Page 149 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 5

“Isabella.”

I sat up a little straighter. “What was she yelling about?”

“You.”

My heartbeat kicked up a notch. My name in Isabella’s mouth couldn’t be a good thing. “Was she arguing with someone?”

“No. She was just having a fit. It sounded like she was throwing things. I heard glass breaking. I put one of your pillows over my head to try to drown her out, but it was impossible. I’ve heard her mad before. I’m used to her wrath. But she sounded terrifying, Brooklyn. I don’t think she has any intention of being civil with you.”

The blood in my veins turned to ice. “Did anyone try to calm her down?”

“If they did, they didn’t do a good job. It went on for like half an hour. Actually, now that I think about it, she must have been on the phone with your dad. Because I definitely heard her say Daddy a lot. Gag.”

I felt like I did gag. Or more like I couldn’t breathe. Deep breaths. In and out. At least I hadn’t been there. I was safe here, right?

“Speaking of your dad, I really don’t think he’s Satan anymore. He even came to check in on me a little while ago. It was sweet. He apologized to my mom about what happened. He brought us some dinner from this fancy Italian place on the Upper East Side. My mom was so excited. I’m pretty sure she even forgave him, even though she didn’t say those words exactly. You know how she is.”

“That’s good.” My dad had been sweet to me too. And it warmed my heart to know that he’d checked up on Kennedy. I’d been away from him for a few hours and I was already forgetting that he was changing. He wasn’t what Mr. Caldwell said. And I wasn’t a monster either. My dad was just very misunderstood.

I shifted the cellphone to my other ear. “You said Isabella eventually stopped yelling? Did she sound less mad at the end? And what do you mean by being civil with me? What did she say exactly?”

“One second, Mama!” Kennedy yelled. “I have to go. My mom made my favorite rice pudding and it’s getting cold. I’ll see you at school tomorrow. Stay safe in the vampire mansion!”

“Wait, Kennedy?”

But she’d already hung up the phone.Shit.Isabella had no intention of beingcivilwith me. Did that mean she was still planning on kicking me out of town? Murdering me or one of my friends? Taking Matt as her own?

I looked down at my phone. It was tempting to call Kennedy back, but she’d sounded happy during our conversation. I wanted her to have a relaxing night with her mom. I just wished I was with her tonight. As much as I wanted to be here with Matt…I wanted Kennedy to know that I was there for her. Because despite what she said, everything that had happened last night was my fault. Isabella wanted to hurt me. And Kennedy had been drugged to cause me pain. I didn’t want to put anyone in danger ever again.

God.How was my dad going to keep me safe? How could he protect me and my friends?

I heard a noise in the hall.Shit.I went to shove the nightstand drawer shut but a velvet box tucked into the corner caught my eye. I glanced at the door to make sure Matt wasn’t coming in. And then I reached into the drawer to grab the box.

It was a jewelry box. I flipped open the velvet top.Oh. Wow.There was a huge circular diamond in the middle, surrounded by smaller diamonds on the silver band. I’d touched expensive ball gowns and tiaras, but they were nothing compared to this. It was beautiful. It didn’t look new. There were scratches along the band that made it look like it had been worn in love already. For some reason, I thought it would have looked lovely with my mom’s blue dress. My heart ached. I’d never know. My dress was gone. And this ring certainly wasn’t mine. But God, it was beautiful. I ran my thumb along the glistening band.Vintage.That was what Justin would have called it. I liked vintage more than new.

“Do you like it?” Matt asked.

I looked up at him.Crap.When had he come in? “Oh. No. I mean yes. It’s beautiful. But I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…” I went to put it back in the drawer, but he caught my hand.

“Do you want to try it on?”

“What?”

He pulled the ring out of the box and lifted my left hand. “Just to see if it fits.”

My eyes locked with his. He wanted me to try it on? I couldn’t. “I…” my thoughts trailed away when he slid it onto my ring finger.

“A perfect fit,” he said.

For just a few seconds we were both silent. I wasn’t even sure I was breathing. It was so beautiful that it hurt.

“I guess you should just wear it then.” His hand slid off mine.

I laughed. “Wait, what? I can’t.”

“Why? I’ll be giving it to you in a few years anyway.”

Oh, Matt.My heart was beating faster and faster the longer I wore it. Like it was so happy it was about to explode. “Then we should wait, right? We should…”