"Sapevo chi mi sei sempre piaciuto per un motivo." Nonna remarked laughing after we watched them disappear. (I knew I always liked you for a reason.)
Her comment caused my face to heat up as I watched her laugh in her chair.
"Mamma…" I hear Elizabeth say, laughing along with her. (Mom)
Oh, God. Kill me now.
"Che cosa? Mi piace, è forte." Nonna says, amusing us all.( What? I like her she's strong spirited)
"Più simile a una coscia." Senior says with a small smile, walking back into the room with Anthony following behind him. (More like pigheaded.)
"Alright, enough. Everyone finish eating. We'll take more on the subject after we're all done." Senior says, quickly sitting down.
"Oh...uh. Sir, who does this involve?" The pixie suddenly asks, as the room goes quiet.
"Family only, squirt." He replies before continuing to eat as if nothing happened.
I sat uncomfortably as I watched everyone begin to eat again. Trying to eat along with them even though my stomach churned with every bite.
When we all finished eating, Elizabeth and I quickly helped Nonna and Nonno Masen back to their wing and head back into the kitchen.
Before I can step into the kitchen, Senior walks in beside me. "Ladies." He greets before turning towards me. "Isabetta, posso avere una parola con te?" He asks. (Isabella, can I have a word with you?)
Sulpicia and Esme look at me, giving me an encouraging nod before turning back to their tasks. While Pixie and Blondie look curiously at us.
"Sicuro." I reply following him back towards the office. (Sure.)
All the men are waiting in there as we enter. Senior quickly walks over to the bar in the corner and serves himself a snifter of brandy.
Almost full to the brim.
I don't need to be a psychic to know what is about to happen. I can see it on everyone's face as I stand there.
The tense atmosphere in the large room informs me this gathering is about to get good. We all watch him quietly as he gulps half of the brandy down before looking at us.
I can feel Emmett, Jasper, and Aro stepping closer to me protectively, as we all watch him take gulp after gulp of brandy, wordlessly staring out the massive window.
"I was planning to have only Emmett and Anthony here, but somehow this feels right. In fact, Aro, go get your mother and your wife. Jasper, send Emmett's and your girlfriends home. Have Felix and Zachary drive them." He says.
'Girlfriends? Seems like I've missed more than I thought.' I think to myself, grimacing at the sad thought, as I look over at Emmett and Jasper.
Aro and Jasper leave the room quickly, coming back into the room shortly after, followed by Sulpicia and Elizabeth.
"Tesoro, is something wrong?" Elizabeth asks, as she looks at everyone in the room. (Dear)
"Niente, amore mio, non ti preoccupare." He soothes, offering her his seat. (Nothing, my love, don't worry.)
"Now that we are all here… so l, let's begin. I spoke to Junior earlier. Isabetta, why exactly are you refusing to marry him?" He asks me, point-blank.
Ah, so he's going to put me on the spot? Yeah, that isn't going to be good for any one of them.
"I'll answer in a moment, but before I do, I have a quick question. Jasper… whatever happened to Maria?" I ask, turning to him.
"Oh ...er...we, um, lost interest." He shrugs uncomfortably.
My eyes narrowed at him before I sigh and look away. Without another word to him.
I nod, before turning to my wonderful brother.
"Emmett, what happened to Nettie?" I asked, raising my eyebrow.
"...Erm...uh.. She—we wanted... different things." He answers, looking away.
'He means they wanted to fuck other people while he and Jasper were at work.' I think, shaking my head at him.
"Did any of you know I work with Maria's younger sister, and Nettie's cousin, Lucy?" I asked, watching both their faces drain of all color.
Gotcha.
"B-Bella, you might not want to say…anything here." Emmett warned, his eyes showing flickers of fear in his clear blue eyes.
Ah, so, my suspension was correct. Not many people know about what truly happened.
"Now, now Emmett. You haven't a thing to worry about. I know everything." Senior says. "If you have a point to make, do it now, because I am growing tired. " Senior says.
Crap. I was losing ground. That meant I had to get to the point, soon rather than later.
"I do not wish to marry Edward. You have always treated us as famiglia. You said I am like a daughter to you. If that is so then why do I have to marry him? Why not someone else? Why him?" I ask, tearfully. "Famiglia, does not marry famiglia. It is wrong." I say. (Family.)
My emotions were starting to get to me. That's not good. I do stupid things when I'm emotional.
"Because Carlisle is already engaged, Aro is already married and Jasper does not wish to be Capo." Senior says. "That only leaves Junior." He whispers.
"Isabetta, la mia bella ragazza, è l'unico che ti avrei mai affidato, tesoro." Elizabeth says, before pulling me into a hug. (Isabella, my beautiful girl, he is the only one I would ever entrust with you, sweetheart.)
This is getting to be too much. I need time… possibly air, and space.
"Sorellina, what did he do that made you lose faith in him?" Aro asked concerned, "You two used to be as thick as thieves." He commented. (Little Sister)
"I walked in on him, with Nettie and Maria, a few weeks ago. Then he fucking had the audacity to compare me to them." I finally explained.
