CHAPTER FIVE
I woke to the ice-frozen window I’d fallen asleep against. The sun shined brightly, and I watched as snowflakes melted piece by piece from the warmth of the sun.
I looked at the alarm clock, seeing it was only seven a.m. I stretched my arms and legs. I stood and shuffled my feet to the door.
Papa’s door was open. Peeking in, I saw he wasn't in his room. I followed to the stairs dragging myself one sleepy step at a time.
“Good morning.” I yawned as I entered the kitchen in search of coffee.
“Morning,” Papa took a sip from his mug, his eyes barely rising in acknowledgment. “I’m not going to have the time to take you home this morning. I have a meeting and need to get back to the city. Tony will escort you for the day.”
I nodded while holding the hot mug in my hands. “No problem.” I tapped my foot against the stone floor. “Would it be okay if I came by for lunch? I could bring Galleys or we could go out somewhere if you’d like.” I bit the inside of my cheek hoping he wouldn’t refuse. The disappointment circled him, and I’d never wanted to disappoint my Papa.
“Fine,” he answered flatly, not looking up from his newspaper.
“I wasn’t making that up, Papa.” I stood and turned towards Sal. “I wasn’t.” I glared at him.
He shrugged as his large body leaned against the counter.
I’d known Sal and Tony my entire life. They were only a few years older than I was. If anything, they were like really annoying big brothers.
“If he’d wanted to hurt you, Isabella, he would’ve. His story checks out. There’s nothing I can do without proof. You know that.”
“Because he’s made? Are you serious? You’re the boss, Papa.” I stepped away wanting to leave the kitchen. Flippantly I added, “You know he thinks he’s going to marry me.”
“And would that be so bad? He’s a good boy. A good Sicilian boy, Isabella.”
What the fuck? “He’s not my type, and he’s not a good boy, Papa!” I answered with maybe a bit too much sass.
“Isabella, watch how you speak to me,” Papa growled. I jumped. I may be an adult, but that sure as hell didn’t matter to him. I’d always be his baby and he’d always know best, so he kept telling me.
“Sorry.” I wasn’t.
“Your type is a tattooed musician, Bell. You should find someone that could protect you. Provide for you,” Sal chimed in.
I purposely rolled my eyes. “What about love?”
Papa made a noise with his throat. “Love is overrated in this world, Isabella. People don’t know how to love one another anymore.” He flipped the page of the paper loudly.
“Like you and Momma?” I leaned against Sal, resting my head on his arm.
“Exactly. Your momma was one of a kind.” His eyes fell distant. He missed her so much. She’d been gone for nineteen years. He’d not even looked at another woman, that I knew of anyway. I knew he’d never tell me if he’d found someone. But he'd married Momma for life, Papa’s old school.
“She was.” My eyes closed. We all had a moment of silence until it was interrupted by Papa’s phone. “Sagatori,” he hissed.
“That’s my cue,” I said to Sal as I turned towards the stairs.
Tony was sitting on the bottom step when I approached from around the corner. “I’ll take you home today.”
I nodded.
“I’ll hurry.”
He stood without another word and walked into the kitchen.
I’d showered and dressed in an oversized sweater, leggings, and boots then pulled my long, dark hair into a messy bun on the top of my head. I popped some gloss on my lips, a smudge of cream blush to my cheeks, a few strokes of black mascara to my lashes, and I was ready.
I turned the cell phone off and tucked it back into the bag then hid it inside the closet and left the room. “Until the next adventure.” I breathed.
“Ready?”
“Jesus!” I jumped. “You scared the shit out of me Tony!” I hissed, smacking his shoulder.
“Sorry, but it’s getting late and we need to go.”
“Okay.” He followed my steps down the stairs and through the house. “Papa gone?”
“Yeah.” He opened the door to the five car garage.
“The Mercedes?” he asked rhetorically. Tony and Sal told me what to do, not the other way around. Like I'd said before, annoying big brothers.
