Twenty-Four


    Sydney said I would never get involved with this mafia shit. No one would know that we talked


    about it. Did he think I would tell anyone after abandoning me and the baby?


    "I don''t understand whatever you''re telling me Mr James. Sydney never told me anything." ''Just act


    dumb Isabe.'' I tell myself. Maybe he will leave me alone.


    "Well, I just told you about it. So you still have to sign." Luke smirks at this and I roll my eyes.


    "What happens if I don''t sign it?" There''s no way I''ll sign it. There''s no way out. I can''t raise my son


    in this life.


    "As I said, you''ll be treated as a threat against the family. All you''re close ones will be tortured to


    death as you watch and the same will be done to youter on." Luke says this nonchntly. You


    could think he''s talking about the weather.


    "Look. I don''t want you to sign this under threats. Sydney feels like this will keep you safe since he''ll


    have people keeping an eye on you." Luke says this in a softer tone but I scoff.


    "I don''t care what that man feels. He could go..." I touch my belly and rub it. ''No swearing Isabe.'' I


    remind myself. "He can do what he wants. I don''t care." Luke looks amused at my actions but says


    nothing.


    "I don''t even understand why he would tell you and what sort of rtionship you two have." Luke


    adjusts himself on the bench. "I mean it''s not my business to pry even though he''s my best friend,


    but you really have to sign it. People will starting after you. Don''t risk your life and the baby''s."


    Sydney has a best friend? That seems almostughable. Sydney is always so broody and too


    serious but Luke is theplete opposite. I don''t voice my thoughts though.


    "Can you give me time?" I need to think about this. Signing that document is giving my life to the


    mafia. A ce I was promised to be protected from by the same person making me sign this. Why


    would Sydney make me sign this?


    "Twenty four hours. Give or take." Luke says as he stands. That''s better.


    "I''ll think about it. But I have one condition." I need answers. Luke raises an eyebrow.


    "So demanding are we?" I ignore his statement. "Sydney brings the papers tomorrow. Tell him we''ll


    meet at ''home''." Luke seems confused by this but smirks secondster.


    "Sure princess." He winks at me and before I say anything, he turns to go. I look at him


    dumbfounded until he stops and turns to me. "Youing?" Its then I notice he still has my heavy


    bag.


    *********


    "I''ll be back in two hours." I shout to Harry and Amelia as I hurriedly get out of the house to avoid


    questions. I have to meet up with Sydney at noon at the cottage. Luke only texted me that he''d be


    there at noon since that was the only time he was free.


    I get into my car. I here a knock on the side of my window and see a man dressed in a ck suit


    with sunsses. Should I get out? No. What if he was sent by some people? Gosh! I''m so paranoid


    these days. Damn Sydney and this mafia talk. I hear a message tone in my phone.


    Sydney: He''s with me. Go with him.


    My gaze returns to the man. He''s standing next to a white sports car.


    Me: What''s his name?


    Sydney: Joey Anderson.


    I get out and stand outside my door. "Any identification?" The man takes a badge from his inside


    pocket and hands it to me.


    Joey Anderson


    Age: 33 years old


    upation: bodyguard


    Satisfied, I return it to him and follow him to the beautiful car.


    He drives for about twenty minutes before he makes a left turn to somewhere I''ve never seen. My


    heart starts beating so fast but I don''t want to seem obviously scared.


    "Um, Joey, this isn''t the way." My voice doesn''t seem panicked and I silently thank God.


    "We''re meeting boss here." I only hum and try to seem in control but my heart rate hasn''t reduced at


    all. We stop after two minutes next to a familiar car. I breath in a deep breath to calm myself down.


    "I''m sorry for scaring you." Joey says and I whip my head to him so fast.


    "You weren''t that obvious but can I read people''s reactions." I nod and give him a small smile. He


    hadn''t talked the whole way here. I thank him as I get out and head towards Sydney''s car. He gets


    out andes to my side and opens the door for me. I slip in then he shuts it. He talks to Joey for a


    minute beforeing back to his seat and starts the long ten minutes ride to the cottage.


    We don''t talk until we reach. Sydney gets out first and before I open the door, he does it for me. I


    get out and head towards the cottage without a word. I''m only here for answers. I stand next to the


    door and wait for him toe open it. He opens the door in silence and waits for me to get in. I roll


    my eyes and pass through the door before he does. Stupid chivalry.


    "You should take your key back. I bought this ce for you."


    I don''t say anything until I seat on a love seat. "You want an out in the Mafia world but in the


    process, I''m dragged in. Why would you do that to me?" I take in a deep breath. Sydney is staring


    at my face but says nothing. "You promised nothing would happen to me. Why?" Sydney only takes


    some papers in the same envelope Luke had. He takes a pen and stands infront of me.


    "Sign them." He orders and I scoff.


    "You don''t get to do this. Talk to me." I see his infamous smirk and for a reason I feel so happy.


    "Now you want to talk. Let''s just get this over with. Sign and we won''t see each other again. I''m sure


    Luke told you everything." Sydney says cooly.


    I get up with from the love seat and immediately the baby kicks making me smile instantly. I''ll never


    get used to this feeling. I look up and see Sydney looking at me intently.


    "Why are you suddenly smiling?" The question brings me to reality and I suddenly stop.


    "Nothing, the baby just... Kicked." Sydney only nods but says nothing. "Why would you want to us to


    get involved?" I suddenly feel exhausted. We''re talking in circles and I''m tired.


    "It''s for your safety Isabe. This way I''ll be able to protect you both." I suddenly feel angry.


    "My baby and I don''t need your protection." I spit. I continued practicing shooting until I perfected it.


    I don''t own a gun but I''ve been nning to buy one.


    "That baby is also mine." I roll my eyes. Now the baby is his too.


    "I''m not that needy pregnant woman in need of your help Mr Kings. Let''s just stop this stupidity and


    move on with our lives."


    "When you sign this I''ll be sure you''re safe. The baby won''t have to be involved but at least he''ll be


    safe." Sydney almost shouts.


    "My privacy will be invaded. Wherever I go, I''ll be tracked. Who wants that life Sydney?" Why is he


    forcing me to do this? "Why do you really want me to do this? Now you don''t want to..." I''m stopped


    by sudden lips on mine. I don''t react for a second but let myself kiss him back.


    Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    The kisssts for about ten seconds but it has so many feelings. Frustration being the main one.


    "Please trust me on this." Sydney says breathlessly. I touch my lips in disbelief. I''ve always


    fantasized kissing Sydney but none could bepared to this. We kissed when I was drunk and


    horny. Then when I was in his office. At that time I wanted to get back at Ian but this... this can''t be


    compared to that.


    Sydneys forehead os resting on mine and we''re breathing the same air. I suddenly push him off me.


    "You maniptive son of a..."


    "Don''t swear."


    "Take me home." I say without looking at him. I feel a hand on my wrist. I look up and see Sydney''s


    face. "I wish everything would be different." His voice is low. I don''t say anything. I feel I should trust


    him for a reason but my mind doesn''t want to.


    Should I sign the damn papers?