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Hundred and Sixty–One
CHAPTER 161
Isabella’s POV
I grinned wide and stretched my hands out to carry Xekey from Chloe’s arms when he started to jump in her hands, happy to see me.
“Hello there little Xekey.” I cooed at the baby who was smiling from ear to ear. He looked different now. His cheeks were fuller and his eyes were brighter and bluer. He was slowly starting to take the face of his father but a cuter version.
“He can sense you are with a child you know,” Chloe informed me with a knowing smile.
“Oh really?” I raised a questioning brow at her as I pulled her into a side hug. “I’ve missed you so much,” I said to her, squeezing her tightly.
“I have missed you too! I’m so glad Ryder finally let me leave the house. I had to give an entire ass presentation but it worked.”
“Me too!” I exclaimed and let go of her.
“How are you?” She asked, now staring at me with a concerned look in her eyes.
“Alive,” I told her as I led her to a more comfortable bench close to the fountain
Xekey was making baby noises and pinching my stomach.
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“Yeah, You’re gonna have a brother or sister,” I said to him in a baby voice that made him giggle.
“Oh my God you are so precious,” I said, kissing his forehead. “I can’t wait for you to meet Aaron or Aria,”
“Aaron?” Chloe raised a judgy eyebrow at me.
“We are still working on baby names okay!” I said defensively.
She shook her head and chuckled. “What’s going on?” Chloe asked after we had caught up on each other’s life.
“What do you mean?” I asked innocently, even though I knew exactly what she was talking about.
“Don’t play dumb with me. What’s going on with the Antonio issue? Have you told Alexander about it? Or do I have to do it myself because that’s the real reason I’m here?” She glared.
“What? No.”
“No. you haven’t or no I shouldn’t tell Alexander? Because I will and won’t feel bad about it. If you aren’t going to protect yourself, I’ll gladly do it for you.”
“I’ve told him.” I blurted out. My eyes widened at the lie.
Chloe’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t look like she believed me at all.
“I have,” I said firmly.
“Are you lying to me?” She asked.
“No, I promise I have told him and he’s vowed to hunt Antonio down”
She stared at me, searching my eyes as if to catch me in a lie. “Good”
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She finally nodded, apparently satisfied with whatever she saw in my eyes. “But how did he take the news?”
“He’s still mad at me for not telling him sooner but he understands, thankfully.” I bit the inside of my cheek at the lie I had just told Chloe, feeling terrible about lying to her.
“See, I told you not to worry about telling him.”
“Yeah.” I said with a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.
I felt like shit for lying to Chloe so smoothly and so convincingly but I had no choice. She was going to tell Alexander and I couldn’t have that. Chloe didn’t understand that I was trying to protect Alexander by not telling him what was going on.
I was getting too good at lying and sneaking around and I hated myself for it. My morality was slowly chipping away the more I associated with Antonio and I was slowly losing myself.
As if Xekey could see my dilemma, he pinched me again. I glanced down at him and grinned.
“You have some sharp claws in you, Xekey.” I cooed at him but he didn’t smile at me this time. In fact, he looked a little sad as he stared
up at me.
“I’m sorry for lying to your mom, little guy,” I said mentally even though I knew he couldn’t hear me.
“I’m really glad you’ve finally put this Antonio nonsense behind you. It was really turning you into something you were not ” Chloe said, squeezing my hands.
“Yeah, me too,” I said quietly.
“So, how’s pregnancy treating you? Caleb said you’ve been a pain in
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the ass.”
I rolled my eyes. Of course, Caleb would be the one to snitch. “Pftt. Caleb doesn’t know what he’s talking about!.”
“Really? Cause Blake said the same thing.”
“Blake is being influenced by Caleb’s exaggerations.”
“Right…”
“I’m offended that you don’t believe me!” I smacked her hands playfully and she grinned at me.
Xekey seemed to like that because he glared at me which was funny because he looked more cute than menacing. “Yes, tell her Xeke. Don’t hit my mama.” Chloe said to her son.
I scoffed at both of them ganging up against me.
Chloe and I talked for hours, she ate lunch with us and Caleb carried
Xeky everywhere he went telling random people in the pack that he was the father.
Mason also carried him and both Caleb and Mason got him something from the grocery shop. It was late in the evening before Chloe was ready to go.
“Can I propose that Chloe leaves Xeke here with me and she can come visit whenever she wants?” Caleb said as he held onto Xekey.
Xekey seemed to agree because he kept staring at his mom like he’d never seen her before when she tried to take him from Caleb.
“Sure and wait for Ryder to storm in here and break you in half,” I told him, rolling my eyes.
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The whole situation was funny to me because I never pictured Caleb as the aby–loving type considering how much he fled from any type of commitment. “See, he doesn’t want to leave,” Caleb said, referring to the look little Xekey was giving his mother.
“You won’t be saying this when he’s hungry at night and screaming at the top of his lungs.” Chloe laughed.
“I’d have you know I used to babysit my cousins when they were still tiny pups,” Caleb said defiantly.
I found it hard to believe that anyone would trust their pups with Caleb’s easily distracted ass but I didn’t voice my opinion.
“Of course.” Chloe said as she pulled Xekey from Caleb’s hands.
“I’m gonna miss you, little guy.” Caleb ruffled his hair which had grown considerably longer since the last time I saw him. Xekey made a baby sound as if confirming his uncle’s words.
“My driver will drop you.“”
“Nah, I’ll drive. I drove here, didn’t I?”
“Yeah but just so you can concentrate on Xekey.”
“Pfft. I can drive myself.” She said sassily.
“Alright then, yikes. I was only trying to help.” I watched as they got into their car and waved them goodbye before leaving for the kitchen.
“That’s all good but add salmon to my stew,” I told Lisa as she finished telling me what she was making for dinner.
She stared at me confused but nodded slowly “Yes, Luna”
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She left to start dinner preparation and I turned to find Caleb staring at me like I had lost my mind. “What?”
“Salmon?” He asked with a judgemental look.
“What’s wrong with salmon?” I glared.
“Absolutely nothing, you do you, Luna.” He said sarcastically and I rolled my eyes at him.
“So…” I started to say when my phone pinged in my hands.
I opened the message icon and immediately saw that Antonio had sent me a video. My stomach twisted because whatever it was, I knew it couldn’t possibly be good.
I narrowed my eyes, wondering what the hell he’d sent me before pressing play on the screen.
My heart stopped as Chloe appeared on the screen crying and screaming at a man who held onto an equally crying Xeke to give back her baby.
My hands shook uncontrollably as I stared down at the horrifying image before me. I stared at the screen horrified, tears welling in my
eves.
“Are you alright?” Caleb’s voice echoed as he peered into my phone.
I nodded my head and began to back away from him. I turned and walked briskly out of the kitchen, the tears already falling down my face
“Isabella!” He called out but I ignored him as I walked faster. My heart was beating faster and faster as I moved. I couldn’t see straight as the tears were blurring my vision
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My phone rang and I picked up the call almost immediately, knowing it was Antonio without having to check.
“Hello, Isabella, I trust you’ve gotten the video of your dear friend,”
Antonio’s smooth but deadly voice poured through the phone.
“What have you done?” I hissed into the phone.
“You’ve been slow. Your friend being with me will guarantee your cooperation. Bring me the information I want or your friend dies.”
“No!” I yelled in a hushed tone but he’d already hung up.
My legs gave out on me as the weight of what I had done dawned on me and I crashed to the ground with tears streaming down my face.
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