"Remind me why we didn't take the car again?" Isabela whines, leaning against the tree bark as she adjusts the straps on her six-inch heels.

"We didn't have time."

"Bullshark!" Isabela curses. Her weird combinations to substitute profanity as an interesting subject are precious. "It's going to take hours to get home, and my feet are killing me."

"No one said to wear high heels."

From the corner of my eye, I watch Isabela halt in her footsteps, her lips falling open in shock. "You did not! How was I supposed to know you were going to take us on the stroll of the town?"

I shrug my shoulders. "I expected you to read my mind."

"We aren't actually best friends, you know," Isabela states, her heels scraping against the concrete. "I can't read your mind when I barely know you."

I sigh.

Mild irritation washes over me. What does she want to learn about me? She gives me the cold shoulder daily. I deserve it, and I shouldn't give her a reason to soften around me. To let me in. We can't be a duo. We clash like Pepsi and milk-- a gut-wrenching concoction.

"It's better that way."

As soon as it leaves my lips, I wish I changed the subject.

Isabela yanks on my sleeve, holding me in place as her gaze clashes with mine. "For you or for me?"

My body tenses. "You're right, Miss Arias." Following my every step, Isabela backs away until she's up against a light post. "You wouldn't be able to read my mind because we know nothing about each other. You're nothing more than a client to me, Miss Arias. Get it through your head and stop trying." 

Hurt swirls in her irises. A long stretch of silence hovers around us like fog before she slams her shoulder against mine and proceeds down the block. I briefly close my eyes, wanting to bash my head against the lamppost. My head and heart combat against each other for control. Bodily control. How can a person want two different things?

By the time I glance up, Isabela is already down two blocks, turning left towards a rural area. Groaning, I pick up the pace and reach her in no time. Rage emits her every step as she slams her heels on the concrete with her arms across her chest.

"Don't follow me," Isabela says through gritted teeth.

"I can't do that."

She spins around, her hair flying from the speed. "Actually, you can. If I'm your client, then I'm in charge of you, no? Fudge off and report to Damien like the good boy you are. I'll see you in the afterlife."

My mouth twitches.

Another trait I've received from my father-- the ability to ruin an entire night with a single statement. It's my fault. I'm letting myself follow in his footsteps. Mama would scold me for being so disrespectful to Isabela. She advocated her favorite motto.

Treat others the way you want to be treated. 

My eyes fall on the path ahead of Isabela, who's strolling straight into a pothole. "Miss A-."

Isabela yelps as her ankle twists, causing her to plunge to the ground. She hisses, nibbling on her bottom lip as she rakes her fingers through her brown locks. My heart falters as I sink to my knees, pulling her ankle out from the pothole.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" Isabela whimpers, her nose scrunching with every pained sound. "You have to be freaking kidding me!" She harshly exhales through her nose as I press around the ankle for the specific injury.

"It's sprained," I confess.

Isabela releases a huff. "Great. What are we going to do?"

Frustration mars her brows. We are not that far away. Probably another twenty minutes. Her ankle turns purple with a deep blue undertone. If she wants to heal properly-- she needs to remain off it. I don't think twice. I swirl around, kneeling on one leg while the other is ready to boost me up.

"Hop on," I say, tapping my shoulder.

"Wait, what?" Isabela exclaims. "You're going to carry me all the way home? Are you sure? We're still pretty far, and I'm pretty heavy. I don't want to burden you further than I already have."

I turn to face Isabela, being absorbed in her brown, endearing irises. "I can bench twice your weight. It's not a burden. You aren't a burden. I want to."

Conflict flickers on her face. "O-okay."

Her small hand curls over my shoulder, sending a rush to my stomach. It makes my head swim like I've devoured ten shots. Her entire body presses against my back, igniting a thousand nerves running through my veins. How do I keep my breathing even? Why, when it's an opponent, I'm like a dead body, but around Isabela, I'm buzzing like a bee?

"Is this okay?" Isabela asks, resting her chin against my shoulder. "I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable the whole walk home."

My teeth graze over my bottom lip. "I'm perfect."

