Isabella
I stared dumbfounded at Alex's retreating figure as he walked away.
D-did he just kiss me? On the head?
I glance down at Rena who's smiling innocently but I know she's behind that sudden move from Alex.
"Mommy, what about our cake?" Rena asks me.
I smile and pick her up, hoisting her on my hip as I enter the kitchen.
"How about we make something easier?" I suggest and place her on the counter top.
It's not that I'm not in the mood for cakes but I'm not sure I can bake one right now from how high I feel right now.
And the last time I felt this kind of high was the first time I took pot.
My hands are still trembling even though it's been about an hour since I drove the damn car.
And God help me I want to feel that thrill one more time.
I realised I'd forgotten what it meant to feel alive until I touched that wheel. Hell I wasn't sure I was actually going for it.
Rena and I opt for a simple pie and while it was cooking, I took Rena upstairs and changed her clothes for her, grabbing the baby monitor with me as we headed downstairs.
The girls and Grayson are nowhere to be seen and the same thing with Alex's brothers.
The pie finishes up after a very long while and Rena isn't even tired in the least.
Rena flashes me a grin as I serve her a slice.
"So what were you and Daddy discussing?" I ask as I fed her.
"School." She said. I don't buy it but I also drop it and focus on making sure she's ready for bed.
"I don't wanna go to bed right now." She whined once she came out of the bathroom.
"You have school tomorrow Rena." I replied and tuck her in amongst all the huge toys and teddy bears.
I noticed the dolls Hannah had gotten her were missing.
"Rena, where are the new toys your grandmother brought for you?" I asked.
Rena's cheeks turn pink slightly and the action took me by surprise.
"Um I asked Bwasin to give them out for me." She answered.
I raised a brow. "Why don't you like them?" I questioned. Rena tried to hide behind the covers with an embarrassed smile.
"I like basketball" she finally said after a beat of silence.
I stared at her, stunned by her answer because she threw me way off guard.
"You like basketball? Rena that's lovely!" I smile.
Her eyes light up almost immediately. "Really, you're not going to get mad at me?" She asked
I shook my head and scoot closer to her. "I'll support you no matter what, little star. Who's your favorite player?" I asked her.
Her lips curl into a full grin. "Kevin Durant" Rena replied eagerly. Then she goes on to tell me she usually watches it with Grayson and she wants to be a player one day.
The only problem is that she's a Mafia princess. That's a stain on her reputation considering the fact that she made me swear I'd hide it from Alex.
It's so ironic that people from Alex's world expect the women to be so damn perfect. A housewife to be more clear.
Rena finally falls asleep and I sighed, grabbing the baby monitor with me as I left.
Today was weird as hell.
Alex had a fiancée I never knew about, I'm no longer afraid of cars, Alex makes a move that shocked me and my daughter can't get Kevin Durant's name out of her mouth.
A damn day it is.
I find a bottle of wine in Alex's office and I decided to relax on the patio.
I take a few sips, welcoming the mild burst of flavors on my tongue.
So he does have good taste in wine too.
My phone buzzed against my leg and wariness crept up my skin once I realised it was an unknown number.
It could be him
I answer the call with shaky hands and start with a small 'Hello'
"You sound like a broken chord, what's wrong?" A deep familiar voice answered.
I nearly choke on my drink. "Sebastian?" I sputter.
"You sound surprised, is Alex with you?" He asked.
I snorted. "No and if he was it doesn't change things." I said.
Like Alex would give a shit about what I do.
"So you're alone then, what'ya doing?" He asked.
I take a big gulp. "Drinking." I shrugged
Sebastian tsked. "Classic you." He said.
I suddenly remember a particular someone. "How's Aria?" I asked.
"She's fine, asleep right now."
I don't question him because Sebastian's not a liar and sometimes I hate when he's right.
"So you have a daughter huh?" He asked.
I pour my self another drink. "Yeah her name's Rena."
"I know and she's four and a half." He said. I don't need to ask how he knew cause he probably knows everything.
The cool breeze hits me in the face. "How'd you get my number?" I asked and Sebastian huffs like I just insulted him.
"It was easy to find but the question is how did you end up with Alex fucking De Luca?" He asked with obvious anger.
I turn defensive immediately. "He's my husband, Sebastian." I warn.
I could picture him rolling his eyes. "Thought we'd already established the fact that I don't give a damn. Tell me was your father involved?" He demanded.
I bite the inside of my cheek, not knowing what to say. "No, he had no idea." I lied
"Uh huh, you just happened to fall in love with the most craziest mobster ever?" He questioned mockingly.
My heart does a flip at his words which is oddly strange. "I never said I was in love with him." I said.
There's a short silence. "So if not for love why else would you marry someone like Alex?" He asked.
My brain goes blank on an attempt to lie. "I thought you were the craziest mobster ever?" I asked.
"Don't deflect Isa, tell me the truth" He answers almost immediately
I sighed. He's caught me, he always does.
"Fine so he was involved." I said.
