Isaac's POV

Hailey and I sit quietly in the waiting room that's down the hall, a few feet away from Angela's room, I don't miss the space that Hailey has put in between us though. She doesn't take the seat next to me like she normally would, in fact she sits two chairs down to my left, keeping her distance. She's afraid of me again, she doesn't trust me, and that fücking kills me.

I was on my way back home from a job when Hailey called. Pops had asked me, or more like demanded I should say, that I go collect with Nathaniel, and not fucking everything up this time.

Pops relationship and mine has been a bit rocky after I popped Verdino's three guys without authorization. I knew better, I knew the rules, frankly I didn't care at the moment, and I still don't regret it.

It wasn't necessarily my first time doing something without authorization, but it was my first time killing in front of a estraneo like my father likes to call them, and that's what really ticked him off. Not only did he consider Hailey to be a estranea, but he was even more pissed because of who her father was, so he went ballistic.

He called me every damn name in the English and Italian dictionary that he could possibly think of, while he continued to hit me, kick me repeatedly. It didn't help that he had already been drinking that night so it only made everything worse. He got so loud to the point where he actually woke up ma by shouting, and she was soon rushing down stairs trying to stop him, but she could only do so much.

Things got so out of hand that my mother had to call for help and put Pops men against her own husband, their own boss. They of course didn't hesitate, they immediately came to the rescue and Donny was soon pulling my father off of me, holding him back in a choke hold.

My mom had a new kind of authority since the last time Pops put his hands on me, it was his way of trying to make it up to her. Although this was his kingdom, these were his men, he made it known that they were to listen to my mom, his queen, whenever she felt like he was getting out of hand, and boy was he out of hand that night.

Ma actually packed up her bags and some of mine and left Pops that night, dragging me along with her. The tables had quickly turned and now she was the one calling pops every name that she could possibly think of, slapping him, hitting him as many times as she could. Pops knew he fucked up the second his rage came down and my mom started packing up her things, throwing the D word in my father's face.

I swear I've never seen the blood drain from my father's face so quick, nor had I ever seen him beg my mother so much to stay, to forgive him, that he'll do anything to make her stay. I knew deep down in my core that ma could never really divorce my father. She was just mad, she was talking out of pure anger, she adored my pops, she gave up most of her family for him for crying out loud, she loved him. But we still left.

We didn't go to my uncle Sal's house, we didn't go to my nana's house, we didn't go to any family members, any friends, those would be the first places my pops would go to look for us, and he sure did. We stayed at a nice little hotel on the outskirts of town, and I used any little power I had left to get the room without putting any cards down, pops would be sure to trace them and find us, or my mother I should say.

This went on for a couple days, and by the fourth day I was coming up short on cash, meaning that I would soon have to start using my cards, if my father hadn't froze mine and mom's account already, and to our surprise he hadn't. But she didn't want to give him any hope that we were still in the city, so we left and went to my grandmas.

She of course was calling my mom day and night after my pops went looking for us, trying to figure out what was wrong, talking about how she didn't want her daughter and grandson in a hotel room locked up, to come stay with her, but ma had to explain it to her that we had to stay here for a couple days. She knew my dad, he would go back eventually and find us there, and she didn't want that, at least not yet.

Ma even made me miss school and called in, telling them that we were heading out of town so I'll be out for the rest of this week. It was probably for the best too, I kind of didn't want to show up looking the way I did, it would only cause more problems.

Both Angela and Dion were blowing up my phone through out the week though, telling me that a couple of my father's men were parked in the school parking lot everyday, no doubt waiting for me to show up, but jokes on them.

We eventually went to my nana's when I was officially out of money, and she nearly had a heart attack when she seen the bruises all over my face and body. She swore up and down that she was going to kill my father, talking about the many ways that she was going to torture him. The only reason why she hadn't called the cops yet, was because my mother was okay. She inspected every inch of her face, body, you name it, just to ensure that he hadn't hit her too.

