Bella: The Begining (Sagatori Family Saga #1)

by Kimberly Soto

  Mickie laughed, “Hey, that hurt me more than it hurt you,” the other men laughed. “That wife of yours, mmm, when you’re dead I’m gonna hit that shit hard. I’m gonna put that smart ass mouth of hers to use.” Everyone laughed and suddenly the pain in my arm was dulled.

  “I’m gonna fucking kill you, Mickie.”

  “No, boss, I’m gonna kill you. Well, the Russians are gonna kill you while I’m fucking your wife.”

  I sprinted forward. BANG! Another shot this time to my chest and I collapsed.

  “Come on, let’s get him upstairs.”

  My body was dragged across the warehouse then the stairs. Breathing was difficult and consciousness was a joke. I moved my arms searching for a gun or phone, feeling nothing. My body was cold and a gurgling noise came from my lungs.

  “I’ll leave you to it. I’ve got a prize I’m going for. Don’t leave anything behind.” I heard Mickie’s voice.

  I moved my legs and felt around on the floor for anything to kill these motherfuckers with.

  “Orlov wanted to be here himself, but he’s a busy man now that he’s got all of your territories.”

  Mickie hadn’t taken care of him? All these weeks he’d said he’d handled it. “Wait.” My vision was blurry. I focused as best as I could but nothing helped. I still couldn’t make the men out.

  “Rest in peace,” the Russian accent laughed.

  I took a long uncontrolled breath and sank into death’s wasteland.

  —Bella—

  I ran to Jax’s side seeing him lying on the floor and all color washed from his face after Sal had untied him from the chair. It shook me, I grabbed him feeling his lifeless body under my touch. “Jax!” I screamed, unable to hear my own voice. “Jax?” I shook him.

  “Bella!” Tony ran to my side. “Stop!”

  “Is he alive?” Tears poured down my face. “Is he alive?” I screamed again. “Jax, wake up, wake up, baby. I’m here, you’re gonna be okay.” I pressed my head against his chest listening for a breath or heartbeat. There was blood everywhere. But he couldn’t be dead. “Jax,” I shook him again, “you’re the first person I think about when I wake up. You promised you’d never leave me, so wake up!” I sobbed uncontrollably.

  “Bella, stop!” Sal grabbed me from behind. “Bella, he’s gone, he’s gone.”

  “NO!” I cried.”

  “Fuck!”

  “Who the fuck did this?”

  All of their voices were mere echoes. I was lost inside of myself, and now I was covered in Jax’s blood.

  “Get an ambulance. Get him to the hospital.”

  “I already called Marco. He’s on the way.”

  “Get someone here to help him,” I demanded.

  “Wait!” Dominic hushed everyone. “Did you see that?”

  “Did we see what?”

  “The boss.” He dropped to his knees feeling Jax’s chest. “There,” he pressed his head to his chest, “he has a heartbeat and he’s barely breathing, but he is breathing.”

  “Bubbles… there—his nose.” I pulled away from Sal hovering over Jax. He’s alive. Baby, stay with me.” I cried historically. Jax, don’t leave me, we are going to have a baby.

  “The bullet pierced his lung. It’s collapsed.”

  We counted every breath Jax had until Marco and another paramedic came to help us. Sal held me back while the people worked and put him into an ambulance.

  “I’m going with him,” I fought against Sal, “I’m not leaving him.’’

  ***

  We had been sitting in the hospital waiting room for ten hours. I hadn’t eaten or slept. I refused to move from my spot in the waiting room for fear I’d be gone when they came out of surgery. They said they would do everything they could but the odds were not in his favor. Tony and Sal hadn’t left my side. There were crews all over the place in and out of the hospital.

  From what I’d heard from Tony, it was the Russians. They found out when I’d ordered Tony to have Sam brought to me. I was gonna put a bullet in his head like I had Mickie’s, but he didn’t do it. Mickie didn’t think we’d find him or maybe he thought they’d kill us first.

  I sat here for the last ten hours planning their deaths, every dark and twisted one of their deaths. I’d write it down, but the feds could use that against me. Instead, I’d simply do it myself. I’d walk in and shoot them all.

  “Mrs. Moretti?” I heard someone announce.

