BLOOD AND DEVOTION

Chapter 2:

ISABELLA:

“I can't believe you let her get shot Miguel” I faintly hear my mother by my side.

“It..”

“It wasn't his fault” I grunt in pain and sit up but my back burned with pain and my leg stiff.

“Don't try to move Isa, the doctor said you need to rest” I hear worry in her tone.

I look around and I see that I'm connected to different machines and it causes an instant headache. I couldn't remember who shot me, infact up until I was punched my memory was failing me gradually.

“Why am I here? I'm fine” I scoff.

“You got shot Isa. What do you mean by why are you here? Sigues poniéndote en peligro”

You keep putting yourself in danger.

I take a deep breath in, “leave Miguel”, he leaves and I face my mother, “why are you really here? I know you don't care about me or my line of work”.

“Believe it or not, I am still your mother and I care contrary to your belief” she sighs, “you're just like your father, stubborn” she smiles a little and rubs my forehead, “come work for me Mia…it's…it's safer”.

“Me? In heels and makeup? You're really losing it” I scoff and turn away, “and Dad's reputation? Gone? I am the only one that can run this business mother and I am not leaving it just because you said so”.

She adjusts my blanket, “then you have to be safe. I can't keep running all the way from Mexico whenever you get into trouble or worse the hospital”.

“I'm not asking you too” I silently scream, “gosh mother” I sigh, “I am no longer a kid okay? I can take care of myself, hospital or combat. I don't need you”.

“Well I do, I need you. You're all I have” she takes a deep breath, “how about a bodyguard huh? That could help keep you safe”.

“So that my nemesis would think I'm weak? It's bad enough that they think because I'm a woman I can't handle this business. I'm not trying to aggravate their murmurs.Thank you so much mother”.

She holds my hands and kisses it, “think about it okay? You need some sort of protection. You're the only one running a cartel…single handedly might I add, you need help and Miguel won't always be there”.

She was right, I did need the extra protection but I can't, I can't trust anyone with my life, “If I say I'll think about it would you stop nagging about it and let me actually rest?”.

“Yes”.

I take a deep breath in, “I'll think about it madrè” I fake a smile.

“Thank you Isa, I have to go. I have tons of meetings and appointments to catch before going back to Mexico and don't forget the gala tonight” she grabs her purse and stands up, “remember you're all I have Isa” she hugs me sadly and leaves.

**********

After much shouting and tiredness of being stuck in one goddamn position the doctor finally decided to discharge me…waste of three days.

“What do you think about a bodyguard Miguel?” I ask as he wheels me out of the hospital.

He chuckles a little, “you don't have that patience”.

“Same thing I thought,” I sigh, “my mum's worries are starting to get on my freaking nerves” I stand up slowly and sit in the car.

He follows the other side and enters the car, “she wants you to have extra protection? Why am I here?”

“You're not my bodyguard Miguel, you're the next in line after me,”I scoff, “nope. I'm not doing it, I can't have a bodyguard, there are few people I trust and I don't think I want to add another. Drive”.

He stares at me with a hint of worry on his face, “Isa”.

“Drive Miguel” I say looking straight ahead with a stern look.

**************

Not a lot of people know I run my father's company, yes they know I'm a woman but not a lot of people can place a name to my face, making it easier for me to move around without having to look over my shoulder every damn time but if that dumb Sanchez was able to snuff me out then these mother fuckers would be too. I get to my penthouse and Miguel assists me into the elevator.

“I know an organization that has one of the best protection service in New Jersey” he says over my shoulder behind me.

I sigh loudly, “we are not talking about that again. I'm not getting a bodyguard” I turn to him, “don't you trust I can take care of myself?”

“Not in combat you can't. You've gotten hit five different times this week and have multiple scars from training and you're still not getting any better,” he sighs, “you need to ease up a bit. Your mother's concern is valid,” he puts one hand on my shoulder, “my concern is valid. I almost lost it when I saw you limp on the floor Isa, I don't want to experience that feeling again”.

I stand on my toes and hug him, “I'm alive Miguel. Breathe”. The elevator dings breaking our hug and we both enter the house. It was eerie silent, I mean it's always this silent but it felt like someone was in my house and we both felt it.

I draw out my gun slowly so does Miguel, we move quietly into the house to get a better view of who was in the house, I swear to God if it's Sanchez I'm finishing every bullet I have in this house on him.

“Surpriseeeee” the lights blind me and I see Cara jump out with the biggest smile on her face.

I clutch my chest a little to calm my beating heart, “Cara!”

“What?” She smiles and hugs me completely ignoring the gun, it's an accessory to her at this point.

“How…wh…what?”

“I missed you too sister” she hugs me tightly and a little tears come to my eyes, “oh hi Miguel” she says seductively.

“Hello Cara” he gives a tight smile, “I'll be back at eight to pick you up for your mother's gala”.

I nod and he leaves, “you should have texted me”.

“And ruin the surprise? Hell no. Plus in between you being shot and stuck in the hospital I didn't know when would have being the best time to you know…text” she plops a grape in her mouth.

I grunt a little and sit on the kitchen island, “mum told you?”

“Yep” she sits beside me, “are you better now?” He holds my hand.

I nod quietly, I was scared and she could feel I was scared, she was the only person that I'll ever really let my guard down for, “don't surprise me again. You're terrible at it” I give her a stern look then smile afterwards hugging her even more, “oh I missed you Cara”.

“I know Isa, I know”.