My dad may lose him temper from time to time, and my mother knows damn well how to push his buttons, but he would never lay a hand on her. And it wasn't because my dad was smarter than that, because I mean he was, but then again he worshiped the ground she's walked on, he would never lay his hands on the woman he loved.

Don't get it twisted though, Pops was feared for a reason. My father had absolutely no problem beating the shit out of a female, or putting them in check, it was a part of his job.

About 40% of his clients were women, and about 15% of those women think that they can usually get away with not paying up because they don't have a dick in between their legs. And boy that's where they're wrong, because when it comes to my father's money he treats everyone equally, whether his client is a male or female.

Pops sure as hell did come back to my nana's house, begging and pleading for my mother to forgive him, for us to come back home, that he would actually leave the house and we could stay there until they worked it out, but my mother was one angry stubborn woman and would not budge.

The only reason why I was back at home with pops was because he just so happen to catch me one afternoon while I was running an errand for my grandma. Although I was the one covered with bruises, I could tell that he was hurting far worse than I was.

My grandmother was trying to cook up some pasta that I absolutely loved, when she realized she didn't have any cream left, and I being the wonderful grandson that I am ran to pick some up for her, and ran into my father in the parking lot when I was heading back. He wasn't with any of his men, they weren't anywhere in sight, they weren't hiding, he was completely alone, and that was very rare for my father. Not only was my father alone, but he reeked of alcohol.

I can't count how many times he apologized that day, the last time I ever seen my dad actually cry, he was a complete fucking wreck without my mom.

It's a crazy thing what love can do to a man, like father like son right. It's the only reason why I went home with him, because I was actually worried that he would do something stupid and regret it later. Ma wasn't too happy about it, but I eventually talked her into it and she let me go.

The first couple of days that I was home were awkward. I rarely saw pops, he was either out doing something, or hiding out in either his room or office, the times I did see him around the house he barely looked in my direction.

I was actually the one to break the ice a couple days ago, not because I wanted to, but because I needed to deliver a message for my mom. She was slowly starting to come around little by little and it gave my pops the little hope that he needed to bounce back to his usual self.

Hailey's soft voice soon enough pulls me out of the deep thinking I had sunk into, "hmm?" I hum, glancing in her direction.

"Are you okay?" She repeats herself.

"I'm good," I answer quickly and short.

She frowns softly glancing down at my lap then back up at my face, I knew she knew that I was lying.

I was anxiously shaking my right leg up and down, slouched in the chair that I was in with my arms folded in front of me, attempting not to lose my shit.

I hated the fact that I wasn't wearing a damn sweater to cover my face with the hood. I couldn't stand the way Hailey was looking at me, with such sympathy and sadness in her eyes. That confident person that she had transformed into was long gone, and the sad, broken, confused little fragile flower was back, all because of my dumbass.

"I'm sure they have a perfectly good reason as to why they didn't tell you, Isaac."

I shake my head, immediately sitting up in my chair, "I don't want to talk about them."

She exhales deeply, "Isaac, please." I stay quiet looking away from her, attempting to avoid the conversation I really didn't care for right now.

I mean yeah I'm pretty upset that both of my best friends decided to go behind my back and keep something like this a secret, but it wasn't a complete shocker to me either. I've had my assumptions about Dion and Ang from time to time, I just never imagined it to ever be true.

Its not like Dion and I never talked about this before, because believe me we did, numerous of fucking times. We had both agreed that Angela was and would only ever be like a sister to us, but I'm guessing that ship sailed on his side. I was honestly never attracted to Angela, she's my best friend, and yeah she may be beautiful no doubt about it, but I never saw her as anything more than just my friend.

"They're your best friends, Isaac," Hailey continues to press the subject, and I turn to look at her with a blank expression. "Believe me, I know that you're upset, but Ang doesn't need you to be her over protective best friend right now, Isaac, she needs you to be that brother who she never had to comfort her. They both need you now more than ever."