Isabela's grip tightens on my blazer. "I can't tell if that's sarcasm or not."

My fingers run against the back of her kneecap, treasuring how my heart quickens with her innocent contact on my shoulders. "Read my mind and guess. Maybe I'll let you in this time."

"What makes this time different from earlier?" she asks, adjusting the bandana on my face.

It can't be healthy for my heart to whack around my rib cage at this intense speed. Why is something as innocent as a piggyback ride having this type of effect on me? Her breath coasts over my ear. I envy her. She doesn't even falter. Even when I cornered her in the club-- Isabela didn't react at all.

She was more worried about Jaxon than about my intrusion into her personal space.

"Oh my gosh," Isabela awes, pointing to the navy-blue sky. "Look at the stars. They're beautiful. When I was younger, one of my brothers, Indigo, helped me sneak out to stare at the stars every night. It was one of the only things I looked forward to."

I spare a glance at the dazzling stars in the sky, bringing a glow to the darkness, but not in the way Isabela can. Her soft smile grows on her face like a gif. My heart stops. I could stay in this moment for centuries, admiring her delicate features in secrets, keeping these memories for myself to ponder about when I'm gray.

On how a girl as extraordinary as Isabela can't ever be mine.

"Indigo." My voice shakes a little. "Never heard anyone called that before."

Isabela's laughter is like adding morphine to my veins. "Yeah. Indigo always hated his name, but I never understood why. I guess he was bullied at school, from what I could hear. He's my third oldest brother. Isiah is the oldest. Then it's Issak, Indigo, Isa, Ike, and lastly me." 

My eyes widen. "That's a full house. I couldn't imagine having multiple brothers or sisters, but maybe it would've taken the burden off my shoulders." I clear my throat. "I only had a younger sister. Her name was Vanessa."

"Was?" she whispers. "Does that mean she's d-?"

I bob my head. "Yeah. It's about to be twenty years. Mama wasn't ever the same after that. I don't think I was either. For years, I searched for family and places you shouldn't ever look. I took my first bodyguard position for this Spanish mafia family in New York. They're nonexistent now."

"It's crazy how death affects all of us," Isabela begins, kicking her legs back and forth. "Like with my mom. Everyone has stories about her, talking about how gentle she was, then there's me. See, I didn't have the opportunity to get to know her. She died, giving birth to me. It's an obstacle I still struggle with at times."

I boost Isabela in the air to balance her on my shoulders for a firmer grip. My pulse flutters when I clash with her grim gaze. "What obstacle?" Realization dawns on me. "Miss Arias... Who? How? Why do you let yourself think that?"

One of her hands unclasps from around my shoulder as she wipes her face. "I don't know. I guess when everyone already blames you... you start to believe it."

My gaze hardens. "Who blamed you? Anyone that truly loved you wouldn't blame you for something out of your hands. You were a baby, for god's sake!"

Isabela sniffles, snuggling into my blazer. "You are really invested for an outside party."

The lump in my throat thickens. "Because how can someone blame you? Fuck, man. The world is filled with fucking deranged idiots. It's only natural to feel guilty about her death, but for someone to add fuel to the fire? Don't ever let them dim the light within you, Miss Arias."

She bats her pretty, thick eyelashes at me. "I'm still here, ain't I? Isiah can try to bring me down, but I'm not going anywhere. My family doesn't get to win."

I click my tongue with a disappointed head shake. "It's always family, isn't it? If they mess with you again-- refer back to me. I don't mind getting a little blood on my suit. For you."

The corner of her lips lifts up to a soft smile. "I might have to hold you to that if I ever see them again."

She squeezes her arms around to get a tighter grip. "Do you miss them?"

Isabela hesitates. "Sometimes. To a certain degree. I still haven't forgiven them for not searching for me. I know I ran away, but it's like I didn't even matter." She shrugs. "I don't know. My family's status in the Mafia has gone downhill since I left. Last thing I heard, they were hiding somewhere in the Bronx."

I'm lost for words for a second. "I can look into it if you like."

"I would love."

