AllFreeNovel
Share Us
What felt like days on the road we finally arrived at the location. I looked out the window and saw an unfamiliar ground. “We’re here” Vincenzo spoke up, I looked at him with an eyebrow raised “we are in the middle of nowhere. It’s all trees” I pointed out. He looked at me and sarcastically smiled, “that’s the point.” He took a sharp turn and the further into the forest we got the trees began to clear and revealed a gorgeous mansion smack in the middle of the land. My eyes widened looking at the beautiful scenery in front of me, the mansion was black, and a gorgeous fountain was centred in the middle of the estate. It was big enough to fit all his men in the one house, it was two stories high and wider than the eyes can see. Accompanied with two pool houses along with an onsite clinic like our previous home. We all got down from the cars and rushed inside excited to see the new home. Vincenzo grabs my upper arm and leads me to the master bedroom, in the room was an ensuite a massive bed in the middle and a baby’s crib on the side of the bed. I looked back at him with a raised eyebrow. “We are sharing?” I questioned.
He shrugged his shoulders “not enough rooms” he responded. I laughed “this big ass mansion doesn’t have enough rooms?” I sarcastically responded. “Ironic, isn’t it?” he sheepishly smiled at me standing in the door frame. I stared at him slightly frustrated at his distant behaviour.
“I don’t want to share a room with you” I speak up knowing damn well I did in fact want to share the same bed with him I just wanted to piss him off a little.
He doesn’t even acknowledge what I said and continues to unpack his things, I roll my eyes and snatch the top from his hands and throw it to the other side of the room. He looks down at me hovering above me, backing away I hit the edge of the bed, I fell on my back and Vincenzo climbed over me. I feel my chest tighten at the sudden dominance and at the mere inches between us. “I don’t want to share a bed” I repeat myself, still saying nothing he just looks down over me his hands cornering me in. Waiting for me to cave. “Are you listening?” I bite frustrated pushing him away, “No.” He finally breaks his silence I groan frustrated “I-” before I could finish my sentence, he harshly cuts me off.
“Isabella enough.” He warns lowly his voice becoming deeper than usual and his Italian accent becoming a lot heavier which use to be my indication to shut the fuck up. Not this time, If I’m dealing with the old Vincenzo, I need to be the old Isabella the one who didn’t know him. “No. You don’t get the right to Isabella me anymore!” My voice stern as I watch the veins in his neck beginning to poke through, “the days of you ordering me around are gone.” I warned him knowing full well it was going to set him off. One thing the old Vincenzo could never do was give up or lose power, “You’re staying in this fucking bedroom I don’t care if you like the fucking idea or not. You don’t to share the bed? Sleep on the couch” He responded clearly trying to keep his cool.
I scoffed “how noble of you” I bite, he scoffed “I’m not exactly a beacon of good behaviour doll” He stood up and walked towards the door I groan frustrated “don’t fucking call me that!” I yelled throwing a pillow at his head. He dodged it easily making me even more agitated “Stop. Fucking. Dodging. IT!” In between every word I threw whatever I could get hands on, pillows, clothes, hats even Dante’s bottles.
“Listen. You don’t have much of a choice. You either stay in this bedroom or you can go back to that burnt down house doll. Up to you” he spat visibly reaching his limit. “You’d rather send me to ashes then let me have my own room?” I argue logic my breathing becoming heavier like I just ran a marathon. “YES, ISABELLA YES I WOULD.” He shouted finally giving me the satisfaction that I was still the only one to get him to reach this level of anger.
“Yelling? That’s very amateur of you … boss” I mocked him enjoying it more than I probably should, standing up getting in his face, “Isabella.” His voice deep and rigid. When he speaks, his deep voice, his Italian accent the way his authority twirls around his words is magnetic to the core of who I am, as if he's able to resonate with all of me when others can barely achieve a fraction of it.
I stared back at him blankly not saying a word, both of us stayed like that for a moment staring at each other and in that moment behind his cold Icy stare was a mountain of pain yet extracting it would bring pain and instability. Either he’ll remember and our souls can once again be reborn, or he would lash out and it would be forever over. But staring at his hard gaze that held no emotion, this was the moment I made the unconscious decision that he … we are worth a real attempt.
