Chapter 4 ~ Isabella
His hand is warm on my back as he guides me off the dance floor towards Anna. The heat seeps through my skin, his vanilla scent slowly sinking past the barrier I spent the last week building. I almost want to let it in.
I won’t lie to myself and say that dance didn’t affect me; the way he guided me across the floor, how he held me tighter with each skilled turn he took with me in his arms; His eyes were dark gray, never leaving my face, and not the usual angry silver that usually shone back at me, knocking me off balance.
I could not stop looking up at him.
I played the game in my mind as he held me; I knew the outcome would be the same.
Fabricated.
The demonstration he put on at dinner for all to see, the act of a soon-to-be loving husband, made my stomach sick more than the scent of the food placed before me.
We reach Anna, and he nods, tugging on his tie and backing away, then turns to go out the door with Carlos and his father right behind him. I watch him leave, and that feeling of heartache enfolds in my chest once again.
Anna hands me my purse as we watch Alexander leave. I take it blindly, my gaze still glued to his wide shoulders, retreating through the doors.
“Holy shit! I thought he was going to fuck you right on the dance floor.” She waves her hand in front of her pink cheeks.
I glare at her.
“What?” She wipes her brow and says, “That was like the sexiest tango/Waltz that I have ever seen. Got my panties wet. Who picked that song anyway?”
“His mother.” I look back at the door once again.
“Well, you go, Chiara! I bet that bedroom rocks if she picked this song. Rrrrr, Amato!!” She makes little claw marks in the air.
I grab Anna’s hand as I turn away from the door, snapping her head back as I practically drag her to the head table to take my seat, whipping her around to sit in Alexander’s chair beside me.
She plops down and frowns at me. “What the hell? Izzy?” She rubs her wrist. My chin trembles as I try to get past the lump in my throat. I need to tell her about my plan but the words are stuck.
Anna's eyes soften and she pulls her chair closer holding my hand in hers and leans her elbows down on her knees to get closer to me.
“Izz? I am worried about you. Like, seriously worried. You are losing weight, and I watched as you practically gagged your way through dinner. And as much as I hate that dick for keeping you away from me, I’m glad he made you eat something.”
I go to pull my hand away, irritation marring my face, and she holds my hand tighter, pulling me close.
“No, you’re going to listen to me! I don’t know what you are doing or planning, but I haven’t said anything because, well... you know me. I’m the fun one. Keep shit light, right?”
She smiles weakly at me, her eyes beginning to water.
“I love you. I’ll help you no matter what, whatever it is you’re planning. Just say it and I am there. I climbed a gate for you; I choked out Danny to get to you. Just don’t leave me, okay?”
A tear slips down her cheeks as she swipes it immediately.
I contemplate telling her; she is my best friend, and I know she will never forgive me if I don’t.
I hug her tight and whisper, “I need you to go to the small library on 8th and 32nd street. It’s down the alley. It’s called the Nook for books. Ask for Helen. Tell her I sent you and I need my gift. She’ll understand what you mean.”
I pull back and look into her eyes. They are wide, her face is white, and she is slowly beginning to understand my meaning. More tears roll down her porcelain cheeks and I wipe one away.
“I love you, Anna, you are my world, but I can’t stay here. I can’t live like this anymore. It’s not just Alexander.” I let her go sitting back in my chair.
I look around the room, which is filled with strangers who have no idea who I am. They’ve never met the real me. I’m the chubby Gallo girl that they gave to Alexander as a prize cow. I’m a body to be bartered for essentially more money and prestige.
I wave my hand at the room. “This life, all of them. I need peace, and I’ll never have it if I stay.”
She is wiping her eyes, and I look at her. Reaching out to squeeze her hand tight and pull her to me once again. “I just want to be free to be me. I’ll never be free, Anna, If I stay. I won't make it out this time."
She hugs me tight again and I whisper, “Can you do that for me? Can you see Helen?”
She nods her head on my shoulder; her ribs shake in my hands as she cries a little harder. “Shhhh..it’s going to be okay, I promise.”
I pull back and look at her and smile faintly. She smiles back and wipes her eyes once more, shaking her head to try to stop the tears.
“When do you want me to see this, Helen?” She puts her finger under her nose and sniffs.
“As soon as you can. I’ll need time. I’m basically under house arrest, and he still has my phone. I don’t think he’ll let me go back to work yet, either.” Folding my hands together in my lap. “I’ll look for my chance, and I’ll take it when it comes.”
