Bella: The Ending: A Sagatori Family Saga

by Kimberly Soto

  His shoulders rose as he drew a breath. “He’s got this; just hang in there.”

  The plane jerked roughly with the release of the landing gear. “I hate this.” I clung to him.

  Anthony laughed. “Almost home.”

  I tightly closed my eyes waiting to land. The plane hit the ground with a powerful force, slowing after several moments of intense grinding.

  “You can breathe now.” Tony chuckled again while tapping on my shoulder.

  “Thanks,” I said sarcastically. I really hated to fly. The only time it was even somewhat bearable was if Jax was sitting next to me. That was the only time I was comfortable on a plane or anywhere for the matter.

  “It’s safer in the air than it is in a car. There’re more accidents on the road than the sky.” He unbuckled his seatbelt and stood once the crew had rose from their seats.

  I stuffed my iPad and phone into my bag and unbuckled my seatbelt. “But the likelihood of surviving a car accident far surpasses the likelihood of surviving a plane accident. If the plane goes down you’re not coming back from that one.” I raised a brow.

  He chuckled. “You’ve got me there.”

  “Exactly.” I preened as the crew ushered us off Jax’s plane.

  Once we were on solid ground, I sighed a breath of relief. Tony held the door signaling for me to enter the black Yukon. He followed closely, carefully guarded with his actions. I’d known Tony my entire life which made it easy for me to recognize when something was off. I watched as he drummed his fingers nervously with worry. I shook my head, turning to the right and gazing out the darkly tinted window. He wouldn’t tell me what worried him, just like Jax wouldn’t. Everyone in my family kept something from me.

  There were three SUVs that drove in the direction of the penthouse with the one I rode in the center. I rested my head against the warm glass watching the trees quickly pass. A white car drove along the side; a little girl played with a toy as she sat in her car seat, her parents in the front holding hands.

  They had a normal life; he probably worked as a banker or insurance agent while she likely taught school or stayed at home with her baby, I imagined. There were no guards, no one at risk of getting shot or harmed because of what he did for a living or because she grew up as a mafia daughter. They could freely travel alone as a family and embrace one another without their every move watched.

  My palm covered the left side of my face, shielding my saddened expression. I drew a breath and readjusted into the leather seat. We were only a mile from the penthouse, and I needed to decide what I would do once we were there.

  Would I stay? Would I go? I wouldn’t go, and as much as I hated that Jax had spoken to me with such dominance, I’d also grown up in this life. Living in the presence of the boss of bosses had groomed me for what was to come. Being the wife of the boss came with certain responsibilities. I knew that, I did, but I didn’t like it… I didn’t like any of it. I wanted Jax to throw his jacket on the chair when he came home from work, sip a brandy, and tell me about his day while I lay my head in his lap.

  The three vehicles pulled through the security gates of the parking garage in unison as each one bounced over the metal threshold. My eyes fixed on the familiar surroundings of the garage attempting to focus on something other than what I knew I needed to. The velocity of what had happened in Detroit was beyond measure.

  I sighed as we came to a stop at the entrance of the building.

  The driver, whom I didn’t know, gave a slight turn of his head, nodding as he unlocked the doors. I didn’t speak; not even a breath left my lips as my heels scratched against the concrete below me.

  “Ma’am.” Able, one of Jax’s men, nodded as he held the door. I didn’t know him and, honestly, I couldn’t have cared less just then. I’d normally have nodded or politely smiled, thanking him, but the feelings for good decency had been washed away. I was empty and void of all emotion.

  My heels clanked annoyingly with each step toward the elevator. Tony remained close as he swiped the keycard underneath the red scanner. Quickly, the door opened revealing an empty box I’d once again be forced into. With another sigh, I stepped over the threshold and stood gripping my bag to my front.

  The elevator held only Tony and myself, and yet I didn’t feel any more relieved that those men weren’t hovering over me. I wanted to be completely alone; a bath, maybe sleep until I felt something other than emptiness… loneliness.

