CHAPTER ONE
My lungs filled with air quickly releasing while my bare feet took me away from what had happened. The trees were thick and the burn as my feet made contact with the broken limbs was horrific. Leaves crunched and limbs snapped with each giant stride I took towards safety.
The highway was close and so were his men.
Oh God. Don’t panic. Just run!
My breathing was shallow and heavy. Sweat dripped from my heated forehead and my breath billowed around me.
I needed to get to the highway. I needed help.
My eyes flickered into the distance seeing bright lights flashing against the trees.
Yes—
I’d found it.
My feet continued relentlessly moving me forward as I blew harsher breaths that caused my throat and lungs to burn. I’d been running for a while and my body warned it would give out soon.
A bright light blinded me as I burst through the last set of thin trees. A loud screeching pierced my ears, leaving me to gasp with fear.
I slammed my palms to my face knowing the car was going to hit me. My body stiffened, ready for impact. Why the hell was I just standing there? I wanted to move out of the way, but remained frozen with fear. I didn’t know which way to go, which way to run.
A horn blared from the on-coming vehicle as it swerved to avoid me. The headlights shifted into another direction and skidded to a stop. Then quickly, the car pulled onto the shoulder.
Oh, thank God!
My lungs gushed air, thankful I hadn’t been hit. The adrenaline that had taken over before—crashed, leaving me to fall to my knees.
My feet were bare and sore. Panties and a kami were the only pieces of clothing that covered my now frozen body. Pain shot through me as I fell—slamming to the pavement.
“Are you fucking crazy?” a voice reverberated.
I blinked attempting to raise my head in hopes of begging for help, only to sag further against the pavement. I wanted to jump to my feet and call Papa, but my arms and legs felt like one-hundred pound weights were tied to them. giving out against my strong protest. I was exhausted and out of breath. I’d just run a mile, and did so without stopping to catch my breath even once. Exhaustion was an understatement.
“Hello? Hey!” The strong voice came closer, but the tone had descended from cross to circumspect, leaving me hopeful that he would help.
My hand crawled along the rough pavement allowing me to rise. The bright lights shined on the dried blood on my hands, reminding me of what I’d done just before I’d escaped my captor.
“Let’s get you off of the road,” The man now spoke with vigilance as he covered me with his jacket.
Warm hands covered my shoulders then my arms, wrapping me into safety. I worked my tongue in my mouth to speak, but it was difficult and felt like cotton had been stuffed inside of my cheeks. I needed to call Papa before it was too late.
“Help!” My voice was almost inaudible because of the dryness and burning.
He moved with composed strides and as we crossed the road, horns blared and bright lights flashed. My eyes closed tightly and my forehead and nose fell against the softness of his shirt with relief.
The air was bitter cold, and my entire body frozen, but my feet seemed to have gotten the brunt of the trauma.
“I’m going to sit you inside of my car, okay,” he said with benevolence. For the first time in a day, I’d found reassurance and hope that I wasn’t going to be at the mercy of a killer, at least not tonight.
I nodded, giving approval as he sat me inside of a warm, luxurious car. I hadn’t realized it was a limo until I fully emerged inside. The interior was sleek and a bright strip of light stretched out against the entire car. My body quickly began to warm in the seat while warm air also blew against my numb flesh.
He shifted leaning across my body, gripping the seat as he entered. I was more than aware he watched me intently and with question. “Water?” I asked, the word barely escaping from my burning throat. His eyes softened before reaching inside of the bar retrieving a bottle of water. I gulped the cool liquid, all while watching him from my otherwise motionless position, grateful that he’d found me. “Thank you.” I offered while whipping a few drops of water away with the back of my hand.
He didn’t respond and instead picked up a ringing phone, answering it with an authoritative tone. “In a moment,” he growled, nestling his long suit-clad legs inside the space. I watched him and he watched me. His large hand adjusted his cuff links before disconnecting the phone, tossing it to the side. “Are you hurt?” His tone was flat and blasé.
