Finding Isabella

| 5 - Alexi |

"That's not the welcome I was hoping for after all these years," I smirk. Her eyebrows are scrunched together in the same way they always have when she gets angry. Long chocolate brown hair falls down to right under her chest, a huge difference from the short, blonde hair that she had the last time I saw her, and her skin is more tanned. My eyes trail down to her lips, which are the same shade of pink, and look just as soft and pouty as I remember. She still has a body that makes men everywhere want to sin, and I have to force myself to look away.

"Calum," she ignores my presence completely, "why the fuck is he here?"

I look at her again, meeting her eyes when she looks at me. "I must admit, I never thought I would learn about my son from one of my previous enemies," I say, and her eyes widen. "Then again, I never thought I would be with his sister, especially considering everybody thought she was dead." She swallows visibly, allowing the nervousness to show.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I mean, yes, I am his sister, but I don't know what kid you're referring to."

"Don't bullshit me," I stand up and walk around the table, moving in her direction. "Christian is mine. You told Calum and Marcus that he's my son."

"What?" Her eyes flash over to her brother and father with so many emotions it's practically unreadable.

"Calum called me. He told me everything."

"Why would you do that?" Her question is aimed at her brother; she's ignoring me again, even though I'm merely steps away from her.

"Isa, sit down, and I'll explain," Marcus says.

"No. Tell me what's going on so I can leave," she says before her eyes are on me again, "and so he can leave."

"I'm not leaving anytime soon amore, it's almost three in the morning, and I don't think we should wake Christian up. Also, you both already travelled so much, we're going to wait a couple of days," I state. Anger radiates off of her at my words, and it's astonishing that steam isn't shooting out of her ears.

"You can leave right this fucking second because Christian and I aren't going anywhere with you. In fact, get out of the house right now before I shoot you."

"Isabella Marie Garcia, sit down and listen," her father's voice interrupts us before I can reply. She obeys with a huff, dropping into the seat next to him. I return to my seat on the other side of the table, between Leo and Matteo.

"I didn't know you and Leo knew each other," she utters.

"I'm actually one of his closest friends," Leo replies as a slightly cocky smirk shines on his face.

"And I assume you remember Alexi's consigliere, Matteo," Calum interjects. She nods, shooting a small smile in Matteo's direction. They got along pretty well whenever she was around, I know he sees at her as a younger sister, which is why their close relationship didn't bother me. Her friendship with Jess, on the other hand, enraged me. Luckily for him, Calum explained their situation and relationship to me when we first arrived. Jess is technically his right-hand man, but became a personal bodyguard of sorts to Isabella a couple of years back.

"Isa, there are a lot of people looking at you with a target painted on your back, but the Russians straight-up threatened you. They're our biggest rivals, but they're Alexi's enemy as well, which is part of the reason he's here. He wants to help ensure your protection as well as Christian's protection and well-being," Calum says.

"We don't need his help."

"Still incredibly stubborn, mio amore?" I ask, a low chuckle escaping my lips.