  My weak body stood. “Yes!” Tony walked me into a small room. My body was ice cold and my heart beat hard and fast as I feared what he was going to say.

  “Is he okay?”

  His face was pale. He looked so much weaker than I felt.

  “We did everything that we could Mrs. Moretti.” I collapsed. “He’s lost a lot of blood. We were able to retrieve the bullets from his lung and arm but the head trauma…he has severe swelling, and until that decreases we will be in the dark.”

  “Is he going to live?”

  “We have to take it hour by hour. Our hope is that he can make it through the first twenty-four hours, and if we get that far then the chances get better and better.”

  “So there's a chance he could make it?” Tony asked.

  “I’m going to be honest… I’m not sure how he’s still with us. He took a beating but he’s a fighter, so yes, I think there is a chance, however small, but yes.”

  “Can I see him?” I needed to hold him.

  “Yes, he’s in the ICU, but I need to warn you, he’s intubated. He has a breathing machine, that can be scary if you’re not expecting it.”

  I wiped the tears from my face. “I need to see my husband.”

  The doctor walked us into the ICU.

  We approached the cold, dark room. Jax was in a hospital bed and sure enough, he had tubes in his mouth and IV’s in his arms. Tears welled in my eyes seeing him like that. I approached the bed afraid to touch him. I didn’t know if he’d make it, but I prayed that he would. I loved Jax Moretti.

  Tony slipped inside of the room rounding the bed. “We’re gonna get them, Bells.”

  “Tony, I want them all dead.” I paused. “Bring me, Orlov. I want to kill him myself, do you understand?”

  He nodded “I understand where you’re comin’ from Bella, but you can’t do that. He wouldn’t want that.”

  “Bring me Orlov, Tony.” I stood tall. I would kill him. I would make him pay.

  “Bella.”

  “He tried to kill my husband, Tony. Bring him to me.”

  He drew in a deep breath watching Jax.

  “If this was you, Jax would avenge you. I’d avenge you. We’re family, and we must protect our own. Bring him to me.”

  Tony watched me for a long moment and without another word he walked toward the door.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To make them pay.”

  I nodded.

  Tony stood still for a moment, watching between Jax and I and then silently left the room.

  I’d stay with Jax until he woke up, and I’d have revenge for him too. I sat down beside the bed and laid my head on his cold hand. I slipped into the darkness of sleep holding onto the love I never thought I’d have, and I’d do everything to hang on to that.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  —Bella—

  The window fogged over from the rain as the water streamed the glass.

  “Bella, do you hear what I’m saying to you?” I could hear Chase asking questions, talking at me and not to me. I wanted to rip his freaking throat out.

  My fists clenched then I snapped my head into his direction. “I’m not taking him off of life support... now or ever. My fingers laced with Jax’s. My grip tightened and my jaw clenched.

  Jax had been lying in the hospital bed for one week. He hadn’t woken up or fluttered his eyes no matter how many times I’d begged or prayed for him to do so. The bruises on his face and body were turning into a dulled black. The bullet wounds were mostly healing, the doctors said, but they were
still horrible.

  I hadn’t left Jax’s side since he’d been here, and I hadn’t planned to leave. He’d get better; he had to. My family depended on him coming back from this. So I’d wait right next to him, holding his hand and praying every minute of every day until his eyes opened.

  I knew that Chase was trying to do the right thing, but that was only the right thing for him. For me, the right thing was protecting Jax and our baby until he was able to do it himself.

  Chase and his mother argued in the hallway. She of course didn’t want me to take Jax off of life support, but Chase said he’d never want to be seen like this. He said that Jax had made him swear with a blood oath that he would do what needed to be done if something like this ever happened. I hadn’t shared with anyone that I, in fact, was pregnant. Jax and I would tell them together. Soon. I was hopeful because hope was all that I had.

  I stood, released my hand from Jax’s, and stepped toward the door. Mrs. Moretti and Chase’s eyes pinned me. I drew in a deep breath. “Jax doesn’t need to hear that you’ve given up on him, Chase.” I stood tall while my hand clutched the door for support. “Do not mention this again in our presence. Jax needs everyone to be strong for him now more than ever, and if you can’t do that.” Mr. Moretti, Sal, Tony, and Emily also stood just outside the door with their eyes pinned on me. I drew in another deep breath, this time for courage. “Then I want you to leave and never come back. That goes for each and every one of you.” I pointed.

