Protecting The Principessa (Complete)

~ Chapter 8 ~

Izzy followed the route her dad took, her anger festering. She knew she wouldn't stand Sara, she just didn't know how deep or how strong that hatred would be. Stefano and Sienna were both great; actually, she rather enjoyed the carefree nature of Sienna. She would make a great little sister and deep down, in places Izzy wasn't open to admitting yet, she was glad she met the little girl and that she was going to be part of her life. For way too long she had been an only child and though she loved her mother fiercely, growing up alone was a sad existence.

She paused as she heard the voices coming from behind a closed door. They weren't arguing, but she knew they were talking about her. Really, she wanted to laugh at the upheaval that happened due to her coming because this wasn't like a choice she made, it was made for her, and rather against her will. She waited another moment before she knocked a few times. She heard the voices stop and then Mariana opened the door, ready to cuss someone out but she stopped from saying anything as she saw Ignazia there.

"Oh," she said and took a step back. Clearly, that was the last person she expected to see. "Do come in, Ignazia."

"That's okay. I was just coming to bid my goodbyes." At that, Carlo stepped up behind his wife and frowned.

"You can't leave," he said.

"Oh, yeah, I can and I am."

"Ignazia, I want you to stay here where I can protect you..." She waved her hand to stop him and both Mariana and Carlo looked rather surprised by that action.

"First of all, I'm not welcome here, let's just be frank about that, shall we?" With that, she glanced at Mariana who ducked her head at that statement. She didn't blame the older woman. Had that been her in her shoes, Izzy wouldn't want the other child in her house either. "And I'm not sure me having to look over my shoulder to make sure my ugly step-sister wasn't trying to stab me makes me feel anything close to protected." Mariana cleared her throat to stop the chuckle and Izzy shrugged. "I'm a lot of things, but a fool isn't one of them. You trusted Adriano to watch me, I trust him to keep on."

"Well, yes, but Adriano has a job to do," Carlo started but Izzy shrugged again.

"I'm not going to be in his way. He is free to do his job. His house is secure enough and it's not like I'll make the same mistake I did when I was younger and wander the city." Carlo paled at those words but he wisely kept his mouth shut. "Have a good day." With that, she turned on her heel and walked back down the way she came. She knew she was dealing with a mob boss who probably had no clue what to do with her. In fact, she was almost going to assume that no one dared talk to him like she had. And maybe she didn't quite know how ruthless or scary he might be, but she wasn't intimated by him.

"Are you okay?" She stopped at the end of the hallway and looked at the man who had stopped before her. Like all the other Italian men that seemed to be crawling around the house, he was well dressed but older than her, and the smirk he sported twisted her stomach into unknown knots.

"And you are worried, why?" she asked and the man chuckled as he shrugged before lifting the glass he was holding up to his lips.

"You were storming back down the walkway, just making sure a pretty girl like yourself is okay?"

"Cesar, what brings you by?" Adriano walked up behind the man, holding out his hand. Cesar smiled as he shook it.

"I need to talk to Carlo about some men that are moving into my territory and I need them taken care of. I was going to see if he would allow me to fire a few times." Adriano smiled as he shook his head.