Bella #1 (Sagatori Family Saga #1) (5 page)

Papa nodded his head and Jax continued towards me
.“
Walk me out
.
”

I follow behind him to the foyer, he opened the door and we stepped out onto the porch. A gush of wind whisked my hair over my face. I brushed it away and turned towards Jax, wh
o’
s standing behind me. His hands take hold of my forearms, stunning me still. His eyes hold mine very carefully. He wasn't speaking and instead watched me with a harsh stare. A chill took over my entire body leaving me unsure if it was from the cold harsh winds that continued blowing my hair around, his touch, or that stare, but something had been affecting me.

“
Thank you so much for getting me here safely.
I’
ll repay you somehow
.
” My lips parted. I meant every word. Somehow
I’
ll repay his kindness.

“
You already have, Bella
.
” He reached his hand to my face, he gently tucked my flyaway hair behind my ear. His eyes remained on me for several more minutes. When he released me, he walked down the stairs with the driver following close behind. I saw a gun peeking out from his jacket in the light that shined on the porch. He leaned into the limo not looking back and drive away.

I wondered what he'd meant when he said
I’
d already repaid him. I stood out in the freezing-cold January night watching as Ja
x’
s tail lights disappear before returning inside. Papa and the boys are in the living room when I enter. Tony was starting a fire and Sal was pouring Papa a drink from the bar on the other side of the room.

“
Sit
.
” Papa pointed to the white chase next to him
.“
Tell me what happened princess
.
”

I reached for Momma's throw that lay across it, wrapping it around my body and sat in the chair.
I’
d tell him what happened but Iwas scared what h
e’
d do. Because this was the one thing that could start a war and that I was not ready for.

I begin telling Papa wha
t’
d happened
.“
Sam was at Galleys.
I
was there with some of my girlfriends
.
”

Sal handed Papa the drink he'd poured and then leaned his arm across the top of Papa's chair to listen.

My eyes reached Pap
a’
s again
.“
I had been drinking
.
”

His eyes narrowed. I knew what h
e’
s thinking. H
e’
s told me a million times how important it was that I keep my wits about me in public. But clearly I do
n’
t always listen
.“
Go on
.
” He says when I stop midsentence.

“
I do
n’
t know what happened
.
” My eyes fall as I shake my head
.“
I was really tipsy and he offered to take me home
.
” My eyes find Pap
a’
s again
.“
He took me home, to
his
home
.
” I take in a deep breath
.“
I got sober real quick
.
”

“
Did he hurt you
?
” Pap
a’
s hands squeeze the arms of the chair.

My eyes widened as I watched his fingers turn white as he continued gripping the chair.
I’
d made a lot of stupid mistakes in my life tha
t’
ve caused him pain, but that was when I was a kid. I had since grown up and I should act like it. 

“
Isabella
.
” He growled.

I bowed my head. I'd never lied to him.
I’
d always been honest with him. I loved my father and I knew that he only wanted the best for me.

“
What did he do
?
” His eyes closed waiting for a horrible truth.

“
He smacked me a few times. When I spit in his face, he had someone duct tape my mouth
.
” I only told Papa what he needed to know.

His eyes opened and his head turned towards Sal, my fathers most trusted right hand.
I’
d grown up with Sal. He was no one to mess with. Papa trusted him and so did I. I mostly trust that his loyalty would keep Papa alive in a business that could kill him any second. He did
n’
t speak but he did
n’
t have to. Anything he wanted him to know had been silently communicated and
I’
d never know. His eyes met mine again
.“
How did you get away
?
”

“
Eventually he left the room and I took off out the window. I jumped from a one story, landing in the grass and took off through the woods. I knew that w
e’
d come in on the highway, I remembered that, so I just ran till I found it. Tha
t’
s when Jax found me. Of course, I did
n’
t know his name then, but he helped me and brought me here
.
” My heart skipped a beat when I said his name. I knew how he made me feel when I'd said his name even if I didn't understand why.

“
And now he
knows
where we are
.
” Tony responded.

“
Mhmm
,
” My father nodded while pressing his lips together. His jaw tightened as he took a moment to think.

“
Is that bad
?
” I asked as I turned my attention towards Tony.

He did
n’
t answer and looked towards Papa instead.

“
Isabella, you have no need getting into men talk
.
” Papa answered with a harsh tone, my heart was thumping in my chest wondering what that means. Men business? He meant Mafia business. I wasn't an idiot.

“
And what did he say? What were Salvatore's intentions
?
” Papa asked.

