Bella #1 (Sagatori Family Saga #1) (17 page)

As I peeked around the corner I could see her sitting in the cold white room. I saw her for the innocent girl she wa
s
… or still is. The Bella that had
n’
t grown up around vicious killers. The men that begged for her attention even when she was just a girl in high school. She was innocent. That shit did
n’
t set-well with me. Also did
n’
t make what
I’
d don
e
… What
I’
d said, any fucking easier.

Her big grey eyes swung around the room. She was scared. She fucking should be scared. Those fucking Apes will make her feel like trash for being associated with the famiglia. Fucking bullshit. They had no fucking right to take her in for questioning. I'd take care of them later.

“
You think sh
e’
ll talk
?
” Mickie asked from behind me.

I shook my head while I still watched her.

“
Think sh
e’
s got somthi
n
’ to say
?
”

“
I think she has a lot to say
.
”

“
But not to them
?
”

“
I fucking hope not
.
” I hoped she would
n’
t give me up. She did
n’
t know anything about my business, but there was always a future filled with questioning opportunity.

“
You want me to see wha
t’
s taking the dick fucking lawyer so long
?
”

“
Yea
,
”

“
You got it boss
.
” Micki
e’
s loud ass shoes clanked against the cheap tile floor as he stepped away to make his call.

“
Excuse me
?
” A high pitched voice squeaked at me pulling on my Kiton 50-K suite jacket.

My eyes fell to the little dark haired locks
.“
Can I help you
?
” I roamed my eyes of the large police station looking for a mother that might be frantic over losing her child in the last place any mother would want to. I did
n’
t see anyone matching that description.

“
Sir, are you sad
?
” Sad? What the fuck?

“
Do I look sad
?
” I attempted at shrugging the little girl from my suit.

“
Yes, you look like yo
u’
re sad
.
” Her hair hung into her eyes.

My posture became erect and I adjusted my silk tie
.“I’
m never sad
.
” I cleared my throat
.“
Wher
e’
s your Momma
?
” Someone needed to claim this kid.

The little girl turned pointing towards a lady I figured was about fifty pounds, sores all over her face, and the bitch couldn't stop fidgeting all over the place
.“
Tha
t’
s your momma
?
” Oh fuck, poor kid.

“
Uh huh
,
” Her head snapped back at me
.“
Sh
e’
s in trouble
.
” She shrugged as she pulled a stuffed green rabbit to her chest.

“
Is someone gonna take care of you
?
” What the fuck was this kid doing roaming free with no adult to look after her and they had Bella sitting locked up in that fucking room
?
”

“
My Nonni was coming to get me. She always gets me picked up when Momm
a’
s in trouble
.
”

I reached into my pocket pulling out a large amount of cash, hoping I could find something to put into the ratty ass snack machine for this kid. Sh
e’
d probably starve to death if I did
n’
t
.“
Here kid, go get yourself something from that machine over there
.
” I nodded looking around for Mickie and Randolph.

“
Can you help me
?
” she tugged my hand pulling me along. My body stiffened uncomfortably.

I unwillingly let her lead me to the machine that only had one bag of chips, one Baby-Ruth, and one honeybun
.“
Not looking so good, huh kid
?
”

“
I love honeybuns
.
” She pulled on my fucking fifty thousand dollar suit again.

After I slipped the five dollar bill in the machine, I select the honey bun and reached down to retrieve the nasty shit.

“
Are you thinking of adding child endangerment to your list of felonies
?
”

I turn to the tall bitch of a Fed as I stood tall glaring down at her.

“
Kid if you knew what was good for ya yo
u’
d get away from this man h
e’
s bad news. Takes everyone down with him
.
”

The little girl surprised me when she clamped on to my hand and squeezed
.“
Excuse me
?
” She said to the bitch Fed.

The bitch Fed leaned down to the girl
.“
Yes
?
”

“
Why do you have such an ugly grin on your face
?
”

I nearly choked on my own tongue. This kid surprised the shit outta me.

“
Excuse me
?
” The bitch Fed was mortified.

“
You just seem mean
.
” She shrugged against me.
I’
d never been around kids, but I liked this one
.“
And ugly
.
” She tucked her face close to our joined hands.

“
Turni
n
’
‘
em young huh Moretti
?
” She stood crossing her arms over her chest
.“
Tha
t’
s okay
,
” she leaned in close enough for me to smell her coffee breath
.“
We got what you want do
n’
t we
?
” She laughed a smoke
r’
s laugh
.“
We have her right where we want her. You scared Moretti
?
”

Fire burned in my chest. Heat rose from my lungs.
I’
m definitely gonna pop this bitch personally
.“
I have no idea what yo
u’
re talking about.
I’
m just a business man trying to be a good citizen
.
” I rub my chin
.“
You
scared of somethi
n’?
”

“
Is that a threat
?
” She smirked. Sh
e’
s trying to bait me and its working cause ther
e’
s nothing more I want to do than blow her fucking brains out. She snickered at me for a second and then walked away shaki
n
’ her boney ass.