My head fell to my lap, seeing the dried blood. I tucked my hands inside of the long sleeves of the jacket as I contemplated. I didn’t feel hurt, other than my scrapped knees and battered feet. I was okay physically, though, I didn’t doubt I’d be sore tomorrow. Albeit, I may never feel my toes again. “I don’t think so.” I softly shook my head, lifting to his intent stare.
His eyes wandered to first my body then my eyes, revealing magnified darkness. “Why were you on a highway at one in the morning—” he asked accusingly. “—practically naked?” I didn't know him, what difference did it make?
Regardless of his interest, I couldn't tell him what’d happened. He was nice enough. He’d helped me, but telling him any of what happened would put him in danger. He was just an innocent man whose only crime had been to help me, and I wouldn’t repay him with blood.
“Could I please use your phone, to call my father?” He’d know what to do. He always knew what to do.
The man was silent as he slid his hand across the seat retrieving the phone. My hand nervously raised to his, making a bit of contact with his warmth. I shuddered turning my head slightly, hoping he hadn’t noticed. I didn’t think he had, so I simply tucked the phone into my palm and reached for the door handle.
He pushed the weight of his body forward pressing his hand into the soft leather seat. “Where are you going?”
My heart beat fiercely, wondering if I could trust this stranger. He seemed nice, but a stranger in the dark, nonetheless. My grip became rigid against the metal handle. He scanned me questionably and as the seconds ticked by I felt like running might be the better option. However, I wouldn’t have lasted another five minutes in the harsh Detroit cold, especially in what little I had on my body.
My lips scantly parted. “I’m going to step outside, to call my father.” My voice was meek. He couldn’t hear what I needed to say, and I couldn’t very well ask him to leave his own vehicle.
“You’re not wearing any… clothing,” he gestured his hand towards my naked legs. “You should stay in the warmth of the car—“ he paused “— I’ll step out and give you some privacy.” My eyes followed him as he left the car and leaned his body against the car.
I wasted no time with my fingers swiping across the screen, pulling up the dial pad impatiently waiting for him to answer.
“Sagatori,” booming hostility echoed.
“Papa,” I took a deep breath comforted he was okay.
“Isabella? Where are you?” His question was commanding. Papa had always been commanding, he had to be, he was the boss of the Sagatori crime family.
“They took me, Papa. You have to get out of the house.”
“Be very specific, Isabella. Who took you?”
“Salvatore—” I hesitated “—I’ll explain later. For now, Papa, have Tony and Sal to take you to the safe house.” The line went silent. “Papa? Did you hear me?” More silence. “Papa?” I insisted into the phone, hoping to God they wouldn’t arrive to kill him before he could get away.
“Where are you? I’m coming to get you,” he finally answered.
“Umm, I don’t know—” My eyes wandered out into the darkness of the night only to see a few flashes of light belonging to the passing cars. “—On a highway, a man in a limo stopped to help me, I’m safe.”
“Very well, I’ll meet you at the safe house and you’ll tell me what’s happened.” I'd do anything he asked as long as he was safe.
“Yes, Papa. But you have to go,” my heart pounded, he didn’t understand how dire the situation truly was.
“Isabella, don’t worry about me. Are you sure you’re safe?”
My eyes broke across the line of windows finally landing on the tall man who waited patiently against the car. “Yes, I’m safe, please hurry!” I raised my voice an octave.
I turned toward the partition aware it was still raised with the driver unable to see me. I’d been in limousines many times. From the beginning I remember having my own drivers. Papa insisted he was keeping me safe, you could say I wasn’t a fan. Might be a bit of resentment I hang onto because I had been so sheltered.
“Getting into the limo now,” he said, composed.
My father’s the administration of the Familia. The term ‘Administration’ is old school but that’s who he is. There are ranks and my father is at the top of them all, the King of the mafia. He’d always been composed, never showing weakness. There wasn’t time or tolerance for weakness. Weakness got you killed. I’d seen that happen time and time again with Papa’s crew. The ‘Cosa Nostra’ didn’t tolerate weakness from anyone, not even from the women they protected under a tight, restraining, watchful eye.
I held the phone to my ear until he disconnected thinking of a way I could get to the safe house. Would this man take me where I needed to go?
I’m Bella Sagatori, I’m my father’s daughter, I’ll find a way.