Caught Eavesdropping

Isabella's point of view

I haven’t slept, I was awake all night because I couldn’t give in to sleep. It was like every sound in the mansion now felt louder, I’ve been at alert since I found out the bit of the truth Diego told. I heard the footsteps of Eliz loud and clear, before she came to knock this morning, I didn’t reply her, she left when she didn’t get a response.

My husband Diego De’ Luca, capo of the mafia.

A loud knock broke into my thoughts, I just stared at the door with no plans to move or respond. The door opened and Diego stepped in, he was dressed in a black shirt different from the one he wore yesterday, he seems to like the color black, perhaps black is his favorite color. The sleeves are rolled up and the first three buttons undone like the last time. A gun holster was visibly hanged on his pants.

“Morning,” he said, in a voice obviously rough from lack sleep. I stared at him and then at the gun.

“Eliz said you haven’t eaten breakfast and you’ve not been responding to her.” he added staring straight at me.

“I am not hungry,” I replied, looking away.

“Well, if you say so.” He said, moving close to me.

“Don’t wander around the hall ways at night, there are places in this mansion you don’t want to be seen.”

“Am I going to remain in doors forever?” I asked.

“Why? You have an escape plan?”

I scoffed, he really plans to keep me indoors forever.

“So you won’t let me step out of this mansion, because of your….. business?”

He didn’t answer, he just stared at me. He sat on the bed to brush a loose strand of hair from my face.

“Because there are men out there who would see you as leverage, my enemies out there won’t take it easy with you, trust me they won’t kill you, there are many ways people of my kind hurt women, evil ways, very dark and dramatic and all you will wish for his death.”

The seriousness in his tone sent a shiver down my spine, I should be angry, in fact I was angry, but my emotions betrayed me, I knew he was saying the truth.

“I protect whatever I own, you belon…”

“Stop,” I caught him off.

“Whatever you own? I’m not a property.” I said quietly.

“Then stop looking at me like you desperately want to understand what you married,” he shot back loudly.

The pin drop silence stretched, none of us moved or said a word for a moment. The buzz of his phone broke the silence, I watched him respond in Italian, he spoke so fast as if he just swallowed hot yam. Shipments, betrayal, north docks are the only words I could get from the phone conversation.

His jaw tightened as the call ended, he looked very worried. He began to rub his forehead with his thumb.

“What happened?” I asked. He raised his head to look at me, he paused as if he was debating whether it’s okay to trust me or not.

“One of my men went missing last night.” He finally said.

“Missing?”

“But why are you not making any move, you should try gathering a search party or something.”

His eyes met mine and I could see the sadness in it.

“In my world, that word only had one meaning.”

A chill ran through me as the realization of what he meant hit me. The cold hands of death.

“I have to go,” he said getting up. “I have a feeling you will still disobey me even if I tell you to remain inside your room, I know you’re damn too stubborn.”

“Don’t talk to anyone, not even the guards. Eliz is the only one you’re permitted to talk to, I will introduce you to the familia at the right time. As for now don’t wander around the hallway.” He said with an air of finality, he left before I could say a word. The door closed, shutting off whatever I wanted to say to him.

*****

Despite his warnings, I still wandered downstairs.

“You shouldn’t be here mistress.” I heard Eliz’s voice behind me.

“Please go back to your room.” She warned, her eyes darting around the hallway and back to me.

“Why?” I asked.

“What’s going…” I paused as I heard voices coming down the hallway.

“I heard she is a Ford.” One of them said, “I can’t believe master is married to that bastard’s daughter, do you think boss trusts her?”

“Of course not, boss is just keeping her here to keep her father from crossing the line again. That bastard is so greedy for power.” Another replied, I gasped in disbelief.

The men appeared before I could turn back. They froze, I didn’t fail to catch the look of surprise.

“Oh well, speak of the devil, isn’t this the Ford girl. Your father has been causing chaos and we have been running around trying to resolve it.” He said with a wide grin that didn’t even reach his eyes. His tone was mocking, and that irritated me.

“I hope you’re different from your father, too bad the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

“You don’t want to know what happens to people who break family rules, you’re too pretty to go through such painful ordeals.”

“I….. I didn’t mean to…… to…. listen….”

“Oh wow, and curiosity killed the little thing.” He said, stepping closer to me.

Suddenly a shadow appeared behind him.

“Lay a single hand on her, I swear on my father’s grave I’ll cut off your hands.” The man froze immediately.

Diego’s expression remained the same as he spoke.

“Apologize,” he said gently but still dangerous at the same time, how he managed to pull both is something I don’t understand.

“Sorry boss,” the man said,

“Oh, not to me.”

The man turned to me. “I’m so sorry, Mrs De Luca. I went too far, it’s just… just.. just. I hope you get to understand my actions in future.”

“Get out of my sight,” Diego snapped, he didn’t look away until they were gone. Then he slowly turned to me.

“You should thank Eliz who came to get me.” I turned around but Eliz was no where to be found, she probably sneaked to get Diego when things were getting intense.

“I thought I told you to stay upstairs.”

“I heard them talking about my father,” I replied, my voice trembling.

“What tie does my father have with the mafia world?” I asked, trying to calm myself from overreacting.

He ran his hand through his hair, exhaling slowly.

“Seems like you’ve heard some certain things you shouldn’t have heard.”

“Everything I heard must be true then.”

“Your father was involved with people he shouldn’t be with, from there he keeps getting involved with things he shouldn’t touch.”

“My men hate your father, it’s understandable if they hate anyone relating to the Fords. But they know not to touch you because you are my wife.”

“Trust me Isabella, keeping you here will keep you safe, I don’t care if you believe me or not.”

“Did I just hear you say Safe?”

“I am trapped here, Diego!” I exclaimed, trying to fight back tears.

“Trapped is better than being buried.” He replied.

“Next time you disobey me, there will be punishments” he added, leaving me alone to think about my life.