“Get out” he finally whispers looking slightly defeated like he was trying with every cell in his body not to yell and scream. “No” I stood my ground, “you want to yell? Yell. You want to fight? Fucking fight me, but don’t you dare shut me out or push me to the side like I’m not real because I’m fucking real!” I started losing control feeling like no matter what he was always ready to shut me out, to turn his back on me.
“I can handle you” I harshly whispered standing my ground. Faster than I could comprehend he had a tight grip on my arms slamming me into the wall “Don’t!” He yelled. His mismatched eyes bored in mine. “Don’t ever. Try to get inside my head,” he snarled, slamming me against the wall. I didn’t move, not even flinch at his outburst instead I continued to stare into his eyes, watching his internal battle. He moved his hands from my arm to my neck his grip on my neck was never tight, and it didn’t hurt. I knew what he was doing, I knew he was trying to scare me, but little did he remember I don’t scare easily. Ironically it was turning me on.
We stayed like this for a minute, finally his eyes softened ever so lightly. “It’s too dark for you” he trailed off. “You’re doing it on purpose aren’t you?” I whispered realisation settling in, he looked at me his eyes telling me he knew exactly what I was talking about. “What?” He questioned trying to act coy. “Don’t fucking do that” I shouted pushing him off me, I shoved him back grabbing the lamp on the bedside throwing it at him. He dodged it quickly the lamp shattered into pieces colliding with the wall behind him. “You don’t want to remember me, do you?” I shouted, “You can’t stand the fact that I knew you. I FUCKING KNOW YOU!” I yelled. He sighed ignoring me and walking off, “Don’t fucking turn your back on me” I warned him. He stood in the doorway for a second before he walked off anyway. I let out a frustrated yell, losing all control. I stormed out of the room following him to his new office, his new men stood in front of me stopping me from going inside. “Vincenzo, I swear I will unleash hell on earth if you don’t make them Move.” I warned him lowly my voice now matched his from earlier. Dangerous and daring.
His men immediately moved aside after seeing the other men indicating for them to get out of my way. “Do not let her in!” He shouted, “are you my men or hers?” He roared both of us clearly reaching our limits. “I wasn’t finished” I yelled, he smirked and shrugged his shoulders “I was” he slammed his office doors shut. “Isabella … I usually don’t bud in, but boss has a meeting with the five families soon, and they shouldn’t see his authority being tested by you” I looked at hacker confused “what?” I snapped, he flinched stepping back “We all know you, your past, who you are. The family doesn’t they won’t see you as his equal they’ll see you as a member who stepped out of line” I rolled my eyes huffing.
“Fine. This isn’t over” I shouted making sure he heard me, I looked at Hacker confused “wait shouldn’t you go in?” I asked knowing the boss, underboss and capo had to be present during the meetings. He whined slightly and gave me my son back, I watched Hacker get Vincenzo and walk off towards a new meeting room. He stands in front of me the both of us not breaking eye contact, none of us willing to bow down to the other. I never have and I never will be a weak sensitive girl, this conversation was not over. Hacker cleared his throat forcing Vincenzo’s eyes to leave mine. I followed behind them slowly towards board meeting and every trusted member of each family stood at the door guarding it while their bosses walked inside. Vincenzo ordering the men to close the doors behind him.
I let out a frustrated sigh, “Isabella” Ariana calls out my name, she comes towards me playing with Dante’s cheeks as he lays his head on my chest. He should be due for a feed soon, “do you mind holding him for a second while I go make his bottle?” I ask without wasting time she snatches Dante from me and ushers me off.
“Hi cucciolo” she cooed kissing him repeatedly on the cheek. I smiled quickly rushing off to get his bottle ready before his happy mood turns into a mini-Vincenzo.
x
Shaking the bottle, I walk around trying to find Ariana when I spot her, she’s trying to get him to stop crying, I smile gesturing her to give me him. “Can I feed him please?” She begs giving me puppy dog eyes. I handed her the bottle letting her feed him. Looking up I wonder what they were discussing inside, if it’s got to do with Xavier I should be inside. I huffed and stood up, since when the fuck did, I wait to be invited in. I walked confidently towards the office doors ignoring Ariana’s harsh whispers calling me back. “Excuse me ma’am you can’t come in” One of the men speak up, I raise an eyebrow at him and Vincenzo and Garcia’s men sigh knowing exactly where this was headed, especially after hearing mine and Vincenzo’s screaming battle. “Here we go” the whispered and took a step back knowing better than to get in my way.