“
He said that you were an old man that needed to be put to sleep
.
” I leaned forward resting my hand on Pap
a’
s
.“
It scared me. He wants to take over and h
e’
s going to try to kill you to do it
.
” I dropped my head
.“
All because I refuse to marry him and that he could have the title as boss when you retire
.
” Guilt washes over me.

“
Tha
t’
s what he said
?
”

I nodded as I looked up.

“
I see
.
” Pap
a’
s eyes moved towards the fire.

“
What will you do
?
”

“
H
e’
ll do the same thing he always does. H
e’
ll deal with it
.
” Sal responded. Papa waved him away with annoyance.

Sal lifted his hands, backing away towards the bar.

“
Isabella, what did he want from you
?
”

“
The same thing he always wants.
Me
.
I’
m his bla-bla-bla. I
t’
s ridiculous, ca
n’
t you do something
?
” I pleaded.

“
You gonna tell her
?
” Tony chimed in. I found him on the other side of the room as leaned against the wall, crossing his huge arms against his chest.

“
What
?
” My eyes darted across the room
.“
Tell me what
?
”

“
Sam called
.
” Pap
a’
s eyes were firm
.“
He had a story of his own just a few moments after
you
called
.
”

My mouth gaped open. My eyes widened. I could
n’
t believe he had the balls
.“
And
?
” I did
n’
t even want to know. But I listened anyway waiting for whatever h
e’
d said.

Pap
a’
s eyes followed to Sal.

“
He said that you were drunk and out of your mind. He said that he tried to take you home and you were all over him
.
”

“
He thinks that you were drugged at Galleys by Dino
.
”

Dino? What? I shake my hea
d“
Papa, Dino was
n’
t there
.
”

Sal nods his head
.“
He
was
there
.
”

“
No! It was me, Jessica, and Emily He was
n’
t there
.
” I shake my head.

“
Bell, how could you be sure if you were so drunk
?
”

Drunk? I- I was tipsy, but I was
n’
t that drunk. Was I? I was
n’
t. I do
n’
t think.

“
Sam said he was only trying to help you when you ran away half naked through the woods
.
” I saw that Papa did
n’
t believe me. Guilt washed over me. He looked at me as though I couldn't be trusted, like I was a liar.

“
He smacked me. He put duct tape over my mouth
.
” Tears filled the corners of my eyes.

“
Sam said all of those things Bell, but he said you became volatile towards him and his staff. He said that h
e’
d tried to call us to come and get you. After your father went through his phone he found the call that Sam said h
e’
d made
.
” He shrugged.

“
So-
I’
m crazy
?
” Did I make all of that up in my head? I cupped my face into the palm of my hands, realizing maybe I did
n’
t know what'd happened.

“
Isabella, w
e’
ll stay here tonight and tomorrow
I’
ll take you home
.
”

I raised my head from my hands as I looked at my father
.“I’
m so sorry, Papa
.
” I mus
t’
ve been drugged like the
y’
d said, which meant I'd almost started a war for nothing. I coul
d’
ve gotten people killed. I would never have wanted innocent people hurt. How innocent those involved are was
n’
t really the question because no one in
this
world was free from the blood that stained us all.

I stood to walk towards the stairs once my fathe
r’
s face fell flat with undeniable disappointment.

“
Yo
u’
ll call Salvatore and apologize immediately
.
”

I gave a swift and deliberate bow, turning my face from him.

“
And Isabella
?
” He said grimly, clearing his throat.

I spun my head seeing him behind me in the white arm chair.

“
Thank him for his kindness
.
” The unsympathetic tone brought alarm to my already hyperaware body. Papa was undeniably dour.

I bowed my head again and tucked my arms against my chest
.“
Yes Papa
.
” I felt an inch tall. I took a deep breath as I released my hand to slip an unbound strand of hair behind my ear.

I turned, taking the walk of dishonor to my room. I knew that I coul
d’
ve really caused a lot of trouble. I felt so ashamed.

I did
n’
t have my cell phone or my bag, but I did have another phone in my go bag that was sitting in the closet. I reached into it. I retrieved the phone and sat on the bed.

I discerned that I was unable to call him because I did
n’
t know his number
.“
Gah
.
” I jumped from my bed sauntering towards the window. I didn't want to call that piece of shit. I hated Salvatore Casconi. But Papa insisted and I never wanted to let him down.

“
Oh Momma, what have I done
?
” I wished she were here. I wiped a falling tear from my eye.

I grabbed the blanket from the chair, wrapped myself into its warmth and crawled onto the window nook and closed my eyes. I
t’
d been a really long day. I fell asleep the minute my eyes closed.

I’
d deal with my behavior tomorrow.
I’
d apologize and make this right.