“
Sh
e’
s mean
,
” The kid cringed.

Yeah she is
.“
Wha
t’
s your name
?
”

“
Franny
.
”

“
Is that short for Francesca
?
”

“
Uh huh
,
” She rubbed her little grey eyes
.“
Nonni
,
” she points in the direction of a short Italian woman with a tired look in her eyes
.“
Thank you for the honeybun
.
” She wrapped her arms around my thigh
.“
I hope you get un-sad soon
.
”
I’
m not fucking sad.
I’
m never sad.

“
No problem kid
.
” I said as she untucked her tiny hand from mine and ran in the direction of her Nonni.

Back to business.

I slipped my hand into my jacket and retrieve my phone
.“
Mickie, where the hell
?
”

“
Got the lawyer boss. Headi
n
’ in now
.
” I snap my buner phone into my pocket and walked across the dirty tile floors so that I could see Bella.

I was shivering in the cold room. They must be trying to piss me off because I had
n’
t done anything wrong. They wanted me to give up the famiglia.
I’
m no rat.
I’
d never talk. Rats die in the most horrible of ways.
I’
d heard the stories.
I’
ve even seen a few at night when Papa would handle business with me sleeping in the back of the limo. One night in particular, when no one thought I was awake after a boring dinner,
I’
d woken up in the car all alone searching for Papa out of the window. I saw what happens in the dark when no one thinks yo
u’
re looking. From that day on I knew
I’
d never be a rat. Ever. It scared the shit out of me. A five year old little girl does
n’
t need to see things like that.

The lights flickered insatiably and it started getting to me when the door was opened by a bitchy Fed. Tall, thin, and dressed in me
n’
s clothing. Black, grey, and white. No color, no make-up, her hair was flat and tasteless too. She did
n’
t carry herself like a woman
I’
d ever seen before.

“
I demand to speak with my attorney
!
” I slammed my cuffed fists on the brown table.
Ouch, that hurt
.

“
Isabella Moretti
?
” An older man with a balding head, glasses on the rim of his nose, and black suite kissed with a pink tie right out of a GQ magazine walked into the room holding a brief case. The suit did
n’
t fit him at all, but he seemed confident with his walk. I squinted my now blurred eyes at the man, wondering who he was
.“
Are you Isabella Moretti
?
” The man adjusted his glasses after h
e’
d slammed his brief case on the table looking between the Fed and me.

“
Yes
,
” I answered meekly.

“I’
m Randolph
,
” He extended his hand.

I raised my cuffed hands to his.

“
Take the cuffs off Miranda
,
” He said dryly.

Her chest rose in an unpleasant way as she sauntered over to me, knocking a chair out of her way. But she removed the cuffs. She took her sweet time about it, though.

I rubbed my aching wrists feeling relieved.

“
Get the hell out Miranda
.
” He sat in the chair directly in front of mine
.“
Now
.
” He demanded.

Miranda did
n’
t respond as she turned and slammed the door behind her.

“
Mrs. Moretti,
I’
ve been hired to provide you with council. Do you have any initial questions before we get started
?
”

“
Who hired you
?
” I needed to know who h
e’
s working for. Most importantly I needed to know if he could be trusted.

Randolph lifted his head from the pile of papers h
e’
d just removed from his case, peering over his round glasses
.“
Mr. Moretti. Is that a problem
?
”

A deep breath released from my lungs
.“
Why
?
” Wha
t’
s in it for him?
I’
d never need Ja
x’
s help.

Randolph shrugged in his high dollar suite, resting his hands on the table
.“
Because he wants you to be protected
.
”

I huffe
d“
Protected? He wants to make sure
I’
m not gonna rat on the famiglia. Le
t’
s be honest here. As you can see
I’
ve been locked away for something I know nothing about
.
”

He chuckled to himself
.“
Yo
u’
ve got fire in your eyes, Mrs. Moretti. I like that
.
” He muttered the last part looking back to his papers
.“I’
ll assure you Mrs. Moretti I work for only you
.
”

“
But yo
u’
re taking
his
money
.
” I rebutted.

“
Would you prefer that I take your money
?
” He asked matter-of-factly.

“
Yes, I would
.
” My head lifted.

“
Alright then,
I’
ll send you my bill
.
” He winked
.“
Any further questions
?
”

“
When can I leave
?
” I needed a shower, something to eat. A blanket and a pillow. I was so tired.

“I’
m hoping I can get you out within a few hours at most. Okay, so they have nothing on you personally tha
t’
ll stick. Being in the presence of th
e
… people you associate with alone wo
n’
t make a case
.
”

“
I ca
n’
t avoid that
.
” My eyes go wide wondering if he understands who I am.

He chuckled again
.“
Yes, I suppose not, being the Sagatori Heirs and all. But tha
t’
s why yo
u’
re here. I
t’
s a ploy of tactics to scare you. Make you talk
.
”

“
Well, the
y’
re wasting their time because I do
n’
t know anything.
I’
m a woman, we are
n’
t told anything to know anything about
.
” I huffed.

