Chapter 22 – Isabella
“ A nd what are you wearing to the shower this weekend?” Cecilia narrowed her eyes at me over her cup of steaming water.
Not tea, not coffee, just hot water. What kind of creature thought that was the best choice of beverage?
“You have thought of the shower, Isabella?” Cecilia pressed.
“Oh, of course!” I rushed to say. The torture session that was tonight, trying to save face and the impending wedding, was almost over. The fact that the well laid wedding plans began to fall like dominos coincided with the appearance of the spectre wasn’t lost to me. While I should rage at him, I couldn’t bring myself to bother. This was one aspect where his presence seemed a blessing rather than a curse. “I was just thinking what I haven’t worn yet.”
The strega hummed and took a long sip of her drink.
I nibbled the corner of my lip, running through the possible choices. To be honest, I hadn’t thought about the upcoming event other than knowing it was another to-do item on my calendar.
“I have a retro style emerald dress,” I offered.
Cecilia leaned back, sighing dramatically. “You’re not going to a sock hop. Don’t you have that lovely tweed set we purchased on our last trip into the city?”
I stifled a groan. “The one from Saks?”
“Yes, that is far more appropriate, don’t you think?”
No, I did not think so, and no one with a sense of fashion would agree to that. The black and white weave made it look grey and the cut was frumpy. But this was not a hill I wanted to die on tonight. The strega could have her way.
“Yeah, that will be fine,” I agreed, gathering my planner and preparing to disappear for the rest of the night. The light dinner made my stomach pinch. The sooner I hurried to my room the sooner I could find my hidden stash of protein bars. They didn’t taste great, but they would stop the gnawing in my gut while giving me the macros and calories to support my body.
“You don’t sound very enthusiastic,” the strega huffed.
I gave her a blistering smile, my teeth in danger of cracking from the pressure. “It’s very kind of Signora Modesti to offer to host a bridal shower for me. I’ll be sure to find her a beautiful hostess gift.”
“That’s kind of you, but you needn’t bother,” the witch said imperiously. “It’s her duty as your father’s second cousin once removed.”
One of these days I was going to stab Cecilia with a fork for saying such stuck up, snobbish things. Darting from the room, her final words drove that declaration home.
“Don’t be sneaking any snacks, Isabella! Your dress was still too tight this morning, and the seamstress won’t be able to take the waist out anymore,” Cecelia called out. “I think I’ll call the doctor about appetite suppressants.”
Screw the protein bars. I resolved right then and there to sneak to the kitchen and find a real snack. To hell with the risk. If my stalker could come and go as he pleased, I could try to feed myself properly for a change. Until then, I would drink water to keep my stomach from rumbling.
Just as I reached the stairs, a group of young men emerged from the don’s office. A shock of brown hair that matched my own caught my eye. The pinch of hunger quickly turned to a stronger, tighter knot.
“Gio!” I snatched the sleeve of his leather jacket. “Gio, where are you going?”
A few of his cronies shot me a look and rough laughter whispered through them as they disappeared through the door. Cosimo stopped and outright glared at me.
“Let me go,” Gio snapped, wrenching his arm away. “We have orders.”
I blanched. Gio wasn’t a sworn soldier of the criminal organization. Hell, half a dozen of the youths who walked out that door weren’t inducted members.
“It’s time for bed,” I said under my breath. “Go upstairs—now, Gio.”
“Rilascialo,” Cosimo barked.
I glared at the underboss’s son. He dared to order me to release my brother? Me? But Gio jerked away, slipping from my grasp.
“Quit, Izzy. You’re embarrassing me,” he snapped.
“Gio!” I scrambled after him. No. No! He couldn’t be going out with the soldiers. That wasn’t right. He wasn’t ready!
“You’ve got her, Tony?” Cosimo sneered.
“Yeah,” the soldier rasped as he shot out an arm to block me.
I stumbled after Gio, but they were already leaving.
He didn’t even look back.
I rushed after him, but rough hands pushed me.
“Gambino!” I shouted at the older soldier, hating the catch in my voice.
