Page 32 of Ma Belle Marguerite (Hidden Secrets #1)

Isabella

“ Y ou don’t need to bring them.” Oh wait, I don’t have my SUV. “Actually, I guess you’ll have to. Can someone take me to get my SUV this morning?” This better not become a regular thing!

Rex looks at me like I’ve grown two heads. “We’ll grab it this afternoon when you pack up stuff to bring here.” He sounds so sure of himself—like he’s the boss. He may be a boss, but he isn’t mine! I don’t care what he says, this working for him thing is bull shit.

Jerk. “Sure, that’ll be good. Thanks, Rex.

” Not. I will just need to find the keys once he leaves.

“I guess I’ll go make sure I have what I need ready for the day then.

” I turn and leave the room before he can see my face.

He can get someone to pick his car up later.

He will learn quickly that I do what I want now.

Hopefully, he doesn’t get too suspicious of my agreeing so easily. He always has been able to read my face no matter how well I think I’m hiding my thoughts and feelings. It can get quite annoying. Surprise parties never actually shocked him.

I take my time walking to my room. It seems I don’t have to rush to be anywhere or to do anything this morning. A more laid-back approach is going to take some getting used to; children and hospitals are anything but.

It has been so long since I last visited. Rex hasn’t changed things, besides my room, from when his parents lived here, although I haven’t checked out the gym or other rooms in that wing yet.

I trip while walking up the stairs and it brings back a memory from high school.

“Shhh, Bella, you’ll wake my parents.” Rex whisper yells as I giggle.

“Oh, Rexy, you always worry too much.” My words slur. Maybe I did drink too much tonight. Oh well, Rexy will take care of me.

Laughing to himself, he grabs me as I hiccup, miss a step, and start to fall. “Yes, you did drink too much, Ma Belle. I will always take care of you,” he reassures me

“What are you two doing?” Oh no, that’s Rex’s dad. He sounds mad. “Alexander, you know better than this. Get her to bed in her own room, and then come see me in my office. I will be waiting.” Without sticking around for an answer he turns on one foot and stomps away towards his bedroom office.

As we walk to the room I usually stay in, Cole pokes his head out and laughs. “Not the golden boy tonight, now, are ya?”

I hear voices growing closer that draw me out of the memory.

“What car are we taking?” I hear Remi ask Rex excitedly. I love hearing him being genuinely happy again.

“We can take whichever one you want, as long as there are enough seats for you and your sister.” Rex is going to spoil these kids. I can see it now.

“Sweet! Thanks, Alexander.” Remi is practically squealing.

“You can call me Rex. Only my father calls me Alexander.” He always did hate that name.

I hear the garage door close, and I rush to my room to get dressed for the day. I need to make sure I can get out of here before Rex has someone on my tail watching my every move.

I probably should be processing the fact that I have a half sister who is a menace trying to kill people, Rex specifically.

And I don't know, maybe I should call my parents, but I will have time for that later. I need to do this first, and I don’t feel like ending up arguing with my stubborn-as-fuck father who apparently now lies to me.

Once I’m finished getting dressed, I quietly walk towards the garage, trying not to look suspicious in case someone sees me, but also so I can hopefully sneak out of here without a tail.

I make it all the way to the garage door before I meet up with someone who I think is the housekeeper. She just smiles and nods as she walks past me.

That was close. I’ll have to hurry up, I wouldn’t put it past Rex to have them keeping tabs on me too.

Making sure the door doesn’t bang, I enter the garage and start looking for where the car keys might be. I don’t see anything hanging with keys by the door. Maybe they just leave them in the vehicles. I doubt anyone is stupid enough to steal from Rex.

When I open the door to the closest car, I have to hold back my excitement at seeing the keys in the cupholder.

I have no idea what this car is, but it looks expensive. As I get in, I see that the steering wheel says Ford. It must be a Mustang. Rex always did have a thing for muscle cars.

Just as I’m about to start the car, I hear the door to the house close with a bang.

Looking to my left, I see that it’s Rex’s brother Cole.

He never did like me, so I can’t see him being the one sent to watch me, but you never know.

I guess they could have set aside their differences over the years.

“Hey Isabella, where are you off to in a rush?” Cole asks me with an ugly smirk on his face. His smile is nothing like his brother’s.

Trying to think quickly, I nervously tell him, “Oh, I’m just going to get started on the packing at my place. Rex wanted me to meet him there.” I really hope that sounded more convincing than it felt leaving my mouth.

Moving closer to me, Cole reaches and opens the door. “He asked me to escort you there today. I was just looking for you to let you know I’m ready when you are. Let me drive you there—he’d kill me if anything happened to you.”

Something doesn’t feel right, but why would he lie about that? “Oh, okay.” I get out and head around to the passenger side of the car and get in.

“Let me just call him quickly to let him know we’re on our way.” Cole closes the driver-side door and walks away to the corner of the garage with his phone in his hand.

I can’t hear what he’s saying, but he’s off the phone and walking back to the car before I know it. He slides into the driver's seat and gives me a smile while hitting a button that opens the garage door in front of us.

“Shit, I forgot my purse.” I try to open the door before he starts the car, but he locks it as I grab the handle.

“You don’t need it; you’ll be with Rex. He has everything you’ll need.” Cole says as he starts the car and throws it in drive.

“Oh, okay. I guess” I try to sound more confident than I feel. “Could we stop at Grandma’s Diner and pick up some coffee and treats to eat while I pack?”

Without looking at me, Cole just smirks with that evil glint he’s always had and pulls out of the driveway as the guard nods our direction. “That won’t be necessary.”

Fuck!