I stared at the reflection shining off of the blacked out windows as he opened the white door for me to enter. I seated myself inside, flipped the visor down, and took a peek at my makeup. The lighting on the visor was fantastic.
He stepped into the car. “Seatbelt,” he ordered.
“So what’s up?” I asked, curious. He’d been hiding something from Papa, I could tell. He’d only do that if it was important enough that he not know, which never happened.
“I think that Casconi is planning somethin’.” He slowly backed out of the garage, stopped to watch the door close, and set the house alarm with a remote.
“You believe me?” I tilted my head, surprised.
“Oh yeah. I know you don’t make shit up, Bella. If you said it happened…” His narrow eyes met mine. “I believe you.”
“Why doesn’t Papa believe me?” I asked as we turned onto the winding road.
He took a deep breath. “You were gone for an entire day. He only called right before you were found. If you’d ran through the woods to the highway, I guarantee it took you at least thirty minutes to get there. He’d have plenty of time to call your father. He knew you got away and had to come up with something to save his ass.” He raised his right brow as he pulled onto the highway.
“Did you tell Papa?”
“Yeah, but he didn’t want to believe that Casconi would try something like that.”
“Fabulous.” I leaned against the headrest.
“I'll be guarding you so don't protest.”
“Why?” I hated having a guard.
“Because I said.”
I watched the seriousness in his face. "Okay," I hesitantly agreed.
“I specifically want Casconi to know you have someone with you at all times. If he knows that, he’ll probably trip on his own feet. I really don’t get why Anthony doesn’t see that idiot’s intentions with you.”
“Neither does Sal, so annoying.” I watched out the window as the bare trees flew by. “I scratched Sam’s neck. I still have the blood in my nails. I couldn’t get all of it out. So gross.” I extended my hand to show him.
“Damn, Bella.” He sucked in a breath.
“Yeah.” I sank into the seat. “Oh, my bag and phone are still at his house. Can we go get it?”
“I’d love to see that bastards face.” He smiled.
“I’d love to see his neck.” I laughed.
Out of everyone that worked for my father, Tony and I were the closest. He was still an ass, but in comparison to the other guys, he was the coolest and best to look at.
The drive took us another twenty minutes until we finally arrived at Sam’s house. I reached for the door ready to… kick his ass.
“I’ll go.” Tony pressed his hand on my arm.
“No, I’d like to see that asshole’s face and those scratches,” I smirked.
“Don’t say anything,” he demanded.
“Really?” A laugh slipped from my lips.
Tony opened my door, I stepped out, and approached the huge front door. I banged on it and then rang the doorbell a few times hoping to piss someone off. It was only nine in the morning.
“What the-?” A large man answered. “Can I help you?” I don’t know this man but remembered seeing him before.
“Yeah, you sure can. I’d like to get my belongings,” I snapped.
“Umm, Mr. Casconi could you please come to the front door?”
“Can’t I come in? It’s freezing out here.” I started to push my way in.
He opened the door allowing Tony and me to pass.
“Bella? What’re you doing here?” Sam hopped down the stairs in a hurry.
“Wow!” His neck was messed up. Three long, deep marks were gouged into the left side of his neck.
His hand reached for his neck immediately as he approached us at the door, grabbing my arm. Tony stood at attention, and I waved him off. I’m going to have a conversation with this asshole right here, right now. He pulled me into his office. He slammed the door causing me to jump.
“What the fuck!” He deadpanned.
“What’s wrong, Sam? Pissed I got away? And what the fuck were you doing telling my father that bullshit? You didn’t have the balls to go through with it, did you? You want to take over, but you know he’ll kill you.” I rounded his desk sitting in his chair. “Oh God.” I saw a picture of me on his desk. “You have got to be kidding me?” I opened the back of the frame removing my picture. “What is this, Sam?” Crazy freak.
