Bella (A Sagatori family saga-A Mafia Romance Book 6) (4 page)

“Huh?”

“Yeah, it’s been a few days.”

I jumped to my feet. “What?” I panicked, quickly regretting it as I had to pee. The baby was probably starved and jumping on my bladder seemed the likely retaliation.

I quickly made my way to the guest bathroom closing the newly fixed door, barely making it to get my business completed. I emerged from the bathroom once again feeling refreshed. I stretched smelling something amazing in the air.

Dominic followed on my heels as I crossed the penthouse laughing under his breath. The kitchen filled with the most glorious aroma I’d ever smelled in my entire life.

As I padded deeper into the kitchen, I saw Alessandra working. “What are you cooking?” I leaned in filling my nose.

She jumped letting an Italian curse word escape. “Isabella! You’ll give this old woman a heart attack.”

Dominic joined Tony at the table while I leaned in on the fresh croissants. “Wow, they smell amazing!” I grinned.

“My dear, you must be starving half to death.” She reached into the cabinet presenting a small plate. I’d started eating the warm croissant before the plate clanked against the countertop. “Well, I see I was right.”

“Sorry,” I said with a large bite stuffed inside of my mouth.

“I’ll make you a full breakfast.” She raised a finger hurrying through the kitchen finding eggs then bacon inside the fridge.

I turned toward Tony and Dominic. “Where is Jax?” Clearly by sleeping as much as I had I’d been exhausted, but now I was fully rested. I wanted to know where my husband was.

“Check your phone,” Sal said as he entered the kitchen catching everyone’s attention.

I quickly padded through the apartment ascending the stairs to my room. I searched the floor for my bag seeing that it was no longer there. I searched across the room finding it lay on the chair near the large window. Alessandra had clearly been in here cleaning up.

I reached inside pulling my phone into my palm. Fourteen missed calls and twenty-two texts.

Emily had called three times and Jax eleven. I began searching through the texts seeing Jax had asked me to call him over and over. I nervously stared at the phone not knowing why I feared whatever it was he would say.

I pressed the call button holding the cold phone to my ear.

“Bella.” Jax answered almost immediately.

I breathed feeling my heart flutter inside my chest. “Hey.” My voice cracked.

Silence filled the phone.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. No—I’m not fine.” I heard a familiar song in the background taking me from what I was admitting. “Is that Madam Butterfly?”

“Yes.” Just as he spoke the voice lifted an octave followed with the orchestra.

Neither of us spoke as the song played.

“Jax, I need you to come home. I need you to come home now.” I fought every emotion I’d been without three days ago.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can be.” He was usually vague with those responses, our phones were likely tapped.

“There’s a lot that needs to be said.”

“Bella—” I could hear a loud noise—a car motor— in the background. “—I’m not going into this.” His voice muffled into the phone.

“When you’re home?”

A rustling noise came from Jax’s end of the call. “No.” He became silent. “I’ve gotta go, I’ll call later.” He disconnected the call without a goodbye or I love you.

“Bye…” I stared at the phone I gripped in between my fingers.

I tossed the phone back into my bag and headed into the kitchen. I was starved and knew Alessandra had been making breakfast. I’d deal with Jax after my energy was up and I’d gotten a shower.

Jax

The metal door clicked as I entered seeing Rebecca. She was fried from Victor’s persuasive techniques. Her blonde hair stuck against her sweaty face while her head rested against the chair.

Victor had been in and out of the room for three days trying to get what he could from her. He stood from a small metal chair moments after I’d entered.

Slipping his round glasses from his face he approached. “Got a lot in that pretty little head of hers.” He nodded toward Rebecca. I waited for him to continue. He cleared his throat as he began, “Two Russians approached her days before her car exploded. Told her she was in danger, showed proof.”

“Proof?” I rubbed at my clenched my jaw.

“Said they had audio.” His brows rose as he eyed me.

“And?” I crossed my arms leaning on the wall.

He reached for a yellow rope twisting it over his hand. “After they showed her their
proof,
she agreed to go with them. She’s been with them since.”

I squinted my brows. “She said she was working for Bella’s father.”

“Nah, I don’t think that meant anything. She never did give in on that one.”

“She just made that shit up?”

His brows rose as he turned to her. “Trust me, if there were anything there she would’ve given it up. The real question is why she’s here now.” He twisted the rope between his fingers looking up to me again. “But you know that already, don’t you?”

No one knew of the secret I shared with Anthony Sagatori on his deathbed. And no one had known before him, no one but Bella’s actual father—the Russian president. He had contacted Anthony shortly before his assassination. He’d hoped Bella would be safe within the Italian family. He’d figured the men that wanted him dead would never look for her there and since Bella’s mother who’d died giving birth to her was Italian, he assumed she’d easily pass as Anthony’s child.

“I have no fucking clue.”

“If you say so.” Victor’s presence was always a quiet one, but if you knew him at all, you’d see that right then he didn’t believe my bullshit. But he didn’t need too, no one did.

“I do say so.”

He shrugged. “Okay, but—”

“But what?”

