Heartstrings and High Stakes

Chapter 14

The night stretched on but sleep eluded Eliott. He lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, mind racing with thoughts of his father, Nikolai, and Isabella. Everything she had told him echoed in his head—his father's involvement, Noah's death, and the brutal encounter in the warehouse. It didn't make sense, and yet it all fit together in a way that made him sick to his stomach.

Morning came, and with it, a tense breakfast with his father. James was his usual composed self, but Eliott could see the faint signs of stress—a tightness in his jaw, the way his eyes flicked toward the phone as if waiting for news.

"Everything alright, Dad?" he asked casually, hoping to gauge his father's mood.

James glanced at him over the rim of his coffee cup. "Just business," he said smoothly. "Things are... delicate right now."

Eliott nodded, keeping his expression neutral. But beneath the surface, his suspicions deepened. He wanted to push, to ask more questions, but he knew he had to be careful. His father wasn't a fool.

"Everything okay with you?" his dad asked casually, sipping his coffee, noticing his son's distracted behavior. Eliott forced a smile. "Yeah. Just thinking about... last night." James looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly, but didn't question anything further.

"I might head out for a while," Eliott said, standing up. "Clear my head." He gave him a distracted nod, already turning his attention to some papers on the table. "Take care, son."

As Eliott left the house, he called his friend again. "How's Isabella?" he asked, his voice tense. "She's recovering," Mark replied. "She's strong, but... she's still pretty shaken up about Noah. She needs time, Eli." Eliott's grip tightened on the steering wheel as he drove. "Thanks for keeping an eye on her. I'll be there soon."

When the call ended, his thoughts returned to Isabella. He couldn't stop worrying about her. She was caught in something big, and despite everything, he still felt drawn to her—worried about her safety, her well-being. A part of him was angry at her for dragging him into this mess, but another part knew that her intentions were pure. She hadn't asked for any of this.

When he arrived at Mark's house, Isabella was sitting on the couch, staring out the window. The bruises on her face had faded slightly, but the pain in her eyes was raw and deep. Eliott's heart ached as he sat down beside her.

"Hey," he said softly. Isabella turned to look at him, her expression guarded. "Did you talk to your father?" Eliott nodded. "Yeah. He told me... that you and Noah were trying to bring down our business."

Isabella's eyes flashed with anger, but Eliott raised a hand. "I don't believe him. At least, not entirely. Something's off. I asked about Nikolai, and he didn't give me much. Said he was a 'trusted partner.' But when I looked into the records, there's nothing. No trace of him anywhere. I'm starting to think you're right."

She let out a shaky breath, relief mingling with her suspicion. "So, what now?"

Eliott leaned back on the sofa, running a hand through his hair. "We need proof. I can't confront him without something solid. If we can find out what Nikolai's really up to, we might be able to tie it back to my dad."

Isabella was silent for a moment before she spoke again. "I don't want you getting hurt, Eliott. I shouldn't have dragged you into this."

"You didn't," Eliott replied softly. "I'm already involved, whether I like it or not."

After a few minutes of thinking, an idea struck Eliott. "There's a chance my dad keeps sensitive records somewhere else. Off the books. If we can find them, we'll have what we need."

Isabella's eyes sharpened with focus. "Where would he hide something like that?"

"There's an estate outside the city," he said slowly. "A private place he goes to when he wants to get away. I've only been there once, but... it's secluded. If he's hiding something, it could be there."

Her mind was already racing with the possibilities. "Then we need to get in and find it. But we'll need a plan. And backup." Eliott glanced at her, hesitant. "Are you sure you're ready for this? You've just... been through a lot."

Isabella's expression softened as she shook her head. "I don't have a choice, Eliott. This is bigger than me. We need to stop them before more people get hurt." Eliott couldn't argue with that. The weight of responsibility was heavy on his shoulders now, the lines between loyalty to his family and doing what was right blurring more with each passing hour.

"We'll go tonight," he decided. "I'll tell Mark to stay close, just in case."

Isabella nodded, her shoulders sagging slightly. "Sometimes, it's just hard... this job. And I miss Noah too." Her eyes well up with tears, and as much as she tried to mask her grief by turning her head towards the window, a single tear rolled down her cheek. Eliott noticed it immediately, and before he could stop himself, he gently wiped it away with his thumb. His touch was soft, lingering just a moment too long, and he couldn't help but notice how even in her grief, she looked beautiful. 

But he pushed that thought down, focusing on consoling her. He gently held her chin and trained her eyes back onto him. "Hey, I understand... but you're doing what's right. And I'm sorry about Noah. I really am." The space between them felt charged, their faces only inches apart, and they both could feel the tension. But before the moment could shift into something more, Eliott pulled away with a steadying breath, offering her his shoulder to rest on instead. Isabella leaned into him, her head heavy with sorrow, and for the first time in a long while, she let herself feel safe—even if just for a fleeting moment.