“Isabella Drago will be my wife. I suggest you take that to the Boss and make sure he agrees, and we’ll see this wedding handled quickly.”
“Son, you cannot stay here. It’s not … decent.”
“She was attacked tonight by a group of men. I’m not going anywhere. Randy will be here. He’ll vouch for her honor, won’t you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You’re not a capo yet,” his father said.
“No, but before I’m married, I will be.” The necessary arrangements had already been put in place for him to take his father’s capo title, but now he’d also hold the rank here as Isabella’s husband. “I imagine all of the details will be handled swiftly.”
The men all looked at each other, clearly disappointed with tonight’s outcome. Not only had Isabella lived, they hadn’t got their hands on whatever her father held on them, and his title. With Isabella gone and not married, the title would have to go to someone. His father didn’t benefit from an additional title as he held his own Capo rank. Someone, somewhere, wanted this place, and he had to get to the bottom of it.
Isabella wouldn’t die and as he’d now made his intentions clear, it had also helped whoever was after her. His reputation with women would give them the perfect reason to attack.
Fuck!
One by one, the men left and the cleanup crew arrived.
Randy led the way into the kitchen and he watched as Isabella swiped her father’s whiskey on the way out of the room. Once inside the kitchen, Randy started to check for any listening devices or bugs that might be there. “We’re good.”
Damon watched as Isabella grabbed three glasses and filled each with a shot of whiskey. She grabbed one glass, downed it, pulled a face as if she was disgusted with the taste, and filled it again.
Randy sipped at his while Damon swallowed his down. By the time he put his glass down, she was already onto the fourth shot.
“Don’t you think you should slow that down?” he asked.
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“I’ve been shot at, nearly killed, and I think having a little drink will calm me down.”
“It’s what her father did,” Randy said. “After her first attack mission she was shaking and terrified. The whiskey, it helps to calm her down.”
“It does?” Damon asked. This woman was just getting better and better in his book. She could fight, take care of herself, and she had damn good taste in whiskey. He nodded for her to give him another shot.
“Doesn’t it for you?” she asked. “Let’s not talk about what can and cannot calm me down and actually focus on why the hell I was targeted.”
“This could go all the way to the top.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Damon looked toward Randy. “You think this comes from the Boss?”
“Why not? He’s capable of a lot worse, believe me.”
“Wait a minute,” she said, drawing his attention. “You’re telling me that tonight’s attack came from the very top?”
“What other way could it be?” Randy asked.
“I’m still a capo’s daughter. I’m worth something, even if it means marrying me off to some evil bastard he has control over. Killing me could overthrow his power. To simply wipe me out would put a whole lot of other families at risk, believe me.”
“She’s right,” Damon said. “If he wanted to get rid of her and keep her position, he’d have to be smart about it.”
“Meaning what?” Randy asked.
“They’d have to find some way of making it look like she was a traitor, which we know she’s not.” Damon tossed back the liquid, loving the burn as it slid down his throat. “I’m going to need to see everything her father had on these men.”
“Not happening,” Randy said.
“Excuse me, but I don’t get to decide that?” Isabella asked.
“Those documents are important.”
“And my father trusted Damon. Even you do. You can’t tell me who to trust one moment and then take it back,” she said.
“Then it’s important you know that the Boss is in that documentation. He’s the one who tried to get rid of me,” Randy said.
Damon stared at him. He was well aware of the rumors surrounding this man. What he didn’t know, nor did anyone else, was exactly who his father was.
“Wait, if he tried to get rid of you, then that means…”
“Yes, that man is my father, which is why I know he’s capable of finding any means necessary to kill you.”
“But he could have assumed that information died with my dad.”
“Do you really think the Boss is going to leave something like that up to chance?” Randy asked. “It’s at least worth us staying alert and being prepared for anything.”
“Agreed. Do you have an issue with me moving in?” Damon asked.
“No.” Randy started to pace. “With you here, at least I know she’ll be protected and people will be less likely to try to kill her. If she’s alone, she’s exposed to whatever crap they want to put her through.”
“I need to shower and get some sleep,” she said.
“Do you want a doctor to check your ankle? Your neck?” Damon asked.
“Nope. I’ve had worse, believe me. Besides, being in pain helps me feel like I’m alive to live another day. Yay.”
He watched her go and smiled. “She’s really something.”
“That she is.”
Returning his gaze to Randy, he saw the other man wasn’t happy. “We’ll keep her safe.”
“I hope so. I promised her father. He took me in when no one else would. He helped me survive and I promised him my loyalty and honor ever since.”
Chapter Four
The sun was glorious and Isabella was more than happy to soak up as much Vitamin D as she could. Lying back on the ground, she closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. Placing a hand on her stomach, she felt a shadow fall on her.
“Let me get this straight. Your home was attacked last night. You were nearly killed, and you’re out here soaking up the sunshine?” Damon asked.
She opened her eyes and placed her hand above her eyebrows, looking at him. “And?”
“And, you really do surprise me.” He dropped down beside her and she tried not to be aware of his closeness. He was just a man, nothing important.
“There’s nothing to surprise. I don’t like to sit back and dwell on everything that happened. Besides, the decorators are already dealing with the bullet holes and blood.” She cringed. “It still freaks me out how we have a different service for everything. Doesn’t it you?”
He chuckled. “Not really. This life is all I’ve known since I was born. My life experiences began the moment I could walk.”
She sighed. “I remember my parents having to deal with what was to happen to my brother. When he died, my dad never wanted me to be at the mercy of a man. Yet, here I am. I can’t believe he made me train all those years and still made me marry.”
“No one is making you marry, Isabella.”