“Is he in trouble as well?” His dark brows raised with question. He must think I’m a lunatic. But yeah, my father was in big trouble.
I entangled my hands together as I wondered what the hell I should do.“I just need to make sure that he’s safe.” I said having delayed my answer so that I could think before I spoke. I must be careful not to give too much information away.
Salvatore promised he’d kill my father if I didn’t comply with his request. But my father was the boss. I was certain that when Papa heard of what I happened, Sam would surely get a bullet to the temple. I knew that I was“promised,” at my birth, but it was never fully solidified. We were never engaged and prepared for marriage. Back then, the wars were raging between Detroit and New York. Other syndicates were also threatening the territory my father held the throne for, so it made sense to consider if there wasn’t a son born they’d need someone to take over. God-forbid a woman do that job. This was done twenty four years ago. It was different now. Sam was only two when I was born. The families are so obscured from reality. I'd always hoped Papa wouldn't force me into marriage with him even though I knew my fate was sealed.
As he got older, his eyes were on me... and every other female within a hundred yards. His dick had seen more pussy than I wanted to think about, but only because he’s disgusting. He uses women, treats them like whores. I don’t know maybe they are whores. That’s what the wives of the men call them. They call them a lot of things actually, mostly in Italian, but I speak Italian and could definitely understand them, so I knew what they were saying and it wasn't friendly.
I belonged to him Sam would say. I’d tell him that I belonged to no one. He didn’t see it that way. He'd also been a huge reason that other boy's didn't approach me. Sam was Crazy and they knew it. Eventually he became obsessed. Always showing up at my house or watching me from his. He lived just next door, kind of inconvenient. I’d considered many times it would all be different if I was into him, but I wasn’t then and I’m not now. I’d grown up in this life and to be honest I’d like to find someone outside of it. A guy that doesn’t use a gun to rid his problems or threaten people to get his way. I wanted to be free from it all. Especially the insatiable cheating that I knew for a fact was a normal daily thing for the Made-Men in the famiglia. Most of the wives ignored it, but I would never stand by while my husband cheated on me. The woman brushed it under the rug and actedlike it didn’t exist. That always made me angry. I would never tolerate my husband cheating on me. Not for one second would I tolerate that. Ever!
Women in my world very infrequently get a choice who they’ll marry, especially if that girl was the daughter to the administration. They might get stuck with someone that they didn’t love, but make the best of it because it’s what their families say was best for them. The man the women were said to marry were always a partof this life. The marriages may not always be arranged but more suggested. A good Italian girl does what her family asks her to do because family is the Italian way. I think that's what sets us apart. Sunday dinners and holidays are tradition and family was always the most important. Throw in a little bit of organized crime and you’ve got a really tight family, even if they aren’t blood. Blood doesn’t matter in my world. If you’re in the famiglia then your family.
Papa said my blood was pure. My mother and father were chosen for one another long before the two were born. Based solely on lineage. Keeping the Sicilian blood in America was a huge concern between the two families. Papa told me a bedtime story of two families struggling to come to Americafrom Sicily years ago. When they came here and started their life things were very different. Different races mixing. Blacks and whites, Italian and whites. Italian and blacks. Oh and then the Irish. That didn’t set well with My Nonno and Nonni. They weren’tprejudice at all. My grandparents love all of Gods children but they didn’t believe in mixing. They said it goes against the plan. I just nodded at them when they’d said that. Me personally, I don’t care one way or the other. I just assumed not marry what Papa or Nonni would call“A good Italian boy” It was ridiculous every time they'd said it and always made me shiver with fear that I’d get stuck in a marriage like Aunt Teresa and Uncle Vito. They hated each other, but they married because their parents arranged it.
I’d always agonized over the possibility that Papa would make me marry for the famiglias benefit. But I was comfortable when he didn’t push the issue. While this was a different time and marriage isn’t like it was when my parents married, you are still expected to marry within the Italian blood line. Most often than not a good Italian Cosa Nostra girl did what wasexpected of her. Pleasing her father was of top priority even if she’d rather stick a fork into her eye ball.
