Bella #1 (Sagatori Family Saga #1) (9 page)

Jax stood and crossed the office to Pap
a’
s bar. He used to sa
y“
A brandy a day keeps the doctors away
.
” Jax poured three glasses of brandy. He returned handing one to Papa, me, and then said
.“
Do you mind
?
”

Papa shook his head and threw back his own brandy. His Adams apple bounced as he swallowed swiftly. My fingers curled around the crystal in my hands. Why did this feel like the end? Like the last meal right before the execution. My hands subconsciously brought the glass to my lips as I took a long hard sip of hot liquid.
I’
d drank everything in the glass before
I’
d even realized it. Quickly my tongue and throat began to burn.

Jax sat in the chair next to me once again as he looked to Papa. A small bow from my fathe
r’
s salt and pepper head, he signaled Jax to speak once more.

“
Your father had been diagnosed wit
h
… Cancer
.
” He shifted in his chair. He reached for my trembling hands. He leaned towards me. I guessed he was trying to bring me comfort but it was
n’
t working. My body was ice cold and filled with nothing but fear. My tears were falling uncontrollably. I hated that I could
n’
t control myself.

“
What can we do
?
” I asked.

His eyes reached my fathe
r’
s then his face fell.  When he began shaking his head I knew what the
y’
re trying to tell me.

“
No
!
” I screamed. My chest began to heave in and out with harsh shallow breaths.

“
Bella
,
” Jax grabbed me tight to his chest
.“
Bella, i
t’
s okay. Stop
!
” He rocked me. His hands rubbed my head and back as he attempted to bring me peace, but there was no peace. Not after this.

I pulled away from Jax, I wiped my face as I put myself back together. His eyes watched me carefully
.“
Why are
you
telling me this
?
” I turned in my chair
.“
Papa? Wha
t’
s going on
?
”

He nodded to Jax again as he lifted his glass
.“
Isabella, there was
n’
t an easy way of telling you that
I’
m dying
.
” My hands moved to my mouth, holding the screams inside
.“
But this has to be done
.
” Jax returned with an extra-large poor of brandy this time. Papa offered a nod
.“
There are things that need to be sorted out. I saw that you felt comfortable with Jax last night and I saw that as my opportunity. There are many things that have to be settled before
I’
m no longer able to do them
.
”

Jax reached for my hand and squeezed really hard. The grip caused a separation of feeling, like I was in limbo. Numbness took over.

“
As you know I have many dealings and when I go, there will be many that will come to take over
.
”

“
Papa, I do
n’
t care about that
!
” I screeched through the dryness that had formed at my throat.

“
Isabella! Listen to me! For go
d’
s sake listen
.
” He slammed his hands on his desk. Fear rippled through me as he yelled. He never yelled at me. I shuddered
.“
They
are
going to come Isabella. They
will
take over everything that
I’
ve worked so hard to build. Taking it all from
you
.
” He gulped half of the glass
.“I’
ve made a decision for your best interest
.
”

I turned to Jax seeing his face had hardened
.“
What
?
” I turned back towards Papa again.

“
Isabella, yo
u’
ll marry before I die. Yo
u’
ll marry because i
t’
s the only thing that will protect you
.
” His stern voice echoed through my ears. The air in the room was thick making the breath in my lungs absent. I could
n’
t get a breath.

“
And you want me to marry Jax
?
” I gasped through The falling tears.

“
Jax Moretti is a powerful man Isabella and he will take over when I die
.
” His head fell. I knew it was weakness I saw on his face.
I’
d never seen that from him. Ever.

“
Over my dead body, Papa
.
” Bad choice of words.

“
Isabella! Yo
u’
ll do what I say. I will draw up the necessary documents and w
e’
ll have a ceremony. You will love him one day
.
” His hands ran through his hair as he standing to walk to the window
.“
Yo
u’
ll do as yo
u’
re told. If you do
n’
t, I ca
n’
t protect you
.
” His eyes were hard
.“
I
t’
s decided
.
”

“
Papa
.
” I stan
d“
There has to be another way. I could take over Sagatori trucking
.
”

“
A woman? Isabella, a woman ca
n’
t lead this business. There is too much that comes with this responsibility, you know that. It ca
n’
t be done
.
” His tone was firm.

