Dangerous Love (girl x girl)

Chapter 51

Arielle

Isabelle convinced me to take one more day off and that she would explain to Michael to pass into the other professors that I had been quite ill and would be back the next day. She still had classes to teach though, and when she left the estate, I stayed locked in her room all day, refusing to let the maids even bring food in. Isabelle returned in the early afternoon and brought food with her.

I thanked her for the food and started to eat. As I ate, I considered how to phrase what I wanted.  "When I go back to class with you tomorrow... I want to take Clara to our parents' place. It should be safe, right?"

Isabelle nodded. "I've had at least ten guys in the area keeping watch since that day. Surprisingly enough, Vincenzo's people have done very little. Even after speaking to Trey, we haven't heard of any plans."

"Does that worry you?" I asked Isabelle after a few moments of silence.

"No," she said sharply. "That's for my father to worry about. My concern is you. I told him many years ago that that I had no interest in joining the family business. When he retires, that will be it." I nodded, not wanting to push the subject. "So you won't talk to anyone about it then?" She said after a moment.

I bit my lip and shook my head. "I'm fine. I'll be fine. I'm tougher than that. Besides. It's not like I can tell a therapist I was kidnapped by a gang."

This made Isabelle sigh again. "I don't doubt that, but that's precisely why I'm worried. If you do want to talk to someone, my father knows people and you won't have to worry about speaking your mind." She got up and stood beside the bed again. "Well, if you've made your decision, you'd better start catching up on the materials that you missed. Finals are approaching soon. Oh, and you best speak with you sister if you intend to take her home tomorrow."

This set my nerves off again. As unfair as it was that I hadn't even told my parents that Clara was alive, I couldn't bring myself to speak to them yet. I forced myself up off of the bed and walked towards the door. Isabelle stayed in the room, watching me from behind. I made my way down the halls to the room where Clara had been staying.

Once I approached the door, I knocked on it twice and waited. There was no verbal response, but a few seconds later, Clara opened the door. She seemed very surprised to see me, and her face broke out into a smile as she pulled me into a hug. I tried to relax into the hug, but I hadn't been doing well with touch at all.

When she finally released me, we entered her room together. "How are you feeling?" She asked me anxiously.

"Better." I said simply. I had admittedly been trying to placate her with my response, but contrary to what one might expect, my decision to jump right back into school had helped a bit. I couldn't spend all day at home again thinking about Francis' hands on me. "I think I should take you home tomorrow."

Clara looked quite startled at this. "Home?"

"Mom and dad's," I clarified, realizing that she probably didn't consider it home after so many years. Was Vincenzo's house home to her? I didn't dare ask.

"Oh," she mumbled, looking down after a moment. "Um, yes. I should see them."

"You don't want to?" I asked, looking at her.

Clara was silent for a minute. "What would I even say to them?" She spoke in a low tone, not looking at me. "Dad told me that Flynn was no good, and I didn't believe him. I left them to worry for so long."

"They won't care about that. You're alive. That's all they ever wanted."

"I dragged you into this hell now." She continued. "I don't know, Ari."