I don't respond, I glance down at the floor really quick, then slightly turn to look at Hailey. I stare at her for a couple seconds, noting that somethings different about her, but I can't pin point what, when I suddenly realize that her face looks a lot thinner than before.

"What?" She frowns, my staring obviously making her uncomfortable.

I shake my head.

She looks like she hasn't had a decent meal in awhile and that kills me. I know how Hailey can get when she's depressed, but I don't want to accuse her of not eating, the last thing I want to do is upset her and have her leave.

"How've you been?" I ask instead.

She scoffs shaking her head, mumbling under her breath. "You're unbelievable."

"I'm sorry that you, who I haven't seen or heard from in almost three weeks is a little more important to me right now, Hailey. I promise as soon as we're done I'll go talk to them."

"I've been okay," she mumbles.

I sigh at her short response, already getting frustrated with myself. "Did you finish eating earlier? Can I buy you dinner?"

Surprisingly Hailey doesn't argue with me and agree's to me buying her some food. I would've assumed that she would've been stubborned about it and said no. We get up and leave the small waiting room, making our way down stairs to the cafeteria. There's an awkward silence in between us as we ride down the elevator and walk into the cafeteria.

I nearly lose my shit when I see that Hailey has reached for a banana nut muffin and an apple juice, instead of ordering a semi half decent meal, then again I can't really complain because all I got was a bag of chips and a raspberry tea.

We sit quietly at a small table in the middle of the room as Hailey picks at her muffin here and there. This awkward silence between us is killing me. I can tell that she wants to say something, but I don't think she knows how.

I exhale deeply uncrossing my arms, leaning onto the table, "I don't know how to fix this, Hail. I don't know how to come back from this."

"I don't think you can," she murmurs, and my heart slowly starts to ache in my chest. This is it, I really lost her this time.

I anxiously start shaking my leg underneath the table, tapping it up and down, getting mad at myself.

"I need to hear you say it," I grumble, turning away from her. "I'll leave you alone for good if that's what you want, Hailey, but I need to hear you say it." I turn back to look at her, her eyes are now glistering with tears. "Look me in the eyes and tell me that you don't want anything to do with me anymore. I'll change schools, I'll do anything just to make it easier for you, you'll never have to deal with me or my friends again."

She starts crying softly, shaking her head side to side, "I can't say it," she cries. "As much as I want too, I can't say it."

"Hail-"

"I love you, Isaac, so god damn much that it scares me. You scare me. You didn't just kill one person, Isaac." She glances around the room, lowering her voice even more than before. "You killed three, and in less than five minutes."

I don't say anything in return because I can't, nothing I say is gonna make this situation any better.

"Why were Axel's guys after you? Who was that guy referring to that night? The one who's face you left pretty marked up."

I try my hardest not to grimaces when Hailey  mentions Verdino, and brings up Layla. I stay quiet and look away from her because I don't want to tell her anything, I also don't want to lie to her, so I remain silent because it's all I know what to do.

This easily upsets Hailey and she's now blowing up in my face, "I swear I don't know why I try talking to you half of the time! You tell me one thing yet do another! You say you want to fix it, but when I start to ask you questions you complete shut down, Isaac! I'm tired of going back and forth with you!"

She immediately gets up from the table getting ready to walk away, and my heart instantly starts slamming in my chest. Nobody in this world makes me panic as quick as Hailey can.

My hand instantly flies out, latching onto her wrist, keeping her from leaving. "Don't," I mumble, looking up at her. "Please don't go, Hail. Don't.. leave just yet," I beg.

"Talk."

I nod rapidly, "Layla.."

She instantly yanks her hand away, frowning deeply. "What about her?"

I put my head down, my hearts beating so fast in my chest that I can feel my own heartbeat throb in my ears. I feel so sick to my stomach right about now. But it's not because of what I did, but because I'm afraid of what will happen after she knows what I've done, I'm afraid of what she'll think of me. She's going to see me for the monster I really am. I can handle Hailey thinking I'm a murder, because lord knows that I am, I wouldn't deny it, but her thinking I'm a monster is going to tear me up alive.