What worriedme the most was being trapped in a loveless marriage, so that someone I didn’t love could steer the famiglia while I sat idly by being a princess for the rest of my life. I wouldn’t have to cook or clean. I’d never had to do those things before and of course the man that I’d marry would take my father’s position since I was the only child with no brothers to carry on.
My whole life would consist of making my husband happy. It would be boring to say the very least. But here I am, twenty-four years old and nothing had ever been said. So every night when I close my eyes I ask Momma, my guardian angel to keep them away so that true love could find me.
A girl could dream but I knew the reality. I’d marry a made-man because that’s the life I was born into, that’s who I am and what’s expected of the only child of Anthony Sagatori.
I only hoped the man I’d be told to marry wasn’t Salvatore Casconi. My grandparents swoon over him. They call him a“good Italian boy.” Sam hasn’t been a good boy since he was made at sixteen. His first kill was Tony Romero, a made-man and the most feared solider under the capo Gianni“Bull” Bove. He’d been looking at Sam’s mother in the wrongness of ways. No one punished the action and instead rewarded what Sam had done by declaring it honorable. He was confirmed shortly after and now is a Capo with his own soldiers. Capos or Captains are given ten or so soldiers to handle. But Sam wants to handle everything. He wants to be the boss of the boss's like Papa.
“Listen, Uhh…” I hesitated, realizing I didn’t know his name.
“Jax,” He tilted into my direction.
I liked that name. It suited him. Dangerous and edgy. I could see that about him.“Jax, I really appreciate your help. I do. But,” I took a deep breath.“I really need to go to my father.”
“You’ll be safe?” He asked with a deafening darkness that leered from behind his eyes.
I nodded my head.“Yes, of course.” The phone vibrated in my lap and I remembered that I still had Jax’s phone.“Sorry,” I offered, handing him the phone.
He palmed it with his huge hand. He swept across my skin then tucked it neatly into his jacket.
“Do you need to get that?” I asked politely, wanting to change the mood that’d suddenly become dark.
“No.” He answered so absolutely that I shivered. With one hand against the door and the other on his suite clad thigh I saw it, a wedding band. He was married. There was a stab in my gut as I realized there was no way I was going to get him and his family involved in my fucked up world.
“You can drop me off at the next stop.” The people that we were dealing with would hurt him and my conscious couldn’t take that.
“I’ll take you home, Bella.” His deep voice hummed while his eyes never faltered from mine.
“I really don’t want to keep you from your family, Jax.”
His throat cleared as he followed my eyes to his ring but said nothing in return.
We quickly passed a sign that showed several restaurants and gas stations and I realized he’d never asked the driver to pull off of the exit. Uneasiness rushed like a panic attack for the safety of my father and now this man and his wife. I get myself into the biggest messes.
“What do you do for a living?” I asked, trying to take my mind off the fact that I’d just pul
led him into something he wasn’t supposed to know anything about.
“My job?” He huffed with amusement.
“Yes,” Had I just pissed him off?
“I’m a business man.” He answered dismissively. His brows wrinkled in frustration.
I ignored the attitude and kept talking.“That’s fascinating. Do you love it?” I scrunched a fake smile onto my lips. My heart raced, I was a wreck of worry tied in knots everywhere.
He shook his head.“I wouldn’t say that I love it…but it’s what I’m good at.” A glare set on his face.
“I wouldn’t waste one moment doing something that I didn’t love.” True statement.
“Really? Tell me, what is it that you do?” He asked sardonically.
“Million dollar question.” I admitted while my cheeks heated with embarrassment. I had no idea what I did. I knew what I wanted to do, but no-one would allow it.
“Sounds loaded.”
“You have no idea.” I breathed in.“I’d like to run my father’s business when he retires. I’d like to make him proud.” I shrugged into the seat.