He shakes his head
.“
Understood.
I’
m going to file some paper work and speed things up, but anytime your brought in you call me. If they refuse, you tell them i
t’
s your right to have your attorney present while questioned
.
”

“
I knew that befor
e
… From my father. I even told them that this time, but they said I was lawyering up, so I must know something
.
” I rolled my eyes. I wanted to knock the shit out of that bitch.

“
Another scare tactic. The
y’
re dirtier than the people they put in this place
.
”

I laughed.

So true.

Randolph and I spent the next thirty minutes reviewing my statement. After w
e’
d finished, he stood collecting his papers, stuffing them into his leather case
.“I’
ll have you out in a few. My advice. Stay home for a while. Kick back with Netflix and let this blow over
.
” We both stared at each other, each one knowing this was
n’
t going to blow over any time soon. They were out for blood and would do anything to get it. He gave an understanding nod and walked out of the room.

***

“
Well, well, well. Looks like you get to go home kitten
.
” Miranda sneered in my face while she grabbed my arm yanking my tired body off of the chair
I’
d been sitting in for the last four hours. She leaned into my hair taking a long whiff
.“
Are you finished
?
” I snapped
.“
I believe you said I could go home
?
”

“
Oh, by all means run as fast as you Can right into the arms of your gangster daddy and gangster husband
.
”

Oh hell no!

Before I knew what I was doing, I'd turned, pulled away from her, and opened my mouth. Bad idea. But she had pushed my last button. I had enough.

“
I do
n’
t know who you think yo
u’
re talking too he-she, but I wo
n’
t be running to anyone. You know nothing about me or my family. Yo
u’
re just some sick fuckers that have nothing better to do than chase your imaginations
.
” I probably should have stopped there, but tha
t’
s what happened when I got worked up. I foughtback and ask questions later. I leaned in close smelling the stale cigarettes on her man outfit
.“
You are a stupid fucking bitch
.
” I said slowly drawing out the words.

“
Oh,
I’
m coming back for you Isabella. Yo
u’
re gonna wish you were never born into the Sagatori crime family. As a matter of fact, yo
u’
re gonna wish you were never born at all
.
” She winked.

Oh shit
. Sometimes I should know when to keep my mouth shut.

Randolph entered the room just as her last words left her nicotine stained teeth. He was snarling
.“
Do
n’
t say another word to my client without a warrant. We clear
?
” He grabbed my arm and pulled me from the room. I sighed a breath of relief that I was getting out of there. Four hours was too long to be held in a cage even if that cage was only a room. I did
n’
t know how people lived through prison.
I’
d go crazy if I was locked up like that.

Randolph ushered me by the arm through the littered police station to the front doors
.“
How will I get home
?
” I asked as I looked around for Jax not seeing him. All I wanted was to be home. My body was beginning to give out on me.

Randolp
h’
s eyes targeted something behind me. Or someone. I knew right then and there who it was.
Jax
.

I turned lazily expecting to see his smug face, but all I saw wa
s
… Nothing. No expression, no smug look, just absolutely nothing. His limo was sitting on the street with Dominic and Mickie waiting. With the shake of my head, I smiled at Randolph and headed for the car. I just wanted a hot sanitizing shower and my comfortable bed.

***

Seven days had passed since Jax brought me back to Detroit right after
I’
d been arrested. Papa had taken a turn for the worse and I refused to be anywhere but there. He seemed to understand. I had
n’
t heard from Jax since he personally dropped me off. Papa was getting sicker by the day. He was supposed to have another year at least, but the cancer was way more advanced than he'd let on. The doctors were
n’
t giving him the best prognosis. I just wanted to fucking kill someone. Rage was becoming a part of who I was. My Momma had been taken and now Papa. Not fair at all.

Most days I sat at Pap
a’
s bedside doing what I could for him. Mostly holding his hand or offering him sips of water. The doctors had come in and said it was time for hospice. I cried. So hard. It was the end. The Cancer had taken him and turned him into someone I did
n’
t recognize.
I’
d always seen Papa as a strong man that was always good to me. Always. He loved me within an inch of his life and I loved him. We were two peas in a pod, Momma used to say.

I watch as his skeleton of a body lay there helpless. Oxygen on his nose. He had
n’
t opened his eyes for a while and I was beginning to wonder if he ever would again, when his hand twitched inside of mine shaking me from my eye drift.

“
Isabella
?
” I jumped.

“
Papa? Do you need something
?
” I leaned in close. So close I could hear the gurgling in his breath.

“
You Isabella are the most beautiful princess in all the land. You have exceeded my every hope for you, such a good Sicilian girl
.
” His eyes barely opened. His lips barely parted. Tears began to creep up on me, but I swore I would
n’
t cry in front of Papa. Not now, not ever again. I would be strong for him like h
e’
d always been for me.