Page 59 of Isabelle’s Forbidden Love

“I figured that. But you can’t tell anybody that you’ve seen me. Promise me.” She cast her best friend an imploring look.

Lydia sighed. “Please tell me what happened. There’s talk that you’re helping Orlando, and that he’s killed two people.” She put her hand on Isabelle’s arm. “Are you all right? Did he force you to help him?”

Isabelle quickly shook her head. “No, Orlando would never force me to do anything. I’ve chosen to help him.”

“So it’s true then. You’re dating Orlando? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“I’m sorry, Lydia, it all happened so fast.”

“So you really like him? I would have never guessed that in a million years. I mean he’s not exactly Mr. Charming or Mr. Chatty.”

Isabelle had to smile. “He doesn’t have to be all that. As long as he’s Mr. Sexy and Mr. Insatiable. And he does talk.” In fact, he’d spoken more to her in the last three days than she’d ever heard him say in the previous eighteen months.

“Are you saying you’re actually in love with him? And he with you?”

“Yes.” She felt her cheeks heat. When Orlando had confessed his love for her only a short while earlier, she’d felt like she’d been lifted onto a cloud of bliss. “He’s the one. I know it. That’s why I have to help him. Orlando is being framed for those two murders.”

“How do you know that? Scanguards must have evidence against him, otherwise they wouldn’t mobilize everybody to find him and arrest him.”

“I know it because I was with him while the Vuber driver was killed. He couldn’t have done it. I saw the Vuber driver drive off. She was alive when Orlando got out of her car. And I was with him for the next ten hours. But Dad didn’t even listen to me.”

“Samson knows about you and Orlando?”

“I had no choice but to tell him because I’m his alibi. But in order to convince him, we need more concrete proof that Orlando didn’t do it. Somebody planted evidence that incriminates Orlando, and we think we know who.”

“Who?”

“Some guy from Montreal.”

“Well, then send the info to Scanguards for them to check it out. I’m sure if you talked to Cooper, he’ll do it on the down-low, and when it’s confirmed, he can give the evidence to Samson.”

“The problem is that we only have a name. But there’s somebody who might have a photo of him. That’s why I’m here. I need a vampire-proof car so Orlando and I can go and talk to that person.”

“Where are you going?”

“I can’t tell you that. It’s better you don’t know about it, so you don’t have to lie. All I need is your car. Please, Lydia.”

Lydia looked concerned. “Are you sure that’s how you want to do this? Are you sure about Orlando?”

Isabelle cupped Lydia’s shoulders. “I trust him. And I have to clear his name. He’s innocent. But somebody from his past wants to destroy him.”

“Have you asked him why?”

The question made her feel uneasy. “Orlando isn’t sure why this person wants to hurt him, because he doesn’t know who he is. We only found a name, and even that name might not be his real name. That’s why we have to find a photo of him. Then I can have Scanguards run it through facial recognition.”

Slowly, Lydia nodded. “All right. But be careful. You’re my best friend. I don’t wanna lose you.” Then she smirked. “Though if you and Orlando are all lovey-dovey, I guess we’re not gonna be spending that much time with each other anymore.”

Isabelle hugged her. “You’re still my best friend, even once Orlando and I are a real couple.”

Lydia sniffled and eased herself out of the embrace. “Okay then. By the way, why didn’t you just steal my car?”

“Because I need to make sure that you don’t report it to Scanguards as stolen, or they would track the car’s GPS, and find Orlando. I can’t risk that.”

“Smart.”

Lydia turned to a narrow sideboard with several hooks. All of them were labeled: House, Car, Garage, Mom & Dad, Cooper. On each hook, a different key hung from a chain. Lydia reached for the key dangling from the hook labeled Car and handed it to her.

“Good luck! And if you’re running into trouble, please call me. I won’t breathe a word to anybody.”