Vincenzo’s POV
We all stood for a moment as a show of respect exchanging nods, we take our seats. my mind couldn’t wrap around the fact that she laughed in my face. Her laugh vibrated against my hand that was wrapped around her fucking neck … and she laughed. Her laughed ringed in my ears, she was pressed to the wall, and she fucking laughed. “I hear congratulations are in order” Samuel speaks up first, I smile giving him a firm nod snapping out of it. “Grazie Samuel” soon everyone joins in congratulating me “you had a son and didn’t invite the families for his baptism” John speaks up offended. I clear my throat looking at the five families.
“Gentlemen, I myself have not had the time to baptise my son due to the threat hanging over my head.” I finally address the issue of our meeting.
“Usually, I would handle business on my own, as we all take care of our individual families to how we see fit. However, this issue unfortunately is a threat not only to my family but to each family here” Getting their attention they all edge closer looking at me waiting for me to elaborate further. “The threat that is Xavier, who was a meaningless pity street gang has since evolved without our knowing.” I admit that I may have overlooked his growth. “He was only a threat to Isabella Knight, until I discovered he was the man who killed my twin brother Dante.” I revealed letting the news sink in.
Mummers were heard among the table everyone sharing the same shocked and enraged expression. “Through my informants it’s been exposed to me that Xavier has joined forces with the Salvatore’s and is ultimately trying to take over. Not just the Salvatore’s but my city and spot on the five families.” I balled my hands into fists trying to contain my rage.
“This is not just an insult to me but to all sitting before me. Since our decision to terminate Sammy Salvatore, Xavier has promised the family revenge against us all.” If no one was paying attention, they all are now. “How can they possibly take on the five families. We individually all outnumber them” Garcia being the first to speak up. I nod my head agreeing, “Si, we do however he is planning a sneak attack. One that won’t be expected and judging from his new status he can make that happen”.
“Why did he even come to New York?” Samuel angrily voiced his frustration. I sigh because I couldn’t remember the reason for his presence in my city. Lorenzo sees the confusion on my face and speaks up “he came to retrieve Isabella” My head snapped towards him “She is not her property” I whispered lowly, realising we are in a board room I quickly fix my posture and turn back towards the group.
Garcia giving me a smug smirk trying not to laugh as the rest stared at me slightly confused, I cleared my throat once again and looked up at the board regaining composure.
“As I was saying the promise, he gave to the Salvatore’s of revenge against the biggest mafia families and specifically me has gained him a lot of followers and respect for his bold promise. Stupid promise but nonetheless” I continued explaining how this matter no longer involved my family alone. “If this Xavier person came for Isabella, why should we all be dragged into this mess.” Samuel speaks up, I inhale deeply trying to remain calm, “Correct me if I’m wrong Samuel but since when did we ever offshore a woman to solve our problems?” The board all looking towards Samuel.
His underboss and capo remained silent keeping their hard gaze fixated on me. “She started this mess. It’s her responsibility to clean it up.” He spits getting enraged at my comment slamming his hands on the table as he stands up. “Samuel, do you know who Isabella is?” Garcia piped in calmly looking at Samuel.
“No. Nor do I care” he replies smug, Hacker and Lorenzo giving him a hard stare clearly not impressed by his comments about Isabella. I cleared my throat “She’s someone you do not want to cross” I responded equally as smug, despite my anger towards her right now it was true, she was the only person who I ever saw as my equal, the minute I saw her I knew why I would have been intrigued by her. He shoots his head towards me “I think I might” he threatens. I chuckle amused, “be my guest.” Gesturing to the door knowing full well Isabella has somehow managed to eavesdrop on the meeting and gotten through all the men guarding the door.
If on cue the doors opened wide with all the security behind her on their knees, their belts used to restrain their hands all bowed before her aside from my own and Garcia’s men, probably knowing best to just let her be. Even with my memory I know Isabella is not someone who easily backs down. She smirks widely proud of herself, “for someone who has been on maternity I still got it” she smiles looking at Garcia before taking her place next to me. She glares and I match her energy knowing her little show was about to make one hell of a fight. Hacker and Lorenzo look as though they are about to burst out laughing. I gave them a hard look warning them to remain professional which was hard to do myself.
