20. Isabella
twenty
Isabella
It was long after Salvatore left me with the signed papers that my already broken heart broke again. Only this time, it was my doing.
I can’t leave again. How can I leave after I accepted who I am and where I belong? This is my home. And I got what I wanted from Salvatore.
Signed divorced papers.
I can now go through with my plan, only I don’t feel like it’s the right thing to do anymore.
I exhale and look through the window in my room; I look at the rose garden sans roses since it’s winter. Even so, the place is beautiful and full of happy memories.
My thoughts are interrupted by a knock on the door. I don’t have to tell the person to enter because my father opens the door and peeks inside.
“You weren’t at breakfast.” His worried eyes search my face.
I wasn’t. I haven’t left the room since Salvatore left me. I distracted myself by showering and changing the sheets, getting rid of his smell, pretending it’s just another normal day. Like nothing happened.
But after the adrenaline rush caused by anger disappeared, I was left empty and lost, standing by my window, staring across at the rose garden that only ever meant infinite love.
“I’m not hungry.” I avoid looking at my father and look through the window.
“And are you going with Pino to the meeting today?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think so. I don’t feel good. I think I caught something.”
He doesn’t say anything as he approaches and stops near me. “I would have given up everything if only she gave me the choice. I would have given up my position, my wealth, everything I built just to have her by my side.”
“I’m sorry, Papa.”
“This world eats you alive. Takes away everything you really want. There is no money or power that is stronger than love. Love is the only thing in this world that is worth fighting for.”
“Not everyone finds love, Papa. What you and Mama had was special.”
“It was special. It still is. One day not far from today, I will meet her again.”
I smile. “You still have a long time before that, Papa.”
“Maybe,” he says, his voice distant. “I need to be sure you’re happy before I can think of leaving this world.”
I turn to him and smile. “I am happy.”
He tilts his head to the side, his eyes inspecting my face. “Are you? Is that why you didn’t come to breakfast and decided to hide in your room? Even if you didn’t sleep the whole night.”
My brows furrow. How does he know? Did he hear us?
“And why you are fisting those papers in your hand?” My eyes follow his at how tightly I’m crumpling the documents. “I want you to be happy, and from the state you’re in, I see that’s not the case. Salvatore gave you a choice.” My heart skips at his name, and heat rises from my stomach to my chest. “This time, it’s up to you. What will you choose?” He takes my hands in his. “My darling Bella, that man loves you. He was ready to be killed by Pino if that was what would have made you happy. Sneaking in here every night and risking his life, learning how to accept your choices and what you want are things only a man in love would do.”
My vision blurs and I blink my tears away. “How did you know?” I whisper.
He chuckles. “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I want you to be happy, and that is why you need to go. You will always have a home here, but you belong where your heart is, and that's not here.”
“But I…”
He shakes his head. “There is no but in love. We get hurt sometimes, but we grow from that. We learn, and you both have grown and learned from your mistakes. Now you need to live with those mistakes and move forward. Life is short. One day, you’re young and you learn to dance, and the next, you’re burying the love of your life six feet under.”
My head is spinning with thoughts about what the right thing to do is. Can I start over? But if so, how can I leave this place again?
“Isabella?” My father’s voice gets my attention. “You have one hour before that plane departures.”
I furrow my brows. “Are you telling me to go with Salvatore?”
He smiles. “I’m telling you to be happy.” He takes a step back, turning to leave. “I’ll be waiting in the car with Pino.”
I watch, confused, as my father exits my room. What the hell just happened? Why will he be waiting for me in the car?
My eyes widen the moment the realization hits.
One hour.
I have only one hour.
I don’t pack a thing. Other than my bag and the papers, I leave everything, and I don’t walk, I run to the car. When I reach the car, the door opens, and my father is smiling from his seat. I slide inside and meet Pino’s grinning face from the passenger seat.
“You too?”
He raises his hands, surrendering. “I had no idea what is going on until five minutes ago.”
My father’s driver starts the car and drives, and I turn to my father. “You still didn’t tell me how you knew Salvatore was leaving, and most importantly, how did you know he was in the house every night?”
He smiles. “He told me.”
“When?”
“Today, when he gave me back the key from the secret entrance I gave him.”
I scrunch my nose. “What are you talking about? What secret entrance?”
“There is a tunnel I built for emergencies. And since his situation needed a little intervention, I thought it was the right thing to do.”
“You decided to help him? But why?” I look at my father in awe.
He smiles. “He reminded me of me. Now, no more questions. Promise me you will be happy. That you two will have your happy ending.”
I smile and my eyes fill with tears. I didn’t think I had any left. Without warning, I lean forward and wrap my arms around him. “I love you, Papa.”
He kisses the top of my head. “I love you too, my dear child.”
I pull from my father and tease my friend. “Sorry, I can’t marry you.” I shrug.
He laughs. “Thank God for that. I don’t think anyone bought the idea of us anyway.”
“He doesn’t have to be married to you to have a place within the organization. Besides, I heard complaints about him preventing a specific someone from leaving the city.”
I smile, and Pino raises his eyebrows. We look at each other because we both know the secret, and now, so does my father.
When we arrive at the strip where the lonely private jet is getting ready to take off, I don’t wait for the car to stop before I get out. I kiss my father goodbye, and this time, with his blessing, get on a plane to America.
I climb the stairs of the plane with a lump in my throat and my heart pounding behind my ribcage.
When I enter the cabin, there is no crew on board, and the alarm bells in my head start ringing. And then I see him, sitting with his back to me. He’s looking through the window to the field outside. I take slow steps toward him, and when I reach him, I sit in the seat opposite him.
Our eyes lock, and his pained expression shifts to one of confusion. “Before you say anything, I need you to listen to me.” I take the papers from my bag and rip them apart. “I can’t accept this.” My eyes meet his narrowed gaze. “I know I initiated it, but I was hurt and I didn’t give you a chance. I want to give you the forgiveness you asked for, but I don’t know if I can. Only time will tell. I can live with the impact of our choices if you can do the same. I can promise to move forward and seek happiness if you want that too.” I inhale. “What do you say?”
His jaw ticks, and my body shakes as I wait for his answer. “That depends.”
I shiver. “Depends on what?”
His lips twitch, but he doesn’t smile. “Does that mean you’re coming back with me?”
I smile. “Yes!”
“Why?” His stern voice sends shivers through my body, and I swallow.
“You asked me to.”
“Is that the only reason?”
I study his face, my mind racing with the thought that I hurt him and that I’m too late. My body heats and frustration overwhelms me. “Of course not. I’m here because I love you.”
His lips turn into a smirk. “Because you love me?”
“Of course I love you, you idiot.”
He grins before pulling me onto his lap for a kiss. “Are you ready to join the mile high club?” he whispers into my mouth.
I chuckle. “I think we already did that.”
“No, we didn’t. This plane has a bedroom, and I plan on sealing our deal by spending the whole time on this flight inside you.”
I laugh as he pulls me into the bedroom, where he sticks to his promise.