Sebastian sighed this time. "Tell me something Isa, why the fuck would you be willing to cover up for an ass like your father who doesn't give two shits about you?" He asked calmly.
Ouch. It stings but I can't deny that he's right.
"I don't know." I muttered
Sebastian switches topics before I can bawl my eyes out and when we hang up, I realize it's really late and I'm not halfway through my drink.
I turn just in time as the girls and Grayson walk in with their brothers behind them.
"Hi Isa." Julia said, going into the kitchen.
"Hey, Rena and I made some pie so you can help yourself to some." I smile.
Grayson maintains a far distance. "You too Grayson." I said.
They all thank me for the pastry even though I told them not to.
I sit outside some more, the alcohol and the breeze comforting me and easing all the tension in my body.
I don't notice when Sofia and her sisters leave for their room at when Grayson leaves too until I'm ambushed by Alex's brothers.
Well two actually.
I glanced between Marco and Javier, worried about the cold look in their eyes, especially Marco's.
"You're not wanted here." He said icily that I flinched.
"I don't understand all of this." I said, stealing a curious glance at the youngest, Leo who quickly averted his gaze.
"He won't help you." Marco said, snapping me out of my thoughts, advancing towards me.
"Why don't you tell me why you're really here, Isa?" Marco asked and a vice like grip grabs my arm and I realise it's Javier.
"What are you doing let me go." I frantically panic but neither of them notice.
"Guys I don't think-" Leo tried to intervene but he shuts up when Marco glowers at him.
Javier is surprisingly strong and I have no doubt it won't leave a bruise on my arm.
"Alex isn't in love with you and neither are you and honestly Rena doesn't need a mother which basically says you're useless." Marco spat out.
' _Give him an heir, it's the only thing you're useful for'_ I wince at the pain in my arm, remembering how my dad held me just like this on my wedding day.
"Let go right now it else-"
"Or else what? You'd call Alex? I'd like to see how and besides he won't come." Marco said.
Even though I wasn't thinking of Alex, I know he's right.
Marco bends so he can whisper directly to my ear. "You know why?" He asked with absolute mockery.
I swallow hard as my throat closes up. "Because you're not _her_ , You'll never be like Arianna because she owned his heart." He snarled.
He's also right again.
"You on the other hand is the woman he's forced to be with, a clone and the bitchy slut that just warms his bed." H
My hand strikes Marco's cheek hard and in return, I get thrown to the ground and my already wounded arm all but snaps.
"If I were you I'd run off." Javier added before the both stalked off. I bite down on my lip, containing my scream of pain and anger as I nurse my broken arm.
Oh it's definitely broken.
"Isa fuck are you alright I-" Leo started.
"Go away, please." I manage to get out.
"I'm sorry Isa, they're not usually like this." He said.
He retreats with a terse nod and I remain on the floor, cold and angry.
A bitter laughter tears through my throat, what the hell does he mean by they're not usually like that.
They're not fucking dogs but that act like one.
Warm his bed? Seriously?
I laugh again but this time the anger is less because Javier and Marco De Luca are the dumbest I've ever known.
Or maybe because I'm drunk.
I'd have to give it to them, they fooled me pretty well with all the fake smiles.
They probably think Alex and I bang every time we get the chance when I've never even seen the man in question bare chested let alone naked.
It's true. Alex and I have a routine, he gets dressed before I do and I don't see him when want to and honestly I like that way.
I laugh again at them because seriously, what kind of shit did those two get high on.
And then they said run off, like I didn't just do that but as Sebastian said, Alex is crazy and pretty violent too.
My mind drifts to Arianna, the person behind I problems. Not that I hate her but she's a real trouble maker.
Even in death.
I turn my head to the side not caring about the cold as I spot my bottle and I resume drinking.
*Alexander*
Liam, Elena and I finish up early and I find myself going back home.
The first thing I see as I walk in is Isabella's body sprawled out on the patio.
Fuck.
I smirked and sat next to her, eyeing the empty bottle of wine a few feet away.
"Thought you were asleep?" I asked.
Isabella sat up, tucking her knees under her arms.
"I was until you disrupted my sleep with those loud footsteps." She scowled at me.
"You're drunk." I said instead once I caught a whiff of the said wine.
"I'm not, it's going to take more than wine to get me drunk." She pouted and I sighed deeply.
I look down and noticed she'd been cradling her left arm with the side.
"What happened to your arm?" I asked
Isabella hid the arm again. "Nothing," She said.
I eyed the arm one last time before deciding to drop it.
"So did Liam kick your ass this time for me?" Isabella asked, blowing the strands of hair in her face.
"Unfortunately no." I sighed, faking disappointment
Like Liam could ever beat me. The fucker still owes me. I stood up and went straight to the kitchen to get done lemonade.
"Here, drink this it'll help." I said, handing the drink to Isabella.
"Thanks." She muttered.
"So what happened with Liam?" She asked. I tensed a bit, my meeting with Liam and Elaina didn't go well.
"It's not important." I said.