He shook his head then skimmed his hand through his dark messy hair. “Jax, I think you got a bigger problem here. I think they’ve been using her, and now—” he squinted, “—here she is.” He jerked his head toward Becca. “And here you are workin’ her up just like they’d had to of known you would, all while—” he stopped mid-sentence, “—whatever it is they want from you they just might be getting it.”

Thoughts, visions— whatever the fuck they were— flashed one after the other. They sent Becca here and— “And Bella!” I had never in my life felt my heart fall like it did when I realized what why she was here. If they’d wanted her alive, they wouldn’t have sent her here. Likely, killing her, is exactly what they thought I’d do. But that would take me from Bella. The fact that I’d been here for days without her had me at a disadvantage.

“Jax?” Victor asked as I hurried into my pocket for my phone.

“Get my plane fueled. I want to fly out as soon as I get there.” I didn’t even wait for a response before disconnecting the call.

I watched as Becca lay her head back unconscious. Anger seethed through me, and before I realized it I’d grabbed onto her blonde hair. “What the fuck are you really doing here, Rebecca?” I screamed into her face.

She blinked rapidly as she woke. “Let go of me!” she yelled through her clamped teeth.

I kneeled down facing her. “What. The. Fuck. Are. You. Really. Doing. Here?”

Her make-up smeared face bent into darkness. The corners of her dark eyes lifted just as the corners of her smeared lips rose with sadistic satisfaction. “To hurt you.”

My fingers pressed against the warm flesh of her neck feeling her carotid artery pulse against the pads of my fingers. “How did you think this was gonna go?” The whites of her eyes reddened as my fingers tightened one by one. “You thought I’d let you hurt me?” A strangled gurgle came from her throat as she shook her head. “You think I’d let anyone touch what belongs to me?” Her eyes filled with the color of blood.

“Jax, can’t get anything if she’s dead.” I closed my eyes and held my breath as I released my fingers.

She coughed and chocked as a tear slid down her cheek. “It was never up to you or I. This world is a twisted bitch, Jax, and in the end we all die, even your precious Bella.”

My eyes locked on hers. “My Bella? What are you talking about?” My jaw tightened.

Her eyes narrowed with anger. “No, Jax, not your Bella, not anymore.”

I stood there, focusing on the thump of her heart, rise and fall of her chest as the breath gushed from her lungs, the back and forth her eyes gave as she wondered what I would do to her. “Not my Bella? Not anymore? Why the fuck are you speaking in cryptic code?”

Her lungs filled with a harsh breath. “If you’re asking me this question, you’ve already lost her.”

“What do you know?”

Another smirk swept her mouth. “I know if you have to get information from me to save your sweet Bella you’re as pathetic as I remember.” I wanted to snap her neck, and as badly as my hands wanted to curl around her throat I couldn’t do it—

I turned my attention toward Victor. “Stay with her.” I nodded. “I’ll call you.” I pulled the door open to leave.

The plane would be ready to take off by the time I got there, but I needed to call Sal. He was the one I went to about Bella’s protection. Ultimately, if Dominic and Tony fucked up, Sal fucked up.

I pulled out my burner phone to call Sal. He let the phone ring four times before he finally answered. “Do not make me wait four fucking rings again.”

“Sorry, boss.”

“Where’s Bella?”

“Taking a bath.”

“Got some serious shit going on right now. I want all hands on deck.”

“Yes, sir.”

“The plane is leaving as soon as I get to the airport, and I’ll be in Chicago in a few hours.”

“Anything you need me to do?”

“Yeah, protect my wife with your mother fucking life. That’s all I need you to do.” I jogged up the stairs from the basement. “Dominic and Tony stay with her every second, and you make sure there isn’t a threat coming at her.”

“Got it.” Why the fuck did I have to go over his job description.

I sighed. “They’re probably already close, and I have no fucking clue what they want.”

“Boss?”

“The fucking Russians.”

“Got it.”

“I’ll fucking end you if anything happens to her.”

“Boss, with all due respect, I’ve known Bella since we were kids, and I love her, too.”

I closed my eyes tight. “I’m fucking bettin’ on that.” I disconnected the call and slipped the phone into my jacket.

When I reached the kitchen, Dwight was sitting at the table. “We gotta go.”

He followed me to the office as I scrambled to get my important shit packed up, nothing incriminating just some things I needed. One thing of which was a picture of Bella I took everywhere I went. Most of the time she wasn’t with me, but I liked keeping her close. “Boss what’s going on?”

“That fucking bitch implied Bella’s in trouble.”

I knew why and I needed to do everything in my power to stop it.

Bella

“You didn’t even get to visit.” Emily sobbed into the phone.

“Hey, we’ll see each other soon.”

“Yes, baby shower!” she said cheerfully into the phone then made a chocking sound.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I just got excited and choked on my mocha.”

“Coffee? Since when do you drink coffee?”

“I haven’t been sleeping very well, and this new job is kickin’ my freakin’ ass. I’m thinking’ ‘bout putting a hit on this jackass I work for.”

“Emily! Don’t say shit like that!” I scolded her. She’s always been so reckless with her choice of words.

“I’m kidding, chill!” She yawned. “But seriously, when are you coming to see me?”