  Tony drummed his fingers along the dorsal of the other. Something was off—strange with him. What did he know? My life was changing. MY LIFE! And yet, no one offered an explanation. I shook the thought; it was futile for me to continue with it. My position in this life meant I’d never know. I wanted to be angry, I wanted to force him to tell me something, anything, but I didn’t feel those emotions, I felt… nothing.

  I took a deep breath forcing the elevator’s stale air into my lungs, dropped my head, and closed my eyes. Eventually, the doors opened presenting the quiet penthouse entrance. Likely, Alessandra was home, but I hoped she wasn’t. I wanted to slip into bed and forget I existed for a night… maybe two.

  My bag caught on the doorjamb as I entered, and the loud clank of keys and a thud from the door echoed in the silence of… our home.

  A hand—guarded—sat upon my shoulder. “You okay?” Tony asked.

  My hidden expression was flat, monotone. I stared at the mirror Jax straightened his tie in every morning. I was still—as an image of us played in my mind, me at his left, him at my right, a smile resting on his lips, and a raised brow reminding me of the amazing night we’d had.

  I wasn’t okay.

  I drew in a breath feeling it catch before my lungs completely filled. I tried to speak, to say something, anything that would make me feel strong. I supposed I knew it wouldn’t matter; the words would almost certainly have no meaning, no distraction from the nothing I felt.

  “Bella?” Tony’s hand fell from my shoulder as I stepped forward in approach of the stairs.

  Without a word spoken, I continued with my bag dragging alongside. I slowly ascended the stairs to my room. I slipped deeper into a dazed state the longer and further I was away from Jax, the numbness beginning to consume me. Why wasn’t I angry? Why wasn’t I… sad? Why wasn’t I there, coveting him, from whatever it was that threatened us?

  I tucked loose strands of hair behind my ear letting my hand fall to my tummy—the tiny baby bump. I sighed and turned to my room, opened the door, and slipped inside. A hole remained in the wall from before we’d left. I smoothed my fingers along the rough edges of the drywall. He’d been upset the day he’d broken it. He knew something bad was coming. He’d warned me so many times not to leave Papa’s house.

  I didn’t listen… I never listened.

  I slipped my shoes off and dropped my bag onto the floor. I unfolded the blue satin and floral duvet and slipped in between the cool, silky sheets. I wrapped my arm over his pillow and relished in his scent. I hoped to feel closer to him as I cradled it to my chest squeezing tightly. The first warm tear slid against my cheek and my eyes closed as his scent lulled me to sleep.

  I was exhausted, drained, and my insides were numb as I slipped further into my subconscious. His face—the perfection of his silhouette—the hardness of his stare coveted me and brought me the comfort I craved. His comfort and protection were the only things I wanted.

  More than my own life. I loved him.

  ***

  “Bella?” I felt a soft nudge on my shoulder.

  The voice was low as if she wasn’t sure that waking me was entirely the right decision. I wasn’t ready to face the world as my subconscious fell back into the darkness.

  ***

  An uncomfortable pain and grumble from hunger followed a kick from Ennio, waking me from my sleep. I blinked trying to gain focus on the room as I pressed my palm against Jax’s pillow. I remembered he wasn’t there, and with that disappointment, I lifted my head.

  The room filled with da
rkness, whereas when I’d fallen asleep light from the sun had filled it. I had hoped I’d at least sleep till morning. Needing to eat and use the restroom, I stood from the bed and padded across the room. Once I’d finished my bathroom business, I padded through the room and out the door. The entire apartment was silent and dark.

  I padded toward the kitchen excited to fill my starving belly. The cool stone floor chilled my toes as I searched the fridge for anything that could sate my hunger. Three small covered dishes sat front and center filled with food.

  “Oh,” I said, removing the lid of the red container. Pasta with red sauce. “Thank you, Alessandra.” I smiled.

  After microwaving the food, I padded across the room seeing Tony sleeping on the couch. I smiled, sat my dish atop a table, and covered him with a throw blanket.