"What were they doing?" Senior asks.
"From where I stood, Nettie was in front of him. On her knees. After that, I left." I reveal, looking out the window.
"Dio mio." I hear Elizabeth gasp before she's quickly on her feet. (My God)
We all freeze as Elizabeth quickly moves across the room and backhands Anthony in the face, twice. She hits him so hard, his head turns both ways.
"Hai osato chiamarla puttana quando ti comporti come tale?!" She screams into his face. (You dared call her a whore when you are the one behaving as such?!)
"What is wrong with you?" Senior asks him in disbelief as he pulls Elizabeth off of him.
"What were you doing with Nettie and Maria?" Senior asks, angrily.
"Business. They had a proposition for a club. They provided a marketing statement, charts, and a possible location." Anthony explains, looking at me directly.
"I wouldn't trust the Adrano family. Their uncle was a scam artist, works as a tax accountant, always skims a chunk off the top.." Aro piped in.
'Isn't this business full of those types of people though?' I pointed out mentally.
"Their father is doing time in federal prison for fraud, counterfeiting, kidnapping, federal racketeering. Need we say more?" Jasper adds, looking pale.
"Tell. The. Truth. Anthony. Or should I call you Edward?" I grind out.
I can hear the small gasps from all around the room.
"That is the truth, Bella." He grinds back.
"Enough. This is something your father and I always wanted to happen. Do it, for him." Senior says, looking pleadingly at me.
"My father is dead. He has been for the past six years." I grind out, causing them all to flinch.
"Sorellina, cosa c'è che non va?" Emmett asks. (Sis, what's wrong?)
"Niente." I reply, looking at Senior, who looks bothered. (Nothing.)
"Cosa ci vorrà per dire di si?" He finally asks. "Non c'è modo di aggirarlo." He adds solemnly. (What's it going to take for you to say yes? There is no way around this.)
I growl, clenching my fist to keep from hitting anyone.
"Dale momento che sembra che la tua decisione sia già stata presa, voglio un anno." I reply. (Since it looks like your decision has already been made, I want a year.)
"Un anno di cosa?" He asks. (A year of what?)
"Lontano da tutto. Nessun contatto de parte di nessuno di voi. Nessun obbligo familiare. Nessuno di Cosa Nostra viene vicino a me." I say, unflinching. (Away from everything. No contact from any of you. No familial obligations. No one from Cosa Nostra comes near me.)
Listening to the air come out sharply from everyone in the room, as I stared Senior down.
"Edward, please, you can't do this." Elizabeth pleads.
"Dad no." Anthony says.
I don't break eye contact with Senior as he stares back at me, unflinchingly.
"Belle, vuoi un anno da solo? Ce l'hai Sappi solo che se non torni dopo quell'anno. Vado a trovarti e ti riporto qui. Anche se é calci e urla." He says. (Fine, you want a year by yourself? You've got it. Just know that if you're not back after said year. I'll go find you myself and bring you back here. Even if it's kicking and screaming.)
I was almost bouncing with joy as I heard his response. But I reigned in my joy as I watched his expression.
I couldn't believe it, I was going to be able to see my Nonna and Nonno, and my great Nonna Marie. For a year. That was better than nothing.
"You can't do that!" Anthony yells, shooting out of his seat.
"That's enough out of you, Junior. You may be next in line but I'm still the head of this family, and you still have to do what I say." Senior says, eerily calm.
"No, no. Tesoro, I think he's right. How do we know Isabetta will be back after that one year?" Elizabeth asks, as she looked worriedly at me. (Dear)
'Ouch.' I flinch back at her response.
"Mamma, you forget that this is Bella, she's never lied to us before, what makes you think she would start now?" Aro asks, stunned.(Mom)
Amazing even Aro was vouching for me. They must truly want this as bad as Senior.
"Alright. There's only one way to solve this… you two should get engaged before she leaves." Senior says turning to look at Anthony.
"No. Absolutely not." I say, shaking my head at them. "I gave you my word. I don't lie. Never have, and never will. Now, if you'll excuse me. I have a few phone calls to make before I leave. Addio." I say turning to leave. (Goodbye.)
I quickly walked to the closet, grabbed my coat and slipped it on.
Felix was just walking through the door as I was heading out.
"Felix, would you mind taking me home?" I ask.
He looks back towards someone before nodding in response. "Of course, Miss.Bella." He says before disappearing.
"Bella. Bella, please. We need to talk." I hear behind me.
'He doesn't give up does he?' I wonder, sighing as I slowly turn and look up.
That's right he's taller than I am, so much so it's almost comical. He is way taller than me. Comparing his six foot four to my five foot two and a half. You can say I am hilariously dwarfed. Even with three, or four heels on my feet.
"Bene. Let's talk, Anthony. Or what is it you wish me to call you now that I know." I say, in a scathing tone. (Alright.)
"I want you to keep calling me Anthony." He says, after a moment of thought.
I almost want to shake my head in disappointment as I stare at him.