She holds my hands and says, “Daniels is looking for a replacement, Izzy. I’m so sorry. So when do you think you can pull this off?”
This time, a tear runs down my cheek.
“I can’t tell you. You will be the first person he goes to for answers.
If you don’t have any, he can’t hurt you.
But I will leave messages with Helen when I can.
Just go see her. She’ll make sure it’s safe.
We can work out the details tonight. You are still allowed to crash with me. You are my maid of honor after all.”
The moment seems too surreal. I was just going to disappear, and do my best on my own, but I am glad I told Anna.
I laugh, “You’d like Helen. She’s a lot like you.”
I smile and wipe away the tear. Anna laughs and leans back. “No one is like me, baby.”
We laugh weakly for a few minutes, and then I sober up enough to ask, “What do you mean you choked out Danny? When did you do that?”
Anna loses it hard. Happy tears pour down her cheeks this time.
“The morning of your dress fitting. He was all he-man and shit, carrying me off to the bathroom trying to be the big man. He slammed me up against the wall, which was kinda hot, and he’s a great kisser, too.” She points at me.
“What? You kissed him?”
She waves a hand in the air like it was no big deal.
“Yeah, well, we were in the heat of the moment.” Her cheeks turn pink. “Anyway, he was giving me shit for climbing the gate. 'I could have hurt myself' and he was pissed that I 'flirted with Carlos'. She air quotes.
“So... I let him kiss me till he was all into it enough to have some wiggle room to move, and I got around his back, then I koala bear his ass and put him in a choke hold.”
Anna looks off to the side, her finger on her chin like she's deep in thought. “It took him a little while to go down, but I squeezed my thighs tighter around his ribs,” she says, her brows pinching together. She snaps her fingers, “Boom! Out, bitches!”
We laugh. And the thought of big tough Danny with tiny Anna wrapped around him as he hits the floor makes me laugh even harder.
We laugh so loud we double over, tears running down our faces.
The sound echoes around the room, drawing attention, but I don’t care. I can't get that image out of my head.
I adore this crazy girl who has no qualms about taking on a man twice her size and bringing him down.
“I didn’t take Jiu Jitsu for nothing,” she wheezes now. We laugh again, and my belly hurts. Anna reaches for a wine glass and pours us a glass of red. She holds it up.
“To the coolest person I’ve ever known, may the road you take bring you peace. I love you, Isabella Gallo.”
I’m too choked up to answer. I just clink our glasses together and take a drink. We don’t need words to clarify how deep this friendship goes; she knows me and I know her.
“Pixie.” A hand is in front of Anna and we both look up.
Danny is in a sharp black suit, his blond hair neatly combed back and falling around his shoulders, his blue eyes brilliant as he takes in Anna’s features. He looks amazing, and Anna’s cheeks burn.
“Dick?” she says and looks back at me, smiling.
Danny reaches down and takes her hand, pulling her from the chair to skip after him as he takes her in his arms on the dance floor. I take a sip of wine as I watch them. Who knew Danny could clean up so well and dance, no less?
I settle back in my chair, sipping my wine and watching them dance. Danny is looking at her like she hung the moon and stars. Anna’s face blushes as he whispers in her ear and she laughs. Danny smiles and sweeps her across the floor.
I look around the banquet hall, in a room full of hundreds of people, and I have only one person who loves me. The music changes to an upbeat song and she comes running, leans over the edge of the table and grabs my hand.
“Get up. Come on! We have only so much time, so let’s party!”
I smile and get up, and we dance. We danced till our feet hurt, my cheeks were sore, and Anna and I had kicked off our shoes. Danny is sweating and has taken off his jacket and tie. For the first time in days, I feel like me, like this could be my life if I was someone else.
It’s getting late, and the DJ announces the last dance. Danny grabs Anna and sways with her as I gather up my things and sit down to put my shoes back on. The Russo men haven’t come back. It’s been hours, and it’s time to go home, or well, his home.
Mrs. Russo comes and settles in the chair beside me, looking out over the crowd of slow dancers, and I straighten up.
“Oh please, relax.” She pats my hand. “It’s good to see you let go for a minute.”
I look out at Anna as Danny sways her in his arms and my heart swells a bit. Danny will look after her once I’m gone.
“I’ll be dropping you girls off tonight. Danny has to wait and take the men home; they’re still in a meeting, so it’s just us ladies.” She smiles like this is no big thing.
I turn to her and say, “Is it like this a lot? Are the men always leaving?”