  Once I was certain I hadn’t disturbed him, I continued to Jax’s office. I liked going there when he was gone. I supposed I felt close to him there—his personal space that had been christened by us many times over. I clutched my food dish in one hand and turned the handle with the other. Immediately his fragrance hit my senses. A smile formed on my lips thinking he’d gotten home within the last few hours I’d been sleeping, but I knew that would be impossible if he were going to fix whatever had been going on.

  My smile quickly faded to a soft frown as I fully took in the empty room. I flipped on Nessum Dorma and curled inside of Jax’s leather chair as I enjoyed the sounds that surrounded me.

  I finished my food long after the song had ended, resting the dish on the shiny desk. I drew in a deep breath and closed my eyes as I curled into his chair, falling asleep once more.

  ***

  “She must be exhausted.”

  “I’ll put her into bed.”

  “No, leave her be. She wants to be close to him.”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  I heard Alessandra’s soft voice. I wanted to open my eyes and acknowledge them, but I couldn’t. I was too exhausted.

  “Let me repay your kindness.” I heard a kind male voice—Tony—say as the warmth of a blanket covered my body. “Sleep well, Bella.”

  ***

  I cried from neck pain as I repositioned myself inside of Jax’s chair. “Oh!” I woke as the muscle I’d pulled crippled me.

  The door flew open. “You okay?” Dominic ran to me with worry. “Is something wrong?”

  I saw only dark eyes. “I’m… yeah. It’s just a pulled muscle.” I placed my palm on his suit-clad chest and pushed him back.

  “Oh sorry.” He stood to his feet reaching his full height.

  I covered a yawn. “What time is it?”

  “Ten in the morning.”

  I slid my foot from under my bottom and placed it to the floor. “Oh I must’ve been tired.”

  He laughed. “You’ve been asleep in this chair for a full day and two before that in your bed.”

  “Huh?”

  He laughed. “Yeah, it’s been a few days.”

  I jumped to my feet. “What?” Panicked, quickly regretting it as my bladder painfully screamed at me. The baby was probably starved and jumping on my bladder seemed the likely retaliation.

  I quickly made my way to the guest bathroom and closed the newly fixed door, barely making it to get my business completed. I emerged into the hallway smelling something amazing.

  Dominic followed on my heels laughing under his breath. I was immediately drawn to the kitchen as the entire house filled with the most glorious aroma I’d ever smelled.

  As I padded deeper into the kitchen, Alessandra stood her back to me. “What’re you cooking?” I leaned in filling my nose.

  She jumped, letting a Sicilian curse word escape. “Isabella! You’ll give this old woman a heart attack.”

  Dominic and Tony laughed at the table while I leaned in, turning my attention to the fresh croissants.

  “Wow!” I grinned.

  “My dear, you must be starving half to death.” She reached into the cabinet presenting a small plate. I’d stuffed a large bite of the warm croissant into my mouth before it clanked against the countertop. “Well, I see I was right.”

  “Sorry,” I offered.

  “I’ll make you a big breakfast.” She raised a finger and hurried through the kitchen finding eggs and bacon inside the fridge.

  I turned toward Tony and Dominic. “Where’s Jax?” Clearly I’d been exhausted, sleeping as long as I had. And now all I wanted was Jax to be with me.

  “Check your phone,” Sal said as he entered the kitchen, catching everyone’s attention.

  I quickly padded through the apartment, ascending the stairs to my room, and quickly searched the floor for my bag seeing it wasn’t where I’d left it. “There you are,” I sighed, finding it on the chair near the window. Alessandra had clearly already straightened up.

  I reached inside, palmed my phone, tossed the bag onto the floor, sat legs crossed in the chair, and searched the fourteen missed calls and twenty-two texts.

  Emily had called three times and Jax eleven. I searched through them one by one seeing Jax had asked me to call him repeatedly. I nervously stared at the phone. Why did I fear what he would say?

  I pressed the call button and held the phone to my ear.

  “Bella,” Jax shot after only one ring.

