The house was quiet when Enzo when Enzo stepped in. He barely acknowledge the security team as he walked in, his focus on one person.
Isla sat on the couch in the living room, surrounded by crayons and papers. She looked so focus on what she was doing that she didn't even notice him.
Lena sat nearby, watching her with a faint smile.
Then she raised her head and froze when his shadow fell over her.
"Enzo!" She yelled, scrambled to her feet and jumped into his arms. "You're back."
Enzo stilled completely as she wrapped her arms around him tightly. Her voice was so real and filled with.....relieve.
For a second, he didn't know how to respond.
No one has ever held him like that, not if they wanted to live to see the next day.
But Isla did and that was the best feeling.
There was no tension in his grip, no fear, just warmth.
It felt so weird, so wrong and unfamiliar.
Slowly he lifted his head and rested it on top of hers.
It was something he couldn't control, and for a man who controlled everything, This was dangerous.
But instead of pushing her away, he slowly wrapped his arms around her and inhaled deeply, feeling a plesant warmth in his chest.
She pulled away slightly to look at him.
"I made something for you," she smiled at him. Without waiting for him to respond, she rushed back to where she was sitting abd grabbed a paper from the floor.
"This is for you,"she said as she held it up proudly.
Enzo took it and stared at it.
It was a drawing. The lines were messy and the coloring, uneven but it delivered the message it was supposed to.
It was him, standing with his arms crossed. His face was very grumpy, eyes narrowed and brows drawn down. Even his lips was drawn into what liiked like a serious line.
Every detailed screamed intimidating.
"That's you," Isla said, when he didn't say a word.
Enzo looked at her, his gaze unreadable.
"I don't look like this."
"Yes, you do," she said immediately.
"This is you when you're serious," she said, pointing to the drawing.
There was a long pause as he just stared at the picture.
"You don't like it?" Isla asked, studying him carefully.
"I do,"
"Okay." She smiled. "So what did you bring me?"
"Isla!" Lena scolded her but Isla was looking at Enzo like nothing else mattered.
"What?" One of Enzo's brow shot up.
"You went somewhere, you are supposed to bring something back."
Enzo let out a breath, exhaustion seeping through his muscles.
"What do you want?"
Isla tilted her head and frowned, as if she was thinking.
"A playhouse,"
"A what?" Enzo stared at her.
"A playhouse."
"Alright," Enzo nodded. He didn't even question it.
"Thank you, but I'll only hug you once I get my playhouse,"Isla said and returned to her crayons.
"I'll be upstairs," Enzo told Lena, nodding once.
~~~~~~~
"Where are we going?" Isla asked with a slight frown as she watched Lena pack her clothes into a small bag.
"I don't know Isla, but Mr. Marcelli asked me to pack our bags?" Lena said, walking to the closet.
"Mr. Marcelli?" Isla asked with a frown, jumping to sit on the bed. That name didn't ring a bell.
"Enzo," Lena clarified.
Isla's mouth formed an "O" as she nodded.
"I'm going to ask him," she said, running out of the room before Lena could stop her.
Isla walked through the hallway, the polished floor felt cold against her bare feet. Lena had warned her to always put on her slippers but she just loved the cold under her feet.
"Enzo?" she called softly at first as she walked past rows of closed doors.
There was no response so she kept going, her steps slow.
"Enzo?" she called again, her voice a little louder.
She even opened a few doors to check if he was in there but they were all empty. The house suddenly felt too big for her so she decided to go back to Lena.
"I don't fucking care," she heard a voice say. It was coming from the far end of the hallway, where she almost reached before she decided to give up.
Yes! That was him.
Isla quickly run towards the door, following the voice.
With zero hesitation, she knocks loudly.
"Come in," the voice was flat.
Isla turned the door knob and opened the door, popping her head through small space she created.
"Hi," she smiled at Enzo.
"Just do as I say," he told the person on the other end of the line before hanging up.