He quickly approached, pinning me against the chair. “You fucking know what this is, Bella. I want you. I want everything with you. I want more of this.” His hands pushed my legs apart, rubbing his hand over my clit. I wanted to kill him.
I couldn’t help a moan that slipped out, surprising me, But trust that he’d never have me sexually again. I would die before I let him rape me again. I leaned forward smacking his face. “Get the fuck off of me, Sam. I don’t like you. I’ll never love you. I will never marry you. You may have everyone else scammed, but not me. You’re evil, and I hate you. Stay the fuck away from me and my father,” I screamed, pulling every drop of Sicilian I could muster out of my soul. My heart pounded and scared coldness ran through my veins, but it had to be said.
He gripped my wrists, pressing his lips to mine. His tongue entered my mouth before I could turn my head away. “You’ll change your mind soon, Bella. You’ll have to. I love you. I always have and always will. Bottom line, I get what I want without fail. And if I can’t have you, rest assured that no one else will.”
“I need my stuff,” I scoffed, ignoring the latter comment.
I’d never backed down from Sam, no matter his power or rank. I couldn’t give two shits about who he was. I grew up with Sam. I knew that he was just a bully, and if there’s one thing in this world I hated more than the idea of him alone, it was a bully. So I kinda got a two for one on the hate scale.
He backed off of me, walked to a large armoire, and pulled my bag and clothes out. “Here.” He shoved them at me.
I stood from his desk, snatched the bag and clothing from his hands, and opened the door. “I’m ready,” I said in Tony’s direction.
Sam’s hired idiot stood in between Tony and me with his arms crossed over his chest. He was trying to intimidate me. I stilled my steps, tapping my foot on the stone floor.
“Are you going to let me through?”
He was silent.
I watched as Tony reach for his gun. Oh God, this was the last thing that needed to happen. I gave a very subtle shake of my head. Not that he’d listen, but he damn well better.
“Do you know who I am?” I stood tall.
His eyes followed to my left where Sam stood. “I don’t care who you are.”
“In case you haven’t heard of him, I’m Anthony Sagatori’s daughter. You should care, asshole.” I turned an inch towards Sam. “You should consider teaching your apes respect. Move, ape,” I sneered, looking him up and down. He was huge. I hoped he wasn't into hitting a woman.
Hesitantly, he moved to his right, letting me pass.
Tony opened and held the door for me as I exited the dark mansion.
“What happened?” he asked once we were in the car.
“You really want to know?” I searched through my bag making sure all of my stuff was still inside.
“Probably not.”
I found my cell phone and thanked God I had a lock on it, but what about my wallet that had my personal stuff? I was sure he'd went through it.
My face heated. “I want to shoot him myself.” I locked my teeth and tightened my jaw.
“I’ve never liked him.”
“Psst… Fake. Everyone’s so damn fake. And you can’t trust anyone.”
“You can trust me, Bella.”
I released a breath. “I know.” I knew I could trust Tony.
A laugh randomly escaped through the car.
“What’s so funny?” I asked
“You called him an ape. That was priceless.”
I smiled. “Glad I could amuse you.” I stared out onto the traffic filled highway.
Tony increased his speed, slipping in between two cars and exited onto the exit that led to Papa’s office.
“Would you mind taking me by Papa’s office?” We were already so close.
“He has meetings this morning.”
“I know. I just don’t feel want to go home right now.”
“Okay,” he sighed.
The drive to Papa’s office was five minutes. When we pulled into the driveway I saw “Sagatori Trucking” displayed from the top of the building. “I love the new sign. It really pops.” I'd designed it for Papa as a birthday gift.
“I’ll drop you off at the front door while I park.” He shifted, coming to a stop. Tony held my door so that I could step out.
“Thanks,” I offered.
He nodded while straightening his blue tie.
I tucked my bag over my shoulder leaving my coat in the car and entered through the glass doors of the building. Ivy, the receptionist, sat tucked away behind a desk smiling.
