CHAPTER SEVEN

ISABELLA

"That pompous arsehole! That wicked, cruel man!"

I throw a pillow at the door and scream out in frustration. He just turned my life upside down and hasn't deemed it fit to speak to me. It has been more than twenty four hours since the guard came and basically made me a prisoner in my own home and I haven't heard a thing from the Capo.

It's been more than twenty four hours since my father spoke to me. He's acting like this whole thing is my fault. I wouldn't have done this if it wasn't important for us to survive. And we wouldn't be in this situation if he hadn't met with that cop. We didn't open the restaurant yesterday, nobody left this house. We can't afford to do the same thing today.

I open the door of my room and march to the front door. Rocco is outside, calm and smoking a blunt.

"I'm going to work today, you can't keep me trapped here forever."

He throws the blunt on the ground and stubs it out before he replies.

"You're not trapped, you can go anywhere you want to go to."

"You stopped me yesterday."

"You had bags packed. All trips must be authorised by the Capo."

He did say that, but how was i supposed to know I could have gone to work?

"I'll go inform my father."

"Your father left two hours ago."

That's disappointing. He's still angry and he didn't inform me he was leaving the house. My father hasn't done that since my mother died. I shake off the sadness that overwhelms me. I'll just get dressed and meet him at work. We've never been able to be angry at each other in the restaurant.

I turn to go into the house then stop and look back at Rocco.

"He's really not going to talk to me? To explain why this is happening to me?"

"I don't ask questions. I do as I'm told."

I'm getting really tired of Rocco's answers.

I quickly have a shower and dress up for work. I make sure to lock all the doors in the house. I know the Capo can get in if he wants to but I'll feel better knowing that I didn't leave the door open for them to just walk through.

I walk past Rocco and enter into my car. He gets into a black challenger and drives slowly behind me. I can't believe I have a tail. Last week my biggest issue was Damien and now, I have bigger fish to fry.

The drive to the restaurant is short. When I park and get to the front entrance, I'm shocked by the crowd in the front. What's going on? I try getting past a few people but nobody is budging. I turn back so I can go through the service entrance but Rocco stops me. He gets in front of me and starts making space for me to walk through. I try not to smile when he elbows a guy who stepped on my foot when I tried to get through.

Inside the restaurant, my father is sitting with two men I don't recognise and there's a chef serving them.

"Daddy, what's going on?" I ask and he turns to me.

He sighs like I'm bothering him.

"I'm interviewing for three new chefs." He says and turns back to the plate in front of him.

What? We don't have the money for that. When did he have time to set this up? Why are they so many people outside?

"Can we talk in Private?"

He excuses himself from the group and walks into his office. I follow him while furiously blinking back tears. He's punishing me and I don't know what to do.

I lock the door and hug him.

"I'm sorry Daddy. I promise I didn't do anything to make him choose me."

He slowly pulls away from me.

"It has been done, I'm just trying to keep the restaurant running."

"How can we afford a new chef, much less three? We've still not paid Damien all his money."

"You're going to marry the Capo. He'd be stupid to come here asking for money. And if he does, you can always get it from your husband."

My stomach gurgles in disgust. "I thought you were angry that I got picked."

"I am angry but since I can't do anything about it, I should get something out of this damned thing."

"So you put a notice to hire without informing me?"

I don't give him a chance to reply before I ask him another question.

"How did you even get all these people to come here? How much are you promising them?"

He shrugs and starts walking out. "We'll talk more at home."

He doesn't meet my eyes or give me a kiss on the forehead like he usually would. It's like all his love for me faded with this announcement.

Rocco is getting off a call when I come back.

"The Capo requests your presence. I am to drive you there."

"Where?" I ask.

Maybe when I see him, I can apologise for whatever I did to make him pick me and we can forget this nightmare.

"I don't ask questions. I just do what I'm told."

That blasted reply. He walks in front of me and I follow. He pulls open the door for me and I roll my eyes. I can open my own damn door.

It's obvious Rocco isn't here to be friends. All my attempts at polite conversation are met with curt straight forward answers. It's a relief when we arrive at the venue. I open my door quickly before he can open it.

The building we are parked in front of is a wedding dress store.

"Why are we here?" I ask, moving closer to the car.

"The Capo wants the wedding to happen within the week."

My heart sinks. A week? I'm still trying to wrap my head around being picked by this monster and now I'm to marry him in a week.

"Is he going to be here?" I ask weakly.

Rocco doesn't reply but his silence answers everything.

"No. I'm not going in."

Rocco sighs. "The Capo isn't a man you want to tell no."

"I don't care. I'm not buying a wedding dress when I haven't seen the groom since I was told there would be a wedding."

This is false bravery, challenging the Capo is dangerous game.

Rocco takes out his cell phone and dials the Capo.

"She doesn't want to go in, Boss."

"She wants to talk to you before she goes in."

Rocco's voice is full of silent mockery. He hands me the phone and I take it slowly.

"Hello," I say quietly, my voice shaking.

"That fear in your voice is the only reason I'm not going to say too much. Buy the

damn wedding dress." He says and ends the call.

I'm in trouble.