Chapter 2 - Prayer

Damian re-read the contract again, for the second time and sighed, again.  He was aware of what he needed to do; the attack on their men was proof enough to him that they just didn’t have the man power for protection, so they went to their allies for help.  But in their world, you never asked for anything without giving anything; and that was within any Italian family, mafia based or not. 

It still just grated on his nerves that he had to.  He seen his father, and grandfather, work this business like nothing, and never needed help.  But then times have changed, and Damian had expanded their wealth well beyond what his grandfather’s was.  He was good at seeking and trading antiques, he had been taught well, even better than other’s over him.  But as, the saying goes, the bigger the pound, the bigger the target.  He was proud of his accomplishments, his whole family was, but he wasn’t proud of the spot light that had been shinned upon him, or his family, for that matter.

“Is there something you don’t agree with?”  Damian looked up at his dad and shook his head.

“No, everything is fine.  But you know, I have worked all my life to take over this trading business and now some strong arm Angel is trying to muscle me out.”

“First of all, they are not.  They don’t want our company; they want our help, hiring a few people to work with us and to teach them.  Second of all, everything in that contract benefits us a lot more than it does them.”               

“And when Angel get’s what he wants, he won’t want to side arm us?  He won’t try to be the best in the business?”  Rafael had to snicker, oh he was not going to ruin the surprise that Angel was.  Although, knowing his son and what he had seen of Angel, he thought they would be a better match than Rosa and Damian.  Damian never abided by a meek woman, and when Rafael saw her, well, even being in a mafia family, he felt she looked meek, like she didn’t have much of a voice.  And he knew his son; that was not something he cared for.  Not that he was talking disrespect, never, Damian was Italian…but quiet and shy was never his type.

“Son, the Bellalini’s will see you as family, they won’t take anything away.  Antonio might be ruthless, but they have beliefs, and doing something like you are suggesting would be a big no for them.”

“I’m sorry dad, you are right, and I do know that.  They might be tough, but they are very caring, even I have seen this with what they put forth for charities.  Call Don Antonio and tell them we can meet them tomorrow so we can sign.”

“Of course.  Now, let’s stop talking business before your mom sends your sister in to scold us and we have to deal with upset women all night long.”

-----

                She looked up from some paperwork on her desk that was pertaining to her club when her dad walked into her office.  She glanced over at him again as he just stood in the doorway and offered him a small smile and waved to one of the chairs.  She finished the paperwork and signed her name before turning to her dad, a brow raised in a silent question.

                “Hello Bella (beautiful).”  She smiled at his nickname for her.

                “Hello dad.”

                “Rafael called; we will meet them for lunch this afternoon.”

                “Bene. (fine)”  She watched him as he just looked at her.  “What is it dad?”         

                “Are you sure you are ok with this?  We can change it so that you can be married…”  She cut him off with a smile.

                “I’m fine.  You and I both know how important this is and that Rosa is way better than I in sealing this deal.”

                “Angel, you are just as beautiful as your sister.”

                “No, and we both know that.  I hold no ill will feelings toward my sister and I never will.  I was blessed with the brains; she was blessed with the beauty.  I love you, papa, and I thank you for worrying, but we both know that Damian, and their family, need a beauty on his arm, not me.”  Antonio watched his daughter with sad eyes.  She always thought that scar on her cheek took away from her beauty, but it never did.  Many men still glanced her way; her curves and those amazing eyes always seemed to draw men’s stares but she always thought it was that scar.  But Antonio always watched the men in the room when she walked in; nope, it was not the scar that caught their attention.

                Although he was grateful that day for Angel being there, he will never forget how scared he was for his daughters’ well being, and no, not Rosa.  He loved all of his kids and was very proud of them all.  But he could admit to himself that maybe he harbored a little more love for Angel that she held a bit more of his heart.

                “Bene, I will leave you to your paperwork.  We are meeting at 1:30 at Bellismio, see you there, Bella.”

-----

                “They’re late,” Damian said as he sat down his phone, checking it yet again.

                “They are not Damian.  I tell you all the time just how fast your phone is.”  Damian sighed and looked around, finally seeing the doors to the patio open up.  Damian glanced at Antonio, surprised the man was in this 50’s for as young as he looked.  And he took in the daughter that was on his right, her green eyes being something he saw quickly, along with the quiet demeanor.  But it was the woman on the left, in her white slacks and gold blouse that seemed to make those golden eyes all the more brighter that really stole his breath, and he sent up a silent prayer that she was Rosa.