“Welcome, Miss Sagatori.”
I smiled back.
The elevator was two hundred feet around the corner. I passed through the long open corridor as I approached the elevators. Once I was on, I pressed the button for Papa’s floor and ascended. Elevators scare the shit out of me, but I wasn't going to climb ten flights of stairs, so it was what it was.
When it began moving, I fell against the wall, tense. I held my breath, ready to get off this thing. Finally, the doors opened and I leaped from between the doors gasping for air.
“Bella!” Emily laughed and shook her head.
I gathered myself, picking my bag up from the floor. I was so embarrassed. My eyes quickly swept the area for anyone that could've seen my pitiful entrance. I took a deep breath when I stood from the floor seeing no one else was there.
“Holy shit.” I straightened my sweater.
Emily laughed from behind her hand. “You’re one of a kind.” She sat back down behind the black marble desk.
She and I grew up together. We’d known one another since we were babies. We stick with our own around here.
“What the hell happened? I’ve been blowing up your phone.” She turned in her chair as she looked towards Papa’s door that was closed. “He jumped my ass this morning. Apparently, we aren’t allowed to drink in public,” she whispered leaning forward on her forearms so that I was the only one who heard her.
“Was he pissed?”
She dropped her head and lifted her eyes. “What happened when you left with Sam?”
“We'll talk later.”
“Gotcha.”
The elevator doors opened with Tony gliding out in his “I know Emily wants to fuck me ‘cause I’m a badass.” walk.
I raised my hand to my mouth stifling a laugh, then turned my head because I was gonna blow. All I could see in my thoughts were Emily’s description of Tony the other night, his six pack abs, and nothing else. I wasn't into him like that, but hot damn who wouldn’t want to see that. I hadn't seen anything like that in ever.
Emily and Tony knew each other a bit better than anyone else. I didn’t think he knew that I knew. She threatened to kill me if I said anything. Apparently, he’d wanted to keep it on the down-low for now. Who the hell knew why?
She'd always had a thing for bad boys, but to me Tony wasn’t a bad boy, he was actually one of the good guys, so she might have it backwards. I wasn’t gonna say anything. I wanted her to keep spilling all of her juicy details so I could laugh to myself every time I saw him. Or live vicariously through her, if I was being honest.
I offered her my best I’m sorry eyes while she gave me her best I’ll bury you in the desert glare. I couldn't help it. I erupted in laughter and had to walk away to catch my breath.
“What’s so funny?” Tony asked just as Papa opened his office door.
“Isabella?” Papa asked looking at his watch. “What are you doing here?”
I shrugged catching my breath. “Thought you might need some help today.” I lied. Truthfully, I just didn’t want to go home.
“I have meetings all day.” He turned towards Emily. “Any calls?” he asked.
In addition to being Boss of the familia, Papa owned Sagatori Trucking and was the president of the trucking union. A busy man without a doubt, but Papa could never sit still; he’d always drowned himself in his work. I grew up in this office because this is where he was every day.
Even though he tried to shelter me from the truth most of the time, I wasn't an idiot. I knew what went on here. What kind of dirty deals took place, but it’s all I knew. Papa was ruthless when he needed to be, but with me, he was a teddy bear.
“Yes sir,” Emily handed him a piece of paper.
“Tony.” He nodded for Tony to follow him into his office and closed the door behind them.
“What’s going on?” I asked Emily.
“I don’t know, he’s been acting really strange all day.” She shrugged, answering the ringing phone.
I walked to Papa’s door, leaned into it and listened, Emily pointed to the camera monitor and shook her head. I nonchalantly turned like I hadn’t been snooping. He didn’t usually have them on during work hours, so I wondered why he had them on now.
I slowly glided to the couch on the other side of the room and opened up my text messages, scrolling through all that I’d gotten over the last few days when the elevator door opened. I gasped when I saw who had stepped out.
Surprised, I dropped my phone from my hands. What the hell was he doing here?