Silence looms over us. It's a different kind of silence. Nothing awkward, but comforting. We find solace in the quiet scenery--only hearing the sound of the rustling leaves and the scraping of my feet against the pavement. The wind whistles in my ears. Isabela's arms shiver on my shoulders, her teeth chattering, making it apparent how freezing she is.

"Mr. Lui," Isabela calls out, batting her eyelashes. "Rest for a minute. I want to look over the bridge."

"As long as you don't plan to jump," I tease, making a beeline toward the bridge.

The sweetest sound flees Isabela's lips, weakening the vines across my heart. "Funny. I wouldn't want to have you save me."

Bending down, I stare at the cobalt sea through the steel beams as Isabela hooks her hands on the railing. Against the starry night, the water is captivating. Isabela suspends herself on the bottom rod, pressing her stomach against the barrier to get a better look. I hold my breath. Her eyes flutter close, inhaling deeply as she spreads her arms wide like a pair of wings.

"I wonder what it's like to be a bird?"

My brow cocks up. "A bird?"

She bobs her head, keeping her arms up as she peers down at me with those hopeful doe-eyes. "They're free-- flying thousands of miles away until they find a purpose. I want to jump, to fly-- to flop to the bottom of the ocean. I can imagine it right now, but would it be right? I keep getting this odd feeling. My conscience."

I eye her with a wary expression. "What is it telling you?"

There's a pure glint in Isabela's eyes before she looks away. "Duty means sacrificing the things your heart may well regret. Lately, I feel like everything is connected... like I have a purpose for something grander in this life. The only problem is figuring it out. Then maybe my dreams can become a reality, and I'll be free."

My heart smiles, but the grimace doesn't leave my face. "You're certainly nothing like any person I ever meant."

She gnaws at her pink, thick bottom lip. "Is that a bad thing?"

I shake my head. "Not even close."

The wind howls like the wolf from the three little pigs' story, causing Isabela to wrap her arms around herself. A gush of smoke comes from my breath as I exhale. It's freezing compared to earlier. If it's unbearable in my tux, then I can't imagine how Isabela feels in her crop top and skirt.

Standing up, I unbutton the blazer and drape it over Isabela's shoulders. She flinches, shifting forward, almost landing in the ocean if it wasn't for my quick reflexes. The initial shock causes my arms to coil around Isabela's waist as I trade myself to her old spot. The railing chafes at my back.

Heart hammering, I penetrate Isabela's gaze by cupping her cheek, observing for bruises on her. Jesus. Those eyes. They fucking pull me into a whirlpool. Enchantingly beautiful. It's impossible to stay a Debbie-downer around her. Spirits rise around her. That's the aura she possesses. Isabela is like a flower in a permanently blooming state. 

She has me on edge constantly. It's so infuriating how careless she is, but I can't bear to raise my voice at her. Not when that's all she receives from her fiance. But I wanted to strangle her for putting herself in jeopardy.

"T-Thank you," Isabela mumbles. "I didn't want to test my bird theory yet."

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. "You will be the death of me, Miss Arias."

Literally and figuratively.

She rolls her eyes, pulling my blazer off her shoulders and handing it back to me. "I can't take this. It's cold. I don't want you freezing your butt off because of me."

I lift my hands in the air to avoid grabbing the blazer. "Don't worry about it. I'm fine. I'm used to the cold." My quivering hand blows my cover. "It's not what it looks like. I'm serious. I'm perfectly fine."

Isabela narrows her eyes. "I'm the boss of you, remember? So, do as I say, and put your blazer back on before you catch a cold."

Ignoring my wishes, I thrust my arms through the sleeves and button the blazer. Annoyance simmers in my belly. I don't want her to get sick, either. A thought rattle around my head, dangerous and impulsive, and I wish I could douse the fire within me. I should leave it here. But my finger twitches against the button.

Isabela is less than a foot away.

Unclasping the jacket, I press my body against Isabela's backside, using my arms and sleeves as a cloak over hers. Her back tenses. My heart leaps into my throat. This action is deadly, but why is satisfaction coursing through my veins?

"This way, we both can be warm."

Tension simmers between us.

