Tattered Love

Prologue

The Greco family pretty much owes all of Italy. They're the Mafia family that runs this country. When you need money, help with a business, or hell even a small job polishing shoes; you can always go to the Greco family. Most don't know, if you bargain with them; it's like selling your soul to the Devil himself. Which you pretty much are. When our business was failing and money was slowly dwelling down to barely anything. I had just done that, sold my soul to the Devil. I had borrowed enough money from the Don to run my restaurant and have food on the table for my family. Donatello gave us a year to repay 60,000 euros. My business finally back up and running. It's making tripled to what it had been. With of the help of Donatello sending customers our way. You would think a year would be a walk in the park to repay Donatello back, right?

Wrong.

I came up 30,000 euros short from the amount. Donatello extended my due date again, one more year. The year came and went; again we came up 15,000 euros short. Donatello usually isn't a forgiving man. Once your deadline was up and you haven't paid in full.... You're never seen again. My second year has came to an end and the only way to save my life is to do the most un honorable thing a father could do.

I signed a contract for an arranged marriage of one of my daughters. Isabella. Once she turns eighteen she's to wed the heir to the mafia. I had three years to prepared my fifteen year old daughter; Hell to even tell her she's getting married at eighteen. I couldn't bring myself to tell her and it back fired more than I thought it would. Especially when Donatello came barging into my restaurant with Alessio and his brothers tailing behind him. It wouldn't have been bad if my daughters and wife were not sitting at the table. He demanded for us to set a date for the wedding. That's how my daughters and wife found out about the contract. I watched as Isabella's heart shattered in front of me. All over selling my daughter's soul to the devils in front of us.

Isabella showed no emotions when it was announced about the arrangement. But a father could tell when their child is hurt, happy, or heartbroken. Her face was made of stone but I swear I watched her soul leave her body. She didn't refuse, reject, or run for the hill. Hell, she didn't even scream at me or them. She sat there in silence as she listened to the contract. Once Donatello read the contract out loud and showed the family my signature. A slap could be heard from the silent restaurant. My wife had slapped me. I guess, hoping for my soul to return. Maybe it was for putting Isabella in a situation like this.

"When's the wedding date?" Isabella breaks the silence.

"When do you want to do it considering you're eighteen now?" Donatello fires back at my daughter.

"In one year. That's all I ask." Isabella answers with confidence.

"The contract says eighteen. That's against the contract." Arcangelo reminds her.

"It's not my fault I just learned about this. No one aveva le noci to even mention it. If you want me to marry a man whom I don't know; than at least give me the courtesy to chose next year. I will have graduated by then. Plus, it gives me enough time to plot my father's omicidio and get the fuck away with it. Don't you think?" She fires right back with her arms now crossed.

"Damn, Alessio will have his hands full with this one." Alexander says as he pats Alessio on the back.

Alessio hasn't said a word. And he's staring straight into Isabella soul with so much hatred.

"Alessio, is next year fine son?" Donatello asks.

"Si. I'm leaving now." And with that he slams the door as he leaves.

"Next year. If she doesn't show up on the agreed upon date; your life is mine." Donatello threatens.

I watched as all of them leave. I glance back at Isabella and she has rage and hurt storming through her eyes.

That's the moment I knew I truly have fucked up as a father.