"Why is that, isn't Edward your God given name?" I asked, stepping back to look at him without getting a cork in my neck.
"Because you're my Isabetta. You always will be just like I am your Anthony." He says.
"That's not what you said while you were with those two puttane, last week. Especially after one of them had her tongue shoved down your throat, while the other was on her knees in front of you trying to suck you off." I snip, narrowing my eyes at him.(whores)
I watch as he flinches in response to my words.
"I need to explain something about what happened that day…" he says.
"Mm…and that would be?" I ask, look down at my watch.
"I want to apologize for my behavior that day…" he began.
"Whatever was happening to you that day wasn't reason enough for you to take it out on me." I point out.
"Look, I apologize for calling you a whore…you're completely right about that. Now can you please stop acting like I am some stranger to you?" he asks.
"I'm not acting, Edward. I'm not acting, Edward. You really have become a stranger to me. You've changed, lied to me. So did your brother, Jasper." I say.
Noticing them all standing right there, watching as we talk.
Jasper flinching in response to my words, and color draining from his face as he realized I knew the truth.
"We only did it to protect you." He responds.
To protect me? How is lying to someone protecting them? That just doesn't make sense.
"By not telling me the truth you've only managed to hurt me and make me doubt everything you have ever told me." I replied, softly.
He looked around the room desperately, before sighing.
"We've known each other for a long time. You're one of my best friends. I would do everything to protect you, you know that." He says, pained.
"Yes, and that's why I've been hurt. Because you did everything but tell me the truth. Now, I have to go now. It's getting late, and I have a lot of things to get done before the weekend starts." I say, as I turned away.
"Fine, just remember the promises we made to each other when you were seventeen." He says.
I'm almost at the door when I hear him mention the oaths we took six years ago, my mind automatically falling into the memory as he says it.
Memory:
"Come on, Is. I promise I'll be safe." He whispers, as I ignore him and turn to look out the window.
"Fine, go. Just leave me alone." I mutter back.
He scoffs before moving away from me, causing my eyes to tear up as I listened to him go.
His voice startled me, causing me to turn to look at him. Confused.
"I thought you left." I whispered confusedly.
"Not yet." He replied as he cleared the small table by my bookshelf.
"Why?" I asked, walking over to him.
"Because of this." He explained gesturing towards the surface.
"My table?" I asked, frowning confused.
"No, look, I know you're worried about
me getting hurt. But this is something I need to do. I can't stop it from happening. So, I'll make you an oath." He says, as he pulls out his swiss army knife and picks up a small bowl.
I gasp, moving a step back in surprise as the shiny blade pops out, "Anthony, what are you doing?" I ask, wide-eyed.
"I am reassuring you that I will be fine. I'm making you an oath. A promise. We are both going to cut ourselves, and hold hands while we make the oath. That way, no matter what, I'll always be safe, and so will you." He explained.
"Cut my— No, I can't do that." I say, feeling cold sweat form on my neck.
Ignoring the disgust I feel as I think of the blood.
"Why not?" He asked me, frowning.
"Because, Anthony, don't you see? Promises are broken all the time. Who is to say you'll keep this promise?" I asked. "Besides this looks more like some voodoo shit." I snipped watching as he cracked a smile.
"Isa, it's just a small cut, I promise nothing bad will happen. Will you do it?" He asked, pleadingly.
I debate for a moment before I look into his eyes.
He seems determined to make me feel better, and that helps me decide.
So, I nod in response, my hand extending towards the knife.
I slowly extend my left hand, and drag the sharp blade across my palm.
Feeling as my skin parts once it has been touched by the sharp blade .
Hot blood quickly begins to spill from my hand.
Anthony swipes the blade across his left palm as well. Before he connects it to mine, holding our connected hands above the bowl.
" Just say whatever comes to your mind, alright. I'll go first." he softly says.
"Isabetta Marie. I promise to appreciate you and everything you do for me." He whispers, giving me a tender smile.
"Anthony Masen, I promise to listen without interrupting when you need me to." I whisper back, causing him to chuckle.
"Isabetta Marie, I promise to never take you for granted, or to at least do it less often."
"Anthony Masen, I promise to be your secret keeper forever."
"Isabetta Marie, I promise to make you smile and laugh after you've had a long week."
"Anthony Masen, I promise to let you be the kid I know you're at heart...most of the time." I say as we laugh.
"Isabetta Marie, I promise to make up after every fight we had— big or small."
"Anthony Masen, I promise to be understanding towards you, even if you get me mad."
"Isabetta Marie, I promise to always protect you from everything and anyone.."
"Anthony Masen, I promise to never turn my back on you, even when the world is against you."
"Isabetta Marie/Anthony Masen I promise to keep surprising you."
We stared at each other silently, before cleaning and wrapping our hands with gauze.
Then he left.
"Be safe" I whispered, before turning to look out the window, watching as they left.
"You broke your promises long ago, so it's all for naught. Now if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere else I need to be." I say, shaking my head from the memory as I walk out of the door, and to the waiting car.
I don't turn around to see the massive mansion disappear behind us.