UNDECIDED (Wisemen Series #1)

0 | A Friend to Remember

little ric
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"But Dad! I don't know anyone here, I want to see my friends." I begged dad to take me back to New York. I don't like this Vegas place.

"Stop it Riccardo. Stop acting like a five year old. We have to be here whether you like it or not." My dad snapped. It always confused me when he said that. I am five, how do i act my age?

I walk beside my dad trying to hold in my tears. He never try's to understand my feelings.

As my dad approaches the other men i go sit by myself on the floor beside the couches. This hotel is bigger than the one our capo owns. All i know is that our two families are now mixed together, that's what my mamma told me.

"Hi," I hear this little whisper beside me, i turn to look at the girl that looks about my age standing over me smiling. She's really pretty.

She has really big brown eyes, unlike my blue ones. And pretty light brown chestnut curls. She has pretty rosy lips and these dots on her cheeks as she smiles.

"Hi," I sniffle. I managed to keep my tears at bay, that would make dad proud. He hates when i cry.

"Are you new here? I've never ever seen you here before, you have really pretty blue eyes, mine are brown you know? My name is Isabelle, my dad calls me Bella though and my friends call me Isa or Isy. But you can call me whatever you think is nice-," She rambles a lot and doesn't stop until i cut her off.

I giggle causing her to pay attention to me and smile once more, "Yeah i just moved here. I'm from New York City, my name is Riccardo and i think i want to call you Belle. Like the princess, is that okay?"

Her cheeks have become a really deep pretty shade of pink, like her lips.

"Yes! I love princess Belle! I've never been to New York but yesterday i went to the mall." She says, i laugh again because the mall is not anything like New York.

"I also turned four years old a few days ago!" She screams excitedly. "Happy late birthday." I reply.

"Thanks Ric-ricca.." She try's saying my name but i think it's too difficult for her. "Mmm, hm." She huffs and pouted her bottom lip.

"It's okay Belle, you can call me.. Ric?" I tell her as she crouches down beside me causing her to nod and smile.

"Okay Ric!" She giggles. "We can be friends now?" She asks and i eagerly nod.

I made a friend my first day here.

. . .

two weeks later
Third Person

"My mom told me that these bright pink lilies glow if you put them near your face. But it doesn't work on me, maybe on you?" Riccardo holds the flower to Isabelle's face.

The flower doesn't actually glow, the bright neon colour just reflects against someone's skin, since Riccardo is a very tan boy it doesn't reflect bright enough.

However It would on Isabelle as she has very pale skin. As Riccardo holds the flower against her face it shines a light pink on her cheek. "Is it glowing on me Ric?" She asks while biting her bottom lip in curiosity.

Riccardo smiles, his pupils growing big as he stares at his only and first friend in Las Vegas. "It sure does, buttercup."

Riccardo seems to think she is almost magical. She's a princess, she's kind, she's beautiful, she's everything to him.

Before Isabelle can tell him how much she loves her new nickname her father calls her. "Bella!" Franco walks over to the field and picks up Isabelle while looking down at small little Riccardo holding a flower.

Franco Romano; the enforcer of Las Vegas and Matteo DeLuca, the enforcer from the New York, whom is also the father of Riccardo.

Franco does not like seeing his little Isabelle playing with the enemies son. "We have to go Bella."

"Bye Rickiiii!" Isabelle shouts and waves to Riccardo, "Bye Belle!"

"Bella, what did i tell you about playing with boys?" Her father scolds but Isabelle pouts confused.

"Papa, you let me play with Mauro, why cant i with Ric?" She asks and her dad just shrugs.

He doesn't explain to her that he doesn't like Riccardo's father, she's too young to understand.

Teenage Isabelle
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I'm confused, "Okay well-." I huff, I cant tell Ric why i'm upset with him. My dad had told me in private and if i expose him that means i'm outing my father.

I just cannot believe this. My dad told me what Riccardo said, i mean... do i mean nothing to him? And why is he acting so mean. I am not the one in the wrong here.

"Well what, Isabelle." Isabelle? He doesn't call me that, what happened to Belle or Buttercup? "You know, i really don't have time for your petty drama right now. I won't be coming to your sixteenth birthday, i'm busy working with my dad." He says before he walks away not even letting me speak.

Since when does he ditch me for his dad? He hates his dad.

We've been planning my sweet sixteen since we were ten... And now he isn't coming?

Fine. If he wants to act like this he can. If he doesn't come to my birthday then it's definitely the end of our friendship. Even though we've been best friends since we were kids, almost twelve years now.

He knows everything about me and i know everything about him. Even when our dads wouldn't let us see each other we still did anyway.

But fine.

He can have it his way. See if i care.