  “Of course, Bella, of course. My Jax is strong, very strong and he will heal soon.” Jax’s mother had stepped forward. She was a very nice woman, but we hadn’t gotten close. Her boys were mommas boy’s. She was a dedicated wife and mother. She seemed to lack the power to overrule the men in her life, but I’d never let that happen to me. I’d always stand up to anyone for the things I believed in.

  “Bella, you can’t let him lay there like this. He wouldn’t want that.”

  I crossed my arms. “I am his wife, Chase, and I’ll do as I see fit and you’d be wise to remember that.” I turned, trying to hide the nausea and the vomit that coated the back of my throat.

  “He’s my brother, Bella! I’m blood, and I know what he’d want.”

  I didn’t know if I was nervous when my heart pounded in my chest or if I was angry, but either way, I was not going to let him continue to belittle my status as Jax’s wife. I’d put an end to that behavior.

  I held the doorframe as I turned back into his direction holding the vomit back. I swallowed and spoke, “I am Jax’s wife. I’ll be respected as such.” I held my ground, knowing as a woman in this world meant speaking my mind would certainly get me into some sort of trouble, but I had never let that stop me in the past and the future was no different. I held my ground meeting his glower.

  “Chase,” Mrs. Moretti held her arm out as Chase stepped closer to me. Anger flashed in his eyes. Was he going to hit me? “Time to go. Isabella, you call with any changes.” She walked forward and lifted her arms to hug me. “You’re so brave, Bella, so much braver than I ever was,” she whispered. I had to admit, I didn’t feel brave, but hearing that from her did give me the courage I needed to keep moving forward. Though, I wanted to curl up with Jax and die with him.

  I didn’t waste my breath or energy with any further look at Chase or the rest of the people that had given up on Jax. I didn’t want anything to do with them if they didn’t believe in him the way that I did.

  ***

  The next few days were cold. That’s the way I’ll always remember them... cold. I suppose it was the hospital, but the color stuck out at me the most. A pale gray. Rain had been constant over the time we’d been in Chicago Memorial. Cold, gray, and wet. The beginning of summer had arrived, and yet no matter how many flowers bloomed all I felt was coldness. All I could see was the color gray.

  I had been getting sick nearly every morning except for today. Today I had been sick all day. I’d paced the hospital room waiting for Tony to call with news he’d caught that bastard Orlov. I knew Tony didn’t want me having anything to do with this, but it wasn’t his call. If he didn’t deliver that bastard to me, he’d find out what crossing me would lead to. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Tony as if he was blood, but I wasn’t playing around. I wanted revenge. I wanted to drink it like a tall glass of warm blood. I wanted to feel its slippery consistency drip from my fingertips.

  I’d been sleeping in a recliner when I hadn’t been laying my head on Jax’s pillow at night. It was uncomfortable, but I didn’t notice really. My eyes watched Jax’s waiting for him to wake up. When I was alone, I’d sneak into the bathroom, turn on the water in the sink, and cry and then cry some more. I’d decided long ago I’d never let my weakness show, and I damn sure wasn’t ready to start.

  Only a hand full of people knew Jax had been in the hospital for the last week. Most thought we were on our honeymoon somewhere exotic thanks to some gossip that had been spread by my dear friend Emily. Holy hell she could get the word out fast, but now I’d have to figure out what to do for the long haul. If anyone knew that Jax was in the hospital, the Underboss would take over. When Sal and Tony had been around, I’d asked what that would mean for our future. They looked at each other and admitted they didn’t know since nothing like this had ever happened. I knew right then and there that no one could find out.

  I made a decision that day; a decision that my family wouldn’t be happy with. Hell, they’d fight me all the way, but I’d win.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  —Bella—

  Two weeks later…

  My neck was stiff and my body felt like it had been twisted with a million tiny knots. I’d been sleeping in the chair next to Jax’s hospital bed. He’d been having difficult nights caused from his gunshot wounds. His lungs weren’t working the way they were supposed to be. The machines were beeping from his low oxygen; the nurse kept calling them alarms or something. Anyway, I hadn’t slept well in a while but that didn’t matter when it came right down to it. I was blessed I had my life and our baby who grew inside my belly. Jax on the other hand—well, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen.

