Bella #1 (Sagatori Family Saga #1) (3 page)

What worriedme the most was being trapped in a loveless marriage, so that someone I did
n’
t love could steer the famiglia while I sat idly by being a princess for the rest of my life. I would
n’
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 fathe
r’
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 tha
t’
s the life I was born into, tha
t’
s who I am and wha
t’
s expected of the only child of Anthony Sagatori.

I only hoped the man
I’
d be told to marry was
n’
t Salvatore Casconi. My grandparents swoon over him. They call him
a“
good Italian boy
.
” Sam has
n’
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 Giann
i“
Bul
l
” Bove. H
e’
d been looking at Sa
m’
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, Uh
h
…” I hesitated, realizing I did
n’
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
.
”

“
Yo
u’
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 Ja
x’
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 tha
t’
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 could
n’
t take that.

“I’
ll take you home, Bella
.
” His deep voice hummed while his eyes never faltered from mine.

“
I really do
n’
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 h
e’
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 pulled him into something he was
n’
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
.“
Tha
t’
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 would
n’
t say that I love i
t…
but i
t’
s what
I’
m good at
.
” A glare set on his face.

“
I would
n’
t waste one moment doing something that I did
n’
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 fathe
r’
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 do
n’
t know how true that is
.
” I was
n’
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 do
n’
t sound overly confident
.
”

I shruggedagainst the seat
.“
No, I suppose I do
n’
t
.
”

“
Yo
u’
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 did
n’
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 was
n’
t expecting that answer. Kinda refreshing to be honest
.“
Good. I would
n’
t want to be in business with someone that was
n’
t sure of his abilities
.
” Tha
t’
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 were
n’
table to make money they were gotten rid of. Papa did
n’
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 strange
r’
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 do
n’
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
.“
I
t’
s so dark
.
” My body shifted as I leaned forward. The lights were
n’
t on in the house. As I began to look further into the situation my heart started pounding in my ears
.“
He is
n’
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 did
n’
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 would
n’
t hear it but saying it anyway because I was scared.

My father had always been my protector and my saving grace. I did
n’
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 do
n’
t know
.
” I did
n’
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
.“
I
t’
s open
.
” His body shifted into my direction.