“A business woman?” He stifles a smile.
“I don’t know how true that is.” I wasn’t brought up thinking I could own my own business. Papa would probably have a heart attack if he knew what I was saying.
“You don’t sound overly confident.”
I shruggedagainst the seat.“No, I suppose I don’t.”
“You’re afraid of failure?”
No I’m afraid of my father.
My head turned into his view.“Presumptuous much?” I snapped. It was true and kinda pissed me off that I was that transparent. It was my own fault, I was always a bit unconfined with my facial expressions and it had always gotten me into trouble.
“Just really good at reading people, I suppose. Occupational hazard.” He shrugged into the seat.
“Hmm, what sort of business are you in?” I asked wanting the attention elsewhere.
His features darkened.“All kinds.” That sounded shady.
I didn’t consider what he'd said and just kept talking. I needed the separation if only for a moment.“Any good at it?”
“The best.” His fingers tapped his suit clad leg.
“Overly confident?” I retorted.
“Every day.” A grin lifted at his lips.
I laughed out loud. I really wasn’t expecting that answer. Kinda refreshing to be honest.“Good. I wouldn’t want to be in business with someone that wasn’t sure of his abilities.” That’s no joke. I’d seen many connected guys come and go. My father had his fingers in all sorts of transactions and if the earners weren’table to make money they were gotten rid of. Papa didn’t tell me these things, but I knew more than just what Papa told me which wasn't anything really. A girl hears A lot of things when she snoops and eavesdrop. I’d always known.
“Oh? Are you in search of a business relationship?” His eyes darkened again.
“No.” I answered with my eyes nervously roaming the car. I lay my head back gazing out the window closing my eyes. I’m in a stranger’s car with barely any clothing on, at God knows what hour. I have no shame and I’m conversing with him about things that don’t matter in my world. Women owning their own businesses. Only if they work for their husbands.
***
“Bella?” A warm hand jostledmy arm.“Bella,”
My eyes openedseeing that were parked in front of the address I’d given Jax.“It’s so dark.” My body shifted as I leaned forward. The lights weren’t on in the house. As I began to look further into the situation my heart started pounding in my ears.“He isn’t here.” Terrified, I quickly gripped the door handle and jumped out of the car.
“Wait!” I hear from inside the car, but I was already half way to the front door.
“Papa?” I asked, looking around. I didn’t see any cars. The house was moderate size. It was nothing obscene, it was nothing like the palace we really lived in, as not to draw attention but still beautiful. I crossed through the small garden, gripping the railing of the steps. I heard absolutely nothing. My breathing slowed only so that I could listen for any signs that he was there.“Papa?” I whispered, knowing he wouldn’t hear it but saying it anyway because I was scared.
My father had always been my protector and my saving grace. I didn’t know what I would do without him. And I never wanted to find out. I prayed every single day that he'd live forever.
“Bella?” Jax said as the unkempt leaves crunched beneath his feet behind me. I turned just as he slid his jacket over my shoulders.“Do you have a key?”
My eyes met his and I sank into his arms that were wrapped around me, holding the jacket in place. I really needed to feel safe. I needed to know that everything was going to be okay. I knew he was married, but I just needed to borrow the safety of his arms for just a moment.
“Can you get inside?” He asked again.
“I don’t know.” I didn’t have a key. I hadnothing with me.“Umm,” I continuedwith my eyes wondering, seeking an invisible key. As I did, he released me.“What are you doing?” I asked.
He took the three steps forward to turn the door knob.“It’s open.” His body shifted into my direction.
I bowed my head and followed to the door.“Thank you.” My eyes met his again. My body slid in between his towering body and the door frame. When my feet were safely planted on the hard wood floor his hand reached out to mine entangling our fingers together. My eyes shifted to our hands
His eyes lowered to mine.“Let me in.” His voice was firm and in control. I didn’t know him, he was a stranger and welcoming him into the house could be a bad idea, especially if Papa didn't arrive. “To make sure you’re okay, of course.” His head tilted and his eyes shifted to my hand with furrowed brows.“You’re so cold.”
