Chapter Three

DOMINIC POV

“Miss Isabella Mariano” I whisper looking down at the picture of her on my table, the smell of cigars and cinnamon thick in the air.

“Sir, your next appointment is here” My assistant walks into the room slightly, a brow lifted.

“Send him in” I smirk pulling the cigar to my lips, the door pulls open and an older man walks in

His face is heavily wrinkled, sweat drops down his face and he looks to be physically drenched in sweat, shaking slightly as he enters the room.

“Mr Deluca, you sent for me” he gulps turning his eyes to me

I grip the picture of his daughter, throwing it across the table, the piece of paper lands right in front of him and he looks down in shock.

“Bella?” he gulps turning his fear-stricken eyes to me.

“You have to repay your debts today Mr Mariano, and I know the perfect way you can do that,” I say, my deep voice filling the room

He shakily picks up the picture, turning his eyes to me, “Mr. Deluca, please” he starts to beg

“I will be marrying your daughter in exchange for saving your company from bankruptcy, and even repaying all your debts for you,” I say simply watching him.

I had been watching him for weeks now, with my money which he owes me not in sight, I knew this would be the only way to repay the debt.

After all, I have been in search of a wife I can control and do as I say for a while now, especially after my meeting with the other Mafia Heads concerning me not being married yet, what's better than a woman whose father's life I will spare in exchange for hers?

In fact, seeing her last night at the club was totally coincidental but I saw it as a sign and it solidified my decision to make her my wife.

I don't care for his tears, my fingers slide over the red button on my table, and two men burst through the doors

“Send Mr Mariano a message here, I don’t want too much noise,” I say simply standing up and walking past them.

They don’t waste time as they descend on him.

ISABELLA POV

“Urgh” I frown running my head as my door is pulled open 

“Wake up! It is a new day” my mom yells out pulling open the curtains 

“Not now please” I moan out in annoyance, turning my eyes to the sun pouring into my room.

My eyes land on my mother, blonde hair in a bob cut and brown eyes twinkling under the sun, “Don’t you have to be at your boutique?” I grunt out in annoyance sitting up

“Yes, but today is your first day at work, you have to be there early and make your father proud” she smiles widely pulling the duvet from around my legs

I turn my eyes to my alarm, “7:23” I call out in shock, “How did you let me sleep in this late!!” I yell out immediately jumping from the bed in a rush

“You came back delirious and drunk last night from your birthday celebration, I thought you would want to sleep in for a few more minutes” she shrugs walking towards the couch.

“Tea?” she yells from the bedroom while I take the fastest bath known to man.

“No Mom, I will be late, I will eat at the office!” I yell back at her jumping out of the shower, I throw on a robe running past her to my closet.

“Don't bother, I got something ready for you already” she says, pulling me out from the closet.

She points to the bed where a red and white office-cut dress is situated.

“Oh thank you so much mama” I leave a kiss on her cheek, heading straight to the sink to style my hair and makeup.

I quickly finish up, pulling on the dress, my eyes landing on the heels at the bottom of the bed and my mom is long gone from my bedroom.

I grab my bag quickly heading downstairs where my mother has a sunken expression on her face, her fingers gripping her phone tightly in her hand.

“Mom?” I call out confused, I turn my eyes around the foyer expecting to see my younger brother Matteo but I guess he left for school already

“Mom? What's the matter? Are you okay?” I call out moving closer to her, my voice cracks as I hold onto her shoulder 

“We have to go to the hospital,” she says with a gulp, her eyes filled with tears as they turn to me.

“Your father has been hospitalized,” she says with a deep frown.

The ride to the hospital is filled with tension, I bit on my fingernails, confused over the phone call my mother received.

My father had come into the hospital severely beaten and calling for his family immediately, specifically me

The car comes to a harsh stop, and my mother is out of the door before I can say anything.

The air is filled with gripping tension and the chemical smell filters into my nose as soon as we enter the hospital.

“Mr Mariano,” I say immediately at the reception.

Her eyes pop open, a knowing expression on her face, ”Room 102” she says nodding at the far end of the hallway.

I nod and we rush in that direction, my mom push the doors open, and his eyes widen in shock, tears immediately filling her eyes and mine.

“Oh my God” I whisper seeing the amount of bandages and bruises on his old form.

“Who did this to you!” my mother cries out immediately running to his side

His eyes barely open, but his heart rate increases as he sets his eyes on me, making the sounds in the room turn into a frenzy.

“Dad, who did this to you?” I cry out, a deep frown on my face.

“Bella, I’m so sorry,” he says his eyes filled with tears as he coughs out.

He gulps, wiping on the side of his lip, and the room plunged into silence, His voice trembles as he whispers in the cool room, “You are the only way to save us, my Bella, you have to marry him”

“I don't understand, get married? Get married to who?”

My shaking voice fills the room, my face scrunching in confusion 

Tears stream down his face as he chokes out the words, “I have made a terrible mistake, Bella” he shakes his head in pain, “I owe him everything, and if you dont marry him…the company, our home, our entire reputation will be destroyed”

“Marry who Dad?, who do I have to marry?” I almost yell out, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Dominic Deluca” he coughs, placing the room into tense silence, tears sliding from the side of his eye.