  Mrs. Moretti arrived every day at ten sharp. She’d walk in wearing all black carrying her large bag. She’d set it down and stare at me. Ugh… it drove me insane. I wanted to tell her that her son was going to be okay. I did every chance I got, but I knew she didn’t believe me. The look in her eyes was doubtful at best.

  “Have you eaten?” she asked.

  I shrugged into the chair my body sat numb inside of. I leaned forward sweeping Jax’s hand into mine. “I’ll eat something in a while.”

  Mrs. Moretti took tiny steps towards the bed. Short dark hair with curls clung to her ears as she leaned over me. “Bella, the baby needs food. You must take care of yourself.”

  My eyes pinned to Jax. I was upset that someone knew my secret and knew before Jax. I think that hurt more than anything. My heart beat fast in my chest waiting to see what else she would say. When she didn’t speak, I turned towards her. She held her hands in front of her stomach as she waited for me to speak.

  “Bella, I’ve watched you sit here every day. You never leave this room, and I know you haven’t eaten very much in the last few weeks.”

  “Emily and Alessandra bring food every day.” I felt myself fading from exhaustion and hunger. I knew she was right. “Will you call if something happens?”

  “Of course,” she smiled.

  I nodded then stood. “I’ll be back as quick as I can.”

  “Take your time, Bella. I’ll take good care of him.” Her eyes fell to her son. She watched him with such devotion, and for a moment I felt that leaving him with his mother would be alright. She’d been right; I knew it, she knew it. I just didn’t want to leave the only family I had left in this whole world, alone.

  I opened the hospital room door seeing Tony sitting in the chair across the hall. His eyes lifted to mine. His facial expression was one of surprise. Maybe it was because
I hadn’t left this room the entire time Jax had been here. His hospital room was equipped with everything I needed, a chair for sleeping, a bathroom for showering, and my husband.

  Tony stood as I closed the door behind me. “Where are you going? Is something wrong?” He hurried toward me.

  I shook my head. “No, I’m being sent away… to eat.” I lifted my brows.

  “You can’t go by yourself, Bella. Wait twenty minutes for Sal to get here, and I’ll go with you.”

  I nodded again. “No, I’ll be fine. I’ll be there and back quick. Besides, I’m only going downstairs to the cafeteria.” I held my arm to my chest checking the time.

  “You sure?”

  “Yes, you can’t leave Jax. I’ll be fine.” I waved, looking over my shoulder as I walked away. Honestly, I was safer than anyone had known. Alessandra had gone through Jax and my closet to retrieve the gun I’d requested. A specific gun: my father’s Colt 45. I’d planned to use the very gun that sat safely tucked inside my bag for my revenge.

  My eyes wandered along the walls of the long hallway, it was a cool shade of blue. I would surely never like the color blue again. I approached the elevator bank and lifted my finger to the down arrow. The doors opened a few seconds later with a tall man dressed in a T-shirt and jeans finished with a brown leather jacket. He stood against the back wall. I smiled a half smile, entered, and slid to the outer wall of the elevator, pressing the button of the floor that I’d needed.

  “Nice day,” his deep, Russian accent didn’t go unnoticed.

  A chill ran down my spine. I was scared for a moment. I’d heard this accent before. I lifted my eyes to the tall man. “It’s a shitty rainy day.”

  “Indeed.” His large forehead squeezed at the wrinkles above his brow, and his eyes set into a glower.

  I wasn’t here for pleasantries. If he was with the Russians I was looking for, he wouldn’t see the meek girl that once resided inside this body. He’d see the fierce woman I’d become. He’d see Bella Moretti, the woman he’d better fear.

  The elevator doors opened to reveal the ground floor. I stepped out without another word. My pulse raced and my nerves went crazy with anxiety. I had to admit if only to myself that I’d wanted to kill that man simply because of his accent. What sort of person did that make me? I’d do it… shoot him, watch as his blood pooled around his casually dressed body.