2- Isabella

~Present Day~

 

“Neonata (Baby Girl)” calls a voice. At the sound of the voice I can’t help but turn, only to notice that it was my father. “Yes Papa?” I ask as I move to sit up from my spot within the lounge chair as I had been reading a book within the library.

 

My eyes now on those of my father, his hair disheveled. His once tailored suit now wrinkled as if he had been dreading something for a while before finally making up his mind to tell me.

 

“There’s something I would like to discuss with you, but your mother has asked that she be included as well” admits father.

 

“Mama? Is everything okay?” I ask, silently hoping that everything was, for papa had rarely ever gotten flustered let alone worried as he was a successful businessman and small time mafia leader. Papa making his living by being top dog and it was how we were able to afford the kind of life we had.

 

“I’m afraid it's not Principessa (Princess)” voiced father. His facial expression grim as he motioned for me to follow. Frowning I do as I’m told, setting the book aside before moving to follow. My father soon leading me back towards his studies. A place I’ve only ever been to once and that was because I had gotten into trouble at school because someone tried to pick a fight with me.

 

When entering his studies, I can’t help but notice mother who was currently sitting in a chair next to his desk. Her dress a little wrinkled as if she had been scrunching the fabric with her hands. “Mama” I called, catching her attention as I did. “Is everything okay?”

 

“No my sweet little tesoro (Treasure)” cries mother. Once fully within the room does father move to take a seat behind his desk. His hand now gesturing to the last empty seat, a seat in which I take.

 

“Okay… What’s going on then,” I ask, now suddenly nervous.

 

Sighing, my father moves to speak. “Sweetheart, there’s something you should know. Over the past 5 years my company and I have been struggling, struggling with the amount of debt that has been piling up.”

 

“What? How is that possible? Your successful Papa, no one could fail like that” I stammer. “There’s just no way that you could have gone that far into debt.”

 

“Believe me, I wouldn’t be saying this if it weren’t true” admits father, his gray blue eyes moving towards mine. “Unfortunately, my company is on the verge of bankruptcy and all because my investors decided to do some shady business with other people.”

 

“What kind of business? And how does this affect me?” I ask.

 

“You remember me telling you about the Salvatore and the Manocchino’s right?” asks father. Nodding, I wait to listen as no one dared to go against 2 of the most hated Mafia families known to man. Not even the police could stand against them.

 

“Well according to my intel, my investors have been working with them for the past 5 years while selling all of my important information to them. Information that could make or break my company. So out of desperation I reached out to the D’Amico family” says father, sighing as he did.

 

“Th-The D’Amico” I ask, my breath shaking at the thought of the top Mafia family in all of America. “Why?” panicking, I move to stand, slowly realizing what my father had done. “How could you?”

 

“I’m sorry, I was desperate to save my company, desperate to help my family. Now I’m in debt to them and they're now asking for payment” whispers father. His eyes moving towards the top of his desk before speaking. Choosing his next words carefully.

 

“What’s the payment? Money? Odd jobs? What?” I cry, not wanting him to sugar coat anything after learning that my family was basically poor.