"First off, you should know Benjamin is not my biological dad"
She took his hands and led him to the dining room, and they sat.
"But he's the only father I've ever known. He took care of me and loved both as a dad and as a mom"
"Gave me so much love, I never for once wished I was with my biological parents, or wondered about them"
"But I do recall, I was very young, very young when Benjamin came for me at the orphanage home"
Isabelle gasped, her hand covering her mouth.
"Dominic, I'm so sorry"
"Don't pity me. I couldn't have asked for a better parent"
"At the orphanage, it's in my records that my mom handed me over, like a pack of damned cigarettes"
"Benjamin homeschooled me, taught me about different ways of life, and he let me choose for myself"
"And you didn't choose the medical field" she said
"No. I chose business. Look at me, look at Benjamin. I'm not as gentle and patient nor caring as he is. He wouldn't hurt a fly, he's a good man"
"That's my story Isabelle, there you go" he finished his story.
Isabelle stood from her seat and sat on his thighs, hugging him and resting his head on her ample bosom.
"You're gentle, patient, kind. You're a good man as well, Dominic Castello" she said and kissed his forehead, he hugged her tight.
"Isabelle, can I... Oh, I'm sorry" Rosa said as she entered the kitchen, ruining the moment.
"No, it's fine, what is it?" Isabelle said as she stood up.
"Can I quickly grab lunch with my friends? from school"
"Well, don't be late"
"I think I should get going as well. We got a load of work to attend to tomorrow, Isabelle"
"Alright then, see you tomorrow"
She hugged him goodbye and he and Rosa walked out.
"Just so you know, she's never brought any friend to the house asides Sophie. You're the first she's introduced to us"
"For real?"
"Yeah, I don't bring my friends around either"
"And why is that?"
"You know, Dad and all of that. It's just a few friends I trust with my life that's been here"
"I understand. Seems I've made it to the list of the trusted few friends of Isabelle"
"Actually, you're the only one on her list, for the men"
"I must say I'm honored"
She laughed as they walked down the street.
"Mind if I give you a ride to your hangout?" He asked as he spotted Jameel parked down the street.
"Nah, I'll just walk. Thanks"
"And thank you, for telling me this"
"It's nothing, really"
"Have a nice hangout" he said as walked away.
Rosa fluttered her fingers in goodbye, he remembered how her Isabelle did the same thing, the fluttering fingers that made him recognize her.
"Jameel" Dominic called as they drove home.
"Yes Boss"
"I need you to help me find out everything you can about Rosa and Jimmy, education wise"
"Okay, give me 48 hours"
"Good"
They eventually got home and of course, Dominic was headed for his study as always.
"Oh Dominic, you're back" Benjamin said as he saw him climb the stairs.
"Yes I am. Thank you once again for today"
"Anytime. Also, let Isabelle know a session of chemo with intense radiation has been scheduled for her father this weekend"
"Very well then" as he was about to keep climbing, he thought of something. "Benjamin?"
"Yes"
"Uhm, never mind. Thank you"
"You're welcome"
Dominic kept on walking. Initially he was going to ask Benjamin if he knew anything about his parents but how could he? Benjamin adopted him and he didn't want to make him feel like he wasn't enough. Isabelle stopped at the cafe the following morning to pick up breakfast for both her and Dominic. They were back from the convention and work must continue.
"Don't you get tired Jameel?" Isabelle asked on their way.
"Tired of what?"
"I don't know, driving around, dropping me off, going all the way back for Dominic"
"Nope. I don't get tired"
"You could just drop both of us"
"Well, the boss is not ready yet.
Besides, I love my job, driving"
"Oh, okay then"
Just as he was going back for Dominic, Jameel happened to see Ryan escort a teenage girl to school and hug her, as she turned to leave, he spanked her ass.
"You fucking pervert, don't you get tired?" He shouted from his window.
"Mind your business"
"Or what? You'll call the cops, you fucking pedo"
"Nigga shut up and drive"
"The fuck did you just call me?"
Now, Jameel was black, and with Ryan being non-African, using the N-word on Jameel got him offended.
"You want to see me drive? Well, I'll drive" Jameel said to himself, revving the car and charged at Ryan who ran for his life.
"Stop, stop, sorry" he shouted as he kept running.
"Fuck you bitch" Jameel said as he hit the accelerator, knocking Ryan over and he drove away.
"Help me, somebody help" Ryan groaned in pain on the floor, his breathing, raspy.
In the last week, he had gotten beaten by Jameel and Dominic, bandages all over his face and now this. He struggled to reach for his phone as he bled from the mouth and nose. He made a call and just as the person answered, he passed out.
Ryan woke up to find himself in the hospital, his breathing was labored, he looked terrible.
"Thank God you're awake"
He looked to his side and saw the person he called, his big brother, José, and his breathing became heavier, tears coming out his eyes.
"Don't try to speak, no" José said in Spanish as he brought his chair closer to the hospital bed.
"I swear to you, I will fuck up whoever did this to you"
"They fucked with the wrong person, and for that, they will pay dearly"
"For now, I just need you to recover fully, when you're able to speak, we'll have a chat"
"And after that, I wait for you to recover, so there's no weak link for them to attack back" he said to his younger brother, then he made a call.
"Hello, Hamid, meet me at the joint in 10"
"Daniel, look after my baby brother" he said to a man in the back. "I'm not a baby" Ryan said gravely as José turned to leave. "Hermano" José said, hugging Ryan.
"Hermanito" Ryan said as he struggled with a smile.
"You just don't worry. I'll be back"
"Okay"
He said and left the hospital.
José got to the joint where Daniel and the rest of the gang were waiting for him.
"Cómo estás?" He asked,
"We good brother, we good" they shouted.
"Someone out there has put one of us in the hospital" he addressed them with a loud voice.
"Who's the puto?" A member of the gang shouted.
"That, I don't know yet. But when my baby brother wakes up, he will let me know who it was"
"Hmph, you call a grown ass man with beards and a job a baby?"
And there was dead silence in the room as Hamid, one of the members said.