Chapter Seven.

Isabella.

I've never been to this part of the basement before, and the surroundings kinda make my skin crawl.

Sigh...

It's honestly frustrating how I always have to be pushed around like some doll, why did I have to be born as a Mafia princess?

I am just another piece in my father's game of chess and nothing more, just a tool to increase his power.

I am not even sure if he ever loved my mum even once, oh well I would like to believe that he did at a point in his life.

I looked around, which by the way was a useless thing to do, because everywhere was dark and I swear I can feel insects crawling on my skin.

I want to scream, but I think I've lost my voice. 

I don't even have any more tears to cry, so I'll just wait here for my father to come do his worst.

Little did I know that his worst would be what broke the camel's back.

I woke up to the clanking sound of the basement door, I don't even know how or when I fell asleep.

"Bring her out." 

My father said with his voice laced with venom.

I won't lie, I am scared of what he would do to me, I did cause a scene, and my father hates scenes.

The guard grabbed me and took me out.

As we came into the light, I could see smoke coming out of my father's head (figuratively).

His body language screamed furious, he was saying something to Valentino, and Valentino looked at me before leaving to do whatever my father asked him to do.

My father turned his face to me and the look in his eyes made me gulp whatever remaining saliva I had left. 

"How many times did I tell you not to ever cause a scene Bella?" 

I wanted to say something, but I couldn't find my voice.

He chuckled, but that chuckle wasn't a friendly or happy one.

"You are just a girl, you don't have the right to speak up, you do as you're told."

 I gritted my teeth in anger, just a girl? I need to calm down or I'll make things worse.

"When I talk to you Bella, you don't ever talk back, you don't disagree, you don't say no, you accept it because that's all you're good for!"

"But it seems like you've gotten bolder as the day goes by, hence the audacity to now refute my authority, and in front of my subordinates at that."

I can't even believe this, so his stupid pride and ego matters more to him than his daughters welfare? 

Who was I kidding, I should have known he didn't give a Damn about me or how I ended up.

All that matters to him is his stupid Mafia!

Is that why he killed my mum? To freeze his elbow? To make him look ruthless and evil? 

I took a deep breath before speaking up.

"I am sorry papa, I didn't mean to cause a scene, it's just I.. I.. don't want to get married  to anyone."

"I am better off like this, I would rather join the mafia, than get married to some unknown pedo..."

"How dare you!"

I flinched, I shouldn't have said anything at all, shit!

"How dare you cut me off to speak rubbish? You want to join the mafia? You? A little brat?"

"You have clearly forgotten your manners and how you speak to your Don."

"You don't ever question me, and for that I'll punish you, in a way you'll never forget."

What could he possibly do right now that would hurt me more than him killing my mother?

"Bring in the dog."

The wires in my head snapped, wait what? What.. what.. dogs are they talking about?

It can't be my Max right? No.. no.. no.. they can't possibly be serious.

My eyes widened at the sight of Valentino holding down my dog.

"No!"

 

I struggled to leave, but this stupid guard held me down.

My father looked at me with a sinister look in his eyes.

"You've been having too many privileges and that's why you've grown so disobedient."

"I let you keep this dog, I'll be taking it back from you."

Max wagged his tail, and I could tell it's not exciting.

He tried to run towards me, but Valentino caught him again.

"Woof!"

"Woof!"

Oh Max wanting to comfort me even in this kind of scenario.

I quickly looked up at my father, my eyes already clad with tears.

"Please... Please don't do anything to Max."

"I am your daughter, you can't do this to me! You're supposed to protect me, not throw me into the lion's den."

"Please let Max go and I'll do anything you ask of me right now."

"J..us..t.. please."

I was already shaking so badly, I can't lose Max , I just can't.

"Now you're forgetting something Bella, this is not a negotiation, it's a punishment, and you don't have the right to negotiate with me."

"With or without the dog you'll do what I say or  you'll face the consequences."

What the hell is he saying?

"No! You can't kill Max, don't you dare touch him."

"Please, please."

Valetini took his gun out and my heart stopped beating.

"No! No! Let him go please, just take him away from here or something, just don't kill him."

Bang!

Everything stopped, I couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't understand.

I saw Max falling to the ground slowly, with blood All over his fur.

I pushed the guard holding me, and ran to where Max was.

"No.. no.. no.. no.. don't leave me, please you have to stay alive for me.."

I wrapped my hands around him, not minding the protests from my guards.

No Max, we've been through so much together, you can't leave me now.

I held him tighter, my heart breaking at every painful whimper that escapes his mouth. 

He was in pain and I could feel it, but he was trying to not show it, so it wouldn't hurt me.

"Oh Max.."

I said, my hands trembling as I reached for him.

Max stared at me, his love for me evident in his now dimming eyes.

His eyes were so red, and liquids streamed down his eyes.

Slow painful whimpers escaped his mouth.

As a guard drew closer to me, Max's eyes opened wide, and he struggled to his feet and soon he was in front of me, ready to defend me.

 Blood gushed out from his wound.

As the guards pushed closer, he took a glance at me as if to remind me to look after myself,

My heart broke, tears streamed down my eyes, and I reached out to hold him once more but he ran off.

"Max, stop." 

I shouted but he was off to protect me once more before his death.

I hastily got on my feet to chase after him but before I could move, I heard the gunshot again.

My eyes flew towards Max and I saw him  fall to the ground once more. 

My mind went foggy. 

With each step I took, I prayed all that was happening was a nightmare and I would wake up and see Max snuggled against me.

Wake up! Wake up! My head kept screaming at me, so I took a pause, closed my eyes and waited for my head to speak again.

Wake up! It sounded and then my eyes fluttered open being willed by hope.

But then reality hit me hard once more.

Ahhhh! I screamed but no sound was heard. 

I moved my feet and soon I was before max, sitting down, I carried him and placed him on my lap.

I shaked him but there was no response.

He was gone, forever gone from my life.

I thought I would cry, but I didn't.

Struggling to get up with him in my arms, I moved to where my father was, 

I looked at him, my eyes devoid of any emotion.

"You'll get married to Matteo."

He said, his tone firm.

I scoffed.

"Yes, I will.”

His eyes slightly widened in shock.