Bella Mafia

Chapter 11

We were left by Luca, standing inside Vincenzo's suite and it took my breath away with how huge it was.  The living room was done in rich dark tones, with rich woods, thick carpeting and just as an amazing view as we had up on the roof.

"Wow, Vincenzo" I said as I looked around.  "This is just striking" I complimented.  He smiled as he walked towards the credenza where he kept his liquors.  "What's your poison?" he asked jokingly.

I smiled at him and said "I love a good bourbon."  Nodding he picked up a bottle of Maple Hill 21 and poured me a hefty glass.  I smirked when I saw the size of the glass and the fact that he'd grabbed the bottle.

"My study is this way" he said, indicating he wanted me to follow him.  I walked quietly behind him as we entered a room just as large as the living room I'd just seen.  It was decorated in the same style as far as the rich woods and fabrics were concerned.

The color scheme?  All black and chrome.  I had to admit it fit him to a tee.  It was manly and very sexy.  There was a lot more to Vincenzo Siranni than I think I realized.

"Have a seat" he said politely and all of a sudden I had a sneaking suspicion that something was going down and I wasn't sure if I was going to like it.

"Vincenzo, what's going on?" I asked as I sat across from him, suddenly I felt very small.  I watched him swirl the amber liquid around in his expensive glass waiting on him to answer me.

"Your father works for me" he stated calmly.  Okay, this was news to me.  I had never heard Siranni's name before but that didn't necessarily mean anything as my father had a knack for keeping people's identity hidden.

I sat waiting for him to continue, so he did.  "His ethics and business practices have been in question for some time.  His morals are lose, he spends money like it's water and he's bringing unwanted attention to my organization.

He was pressed to accept an offer, by the syndicate that we all work for, and in turn, he would keep his position but only as my number two.  Domenico Cantu will now be my head consigliere.  Also, he will be able to keep his wife, your mother, in the style that she has become accustomed to."

He stopped for a moment, so he could take a sip of his drink, and that's where I cut in.  "So what does all of this have to do with me?"  I wasn't sure if I wanted his answer or not but I was beyond the point of no return.  I had to know.

"The same syndicate, that gave your father an offer, also made me one.  It was specific to one person, to keep that person safe, because as I stated before, your father is drawing unwanted attention and we are trying to keep his family safe."  His answer perplexed and confused me.

"What are you saying, Vincenzo?" I asked, standing and now pacing because I had an awful thought of where he was going with this conversation and I didn't want it.  I wouldn't be bought.

"What I am saying, Calli is, your father, the syndicate, me and your nona have all signed a contract stating that you will become engaged to and marry me within six months.  They are actually okay with a long engagement just as long as one or both take place."

I could hear what he was saying and I could see his lips moving but none of it was computing with my brain.  My father?  And my nona?!  There was no way.

I was so pissed now.  I had actually thought I wanted to get to know this man that stood in front of me, but now I only looked at him with contempt.

"There's no way in hell that my nona would go along with any of this!" I shouted at him, my chest heaving and feeling constricted all at the same time.

He looked patiently at me, almost sympathetically, as he threw a folder across his desk, some of the contents had slid out.  The first thing that caught my eye was my name on the outside of the folder.

Calliope Rose Mancini.  There it was, in black and white.  My hands trembled as I opened the manila folder and glared at the contents.

I saw my father's signature, another one of a man I didn't recognize, Vincenzo's and there, on a separate document, Abrielle Accardi.  My nona had betrayed me and I didn't know what hurt worse, knowing she was a willing participant, or Vincenzo knowing I was starting to fall for him and knowing very good and well he was going to spring this on me.

I grabbed my phone, my hands shaking with anger now, as I dialed my dad's cell phone number, glaring at Vincenzo while waiting for my father to pick up.

Finally he answered and as usual he was drunk and we both heard a woman's voice but only I knew that it was not my mother's.  God I was embarrassed.

"Calli sweetheart!" he slurred.  I looked at Vincenzo, tears in my eyes, as I fought hard to not hang up on the bastard.

"Antoine, don't sweetheart me!" I shouted.  "So this new whore of yours, does she know that you are married?"  All was quiet as I know he was trying to figure out how to lie to me.

"Calli" his tone gruffer now and I could still hear the hag mouthing in the background.  "If you're gonna keep your slut where she can hear our conversation, tell her to kindly shut the f*uck up and let the grown ups talk."  

Everyone knew my father's vice was young women.  Eighteen and not a minute younger were his preferences.

"What do you want, Calliope?" he asked, his tone pissed now.  Oh, so it's Calliope now?  I mused.  I could feel the slow burn of the alcohol as it slid down my throat.

"I want to know why you thought that yours and my mother's way of life was more important than your daughter?  Huh?  I know all about the contract now and I don't know what hurts worse, you and my mother or my nona.

I have never felt such betrayal!" I screamed, I was sure my makeup was running down my face now.  Then I continued.  "You just thought you could sell me off to the highest bidder?  Without asking me what I wanted?

I gave up a career that I worked extremely hard for, got a degree from a prestigious university and was basically told I would never be able to use it.

I have never hated anyone in my life before, but you and mom?  I hate you both!  Don't ever call me, don't ever text me and if you ever show up at my door, be prepared to get it slammed in your face!"

I could hear him starting to say something, but I had already hung up and then without thinking I flung my phone against the wall, watched it shatter into pieces and stumbled outside to the balcony, where I slid to the concrete, drew my knees up and wept.

Somewhere along the way, I realized that I was shaking and felt Vincenzo come up behind me, laying his suit jacket over my shoulders.

I still needed to talk to him but right now all I could do was hurt.