"Do you need something?" he asked Isla, who still had her head inside and the rest of her body outside.
"No," Isla shook her head before fully stepping inside. "You asked Lena to pack my bags, am I going back home?" She asked, hugging the teddy bear she was holding.
"Home?" Enzo asked, furrowing his brows.
"Yes," Isla nodded. "My old home."
"This is your home, you aren't going anywhere. It's just a vacation, We'll be back in a couple of days," Enzo said, flipping through some papers.
"What is this place?"
Enzo lifted his gaze to look at her. Her eyes were roaming the room, curiosity full in them, causing Enzo to smile slightly.
"My study, I come here to work," Enzo said, his eyes still fixed on her. Her gaze moved from the huge windows to the leather couches, to the portraits, to his mini bar before finally landing on him, behind his desk.
"Can I sit?" she asked her eyeing the couch.
"You don't need to ask, love."
Isla's face lit up as she practically sprinted to the couch.
"It's so comfy," she awed, bouncing in it.
"Now I need to stay as quiet as you can while I work, ok?"
Isla nodded, now laying in the couch.
The room went silent, the rustling of papers occasionally filling the silence.
Isla tried her best to play with her teddy bear without making a sound but boredom slowly crept in, which Enzo didn't fail to notice because she was letting out deep breaths.
"Are you done yet?" she finally asked, not being able to hold it in any longer but Enzo's phone rang before he could speak.
"Ok, we'll be down in a minute," he said, after listening to the person speak.
"Come on," he motioned for Isla as he opened the door. "Let's get you changed."
Taking her hand in his, the two of them walked back to the room, where Lena had packed Isla's bags,
On the bed, a white shirt and pink overalls sat neatly, waiting for her, along with a pair of pink shoes, and, a whit purse.
"Wear these and meet me downstairs," Enzo instructed, picking up the bags, then walking out.
Lorenzo, Claire and Lia were already in the living room when Enzo got downstairs.
"Hey there brother," Lorenzo flashed Enzo a grin but Enzo ignored him, turning his attention to Lia.
"What's up Lia?"
The little girl pouted and look away, causing Enzo to frown.
"Someone is mad at her uncle," Lorenzo teased.
"Why?" he asked but Lia refused to look at him. "Do you know about this?" he glared at Lorenzo.
"Don't look at me," he said his hands in surrender. "I'm not the one who has gone weeks without seeing my only niece."
"Fuck," Enzo cussed, under his breath, dropping the bags and immediately rushing to Lia's side.
"Come on Lia, you can't be mad at me," his tone was soft but Lia pouted, avoiding eye contact.
"You forgot about me," Lia whined.
"I'm sorry princess, I was so caught up with work," Enzo scratched the back of his neck.
"I...."
"I'm ready!" A high pitched but soft voice interrupted their conversation.
Everyone turned to look at the source of the voice. Isla walked down the stairs with caution, her pigtails bouncing behind her. Her face lit up immediately she made eye contact with Lorenzo.
"Hi!"she waved at him with excitement that make Enzo frown.
'Why the hell is she excited to see Lorenzo?' He thought, shooting his brother a glare.
"Hey Isla," Lorenzo smiled back, sideyeing his brother, who looked like he wanted to shoot him.
"Can we go now?" Lia asked, her hands on her hips.
"Yes," Isla agreed, with a pout.
"Come here," Enzo said, pulling Lia to his side. "Tell your uncle you forgive him or I'm going to change my mind about the trip."
Lia's eyes widened. " You can't do that. Not fair!" she stomped her foot lightly, earning a chuckle from Enzo.
"Ok, ok, let's go now. It's getting late." Lorenzo said, already walking to the door.
As they walked to the door, Isla could help but stare at the woman who was walking beside her. She wore a pair of black jeans and white a simple top, her brown hair tied in a neat bun.
"You're pretty," Isla smiled at her when their eyes met.
"Thank you," the woman flashed a set of white teeth at her. " I think you're pretty too. "