Little Beginnings

Giovanni's Pov

I drove with Rizz in the passenger seat, my mind racing. We were on our way to her home, and our only concern was not drawing attention. Riz had mentioned that she lived on the outskirts, where people liked to talk.

I called my personal doctor, and he was already there, waiting for us. Luckily, Carlo had survived, and the doctor treated him while he was there. I gathered that Isabella's mother had sent everyone away, making the coast clear. The Moretti—Lorenzo, to be precise—would never dream that we would take her back home.

By the time we arrived, it was already dark. I rushed to her side and carried her inside. A woman, whom I presumed to be her mother, hurried toward us, worry etched across her face.

"I guess you’re the Mafia Don," she said half-heartedly. Neither of us was in the mood for pleasantries.

"Quick, lay her here," she instructed once we were inside the small cottage

I carefully laid her down on the bed, which appeared to be her room. The space was barely big enough to contain all of us.

"Carlo and Rizz, you both keep watch," I said.

They nodded in response, and Rizz helped Carlo out. As the doctor got to work on her, I stood by, watching in silence.

“She lost a lot of blood, but luckily not too much to put her in a dangerous place.” The Doctor said after a while. He'd stitched up her wound and covered it in a bandage.

“Why isn't she waking up?” I asked, a little perplexed.

“I gave her a shot, but she'll be up in a few hours. She needs the rest, apart from the physical injuries, her mind will need to be at peace or it could cause a trauma.” The Doctor said and stood up to leave.

“Thank you,”

I said and he nodded and stood up to leave.

Some time later, her mother came in with a bowl of water, I looked at her still on edge. I touched the gun which was in my coat assuredly.

I didn't know why but I didn't want anyone near her, even if it was the woman that gave birth to her. She seemed to notice the look on my face.

“To wipe her face, she's covered in blood.”

She muttered, dropping the bowl on the floor.

“Leave it here, I'll do it.” I said, shocking the both of us.

“But…” her voice was interrupted by a tiny voice and the sound of shuffling feet.

“Mama…” a little voice called out uncertainly. I turned to look but was obstructed by her mother's frame.

“Let's go now, your sister will be fine.” She said and picked the boy hurriedly, shielding him in a way that I couldn't see his face.

“”We'll leave now,” she said and hurried out of the room. I found that odd, some moments ago, she'd looked like she would rather stay than leave.

I sighed out pushing the thought away from my mind. I took the bowl, placed the cloth in the water, the liquid was warm to touch, slowly I used it to wipe her face.

“You're a cursed woman.” I whispered as I stared at her sleeping face. It was the first time I really looked at her, she was pretty if you stared hard enough. Or so I lied to myself.

Everything about her attracted me in a way I couldn't explain.

“What sin did you commit in the past that you had to encounter me like this, you'll live a life full of hell because you came in contact with the devil.”

I felt her stir and I dropped the bowl, watching as her eyes fluttered open, searching, probably unable to process.

“You're awake.”

Isabella's POV

The voice I heard startled me, I turned to see a set of sea blue eyes, staring sharply at me.

The same ones I'd seen before I passed out. Just then my memories came rushing back at me.

“Ouch,” I winced as the pain shot through my body.

“You're one to get into trouble, aren't you?” He said and I furrowed my brows at him.

What was he talking about?

I was freaking kidnapped because he freaking wanted me to be his freaking bride.

But then he saved me.

My life was suddenly turning into a live action cam.

As much as I wanted to talk I had no strength to. Too bad, this was my only chance to give him the piece of my mind because when the drunken feeling I had faded, I would be too sober and scared to even look him in the face.

What disturbed me was his presence. I could feel it, even more dominating this time. Plus the fact that he wouldn't stop staring at me.

“What's your name?” He asked ever so softly. His tone was silk and smooth, I couldn't possibly get butterflies because of something so silly right?

I pushed myself up to sit but winced at the pain, soon I felt his arms lifting me up, and placing me to sit upright on the bed. His arms around me were strong and deliberately lingered.

I frowned at him. He shouldn't be making me feel this way.

“What's your name?” He asked again.

“Isabella…” I murmured inaudibly.

“What?” He said tilting his head closer to me, I blinked and sucked in a breath.

I was too weak for the kind of effect this man had on me.

“Isabella.” I managed, desperate for some air. He was suffocating, almost intoxicating or it was just the shot I know I'd received earlier. But the effect was still all the same.

He didn't move away, instead he turned his face to me. I bit my lips, immediately nervous at the intensity those blue eyes carried.

“Isabella…” he whispered, reaching out to touch my face. I shivered at his touch.

“You don't have what it takes to be my bride,” he was saying but his fingers caressed my cheeks.

“But I've put too much on you already, I even disobeyed my father's orders for you. You have to make it count.” His voice wasn't as gentle as it had been.

He was threatening me in that sweet, low octave voice of his.

I swallowed hard, wanting to scramble away from his touch and his eyes.

“How?” I whispered shakily, my eyes burned and my heart hammered against my chest. There was no doubt that today was set out to take my life.

“Last time, I told you not to strip, but this time…” he paused and my eyes widened.

He looked at me, a smirk bare

ly showing on his lips, his eyes darkening.

“How about you strip?”