I wasn’t going to, and I knew it. So I smiled and gave a fake reassuring lie. “Soon, I promise.”

“Good! Now that’s all settled, tell me what that sexy beast is up to?”

“What sexy beast?” I laughed feigning ignorance.

“Tony, what’s he up to?”

I shrugged. “Eating everything in the apartment. Geez, poor Alessandra has to shop every day to keep these guys fed.”

“Awe how is she? She is the sweetest.”

“I know; I love her so much. She’s good though, just keeping busy. I think she’d probably go stir crazy if she wasn’t constantly busy with something.”

“Yeah, I wish I could be there all the time with you guys. It sucks so badly here. The girls are always too busy to hang out. Mom and Dad have firmly stuck themselves into every facet of my life.”

I laughed. “Oh it can’t be that bad.”

“Seriously? I was shaving my legs two nights ago and my freakin’ father let himself into my apartment. It’s bad, Bella.”

I stifled a laugh. “That is kinda bad.”

“He said he heard there was a mugging two streets over so, of course, he thought the mugger went straight to my house to kill me.”

I laughed again. “Oh, God.”

“Seriously girl, you have no idea how overprotective he is, it’s borderline stalker.”

“I kinda do know what that feels like.”

“Oh yeah, sorry, forgot you were married to
him.”

“Yeah,” I laughed again. “Can’t you come for a visit?”

“Wish I could, but the new boss insists I give him a month notice to take off of work.”

“Come this weekend. I’ll send the plane for you. Maybe you can catch a ride with Jax if he comes home then.”

“He’s not there?”

“Nope, he’s in Detroit.”

I held the phone from my ear as Emily yelled at another driver. “That bastard just cut me off.”

A knock at the door had me up from the chair next to the window to answer. Tony and Sal were on the other side holding panicked expressions. “Hang up.”

“I gotta go.”

“Okay, I love you.”

“Love you.” I disconnected the call as they entered. “What’s going on?”

“The boss called, said we needed to keep a close eye on you,” Sal said while he walked toward the bedroom window peeking through the curtain.

“This looks like something serious is going on.”

“Yeah,” Sal answered still peeking out. “Stay away from the windows, don’t answer the door… the usual.”

“Okay, where is Jax?”

“On his way.”

“Must be really big if he’s coming all the way home.” I rolled my eyes as I entered the closet turning the light on. I reached for a pair of yoga pants and tank top. I needed to work on my breathing and stretching. Sal and Tony stood outside the closet as I exited, and I lifted my clothes signaling them to leave.

“Sorry, Bella, Tony stays with you.”

I opened my mouth in shock. “I need to change,” I huffed.

Tony pointed to the closet. “Change in there and I’ll wait here.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. He doesn’t leave your side.”

“And Dominic gets to do what?” I asked sarcastically.

“He’s outside your bedroom door.” Sal lifted his brow. “Listen, don’t try any brave bullshit, but if something happens, I want you to have this.” He reached into his brown leather holster pulling out a black automatic. He pulled the slide back and checked all facets of the gun and assured the safety was on. “Don’t shoot anyone unless you have to.”

“In other words don’t shoot us.” Tony said.

“That serious?” I held the gun in my hands staring at Sal.

“That serious.”

“Why couldn’t I have married a—” I didn’t even bother finishing the question because it didn’t matter. I turned my attention to the window. “Do I have to carry it everywhere I go?”

“Nah, just keep it close,” Sal answered.

I nodded. “Okay. I’m gonna change.” I slipped into my closet closing the door.

After changing I left the closet seeing that Sal was gone and Tony was standing at the window. Ignoring him I slipped my earphones into my phone and pressed my music app. I slid the yoga mat from under my bed pressing it flat to the floor and began. I closed my eyes as I leaned into a stretch. I breathed deeply relaxing into my pose, as I wondered why I couldn’t have a normal life. I began to tense thinking of all the ridiculous shit I’d had to deal with over the last year. I breathed deeply once again needing to relax before I pulled something. I was literally a prisoner every day of my life. Hell, I couldn’t even volunteer like a normal person. My friends weren’t my friends—Russians, guns, feds—hadn’t seen them for a while, but they were there watching and waiting till they had something that would stick—bastards.

I climbed into downward dog wishing I could run away, far away. I wondered if Jax would come with me if I asked. This life couldn’t possibly be more important than Ennio and me. He’d see that it was a good idea if I mentioned it. Maybe I would—just mention it to him—feel him out.

I breathed harshly, blowing out the negative presence in my body while I finished. I’d closed my eyes the entire workout just wanting to be somewhere else, but once I’d opened them I just wanted to punch something, someone, anyone.

I rolled my mat up and slid it back under the bed. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“I thought you just took a bath.”

I turned to Tony feeling my face heat. “No, I was going to, but Emily called. I talked with her for an hour before I was rudely interrupted. And for what, oh yeah, I don’t know because no one tells me any fucking thing. My life isn’t my own because—” I lifted my hands. “—my life sucks dick!”

“Sorry,” he offered.

“Yeah… me too.” I watched the light beam through the window before finally turning to the bathroom slamming the door.