Bella #1 (Sagatori Family Saga #1) (8 page)

Even though he tried to shelter me from the truth most of the time, I wasn't an idiot. I knew what went on here. What kind of dirty deals took place, but i
t’
s all I knew. Papa was ruthless when he needed to be, but with me he was a teddy bear.

“
Yes sir
,
” Emily handed him a piece of paper.

“
Tony
,
” He nodded him into his office and closed the door behind them.

“
Wha
t’
s going on
?
” I asked Emily.

“
I do
n’
t know. H
e’
s been acting really strange all day
.
” She shrugged answering the ringing phone.

I walked to Pap
a’
s door and leaned into it, seeing if I could hear anything, when Emily pointed to the camera monitor shaking her head. I nonchalantly turned like I had
n’
t been snooping. He did
n’
t usually have them on during work hours; I wondered why h
e’
d have them on now.

I slowly glided to the couch on the other side of the room and opened up my text messages, scrolling through all of them that
I’
d gotten over the last few days. The elevator door opened and I gasped when I saw who'd stepped out.

My phone dropped from my hands, landing on the floor. What the hell was he doing here? 

Jax slid between the elevator doors with precision. His tailored suit jacket hugged his arms and chest. I leaned forward from the sofa reaching for my phone, but not grabbing it because my eyes were glued to him. His hair set in a messy, sexy look. His jaw has a day
s
’ worth of stubble shadowing his face, lips full and eyes bright. Two other men were on his heels on either side of him and I recognized one of them from last night.

He did
n’
t notice me. His phone was palmed in his large hand, he was preoccupied with it. What is the reason he was here?
I’
d been on the backside of the room, but wished I were still at the desk. It would
n’
t have been so obvious for me to stand next to him if I were already standing there. Not like now, where
I’
d have to approach him.

And then I remembered he was married.
Damn it!
I’
d done a lot of things in my life I was certainly not proud of, but a married man was
n’
t one of those things.
I’
d never change my stance on that. I do
n’
t need to borrow another wome
n’
s husband. One day
I’
ll get one of my very own.             

So if I approached him i
t’
d only be to thank him again. That would
n’
t seem desperate right? I
t’
s the lady-like thing to do, I told myself.

I grabbed my phone from the floor and walked towards the desk, where h
e’
d just approached. Emily was still on the phone, so I had a second.

“
Hey
,
” I smiled.

His body stilled for a brief moment then slowly turned into my direction
.“
Bella
.
” His face was flat and dangerous.
I’
d seen that look before.
I’
d been terrified of that look when
I’
d seen it on others, but not Jax. With Jax I surrendered to it in that moment.

My eyes locked on his. He was so attractive. His jaw hard and strong. Muscles peeked from every point of entrance where his suite was concerned. His collar looked as if it was strangling his neck because it was so large. He worked out.

Tingles erupted catching me off guard.

My eyes shifted to Emily tha
t’
d just ended her call. Her face was full on shock. She mouthe
d
“
Oh my go
d”
.
I raised my hand to my mouth as I attempted to hide the smile that threatened.

I cleared my throat
.“
What are you doing here
?
” I asked.

Ja
x’
s posture became uncomfortable as he stepped back against the granite desk top.

I smiled. He seemed so real. Too bad he was taken. I dropped my head to concentrate on the floor.

“
You okay
?
” He asked

I brought my head back into the conversation and locked my gaze with his
.“
Me? Yeah
I’
m great
.
” Such a lie. I was disappointed. Maybe it was true what they say. Maybe you do want what you ca
n’
t have. Food for thought I guess
.“
Wha
t’
re you doing here
?
” I asked again.

He hesitated
.“I’
m here to see your father
.
”

“
Oh? Why
?
” This did
n’
t sound right. Jax is a business man, not an errand boy as I called them. Pap
a’
s hiding things from me lately and while I did
n’
t know the ins and outs of his work, I did know something was going on. I knew whatever was going on wasn't good.

He straightened his tie. He was nervous. It was kinda cute. Sweeping his tongue across his sweet lips he answered
.“
Bella, i
t’
s business. Not your concern
.
”

I saw red
.“
I see
.
” Did he just hush me? I did
n’
t like being hushed.

“
What do you see Bella
?
” His eyes penetrated me.

Holy shit
.

My body hummed.

“
Uhh-
,
” I was speechless, definitely a first. And had I mentioned extremely pissed off, because I was.
I’
m a woman and we were never told anything about the business on goings, but let me be very clear. I never liked that! I was a smart woman and never appreciated being treated like an idiot. The truth was, I could run this business better than any man.

His lips rose at the corner of his mouth noticing and very aware of my intense reaction.

