LETHAL GAMES

CHAPTER TWO

In the weeks that followed, the Castellanos brothers worked tirelessly to ensure her safety. They moved her from her old school to one with tighter security, placed more guards around the clock at the coffee shop, and even had her followed to ensure she was never alone. The whispers grew louder, the glances more frequent, but Isabella held her head high, refusing to let the fear consume her.

But the whispers grew into shouts, and the shadows grew closer. The Marquez family had not given up on her. They wanted their heir back. As the days grew shorter, so too did the leash that kept Isabella bound to her brothers' world. She knew that soon she would have to face the truth of her heritage, whether she liked it or not.

The Marquez cartel were one of the most dangerous cartels in the city. The only upper hand the Castellanos had on them was the fact that they were richer compared to the Marquez. However, that didn't mean that the Marquez were short on money. They lived a lavish and well-to-do life.

The Marquez had two sons. Antonio and Lucas. Both were adopted by Raphel Marquez five years before his wife gave birth to their daughter. The boys were both seven when they were adopted. With Raphael gone, Antonio succeeded him and Lucas was his right-hand man. Together they were both ruthless and feared by all. Their motto was to kill anyone standing in their way and ask questions later. Now, they wanted their sister back and there was no stopping them.

The night air was cool and heavy with the scent of rain as Isabella slipped out of the mansion, needing space to breathe. The city lights twinkled like distant stars, a stark contrast to the darkness that lurked in her heart. As she wandered the streets, lost in thought, she heard the distant rumble of motorcycles approaching. Her heart skipped a beat - the Marquez gang came to claim her at last.

The engines grew louder, and she felt the vibrations in her chest. She was trapped, with no escape in sight. As the bikes rounded the corner, she steeled herself for the inevitable confrontation. But instead of the feared rivals, she saw a group of her brothers' men, their leather jackets emblazoned with the Castellanos insignia. They pulled up beside her, and Leo, the youngest, offered her a helmet.

"Get on," he said, his voice tight with urgency. "We need to get you home."

Isabella's eyes searched his, looking for the answer to the question she dared not ask. But Leo only offered a reassuring smile, a silent promise that they would face whatever came next together. She climbed onto the back of the bike, her heart racing as the engines roared to life, and they sped off into the night just as the men from the Marquez family arrived in their maybach.

They had eyes on Isabella, so immediately she left the Castellanos' mansion alone. They were informed but they got there late.

The streets blurred together as they navigated the city, the wind whipping through her hair. She knew she was not safe, not truly. The Marquezes would not rest until they had her, and the Castellanos brothers would not let her go without a fight. But for now, she had her brothers, her chosen family, and that was enough.

As they pulled up to the gates of the mansion, she slid off the bike, her legs shaking. She took a moment to compose herself, not wanting to show the fear that gnawed at her insides. Leo noticed her distress and gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze.

"It's going to be okay little sis," he murmured. But Isabella wasn't so sure. The walls of the mansion loomed before her, a prison of expectations and danger.

Once inside, she was met by an angry-looking Vincente. He glared at her as he stood at the bottom of the stairs in the foyer.

"Who gave you permission to go out?!". He roared. Causing Isabella to tremble in fear.

"I'm sorry Brother". She lowered her head, not daring to look at him.

"What if something happened to you?". He hissed in vexation as he approached her.

Isabella cowered in fear, moving to hide behind Leo. Leo chuckled, pulling her back to stand in front of him.

"Don't use me as a human shield, little sister. Vincente just wants to see if you are okay"

She cringed when he raised his hand to her face. She was scared that he would hit her. She had seen him hit his workers a couple of times, and it frightened her.

"Do you think I will raise my hand to you?". Vincente sounded disappointed.

"Calm down, Brother. We were chased by the Marquez. She is still terrified". Leo told Vincente.

He nodded in understanding. "Go to your room and stay there". Vincente commanded, glaring at her.

Isabella retreated to her room. Her thoughts swirled like the dark clouds that had rolled in outside, threatening to burst at any moment. She couldn't ignore the ache in her heart at the thought of leaving the only home she'd ever known. The Castellanos brothers had been her rock, her shield against the storm that was their world. The idea of being torn from their embrace was unbearable. Today, if her brothers had not been keeping an eye on her, the Marquez would have easily captured her.

But she knew she couldn't hide forever. The Marquez family would not rest until they had reclaimed what they saw as their rightful heir. Her existence was a thorn in their side, a living reminder of the power they had lost. And yet, she couldn't bring herself to betray the love she felt for her brothers. They were her family, her protectors, the ones who had picked her up when she had fallen and cheered her on when she had soared.

Vicente Castellanos and Leonardo Castellanos were in the dimly lit library of the Castellanos mansion, their faces etched with the lines of their own fears and worries. They had always been a formidable force, but now they looked almost... vulnerable.

"What if this is a trap?". Leo asked, feeling uneasy.

"One thing is clear. Isabella is not our blood, but she would never betray us". Vincente said with assurance.

"I know that, but what of Sophia? You have read the tabloids over the years. What if we went to her, only for her to leak our secrets and betray us".

"We need to set up a meeting with Antonio Marquez. I want to see what he thinks about the whole situation. I want to know if he is as reluctant as we are to give up our sister". Vincente concluded.

"Okay. I will arrange a meeting then". Leo said and got up to leave, but as he turned to leave the library, a soft knock at the door startled him. He opend it. A young girl with long dark hair, her eyes a mirror image of their mother's, peeked in. The resemblance was unmistakable, and the brothers froze in their tracks.

Vincente was the first to recover, his face a mask of cold fury. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice a low growl.

The girl looked up at him with a mix of fear and defiance. "I'm your sister," she whispered. "My name is Sophia Marquez."