“Yeah, I’m well aware she checked out early.”
“Oh.” Millie lowered her hand. “And the second room’s occupant?—”
“Is Isla’s best friend.”
“I see… The final bill was sent for both roomsafterIsla’s friend checked out earlier today.”
“Good. I apologize for the confusion. I’d forgotten to mention Isla’s early departure.” Worry coursed through my veins as I recalled the night the drunk douchebag had beaten Elsie. Isla would have gone to help her sister had I not been there to stop her.
“No worries. I’m glad everything is accurate.”
“Thank you, Millie,” I mumbled. Closing my eyes, I pinched the bridge of my nose.
Millie cleared her throat to let me know she hadn’t left my office. “The jet is ready when you are, sir.”
I slowly opened my eyes, catching Millie rushing out of my office before I could utter a word. She probably knew more than my family about Isla and me and our relationship.
Millie was a phenomenal secretary and trustworthy. Even so, she’d made it very clear she was on Team Isla. She’d told me once Isla was my person. I didn’t know what she meant, nor had I tried to understand. Then Isla left me, and my life went dark.
During a particularly rough day when nothing had gone right, and I’d raged abouteverythingwhen Millie had come into my office. She squared her shoulders and said, “Stop being an ass to everyone. You made your life shit. You lost your person. That’s why your life is empty.”
It was then that I’d understood her meaning about Isla being my person.
Millie was priceless and I hated the look of disappointment on her face a moment ago.
I slumped in my chair, pinching the bridge of my nose again.I can’t lose my person.
My phone vibrated on my desk. A notification, I assumed. I forced myself to look. It could be a text from one of my brothers or my sister. No, it was from Isla…
I sucked in a painful breath.
No message, just a picture of Pippa smiling brightly with her fist in her mouth. Those rich, brown eyes pierced my heart, and the fucking damalmostbroke open.
I wouldn’t lose my girls and would do whatever it took to bring them home with me and make them mine, permanently.
It was agony to be away from them. In two weeks, my life had dramatically changed and I’d begun to feel whole. Happy and peaceful.
Isla and the baby completed me. I had a family.
I buzzed Millie to have her hunt down my brothers for an emergency meeting in my office tonight, along with my sister. I needed my family’s help and couldn’t be proud or arrogant, believing I could do this on my own.
It was time I humbled myself and sought wisdom and advice from those I trusted most.
This was a massive step for me, one I would to take for Isla and Pippa.
34
ISLA
It had beentwo days since I last spoke to Ciro. He called several times a day and texted, but I deleted his messages. I thought about changing my phone number or blocking him, but as those thoughts entered my mind, Pippa stopped me from reacting emotionally.
Eventually, I’d talk to Ciro.
There was no place for being immature when my innocent baby was involved. My daughter kept me stable. I would do anything to preserve her relationship with her father because I knew the pain a child experienced not having a daddy around. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, especially not my daughter.
“Hey, how are you doing?” Falina asked, leaning against the counter.
I shrugged, focusing on the vegetables I was chopping.