“I’
m sorry Papa, but
I’
m not marrying a man that I do
n’
t love. I want to be
in love
.
” I pleaded, as I held onto his arm. He did
n’
t react. He did
n’
t hold me and he was not telling me that I did
n’
t have to.

The love and respect I held for my father was infinite.
I’
d always been a dadd
y’
s girl. I was Anthony Sagator
i’
s princess. I was and always would be his pride and joy, but I would not do what h
e’
d asked me to do. I would
n’
t!

“
Why Jax
?
” I asked. I did
n’
t hate Jax, but I did
n’
t know him either.

He turned to me
.“
Because he has power Isabella. He could protect you
.
”

My face hardened
.“
Please do
n’
t make me do this
.
” I barely kept the tears at bay. I had
n’
t even had time to grieve the fact h
e’
d just told me he was dying and now I had to mourn my own life.

His hands met the top of my head as I wrapped my arms around his
.“
What else could be done?
I’
m at a loss
.
” He said.

“
Do you know what yo
u’
re suggesting
?
” I asked.

“
I could give you everything
.
” Jax twisted his fingers together in his lap.

I wanted to stand up for myself, but I could barely believe wha
t’
d just happened. A man who barely knew me has just offered to marry me.

“
Isabella, yo
u’
ll marry Jax
.
”

My eyes fell to the floor.
I’
d never marry because I was ordered too. Tha
t’
s was
n’
t the question. I did
n’
t want to marry just anyone, though. I wanted to be in love. I want to be swept off of my feet. I wanted to be adored and treasured. I wanted to wake up to see the man that stole my heart and padded it with his love. I wanted to have what my parents had. I wanted to marry my soul-mate.

“
Bella
,
” Jax approached me carefully. He was tall, muscles peeked through his suit.  His jaw tightened and brows wrinkled. He reached up to his neck as he loosened his tie and removed the button. His jacket slid off of his strong arms and then dropped to the chair
I’
d been sitting in.

“
I know this is probably the most difficult thing yo
u’
ve ever been hit with, with the exception of your mothe
r’
s passing
.
” His voice lowered. He moved forward and took my hands into his
.“
Let me take care of you. Protect you
.
”

“
Jax, how could you marry me if yo
u’
re already married
?
”

His eyes fell to his left hand
.“
Bella,
I’
m not married
.
”

“
Isabella
,
” Papa growled.

“
No, i
t’
s okay
I’
ll tell her. My wife passed away nine months ago. She was in an accident
.
” Pain, regret, and hate all swirled within the greys of his eyes.

“I’
m so sorry, I did
n’
t know
.
” I gasped.

His head shook
.“
No, you did
n’
t and tha
t’
s okay
.
”

“
Listen, I really appreciate everyon
e’
s concerns, but
I’
m not getting married. I can handle anything that those assholes throw at me
.
”

“
Isabella, what would your mother say if she heard you speaking that way
?
”

“
Sorry." I tucked a loose How much time do you have
?
” I was
n’
t sorry.

“
They gave me a year, maybe more. I do
n’
t know
.
” He pinched the bridge of his nose.

My body shoved into Pap
a’
s. I gasped for air as the tears filled my breaking heart.

“
I
t’
s okay princess. I
t’
s all going to be okay
.
” He hugged me back. We stood like that for several minutes.

I stepped back as I held his face
.“
I love you, Papa.
I’
m so sorry this is happening to you
.
” I wiped the tears away from my cheeks with the sleeve of my sweater
.“
Is there nothing that can be done
?
”

“
No
.
” He stepped away
.“I’
ve lived a good life. Do
n’
t cry for me.
I’
ll be with your Momma soon. W
e’
ll watch over you together
.
”

I bowed into my sob.

He rounded his desk
.“
Yo
u’
ll go with Jax and discuss this. Will that do
?
”

My eyes turned to Jax seeing him nod. Why would he do this? Why would a man put himself into danger? I knew the danger was real. I knew why Papa was pushing me to this. I would take over what my father had worked so hard to accomplish. I would be in charge of the trucking company. I knew the
y’
d come for me. That was a given, but I would
n’
t let them see me scared. After today I wouldn't cry in front of anyone ever again.