Desperado- The Rise and Search

Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

Isabella

Lucca wasn't joking around when he said he was taking all precautions. After we put up the tree on Saturday, all of the Moretti men left because they had business to deal with. Me and Carson had our normal movie day on Sunday. But I was awaken this morning by a knock from the front door. Me being in my sleepy state, I just opened the door without thinking of anything and I was greeted by four men. Two with familiar faces and I've never seen the other two before.

Ron and Robert, my alleged bodyguards, introduced me to Carson bodyguards. Matt and Nate are much more stiff than Ron and Robert. Lucca must have gave them a nice pep talk. They informed me that they'll be taking and picking him up from school unless I say otherwise. It's like they work for me which is still hard for me to try to wrap my brain around.

I reluctantly let them take my little brother to school. If Lucca trust them, then I don't see a problem. I trust him and his decisions. They also informed me that they'll be posing as janitors. How cliche. Whatever it takes to ensure that he's safe.

"Isabella." I lift my gaze away from my book and give my attention to Dorothy. "Can I speak to you for a moment?" I nod my head and follow her to the back of the store into her little office.

"Is everything okay?" I ask once we're seated.

She smiles. "Of course. I just need to ask you something. You've been like the daughter I've never had ever since you started coming here since you were a child. I would always find you in the same corner reading some book that was out of your age range." We both share a laugh. "But as you know, my husband isn't doing to well and I need to be home more to take care of him.

I take a good look at Dorothy and see that her face is stress ridden now. "I'm sorry about your husband, but what does this have to do with me?" I ask tentatively.

She sighs. "Would you like to own the store?"

I blink a few times. Me? Owning the bookstore? With Carson, I won't have anytime to run the store.

She sees my hesitation. "You don't have to take full ownership of it if you don't want to. I can come once a week and check all of the sales and all of the technical things. I'll pay you more as well. It would be like you're still a manager, but you would have to do a few extra things."

"Such as?" I ask softly.

"For instance, you can hire people if you feel like you and Sed can't handle it. And since it'll only be you two, you would have to open and close the store since Sed is still a minor."

"Close the store? I'm Carson's only care taker. I don't have a babysitter."

She sighs. "You know he can hang out here until the store closes. But like I said, you can hire someone else that is above eighteen and they can close the store up."

"If I open and close the store, that'll be what?" I count to myself quietly. The store opens at eight and closes at seven and we're closed on Sunday's. "That'll be eleven hours a day for six days out of the week. Not only will I be exhausted, I can't keep dragging Carson to work with me. It wouldn't be fair to him." I exclaim.

Dorothy leans back in her chair while sighing. "I know Isabella. I was just asking because it's a great opportunity for you. You do need the money."

I take a deep breath while I try to gather my rational thoughts. I know I need the money. Heck, working all of those hours plus a higher pay, I'll be able to go shopping for myself. But on the other hand, I know my body won't let me work eleven hours for six days. I can barely work my normal shifts now.