Five

Isabella

I stand still staring at the big door he has just closed on his way out.

Who does he take me for? A puppet? I am not his child alright.

The closet is a walk-in closet. So many designer dresses, sweats, pants, shoes; flats, heels, and very classy boots. Jeez! Whose are these? Does this man have a sister? Or a wife? Probably an ex-wife. Or else would be despicable if he would let me use his wife's things. He'll! Maybe they are his girlfriend's, or ex-girlfriend. Who cares!

I sincerely need a shower badly.

And I am going to take all the time in the world. Sorry for Signore Danteif he thinks he can order me around.

After a satisfying shower in the humongous modern bathroom, which is bigger than my room back home, I go into the closet to pick up what I think will look good on me. Turns out everything is my type. Whoever this woman is, she surely has good States in clothes. But what's there to say about someone who lives with a don? I don't know why thinking about this woman gives me cringes. It could even be his mother. I mean that would be so disrespectful.

I conclude with a pair of denim shorts and a white short-sleeved shirt and a pair of black sandals. I find a convenient hair brush and dry my hair.

The door burst open when I was in the middle of combing.

I understand this is your house but you could pretend to have some courtesy and knock. I could have been naked.

He stands transfixed at the doorway staring down at me, scrutinizing me from my eyes to my feet.

Cringe!

"I guess you prefer doing things my way, signorina. You are tempting my patience ain't you?" his voice is calm but clear. He walks toward me. I quickly stand up. I look him starlight in the eyes to show him that I am not threatened by anything he says or does. I am a daughter of a mafioso and no man can make me now in submission. I was far better than that.

He gets close, way too close so that I can smell his expensive cologne. He lifts his hand to cup my chin. I pull out of his hold. He grabs my waist from behind with one hand, pulling me against his hard body.

"You are quite a fighter, ain't you?" he murmurs, using his other hand to lift my chin. H lowers his head, bringing his face closer to mine.

"You may be stubborn, Bella, but I am much more stubborn than you. I don't deal with people who can't cooperate with me. You have to obey, Lori will be glad to teach you how to bend to my orders," he says, and gives me a self-satisfied side smirk. I pull my skin out of his hold.

"How dare you touch me!" I seeth through my clenched teeth, and then struggle out of his hold. He is much stronger than me, making my effort a waste of time.

"Let me go," I shout at him.

"Calm down, baby girl. It is useless to fight me," he says pulling me even closer.

"Fuck you, Don Marcello. My name is Isabella De Luca. Isabella !"

"I know."

"Let me go!"

"I will when I feel like it. If you stop struggling. Don't fight me."

I roll my eyes at his audacity to handle a woman like this. Bastard!

"Let me go," I said, my voice lower this time, and he did.

"See, I could hear you if you are not shouting," he says, sliding his hands in his pockets.

Oh God! I wish I could pounce on him and bite off a chunk of his cheek from that annoying face.

"I want to go home," I tell him.

"I know. Sorry, but you won't be going home any time soon," he responds.

"Why not?"

"It not safe for you out there."

"What do you mean it is not safe? Make me understand," I demand. I am tired of being in this darkness of ignorance.

"That will be for later. Right now, you have to go downstairs and have your breakfast," he responds.

"I do want to eat. I am not hungry. I need answers."

"Well, you won't get your answers if you don't listen to me. We have to cooperate."

"I am not going to eat your food. You have kidnapped me and you keeping me in the dark, from my family and my life, and you expect me to gladly obey your order like some puppet? Do you think you can keep me here just like this? I am obviously going to escape, or my family is going to find me and you will pay dearly for what you have done," I tell him.

God, this man is so frustrating!

"I would like to see you try to escape, Bella. You wouldn't even try to make it past the mansion itself. Your family will try to find you but they won't. I have all the power to keep your family from finding you forever," he says.

Forever?

What does that mean? Is he going to kill me?

"Why didn't you just kill me then last night? I thought that's what you wanted when you started shooting at our car. You want me out of the way, right? So that you can get yourself my father's wealth? Why have you kept me alive? Why are you keeping me hostage in your house with the claim of protecting me? My family can protect me from any danger. I don't need your help!"

"So if there is anything you want from me, ignore Marcello, mention it. Don't play games with me."

"I have no interest in your family's property and neither am I keeping you for ransom. If your family is capable of protecting you where were they last night? Where were they when Federico and his men were almost ending your life last night? At a party at your uncle's house, right? I was there too."

What was he doing there? Is he in the Mafia society of Sicily?

"I had been noticing his movements and the way he kept monitoring you the whole time during the party was suspicious enough for me to get the clue that he was after you. I saw you leaving early and he left immediately after you. I suspect he was up to no good so I followed him," he says.

It sounds so unbelievable but it makes sense. Federico Russo is the most suspected person in my father's murder. My whole family believes that he is the one who killed Papa but we don't have any clear evidence against him. He has been an enemy of our family for a very long time and has been a rival of my father in the business society. He has many my father lose my dealings in their illegal businesses, tried many times to tarnish my family name, and now he wants to kill me.

I feel strength lace my legs. I take a sit on the bed, to stop myself from falling. I knew my suspicion back at the party was not my head just playing tricks with me. I was being followed!

Oh God!

My head is spinning.

So he rescued me from my murderer.

I bury my face in my palms and try to collect together my thoughts.

"Federico is not impressed by what happened. He won't settle for failing. He is not going to give up until he achieves what he wants. That's why I think it is safer for you to be here in the meantime," he says.

I lift my head to look at him.

"Why are you protecting me? I do know you. You are not family. What do you want?" I want to know. There has to be somewhere he gains from this.

"It's not you to pay me the favour. It's not your part to worry about," he responds.

"Then who's part is it?"

"I already told you not to worry about it. All I want from you is your obedience. It would be a total waste of time if I am trying to keep you safe yet you are determined to store yourself to death. Trust me everything will go smoothly if you listen to my instructions. Don't fight me," he responds.

Does he have to be so complicated?

"How long are you planning to keep me here?"

"I can't answer that question now," he says, then checks on his wristwatch.

"I won't answer all of your questions now. You will have to discover some answers yourself with time. Right now, you have to eat or you will pass out in a few minutes from now," he says.

"I am not hungry," I respond.

"Cooperation. That's all I am asking from you."

He's not taking no for an answer.

I roll my eyes.

"And those eyes. I won't tolerate your wit," he warns.

Jeez... Am not even allowed to roll my eyes?