Make sure to read Chapter 9 first!

Izan

After Henry took care of Alvaro's two broken and bruised fingers, we took him back to Mama Vivian. 

The second I stepped into the house, I got the scolding of a century from Papa. I was thirty years old, and I was reprimanded like a child. I didn't argue or talk back because I deserved it. 

By being careless, I hurt my baby brother not long after he got kidnapped.

I might have scarred the little man for life, but the way he stroked my head once Papa was done spitting on me, I embraced him tightly and whispered, "Lo siento mucho, Alvaro." 

Alvaro kissed my cheek. "It's okay, Izan. Te amo!" he smiled like he was all fine. He was not all fine, and the cast on his hand was proof of that. [I love you.]

Verena silently watched our exchange, but I tried not to be bothered by her intense, analyzing gaze. 

"Te amo mucho. Now, take a nap. You need it," I instructed, handing him to Mama Vivian, and she walked to his room, followed by Papa. 

"Let's go." I grabbed my car keys and opened the main door.

"Where to?" Verena asked while putting on her shoes, trying not to fall over.

"Mall."

I fucking swear her eyes twinkled when I said it, and I immediately regretted my decision, but I could not back down. She didn't have anything to wear or use, and it was rude of me to just ignore that. "I love malls. But we don't have to go if it's for me," she said softly and got into the car. 

I drove after I made sure she buckled up. "Why would I go to the mall?"

She shrugged. "I don't know... to buy clothes for yourself? I don't want you to buy me anything. It's enough you allowed me to sleep in your house. I'm already a burden."

This woman...

"Shut the fuck up."

She snapped her head toward me and glared at me for the first time since I met her. "Excuse you? I'm grateful but not naïve enough to let you talk to me like that. Now take that back," she exclaimed with crossed arms, looking like an angry kitten. 

When I didn't say anything, she fucking opened the door, making me slam my brakes in the middle of a busy road.

I gaped at her in disbelief that she'd actually do something like that. "Are you out of your damn mind?" My chest was heaving with rage, but she looked smug and proud of what she did.

"No, but I want you to take what you said back."

I shut my eyes briefly, ignoring the car horns behind us, and then looked at her. "For fuck's sake, I take it back. Now close the fucking door!"

Smiling like she won the lottery, she did as I asked, and I drove. "You have a foul mouth," she commented, and I resisted the urge to throw her out of the car.

"Fuck this shit," I muttered, but she heard me. Of course, she did.

"Ducking is your favorite?" she asked, unaware of the underlying meaning behind her question. I knew she didn't mean it like that, yet I couldn't help but mess with her. It was the least I could do after the stunt she pulled.

"I do love fucking."

It's been three years since I had a one-night stand. 

I don't do relationships.

She doesn't need to know that.

She arched her eyebrows at my reply, and after a minute of complete silence, her eyes widened—a very delayed reaction. "I meant the word, not the action! Why does everything I say sound so sexual? I am as innocent as they come but unintentionally have the dirtiest mind. Dang it," she was talking to herself, and I shook my head, feeling exhausted before we even began the shopping spree.

~~~

"I think I bought enough," she said, holding the one outfit I bought for her. I stared at her, and she smiled. "Seriously, it's more than enough. You have a washing machine, right? I will wash what Vivian gave me and wear these."

I grabbed her elbow and dragged her to the next store. She needed more, and she was not going to ask for anything, even if she needed it. I hated this trait in people.

Just fucking say what you want!

"Izan, you are generous and kind and very nice, well... sometimes. That's enough for me," she tried to reason, but I bent over to face her.

"I don't care what you think of me. I'm buying you more things. Now shut the fu-" I stopped myself from cursing at her and sighed. "Shut up and pick something. If not, I will buy the whole damn store. Believe me, I can buy the mall if I want to." 

I wasn't joking, and she finally understood.

"Fine, fine, fine! I will let you buy me more clothes, but you will tell me if the outfits I try on are good or not," she bargained.

I nodded. "Bien."

After an hour of her trying on basic shirts and jeans, I called for the worker and asked her to bring a few fancy dresses. I knew what most girls liked, as I used to accompany Camila whenever she wanted to buy something. Verena would not ask for anything more than the basic attire, and I wasn't having it.

"What is this?" she asked the worker once she placed more than ten dresses on the counter next to the dressing room.

"Your boyfriend requested these," the worker answered, and Verena's eyes widened at her words.

I didn't bother to correct her because she wouldn't see us again, but Verena had other wicked plans. "He wishes to be my boyfriend, but ew... he's my brother," she lied, then winked at me. I groaned, cursing under my breath.

The worker's face turned red. "I am so sorry." She ran to another customer, and I wanted to hang Verena on the wall and leave her there.

I walked to her, handed her a dress, and pushed her inside the fitting room. "You have no filter."

She laughed. "Says the one who always curses. It was pretty funny. Did you see her face? Her eyes almost popped out!" I couldn't help but grin. "See?" she pointed at my mouth. "You do agree." I pushed her further inside and closed the door.

"Hurry up," I demanded and opened my phone to read yesterday's messages and emails. My men didn't know I was back home since I didn't tell them what happened with Alvaro. I sent a quick text to Juan, filling him in on our current situation. 

Not a minute later, he called.

"Boss, did you kill whoever kidnapped the little angel?" he asked, sounding deadly and firm. He was forty and the 'dad' in the mafia. His fatherly instincts kicked in, and I appreciated his worry.

I sighed. "Not yet. He was not there. But the woman, Verena, will be working with us. I will explain everything tomorrow," I replied and turned off my phone when she got out wearing a very tight blue dress. She looked good in it, but I could tell she was uncomfortable.

"No," I said, and she sighed in relief.

Next was a knee-length, flowy black dress. "Yes." She smiled and nodded.

"How about this one? Is it too smexy?" she asked playfully before stepping out, and when I saw her, I froze. It felt like she sucked all the air from my lungs, consuming my soul with herself. "It's that bad, huh?" She looked disheartened.

I snapped out of my daze and cleared my dry throat. "No! Get it. It looks good." She looked way too sexy in red, but I wanted to see her wear it someday.

What has gotten into you, Izan?

You only met her yesterday.

"Okay," she smiled and tried a few more dresses. 

After half an hour, I bought her what she wanted, and we stepped out of the store, deciding to eat something. However, before I could take a step forward and without warning, she dropped her bags and jumped in my arms, taking me by surprise.

From the way she was shaking, something was wrong. "¿Qué pasó?" I asked as she hid her face between my neck and collarbone and wrapped her arms around my shoulders as if her life depended on it. [What happened?]

"Dad. Two o'clock," she whispered, and my eyes landed on Dexter Amaryllis. 

He was searching for something or someone, most likely Verena, and I didn't want him to see her. He caused her to quiver like that. He fucking scared her. 

"He knows I am here. Heath must have told him! He definitely checked surveillance cameras." She trembled in my arms, and I tightened my grip around her small body. "Let's leave. Vamos, por favor!"

I nodded and grabbed the bags in one hand while keeping a secure grip around her. "I won't let him near you," I reassured her, and she nodded. 

I felt protective over the woman whom I met a day ago, which was damaging to my mental health.

What is she doing to me?

~~~ 

22.12.2023 

Um... hello? Protective Izan is finally making an appearance.