CHAPTER FIVE
MELO
The cop does a better job of hiding his shock and surprise than Bianchi. He's the wrong man to make a spy. The cop clears his throat and excuses himself. We all silently watch him leave.
"Why is the cop leaving, Bianchi?" I ask.
His eyes widen further and I see everything. This man is a liar and a pig and he doesn't deserve the faith his daughter has in him. I'm going to take her from him.
"Cop? Jerry's not a cop. He's a customer at the restaurant, we just ran into each other."
I smile. "Of course. Let's talk Bianchi."
I turn and walk towards the exit. I make my way to the car and enter. Marco enters and sits in the front with the driver. Bianchi is the last to enter the car. Beads of sweat are on his forehead even though it's a cold night.
"Marco didn't kill you when he should have. I will advise that you be careful with the friends you run into at places. The blood oath has been met, you will be killed if you make the wrong move."
"I promise I didn't do anything. He was just a customer."
I ignore his lies. I would kill him right now for being that close to a cop when he's under suspicion for being a rat but that would be a terrible wedding gift.
"I don't care. You'd be dead right now if I didn't just decide today that I will marry your daughter."
"No!" He roars and lunges at me.
His attack is met with a punch to the face and another one to the stomach. I pull out my gun and point it at his temple.
"Now, do you want to try that again?"
I give him time to cough and groan and moan.
"I'm not asking for your permission, Bianchi. I am telling you what's going to happen. Based on what I saw today, your daughter doesn't want to marry me either, that's where you come in."
"She will never agree to marry a monster like you." He says.
"She doesn't have to agree. I'm just giving you the chance to make it look like she has a choice in the matter."
"Why my Bella? Is this some sort of punishment?"
"Not punishment, just insurance. If you ever get the bright idea to betray this family again, you'll remember that your daughter is married to the worst of the worst."
That's not true but he doesn't deserve to know that.
"Please, not my daughter. Please I'll do anything. I didn't do anything wrong."
"You're on my radar now, don't make me kill you. Get out of my car."
He sobs harder but still opens the door and leaves.
"Do you still want to go in?" Marco asks.
"No, the night has been ruined."
"You're really going to marry her?"
"I am."
"The underbosses will not like that."
"They don't get to tell me who to marry. They wanted a wife, they're getting a wife."
ISABELLA
My father has been in a mood since he came home last night. Paying off Damien put a bounce in his steps so he decided to go out with some of his friends to celebrate. Something must have happened because he returned in a terrible mood. He didn't speak to me and shut himself inside his room since.
I shake the thought away and focus on making his breakfast. He'll be out soon and hopefully, he'll be in a better mood this morning.
The doorbell rings and I pause my cooking and look towards the door in confusion. It can't be Damien, he doesn't knock and we've not had any visitors since my father was declared a traitor. The doorbell rings again and I decide to open the door and find out who it is.
"Hello," I say to the stranger.
He's wearing a black Blazer, sunshades and a serious expression on his face.
"Who are you looking for?"
He takes the shades off and attempts to smile.
"I'm Rocco. The Capo sent me here to watch over you."
His words bring confusion and fear. Why would the Capo send someone to watch over me? More importantly, why am I being made aware of it? I've caught different people secretly watching on us but none of them have ever introduced themselves. I look back at my father's room and frown. Does this have something to do with why he came home upset? Did someone else make another accusation?
"Do you know why?" I ask.
"I don't ask questions, I just do."
Right. He puts the sunshades back on even though it's only 7 am. I slowly shut the door on his face and lock it. I have to talk to my father. I knock on his door and like last night, I don't get a reply.
"Daddy, you have to answer me. There's a man outside that was sent by the Capo to watch us." I whisper.
There's scrambling inside his room before his door is pulled open with force I didn't think he was capable of.
"Why did you open the door?" He asks in angry whisper.
"I didn't know who it was. What is going on?"
"We're not safe here. We have to run away."
This situation is getting scarier by the minute.
"What do you mean run away? Are we under attack?"
"Yes! Go pack your things, we'll leave through the back."
He starts pushing me towards my room and my confusion increases. I put my foot down and turn to face him.
"No! I'm not going anywhere until you explain what is going on. You're not making any sense daddy."
He grabs his hair and gives me a look I don't recognize on his face.
"He picked you to be his wife."
"What?" I ask, confused.
Of all the things I imagined he would say, this wasn't on the list.
"Why? I didn't do anything to get noticed, I blended in with everyone."
"It's all my fault. He's doing this to punish me. You need to pack something small so we can get out of here." He says.
In a daze, I walk into my room and start packing. This is not good news at all. Carmelo Rossi killed his first wife and walked around in her blood for days. She wasn't a traitors daughter and he did that to her.
I meet my father in the living room a few minutes later. He eyes my small bag and nods in approval.
"He's no longer at the door but we should still use the backdoor just in case." He says.
We walk hand in hand to the back door and when father opens it, an unsmiling Rocco is leaning against the wall.
"All trips must be cleared by the Capo." He says.