I close my eyes, inhaling one of the deepest breaths I ever have in my life, and exhale it slowly.

"Can you sit please?"

She stares at me for a couple seconds and eventually sits back in the chair.

"She's who they were referring to," I murmur. "They came after me because I went after her."

"You hit her?"

"Something like that, but I don't want you think that I'd ever lay my hands on you, baby, cause I wouldn't."

"What makes me so much different than her?"

"Are you serious?" I scoff, arching an eyebrow. "You're nothing like her."

"But I am a girl!" She raises her voice. "Exactly like her! Who's to say you won't hit me one day when I piss you off, Isaac!"

"Because I wouldn't fücking hit the woman I love, Hailey! Just like my father's never laid a hand on my mom!"

"But yet he has no problem putting his hands on his son, his own blood," she quickly retorts, pointing at my bruised face.

I instantly shut up and look away from her, sighing deeply, "I don't want to argue with you, Hailey."

"How many?" She utters softly, her gaze barely meeting my own.

"How many what?" I ask in return.

"How many have you, you know.."

"Killed?" I finish the last part of her sentence. Her silence and guilty look gives it away, it is what she's trying to ask me.

"Eight," I answer. "Including those three."

She doesn't flip out nor does she go crazy like I assumed she would have, in fact it almost looks like she's a bit relieved, but she still hasn't said anything yet and it's driving me crazy, my anxiety's throughly the roof right now. I mentally scoffed at myself, who would've ever thought that the rolls would've switched, and I would be the one on edge.

"Hailey, say something please.."

"I expected a bigger number," she mumbles. "Double digits at least."

I snort softly, shaking my head. I legitimately just told the girl that I am in love with that I've killed eight people, and she caught up on the fact that I'm not in a doubt digit area.

"I'm not some highly trained hitman, Hailey. My dad has different men for that," I tease, attempting to lighten the dull mood.

I obviously fail at this because Hailey quickly looks up at me, a hint of panic in her eyes.

"It's a joke, Hail, I'm just kidding," I try to reassure her, although it's not a lie, Pops really did have certain men for that type of thing, but only him and Don knew those men, no one else knew who they were.

Last I knew pops had about two hit men in total, and out of both of those I had only personally met one, once, on accident. I walked into pops office one afternoon when I wasn't suppose to and there they were. These men dealt with Pops most shadiest, dirties, jobs you could ever think of, they were the type of guys you didn't want to mess around with.

"I didn't tell anyone," she says softly, staring down at her hands on the table. "My dad doesn't know if that's what your dad is afraid of."

"I know," I smile and reach out to grab her hand. Surprisingly she doesn't pull away and that little glimmer of hope it back. I gently squeeze her hand, "look at me, Hail."

She slowly peers up at me, "you don't have anything to be afraid of, no one's going to hurt you," I tell her. "NO ONE. Not my father, not Verdino or his guys, nor will I. Hailey, I'd protect you with my own life if it came down to it, baby."

She retracts her hands away from my touch, wiping the lone tears that have managed to leak out of her beautiful sad green orbs.

"I don't ever want to see you take another life," she mutters. "I get it, I understand that this is a part of your life, but I'm not built the way you are, Isaac. I can't handle seeing that again."

"You won't."

She inhales a deep breath, slowly exhaling it, "I'm gonna go home now," she says getting up from her chair again. "Tell Angela that I'll try to come back tomorrow."

I nod and get up from my own chair once Hailey is standing a couple feet from me, "I'll drive you back."

She shakes her head walking up to me, "Carmen and her mom are on their way. You," She places her hands on my shoulders, pushing me back down so that my ass is now glued to the chair again. "Are gonna go back up stairs like you promised, and talk to your best friends."

I narrow my eyes a bit, attempting to bite my tongue. I really didn't want to see either or the two right