clothes for the day. A new colored dress shirt and dress pants, as always.

***

The drive to my father's office is long, but worth it. Once I finish giving him a piece of my mind, it will all be worth it.

I speak to the receptionist at the main desk, before taking a seat to wait. I can only imagine the look on the bastard's face when they tell him his son's waiting to see him.

My phone starts buzzing like crazy as I check the time. "Sh*t I forgot about the meeting." I'll just have to make this quick.

"Marcus, your father's ready for you," the receptionist smiles. He most definitely paid her extra to call me Marcus. I can only tolerate the name when Isobel says it. I nod and follow her to an office in the back. The door reads, "Mariano Steele." Disgusting.

She lets me in, closing the door behind her. My father sits in his swivel chair, clasping his hands in front of his face. He grins at me evilly. "Well well," he smirks. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

I clear my throat and place my hands behind my back. "I'm hoping this won't take long, I have a meeting to get to," I grunt.

"Ah yes and a girlfriend to get back to too right?"

"What do you know about that?" I ask, hiding the concern I feel in my chest. Seriously, how does he know about that?

"Oh nothing nothing," he waves his hand dramatically. "What did you want to talk about son?"

I clench my jaw, biting my tongue. Son. The word makes me want to vomit. I clear my throat again, making a second attempt at the conversation.

"I'm releasing you from your banishment." I watch as his face moves through at least ten different emotions.

He finally speaks up, "And what's the catch?"

"After I take out Ivan, I'll allow you to take over again." He scratches his beard in thought. "The catch, however, is that I leave. Permanently."

"Leave?" He grunts. "What the h*ll do you mean leave? Leave what?"

"Leave this life. I want to quit any involvement with the mafia." He lets out a stiff laugh, before getting out of his chair. He walks in front of his desk, leaning on it as if it'll intimidate me.

"You can't leave the mafia," he laughs. "You of all people should know that."

"I can and I will," I reply firmly. "You'll also never speak to me again. I don't care if you're lying in a ditch dead, don't bother me."

He lowers his face as he stares at the floor. "And may I ask why?" He grunts.

I fix the collar of my shirt as I answer. "Because I am done taking your bullsh*t," I spit. "I'm in charge of who I am and I'm changing it right now."

"Why for the first slut to pay you any attention?" He snarls angrily. I grind my teeth together, desperately trying to rise above. "You do realize she's apart of 'this life' too?"

"I'm not doing this for anyone," I reply calmly. "I'm doing it for myself. Because I want to be free of you and of this life. I was made for more than this, and Isobel helped me see that. I'm not hopeless, I can change. She helped me see it, but I'm doing this for me."