My heart hitches when Isabela relaxes into my touch, laying her head on my chest with a tiny smile on those pink-stained lips. Fuck. I could stay like this forever. It's so wrong. Any sanity within me screams to run before I fall, but my judgment has always been cloudy. The fucking butterflies go frantic when Isabela clutches onto my pinky.

Flush darkens on her skin. "I-I can't think straight when you're this close to me. So, I can imagine how uncomfortable you are."

My chin rests on her hair, generating a vanilla scent. She has the situation wrong. I never felt more at home. "My father's favorite game was hide and seek. Winners got a beer. Losers got a black eye. I think he got high off the adrenaline of looking for us. There was a point when all the places were known. We would lose either way."

I swallow. "This day, my father didn't count to his usual one-thousand." A lump lodges in my throat. The stars blur in my gaze. "I hid like I was supposed to, but Vanessa-- she was using the bathroom. Everything happens so fast. Screams. Pleas. I couldn't move. I stayed in that stupid fucking attic, covering my ears, wishing for everything to stop."

My eyes flutter shut. "Once it did, I was too late. Her blood was everywhere. He killed her, and I let him. I'm pathetic. I fucking walk around acting like I am the world's best bodyguard when I couldn't protect my family!" I suck in a lungful of air. "Vanessa didn't deserve it. I could've done something-- I should've done something."

Isabela spins on her heel, stuffing her face into my chest as she ambushes me into a hug.

I hate hugs.

But I don't fully despise having Isabela's arms around me.

The vulnerability in them is different from anything else, even sex. Emotional attachments aren't entwined in sex like a hug is. She's pouring all her spirits into this hug, squeezing my shirt and drenching my chest with her tears. I brush the softest kiss on her head, stroking the back of her head.

When Isabela cares, she drains herself.

"Don't blame yourself," Isabela's voice comes out hoarse. "If I can't blame myself, then neither can you. It's not your fault. You were a kid. You were just scared. We all get like that sometimes. It's what makes us human."

A tear fight to fall when my gaze clashes with Isabela's bloodshot ones. "Don't waste a tear on me, Bellissima. I'm not worth any of them." My thumb pad drags under her eye to wipe it away. "I promise you I'm not."

Isabela sniffles. "You're worth a lot more than you give yourself credit for."

My heart skips a beat. I'm not worth anything. One day, this will be a fond memory. Reflecting on the days when I harbored a crush on my boss's fiance, and regret blooms in me. What ifs, and what we could be-- a beastly masterpiece.

The hideous and the beauty.

Monster and princess.

Dark and light.

Sun and moon.

This can't last forever.

My fascination needs to die before I smother from errors.

"Isabela." Her name comes out like a spike on a rose's stem from his throat, sulky and spiteful in his tone. "I'm intrigued to see what you come up with tonight."

Her body tenses against mine as she pulls away, extracting her warmth and letting my body fill with the wintry crisp. "Damien..." She exhales, her breath forming a white fog. "I have an explanation for everything."

Isabela treads towards Damien, and he doesn't wait to wrap his arms around her waist, yanking her closer. The mimic of a smile stretches across her face as she talks Damien's ear off with stories and nonsense. The envy bug infects my blood as Isabela fakes her happiness a little too well.

I want to tear his arms off of her.

Fuck.

Why do I?

I shake my head.

There has to be an antidote for this infection-- I just have to look for it.

Gosh I just love this chapter so so so much. It's like so innocent and sweet to watch my characters slowly open up to each other and fall for the other like MY HEART IS SCREAMING!!!!

Who else loved when Julian wrapped himself around Isabela? Like I'm a sucker for that shit 😂😂 or the piggy back ride? Someone told me bridal style is more romantic, but I personally think a piggy back ride fits both their characters better...

How do you guys feel? Did your heart flutter too 🙈🙈just get ready for the next chapter because it's 🙊🙊🤭

It's good ;)

Thank you for giving Tainted hearts all this support and spreading love to me!! I'm so grateful and I cannot wait to read your comments today

Love ya ❤️💜❤️💜❤️💜