Pap
a’
s door opened with Tony strutting out. Papa stood directly behind him.

“
Moretti
.
” Papa said nodding him into his office.

Jax offered an apprehensive smile and followed him. Papa did
n’
t even make eye contact with me as he closed the door.

“
What the hell is going on Tony
?
” I sighed into the palms of my hands
.“
That man is beautiful Emily
.
” I admitted.

“
Uh huh
,
” Emily agreed nodding her head.

Tony cleared his throat
.“
Ladies, you have
n’
t a clue who that was do you
?
”

“
Who cares, h
e’
s beautiful
.
” Emily threw me a wink. Sh
e’
d been trying to make him jealous and I do believe it had been working.

I hid my face with my hands
.“
Who is he
?
”

“
H
e’
s the boss of the Chicago outfit
.
” Holy shit! I did not see that one coming
.“
Tha
t’
s why Papa knew him last night
.
” I said mostly to myself.

“
Yeah, so tell me why he just happened to be there to save you
?
” He asked in a hushed voice so that the one man tha
t’
d come in with Jax did
n’
t here.

“
Yo
u’
re worried
?
” I asked Tony

“
Fuck yeah
I’
m worried
.
” Tony was always a strong Italian man. But I could see a crack in his armor when it came to Jax.

“
Too bad h
e’
s married
.
” I jutted my hands to the counter in surrender.

“
Oh that sucks
.
” Emily types something on her phone then looked up and threw Tony a grin.

“
Seriously Bella
?
” He growled. I had never been allowed near th
e“
bosse
s
”
I’
d always been protected from them. I guessed Papa worried they would use me against him.

“
Kidding
.
” I raised my hands in surrender
.“
I guess
I’
m ready to go. Papa is obviously busy today
.
”

“
No, your Father wants to speak with you
.
” Ton
y’
s face fell. Something was wrong.

“
What
?
” My heart tumbled. I knew he was pissed at me and Ton
y’
s expression solidified that.

He shook his head
.“
I ca
n’
t get into this. Not my place
.
” He raised his hands.

“
Wha
t’
s wrong
?
” Emily stood leaning on the marble.

He shook his head again
.“
I ca
n’
t,
I’
m sorry
.
”

Emil
y’
s eyes moved to mine with question.

I shrugged
.“
I have no idea
.
” I knew something was off.

The phone rang and Emily bent down to answer it. Her eyes raised
.“
Yes sir
.
” She hung up
.“
He wants you in there
.
”

I wrinkled my brows wondering what he would want to speak with me about. I dreaded the lecture I was sure
I’
d be getting.  I shuffled towards the door that no one had bothered to get up and open for me, which was completely unlike Papa. H
e’
d always been a gentleman first, for me anyway.

Jax had been in there for a good thirty minutes and now h
e’
d requested I go in. Was Papa in trouble? My stomach was doing summer salts with fear that said something was really wrong.

I gently opened the door, seeing Jax sitting in one of the two chairs directly in front of Pap
a’
s desk. His back was to me not moving. Pap
a’
s head faced towards the window and his hands were clasped together. 

“
Sit
,
” Papa gestured without looking at me.

I did as I was told. My posture was erect with my hands tightly twisted in my lap. My heart pounded in my chest. Something was very, very, wrong. I was scared, but I remained silent. My eyes slid between Papa and Jax. Neither one looked at me.

“
Wha
t’
s wrong? Why is he here Papa
?
” I blurted. I could
n’
t take the suspense another second.

Ja
x’
s head fell.

“
Wha
t’
s going on
?
” Why was Papa holding a meeting for a boss in his office? He never did that. Not at this office anyways.

A few beats tumbled through my chest in slow motion. Before he responded, he raised his head to the window again
.“
Isabella,
I’
ve decided
I’
m not going to go through with your promising to Salvatore
.
” His hands clasped together on top of his desk.

My eye widened with relief. I never actually thought he would, but there was always that possibility in the back of my mind.

Jax cleared his throat and with a nod from Papa, he began
.“
Bella, your father
.
” He pauses blowing out a quiet breath
.“
Has promised you to me
.
” His eyes turned to mine with ownership.

I was leaning into hear everything Jax was saying. I could
n’
t have heard him correctly.

“
What
?
” I hissed.

“
Your father has just recently found out that h
e’
s sick
.
” His eyes narrowed in Pap
a’
s direction.

“
Papa? What
?
” No, that ca
n’
t be true. My head slowly turned to him
.“
Yo
u’
re sick
?
” My mouth gaped with question
.“
You ca
n’
t be sick. Ther
e’
s no way
.
”