Chapter 2

Isabella's POV

"Marcello…" Dad said as one of the hefty-looking men threw a jab at him. I screamed as they dragged us away.

The jab my father was given knocked him out and put him to an immediate slumber. It also gave him a black eye and made me so restless. I couldn't hide my hurt as tears began to rush down my eyes. 

I was threatened to keep quiet as they drove us to an unknown destination. Marcello told me that if I made a sound I would end up like my father. All I could do was sob quietly. My phone as well as Dad's phone was taken and worse, it was jettisoned. We were being kidnapped.

"Where are you taking us?" I asked, tears streaming down my eyes.

"Don't worry child, you will soon know," Marcello responded with a knowing smile as he blew a puff of smoke to my face. He was sitting next to me in the SUV they bundled us in. 

"I'm not a child!" I retorted, irritated by such the fact that he kept calling me that. I am twenty-one years old so I’m far from that.

"Feisty one uhn?" he said to the other men sitting next to Dad as they laughed.

"Tell me where you're taking us. If I'm going to die today at least let me know where I'll be laid to rest," I begged.

The three men alongside the driver laughed again. Marcello just looked at me, inhaled smoke from his cigar, and focused on the road. 

I looked at Dad whose head rested on the armrest of the car. I pitied him. He must have gone through a lot. Losing a wife to alcohol and trying to save her while having little returns on all his menial jobs and still taking care of me must have been hard.

I could not stop crying. I looked outside the window to see if I'd recognize where we currently were and I noticed that we were heading towards the airport.

"Are we leaving Louisiana? Where are we going? Where are you taking us!" I yelled as I began to tremble because these men could easily dump us in a foreign country and nobody would know.

I looked at Dad and thought; What have you done Dad? How did you get involved with this kind of people?

I was ignored by Marcello and his men and something just told me to give it a rest. All my questions fell on deaf ears.

We arrived at the airport and were subtly led to an entrance where a private jet stood. It was ready to take off. 

One of the bouncers carried Dad like he was a feather and headed for the plane. I came out of the car and stood still.

"I don't have time for this," Marcello said as he brought out a gun from his trousers and pointed it at me, "Move! Now!" 

I jumped up and followed the men to the plane. 

"Please Marcello, I know we are probably going to die but please tell me where you're taking us," I asked as I was forced to settle in.

"We are going to meet Don Rodrigo. We are going to Mexico. Now shut the fuck up, don't be a bitch, and enjoy the trip!" he said tired of my incessant questions.

**********

"We are here. Wake up child," Marcello said as he tapped my back.

I had cried myself to sleep. After Marcello yelled at me, telling me not to be a bitch, I knew there was nothing I could do but accept my present predicament. I was out of strength to even fight so I did the only thing I could, cried myself to sleep.

I looked around searching for Dad but I could not find him. I hastily stood up from the seat and almost fell. 

"Where's my father?"

"Get down now!"

I obeyed the order as we entered the car and then I noticed Dad was inside the vehicle, he had regained his consciousness and it seemed like he immediately knew what was happening. He gave me a small smile that told me to stay calm and I did. We drove to a mansion and we were led inside.

"The Don will be here soon," A man I presumed was the housekeeper said.

After about 30 minutes of sitting and waiting. I noticed Marcello and his team stood up. I followed their gaze and met a man that looked to be in his thirties coming down the stairs.

He had the first three bottoms of his fitted white T-shirt opened which revealed his chiseled chest dotted with strips of hair. His hair was dark brown with red highlights and his eyes were blue like the ocean. He was about 6 ft tall and my eyes went to his jawline which was perfectly aligned. This folded T-shirt revealed the tattoo on his hands. It was not ugly but rather inviting, it gave off a Mafia God vibe. I wonder if he is a mafia.

This man was sexy without a doubt and you could mistake him as a runway model.

Only that his aura was dangerous. He looked cold and stoic. 

This must be Don Rodrigo, I thought. If this was him, then I have to control my sudden admiration and my lusty eyes, I said to myself. I already hated him.

"Isaac. Have you made a decision?" He asked as he sat on the single couch in the living room facing all of us.

I looked at my father and noticed the terror he felt before suddenly resurfacing. 

What decision was he talking about? I didn’t understand.

"Don, please. I can't make that decision. She is my only joy. Please give me some time," Dad replied with a tremble in his voice.

"Isaac, I'm a busy man. I will not ask you again," he barked with an evil glint in his eyes.

"Don, please, I will pay you back. I have plans to do so. Please, please…" Dad said as he knelt, begging. 

The scene in front of me was infuriating. How could this monster make my father act this low? For what? How much was even the money? I could work for it and pay back even if it meant working for life. I'd rather do that than see my dad look this pathetic.

"Isaac, if I ask one more time…," Don threatened.

"Wait, what's the decision?" I cut him short. I looked at my dad and he began to weep. "What decision Dad?" 

My father couldn't look at me. Rather, he looked away and covered his face with his palms. He looked embarrassed like he couldn’t believe the shit he had gotten himself to.

"You are either to marry me for a year while your father works for me to pay up the debt because you’re the ransom," Don Rodrigo said as he eyed me. "Or work for me as one of my whores in my hotel to pay the debt.”

Wait, what?