“Try it again, principessa.” Tony didn’t hide the lust-filled look in his eyes.
I wasn’t supposed to fight back. I wasn’t supposed to show spunk, determination, or intelligence. But I reared up, attempting to sprint past him. I needed to reach my brother—before it was too late!
Tony wrapped me in a hug, palms splaying to touch me where he damn well shouldn’t. “So soft yet squirmy. Alonzo has his hands full with you, I bet.”
“Let her go,” a voice, dripping with boredom, said. “She won’t follow them. She knows what’s at stake.”
I glared at the underboss as he left the don’s office. His presence brought with it the terrible reminder of the threat he’d made against me. My body fell still.
“There, see? You just have to know how to handle the womenfolk, Gambino,” Tullio said condescendingly. “She’s just a little shocked to see her brother finally called to action. She won’t bother you or your recruits again. Will you, Isabella?”
Hating myself, I gave the response the underboss wanted to hear.
Tony shoved me down before jogging to the waiting cars.
Body shaking, I peeled myself off the floor. My heart thudded painfully against my chest. I did everything in my power to protect him, and if he was killed? Because he wasn’t experienced—or something worse! There was always the possibility Gio was removed because of who his father was. He would always be seen as a threat, even if he was married to another family and his sister shackled to the current don’s offspring.
“Oh, don’t worry about him.” Tullio’s chuckle crept through the air, poisoning this space. His foul presence brushed against my side as he walked to the don’s office. “It’s time the lads got a taste of the real world, no?”
Spiders crawled down my spine.
“Gio’s life was spared. I’m doing everything that was asked of me,” I breathed.
Tullio looked at me with that gummy expression. “Sometimes everything isn’t enough, now, is it?”
“Tullio! Get back in here, we’re not done,” the don shouted. “Your mongrel can entertain himself a few more minutes without you.”
Snorting, the underboss looked around. “Wonder where he’s gone,” he muttered under his breath as he scuttled back toward Aldo’s office.
Not having a clue what they could be talking about, nor able to properly care, I stood tall until the door shut. With that deafening click, the strength that had been keeping me upright failed. The weight of reality rose to crush me. Collecting my planner from the floor where I’d accidentally dropped it, I turned on my heel and ran. The corridors of the house blurred. A sob threatened to choke me, but I struggled to stifle it. The cool air of the garden was a sharp slap against my face. I kept running, darting off the path and weaving through the trees.
When I finally found a place, deep in the sanctuary of nature, I sank to the ground. The cold immediately broke through the thin material of my slacks. The frost on the leaves lent a crispness to the night. It didn’t matter. None of it mattered.
Clutching my planner tight to my chest, I let the tears fall. It would never be enough.
I would never be enough.
There was nothing I could do to truly save Gio. I was a pawn in this game, the same as he was.
Squeezing my eyes closed, I did the only thing I could. I began to pray. Unlike the verses I repeated on Sunday, this had a raw component. My words whispered through the trees, floating on the breeze for a merciful God to hear. Only a supernatural force, a stroke of divine intervention could save us now. I emptied my heart and soul, and when I was mentally spent, the contents of my stomach spewed onto the garden floor.
What if I lost my brother? There would be nothing left for me but misery. The ache that was there when my parents died cracked open, and the mental torment at the idea of losing my brother surged like a living thing, devouring everything inside me.
Painful spasms racked my body as I heaved and coughed. The acidic bile cut my throat. No earthy aroma of plants and chilled ground could cover the smell. When the vomiting passed, I crept away from the spot. There wasn’t enough energy in my muscles to rise and go inside.
Death not only orphaned me but trapped me in a living nightmare. My existence was only bearable because I had someone to live for. I leaned against a tree. Exhaustion was a welcome escape. Minutes later, my body began to shake. Blood drained from my extremities, and my fingers no longer were able to hold the planner. Still, I sat there, hopelessly wishing a plan would present itself to allow Gio and me to escape. At some point, I drifted off to sleep….
Only to wake up on my bed, warm and safe, with no memory of how or when I’d stumbled upstairs.