I was freezing and then I realized it was cold inside. Papa would’ve turned on the heat or started a fire. It’s completely dark and empty though.
“What is it?” Jax asked. With his tall frame moving inside the house he pushed my body backwards. I noticed a man standing just outside the door watching with his head slowly taking in the house. He must be the driver.“Is there anyone here?” His chin lifted. He’s really tall. He’d actually towered over me by more than a foot, at least.
“I don’t know. My father was supposed to be here, but…”
He was still holding my hand and I couldn’t help the feeling I had when my eyes noticed what his hand looked like as it held mine. He was strong with soft hands, manicured probably. With that car and the suite that I knew had to be hand stitched like Papa's I was certain he took great care of himself and made great money to do so. Metro sexual for sure. Expensive suit, shiny perfect shoes, cufflinks with encrusted black diamonds. I’d say the guy was very well off.
“But what?” he peered into my eyes, questioning me intently as he waited for my response.
“But I don’t think anyone has been here.”
His hand released his hold on mine and moved around me going deeper in to the foyer. A light brightened the large room in front of us.“Is this where you live?”
“Uh huh.” I lie.
“And your family lives here as well?” He continued walking through the now lit area.
“Yes,” I slowly followed him.
“This house feels like no one’s been here for a long time.” His eyes searched through the large space. I didn’t answer. When he turned his head to question me with his eyes I knew that he saw the truth. I shrugged. I was a really bad liar.
“Where’s your room?” his hand swept over a few pictures of my family that hung on the wall.
I pointed into the direction of the stairs.
“I’ll go with you.” His arm fells as he beganto approach me.“To get dressed.” His voice was stern and demanding.
I was shivering, it wasso cold and my feet are completely numb. I can’t even feel my toes and when I see his breath I realize my father has definitely not been here. He’s righ
t; no one’s been here for a very long time.
I pulled the jacket tight around my chest and padded my numb feet towards the stairs. His hand landed on my shoulder as we both ascend the stairs. Iwas so worried but I couldn't tell him. I couldn’t bring him into this. I’d get dressed and take the car from the garage and find Papa. He’d have to be okay.
My hands held the railing for support. When we reached the top of the stairs the light brightened the way. He’d turned it on as we reached the landing. I continued walking through the hallway, finding my room at the end of the hall. This house wasn’t your typical safe house, but Papa always did his absolute best to keep my life as normal as possible. Momma insisted on it and he always did his best to make sure she was happy.
My door was closed and when I open it Jax reached around me turning on the light once again.“Get dressed and pack a bag.”
I turned my head glaring at him.“Why?”
“Because you’re practically naked.” He blew out an annoyed breath.
“No, I mean why pack a bag?” I opened the closet door, knowing I already had a bag packed inside on the floor. I unhooked a few hangers that held jeans and a sweatshirt on them.
“After what you've been through I don’t think you should be here alone, Bella.”
My only concern was where Papa was. I couldn’t care less what’d happened to me.“Do you mind?” I asked. He didn’t hesitate turning away so that I could remove the crappy torn top I was wearing. I pulled the sweatshirt over my head, swiped a clean pair of black lace panties from my drawer, and stepped inside of my jeans.
All of this stuff had been kept up for the most part. Someone cleaned the house a few times a month just to keep up with appearances and I always had clothes here. If we ever needed to hang out for a long period of time that most likely meant we didn’t have time to pack a bag and wouldn’t be able to go shopping for new things.
Once my clothes were on, I began to get the feeling back into my body. Once my socks were on, I tucked my feet into a pair of brown leather boots and swiped the hair brush through my long dark hair. I almost felt human again.
Bella #1 (Sagatori Family Saga #1) Page 2
