Chapter 34

Earlier

Isabella

“Mom,” I said, answering my phone and closing the office door. I walked back to my desk. “I tried to call you last night.” I sat in the white leather chair.

Her sobs came through the phone.

“I can’t understand what you’re saying.” Panic rose within me. “Are you hurt?” I stood, gripping my phone tighter. “Is it Noemi? Tony?”

“Isabella…” She struggled for breath. “Dario wants to do…He’s a vile, awful man…. He wants your father to…” She continued to struggle. “It’s awful.”

Letting out a long breath, I sat back in my chair. “It’s not terrible.”

“I needed to let you know that Catalina’s brother asked for your hand. It’s unfathomable. I want to plead directly to the capo, but your father won’t allow it. He says this is men’s dealings. I don’t know what kind of deal they made, but Isabella, I will not sleep until we have you back where you belong.”

I looked around Mia’s office. “I think I’ve found where I belong.”

“Here with your family, with your sister and brother—that’s where you belong. I haven’t told them. Poor Noemi. She was happy to hear you were coming home early. And…” She gasped. “Tony will be heartbroken. Izzy, I’m heartbroken. Never did I imagine. Honey, I’m so sorry we agreed to send you out there among those horrible people—”

“They’re not horrible. They’re not anything like you and Papà assume. You were both wrong.”

“Catalina’s brother…”

“His name is Emiliano.” I held my breath. “Has the capo made a decision?” Tension seized my body, making the space-time continuum slow. As I waited for a response, it was as if the second hand on the clock refused to tick.

“He gave his permission.”

Tears of relief flooded my eyes, streaming down my cheeks. “That’s wonderful.”

“No. The opposite of wonderful. What is wrong with you, Izzy. I think that somehow, they brainwashed you. I don’t know how Arianna can handle both her boys and her daughter being married into that family, but it’s going to stop.”

Boys?

The capo dei capi and his consigliere.

Sure, Mom, boys.

Mia was the happiest I could remember.

I shook my head.

“I don’t want it to stop, Mom. I want to marry Em. I’m in love with him.”

Mom gasped. “Isabella, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you’re too young to know what love is. You’re simply infatuated. He’s an older man who is paying attention to you. You’re enchanted by the idea of love. You know nothing about the reality of marriage.”

My neck stiffened. “I’m not going to argue my age. I will ask you to remember how old you were when you and Papà married.”

“That’s irrelevant. Things have changed.”

“Did Papà propose?” I asked.

“Your grandfather Vincent spoke to my father.”

I repeated the question.

“We had a family dinner where Carmine presented me with an engagement ring. Tradition.”

“Em asked me. He got down on one knee and asked me.” When Mom didn’t respond, I went on. “There wasn’t a ring because we both knew we needed Dario’s and el Patrόn’s approval.”

“He asked you?” she said quietly.

“He did. And I accepted.” 

“That’s not your choice.”

“Why? Didn’t you say things have changed?”

“Your father barely tolerates Catalina. We’ve never invited the capo and his wife to our home. You can’t marry this…Emiliano.”

“Why, Mom?” My voice got louder. “Are you saying that if I do marry Em, my husband will not be welcome in my childhood home, or are you saying that neither of us will be? Because if you or Papà bans Em, you’re also banning me.”

The crying on the other end of the call began again. “I don’t want to lose my daughter.”

“It’s rather simple. Welcome my husband and you still have me as a daughter. That also goes for his sisters and parents.”

“Do you realize what you’re doing to us?”

“What am I doing to you?”

“You’re beautiful, Isabella, a true treasure. Your father has entered into discussions with the Esposito famiglia in St. Louis. They’re very respected.”

I shook my head. “I don’t know them.”

“Yes, dear, you met them when we went to St. Louis for the wedding of their capo dei capi’s daughter, Emilia. Francesco Ricci is the Esposito famiglia consigliere. You and his son Aldo were friendly.”

That was who Papà mentioned. I recalled the wedding. “I was nine.”

“You’re eighteen now. He never forgot you.”

Inhaling, I decided to put a stop to this conversation. “I forgot him.”

“Do you realize what it would do for your father to be connected to the Esposito famiglia? It would give him clout—leverage over the capo.”

My mouth fell open. “Seriously, my marriage to a man I don’t know would be better for Papà. If we have Dario’s approval, Em and I are getting married.”

“Fine,” she pacified. “Honey, it will take months for me to plan a wedding—maybe we should think Christmas or better yet springtime in the Ozarks. Yes, that time of the year, Arianna’s place would be beautiful.”

Seriously, it was early September.

She went on, “We must consider the guest list. Remember the tension at Dario and Catalina’s ceremony?”

“I don’t want to wait months. I also don’t need a big wedding to outdo Aunt Arianna.” I had an idea. “If we chose to marry out here in San Diego, will you come?”

“Izzy,” she cried.

“The choice will be yours. Do you want me as a daughter or not?” I hit the red icon and tossed my phone on the desk. My attention quickly went to a knock on the door.

I’d told everyone my door would be open.

A quick look at the bottom of the monitor told me it was time to head to Mia’s. I rubbed my temples. After that conversation, I could use not only Mia’s advice but a few laps in her pool.

“Come in.”

The door opened. “Miss Izzy,” Horace said as he entered. “May we talk?”

My smile blossomed at the news my mother had shared. “Horace, el Patrόn and the capo have both approved of Em and I being married.”

His eyes opened wide. “The lieutenant…I didn’t realize.” Pressing his lips together, he nodded. “That makes sense.”

“It’s quick, but that doesn’t mean it’s not real.”

“Congratulations, Miss Izzy.”

I stood and pulled the desk drawer out to retrieve my purse. “I can’t wait to tell Mia—unless she already knows. And Em.” I continued that thought. “He can’t know. If he did, he would have called me.” I picked up my phone to see if I’d missed his call.

No calls from him.

“Maybe he doesn’t know.” I met Horace’s gaze. “I’m going to call him.”

“No, please don’t call him.”

The joy of a second ago evaporated with the tone of his voice. “Why? Don’t scare me.”