Bella #1 (Sagatori Family Saga #1) (2 page)

I end the call, thinking of a way I could get to the safe house without anyone knowing where I am or how
I’
d gotten there.

I’
m Bella Sagatori,
I’
m my fathe
r’
s daughter
I’
ll find a way.

I remained still for a moment, thinking of a plan that would keep everyone safe.
I’
d always been fiercely protected, never needing to consider others safety except my Pap
a’
s. I couldn't help but worry about Papa.

My father had always had a bodyguard protecting me. Usually a cugine.
I’
ve heard they will do anything to be made men and protecting the bos
s’
s daughter ranked as top priority in the protection aspect, if you want to keep your job. But they must have also been proven loyal.  In high school, the boys never got close, for fear my body-guard would make them disappear on behalf of their boss Anthony Sagatori. That was a shitty and sure way of never getting asked to prom, unless you were part of the famiglia and I did
n’
t want those boys to ask me. I wanted away from that. I wanted something different something more. I wanted freedom then and I wanted it now.

The man tha
t’
d saved me turned to peer into the car as I waved him in. When he opened the door to step inside I saw the same lights that had been chasing me coming from the tree line
I’
d emerged from. They were almost here. I knew they would
n’
t be far behind me. My heart pounded against my ribs with raging fear.

My hand gripped the ma
n’
s arm tightly as he entered, sitting next to me
.“
Tell the driver to drive. Now
!
” I quickly demanded.

He hesitated, stiffening under my touch. The
y’
d kill him. The
y’
d likely kill me as well
.“
Why
?
” He asked with an incredulous look.

“
Go
!
” My stare did
n’
t falter from the tree line. I was terrified and for a good reason.

He gave a concerned glare as he picked up the phone attached to the limo. He growled one commanding word to the driver
.“
Drive
.
” The car shot forward onto the road passing the two men that had emerged from the brush. Thank God limos have black windows; otherwise we coul
d’
ve been seen.

My eyes lifted with only the power that pure adrenalin could offer. I took a large gulp of air and swallowed, grateful to have escaped them.

“
What the hell is going on
?
” He asked, but I remained silent. I was still tightly gripping his arm. His eyes fell to my trembling han
d“
Wha
t’
s your name
?
” He asked calmly, as though he recognized the look on my face as terror.

My head raised examining the dark cast over his eyes the same time I released my hand
.“
Bella
.
” I answer with a soft whimper, clasping my numb hands into my naked lap.

“
Are you running from those men
?
” His eyes toughened with unknown reason
.“
Are you in some kind of trouble
?
” If he only knew.

I noddedmy head, feeling oddly safe in the darkness of his eyes
.“
Yes
.
” Those eyes reminded me of Pap
a’
s eyes. So confident and strong. Like the light was
n’
t able to enter because the door was built for destruction. Only men with absolute power have that look. I shuddered against the warm leather seat.

“
Did they hurt you
?
” His upper lip quivered, revealing his perfectly white teeth.

I dropped my head once again. I did
n’
t know how to respond. Up to this point I'd never actually considered that Salvatore would hurt me physically, but keeping me locked up in his house so that he could claim and use me as an opportunity to take rank was bullshit and sort of abuse
.“
No, not really
.
” What happens in the family stays in the family.
I’
m no rat. Papa would deal with Sa
m’
s punishment and then I could finally wash my hands of him and his futile attempts at marrying me. Once Papa knew wha
t’
d happened, i
t’
d all be okay.

His head rotated, his expression seething as he looked away, taking his dark eyes towards the front of the car
.“
Yo
u’
re practically naked in the freezing cold, running from some men and they did
n’
t hurt you
?
” I see his brows fold in the glow of the lim
o’
s lights. I was sure he thought I was Crazy.

“
Umm, Sort of
.
” I swept my long dark hair away from my face, tucking it to the side.

“
Where do you live
?
” This was my chance to get to the safe house. I knew that we were just outside Detroit, maybe an hou
r’
s drive.

“
423 Campbell drive
.
” I needed to get to my father.

He called to the driver, once more repeating the address
I’
d given
.“
One hour
.
” He said. I was right. He turned and watched me with the same folded brows
.“
My hotel is
n’
t far.
I’
ll take you there. Yo
u’
ll be safe
.
”

I’
m running out of time
.“
No! I need to go home
.
” I said in a quick panic.

“
Bella, Those men likely know where you live. I
t’
s not wise to go there
.
”

“
No, they do
n’
t know where I live
.
” I shook my head disconcerted.

“
In the morning, after yo
u’
ve eaten, rested, and have clothing on you
r
… body
.
” He paused to clear his throat and adjust his jacket
.“I’
ll have my driver take you home then
.
” His hand raised as if h
e’
d just ended the conversation. My head tilted to the side with annoyance, but I knew that he was my only hope of warning Papa before it was too late, so I choose to stay calm.

“
Listen, I appreciate your kindness, but
I’
m worried about my father
.
”

“
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 h
e’
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 h
e’
d kill my father if I did
n’
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 wa
s“
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 was
n’
t a son born the
y’
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 h
e’
s disgusting. He uses women, treats them like whores. I do
n’
t know maybe they are whores. Tha
t’
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 did
n’
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 was
n’
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 does
n’
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 did
n’
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 the
y’
ll marry, especially if that girl was the daughter to the administration. They might get stuck with someone that they did
n’
t love, but make the best of it because i
t’
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 yo
u’
ve got a really tight family, even if they are
n’
t blood. Blood does
n’
t matter in my world. If yo
u’
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 did
n’
t set well with My Nonno and Nonni. They were
n’
tprejudice at all. My grandparents love all of Gods children but they did
n’
t believe in mixing. They said it goes against the plan. I just nodded at them when the
y’
d said that. Me personally, I do
n’
t care one way or the other. I just assumed not marry what Papa or Nonni would cal
l“
A good Italian bo
y
” 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 did
n’
t push the issue. While this was a different time and marriage is
n’
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 sh
e’
d rather stick a fork into her eye ball.