  My heart fluttered inside my chest. “Hey.”

  Silence filled the phone.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” I heard a familiar song in the background, and I surrendered my attention to it. “Is that Madam Butterfly?”

  “Yes.” Just as he spoke, the voice in the song lifted an octave followed with the orchestra.

  We remained silent as it played.

  “Jax, I need for you to come home. I need you to come home, now.” I fought every emotion that I’d been without three days ago.

  “I’ll be there as soon as I can be.” He was usually vague with those responses; our calls were likely being listened to by the feds.

  “There’s a lot that needs to be said.”

  “Bella”—I could hear a loud noise, a car motor, in the background—"I’m not going into this.” His words muffled into the phone.

  “When you’re home?”

  A rustling noise came from Jax’s end of the call. “No.” He was silent for a moment. “I’ve gotta go, I’ll call later.” Sadness filled my stomach when he disconnected the call without a goodbye or I love you.

  “Bye…” I gripped the phone in between my fingers staring at it.

  I tossed it back into my bag and headed toward the kitchen. I was starved and knew Alessandra had been making breakfast. I’d deal with Jax after my energy level was up and I’d gotten a shower.

  CHAPTER THREE

  —Jax—

  The metal door clicked as I entered the room I’d been keeping Rebecca in, quickly seeing that she was fried from Victor’s persuasive techniques. Her blonde hair stuck against her sweaty face, and her head hung low. Victor had been here for three days tryin’ to get what he could from her.

  He slowly stood from a small metal chair as I entered, slipping the round glasses from his face, and approached. “Got a lot in that pretty little head of hers.” He nodded toward her as he cleared his throat and continued, “Two Russians approached her a few days before her car exploded. Told her she was in danger, showed proof.”

  “Proof?” I rubbed at my clenched my jaw.

  “Said they had audio.” His brows rose as he eyed me.

  “And?” I crossed my arms and leaned on the wall.

  He reached for a yellow rope and twisted it with his long, thin fingers. “After they showed her their proof, she agreed to go with them. She’s been with them since.”

  I squinted my brows. “She said she was working for Bella’s father.”

  “Nah, I don’t think that meant anything. She never did give in on that.”

  “What, she just made that shit up?”

  His brows rose as he turned toward her. “Trust me, if ther
e were any significance she would’ve said.” He turned toward me again. “The real question is, why did she come back? But you know that already, don’t you?”

  No one knew of the secret I shared with Anthony Sagatori. And no one had known before him; no one but Bella’s actual father—the Russian monster.

  I pushed off the wall I leaned on. “I have no fucking clue.”

  He drew a breath. “If you say so.” Victor’s presence was always a quiet one, but if you knew him at all, you’d see that right then he didn’t believe my bullshit. But he didn’t need to, no one did.

  “I do say so.”

  He shrugged. “Okay, but—”

  “But what?”

  He shook his head then skimmed his hand through his dark greasy hair. “Jax, I think you got a bigger problem here. I think they’ve been using her, and now”—he squinted— “here she is.” He jerked his head toward Becca. “And here you are workin’ her up just like they had to have known you would, all while”— he stopped mid-sentence— “whatever it is they want... Well, maybe they’re keeping you occupied so they can get it.”

  Thoughts, visions—whatever the fuck they were—flashed one after the other. They sent Becca and, “And Bella!” I had never in my life felt my heart fall like it did when I realized why she was here. If they wanted her alive, they wouldn’t have sent her. Likely, killing her was exactly what they thought I’d do. But that would take me from Bella. The fact that I’d been here for days without her had me at a disadvantage.

  “Jax?” Victor asked as I hurried into my pocket for my phone.

  “Get my plane fueled. I want to fly out as soon as I get to the airport, which will be immediately.” I didn’t even wait for a response before disconnecting the call.

  I watched as Becca lay her head forward unconscious. Anger seethed through me, and before I realized it, I’d grabbed onto her blonde hair. “What the fuck are you doing here, Rebecca?” I screamed into her face.