Page 21 of Ma Belle Marguerite (Hidden Secrets #1)

Isabella

T he ride back to my house feels much slower since I have no one to argue with.

The guy driving won't even look at me. Actually, I don't think I've seen him look in the rearview mirror once, almost as if he is scared to make eye contact. I don’t know if I prefer the silence to think or at least having someone to talk to, even if it is dealing with an arrogant jerk.

I pull my phone from my pocket and text Camille quickly, telling her that I will meet her and the kids at the school in about fifteen minutes. I just need to change into something a bit more comfortable and grab a snack. In all my frustrations this morning, I didn’t eat breakfast.

Which reminds me, I cannot believe Rex thinks he can just come back into my life and dictate how things will go.

We’re not teenagers anymore. I have children to think of now, and they are my main focus.

Even if I didn't have the children, he can't expect someone to drop everything and move because he said so. I know that’s how he was raised to be the big bad boss and not take no for an answer, but this isn’t his work.

I am a human with feelings and if he cares as much as he says he does, then he would let me decide.

Next thing I know, we are pulling up in front of the house.

I look up at the guy driving to say, “Thanks for the ride.

You can let me out here and head back. I don't have anywhere else to go.” As soon as the vehicle comes to a stop, I quickly pull up on the handle to unlock my door and hop out before he can say anything otherwise.

I shove my phone in my pocket. I have a feeling Rex told him to stick with me today, and I don't want to deal with that right now, so lying it is. Hopefully he won’t get in too much trouble because of me, but I need space to think.

Without looking back, I walk straight to my front door while pulling my keys from my purse, unlock it, and slide inside.

Closing the door and locking it behind me, I let out a deep breath.

What a fucking morning! I drop my purse at the door and head to my room.

Now, I need to get changed quickly and hope he leaves before I’m ready to meet Camille and the kids at the school.

The last thing I need is to be showing up to the school with some random man and the kids seeing me with him.

I don’t feel like trying to explain any of this to them right now.

Obviously they know I am from here and know lots of people, but they have met many of them whenever we came back for visits with my parents.

Today, Remi is getting a chance to try out for the football team.

He doesn’t need any distractions from me.

Tryouts for this year were already done, but because we just moved into town, the school made an exception.

I’m sure my father put in a ‘good word,’ as he calls it, with the coach.

I wonder what dirt he has to hold over his head to have the coach agree so eagerly.

I’m sure adding a new player mid season is not an easy feat.

I walk through the quiet house towards my bedroom, enjoying the moment of peace. When I open the door, it looks like a tornado blew through my room. What the hell happened here?

I know this wasn't the kids. They know better than to go into my room, let alone destroy it. Brielle will sometimes borrow shirts but doesn’t throw things everywhere. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I text Camille and tell her I might be a little bit longer than expected.

After that, I decide to text Rex. He did mention forcing me to move, but why would he have his guys search my room? This doesn’t make any sense. Did he not believe me all this time and just been playing with me? What could he have had them looking for?

Did you send someone over to my house?

Unsure how long it will take for him to respond, I decide to start picking up my clothes. Why the fuck did they throw everything all over? Walking farther into my room, I see that not only are my clothes shredded, but so is my bed. It looks like someone took a knife to everything. What the fuck?

Thankfully, my father insisted I not only own a gun but learn to use it.

With slightly shaky hands, I open my safe.

It looks like they tried to smash and get in but gave up.

Grabbing my gun and the magazine, I quickly load it.

Taking a deep breath to prepare myself in case I need to use it.

I have never had to shoot someone before, and I don’t want to now.

Who would do this? I jump as I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. Seeing my bedroom destroyed has me a little jumpy. Maybe I should lock myself in my room since whoever did this isn’t in here.

I take my phone out and see that Rex answered me.

No, I didn’t. Why?

Someone was here, and they destroyed my bedroom. Everything is cut up.

My phone starts ringing in my hand as soon as it shows read, and it’s Rex.

I answer, “Hello?”

