Their Bella

Chapter 17

Isabella's POV:

I walked out of my room, still in my pajamas, and into the kitchen. I could hear my brothers making breakfast. I slowly walked down there. I felt like I was walking into a trap. 

"Hello." I greeted them.

"Hey sorellina." Gianni greeted in reply. 

"Hello Gianni." I replied curtly. I sat down at the kitchen bar next to Dante. 

"Do you want some Fruity Pebbles for breakfast?" Andre asked as he shoved the red cereal box in front of me.

"Sure."  I poured the little bits into my bowl and then followed it with some milk. A spoon was thrown in my direction by Alessio, who was by the dishwasher. It fell with a loud clatter on the clatter in front of me that caused me to jump a little.

"Sorry Bella. Didn't mean to scare you." he quickly apologized. I muttered a whatever before digging into the deliciousness. I must of had a sullen expression on my face because I was promptly questioned by one of my brothers.

"Is there something wrong Izzy you look awfully gloomy?" Andre asked. This was it. Time to find out the truth.

"I need to ask you guys something, and you have to be honest." I demanded. 

"You can ask us anything sorella. We're famiglia." Leo said. His blue eyes bore into my own light sapphire orbs. 

"Are you guys in the mafia?" I asked. The air was silent. Too silent. It was like the breathing in the room ceased to exist. I looked up from my bowl and was met with five wide pairs of eyes.

"Where did you hear that?" a deep voice asked. It was Leonardo. 

"When I was kidnapped. I heard talk." I to them truthfully. 

"Bella, you must understand this is the family way. Us Marino's have been in this business for over 150 years. But yes, we are. We run the operation." he rambled. I looked back down to my bowl. My Fruity Pebbles were already gone, but I just stared at the purplish milk left behind.

"So, you are criminals? Murderers?" I muttered. 

"Yes. It is our way of life." Leo reinforced. 

"Okay. I'm going to go get dressed." I told them as I stood up and put my bowl in the sink.

"What that's it?" Alessio asked.

"We tell you your brothers are the mafia and you just brush it off like it's nothing?" Leo asked.

"I already knew. I just wanted confirmation. Would you like to tell me anything else?" I asked quite harshly. 

"No, you can ask us anything though." Leo confirmed before I walked upstairs. 

Once I made it up the stairs I quickly walked to my room and threw on a Boston Patriots sweatshirt and some black leggings. I brushed through my hair and then put it into a French braid. I went to the bathroom and quickly brushed my teeth.

I walked over to my dresser and unplugged my phone from its charger. Then quickly texted Haley who wanted to hang out. I told her that I couldn't because I wasn't feeling well. Next I started on some homework I had leftover. Leo told me that I could go back to school tomorrow. 

I finished my English essay due later this week after that I decided that I was going to take a break before beginning my science project about the structures of cells. Finally, after I finished a few chapters of To Kill A Mockingbird, I saw it was dark outside. I looked at the time on my phone and saw that it was 6:00.

I walked downstairs and saw that my brothers were sitting all around the living room eating pizza. Leo, Alessio, Dante, and Gianni were all sitting on the couch. Andre and his boyfriend, Jake, were sitting on the floor. I walked into the kitchen, grabbed a paper plate, and threw a slice of pepperoni pizza onto my plate. I grabbed a bottle of Mello Yello and walked into the living room, thoroughly startling my family. I sat down next to Jake without a word spoken. 

I think he was shocked because I never really talked to him before. He looked at me with wide eyes before pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. He got over the shock and began speaking to me.

"Hey Isabella." he greeted. 

"Hey Jake. Just call me Bella." 

"Okay. We are watching The Shallows. It's really good." he informed me. I began eating my pizza and sipping on my soda. I could feel eyes on the back of my head. I finished my pizza quickly then turned around. I met Dante's green eyes before motioning for him to follow me. I walked into the kitchen and heard heavy footsteps following me. 

"Why are you staring at me?" I interrogated.

"Are you really okay? You know, with this whole mafia thing?" Dante asked. 

"Yeah. Just answer this question." I demanded, "Is Damiano Messanelli in the mafia?" 

"Yes, he is going to be leading the Messanelli Crime Family in a few years after his father retires. How do you know him?" he asked, quite alarmed. In this moment I decided that I was going to tell him the truth. Dante, besides Andre, is the easiest brother to talk to.

"I've gone on a date with him." I admitted. Dante, who was drinking his whiskey, choked. 

"What?" he asked bewildered. 

"You heard what I said." I told him.

"Well, do you like him?" he asked shyly.

"Yeah, I do. Did you ever meet someone and instantly connect to them? That's how it is for me with Damiano. I don't know how to explain it." I gushed. Dante just nodded before gulping down the rest of his alcohol.

"I'm glad you found a boy that you like. At least he is decent. I will talk with Leo, but I'm almost certain that Leo will drop the no boys rule since we know Damiano." he told me before walking off. 

Time would tell but I feel that me and my brothers are becoming better siblings now that there are no secrets better us. I wonder if Leo will lift the rule. The only thing that worries me is that I would be dating a criminal, but then again... aren't all the Marino brothers criminals?

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I think the book will be around 30 chapters long, but I don't really know. I'd hoped to be done by New Years, but I don't know how feasible that is. If I don't finish the book by New Years it will definitely be finished by March.