“Get out of the house, now !” Rex yells into the phone. “My driver is still outside. Let him clear the house.”

“No, I’m a big girl. I have my gun from my safe.

Besides, I need to get to the twin's school. If you want him to check the house out, text him yourself. I need to make sure everything important is still here.” I come off a little snarky, but too bad.

He really needs to stop bossing me around.

“I can take care of myself.” I try to sound more confident than I feel.

“Isabella,” he never calls me by my full name.

“If you are not outside in five minutes waiting with my driver, I will put you over my knee and show you what happens when you don’t listen.

” Rex sounds so sexy when he is all growly like this.

Focus, Bella! “Take your gun and get out of the house now,” he warns me again.

“I can handle this myself. Do what you want, and I will do what I need to.” I’m getting annoyed with him, so I hang up before he can answer.

He doesn’t understand what it means to be a single parent.

We can’t just sit back and wait for other people to do things for us.

Besides I grew up in this world too; I can take care of myself.

I should check the kids' rooms. I hold my gun in front of me like my father taught me and step towards my door. But before I even get down the hall, my phone vibrates in my pocket again. Just in case it’s Camille, I pull it out to check.

Of course it’s Rex, but there is also a missed message from Camille.

I open Camille’s message first. I scan quickly so I can focus on my surroundings.

Don’t worry, the twins found a couple of new friends and have been keeping themselves occupied. Remi's tryout starts soon, though!

I slip back into my room and close the door.

I will get there ASAP. I’m almost done dealing with something at the house.

I answer her quickly as another message from Rex comes in.

Why did you hang up? I’m already on my way with D. Wait for me! I don’t want you to get hurt.

Why haven’t you gone out to my driver yet? He said the door was locked, and you aren’t answering the door. This isn’t a game Bella, get out now!

I see the tell-tale three dots appear at the bottom of the screen. Fuck! I should go unlock it. A noise in Remi’s room grabs my attention before I have time to see what Rex is sending or answer his last two messages.

I place my phone back in my pocket as I tip-toe towards Remi’s room. The door is open. I try to peek around the corner while keeping myself mostly hidden in the hallway. I catch a glimpse of a shadow in the window.

Not thinking, I throw all caution to the wind and run over to the window with my gun held in front of me, hoping to catch a glimpse of a face or something to have an idea of who this is.

It is wide open, and the screen is missing.

I see something moving at the bush line at the back of my yard.

It is too far to tell what it is, or who it is.

Who the fuck would do this, I just moved back here. Why would they want to rob me?

I hear a loud vehicle screeching to a stop out front.

I’m going to guess it is Rex and D. I turn around to see that Remi’s room is untouched except for the shoebox he usually keeps under his bed.

All the items are sprawled out on the bed.

Oh no! Remi will be heartbroken if they took or destroyed anything.

Angrily, I rush over to the bed to see if they damaged anything.

I drop my gun to the bed and let out a sigh of relief, as it’s all keepsakes he holds close to his heart from his father.

Thankfully it looks like everything is untouched and accounted for.

I put everything back in the box and hide it under the bed before turning to go to the front door.

These are his private things, I don’t need Rex or anyone else seeing them without Remi’s permission. His privacy has already been invaded; I don’t need to make that worse. Although I won’t be telling him about this.

As I approach the door, I hear banging and yelling. The closer I get, the better I can hear the voices. Rex is arguing with someone. Of course.

I rush to open the door, but the door flies open with a huge bang before I can get down the stairs.

“What the fuck! You just broke my door.” I cannot believe this man.

He not only busted my door, but he’s going to get the neighbours attention with all this noise.

“Be quiet. I don’t need my only neighbor hearing all this commotion and calling the cops.

Put your guns away, nobody is here,” I scold Rex and D as they scan the living room.

Turning to look at me, Rex looks furious, yet relieved. “Why weren’t you answering the door or my messages? I could see you read them! Yeah, I busted your door in, but I wouldn’t have needed to if you had listened to me and been outside.” He starts his tirade of angry rambling.