Bella (A Sagatori Family Saga Mafia Romance Book 2) by Kimberly Blalock

Chapter 1
    Bella
    Darkness loomed over my head like a cloud, I prayed for the storm to just run its course. I prayed for the darkness to swallow me whole. I wondered if the darkness with my father’s death would be the turning point for me. He'd been my rock, my everything, so how did I go from a happy carefree girl to a sad, depressed, angry woman?
    It didn’t matter what I’d wanted. It didn’t matter that I’d been made to marry the man who would run this family. I’d probably be swept under the rug and left to be alone at some point. Jax didn’t, or should I say, wouldn’t love me. Well, hell, who was I kidding? He wouldn’t, couldn’t, it was all the same. But either way, love was off the table. I knew that he'd made that very clear.
    The droplets of cool rain peppered against my toes as I sat on the deck of my father’s home in Detroit. Spring was coming, finally. The cold winter had become redundant.  A creak from the door sounded then the clanking of wood followed. I didn’t want to have the conversation I knew was coming. My body tensed, there wasn’t a way out of it, I knew that.
    “It's Saturday.” The bravado from his voice was welcome because it made me feel safe, but I could do without the content that followed.
    “Mhmm,” I nodded as I slipped my feet off of the chair next to me.
    “Are you ready?” The hum of certainty excited me. I was intrigued by his confidence.
    My head shifted to the left. There he stood, his suit clad body faced me. Dark eyes watched me. “I don’t need to be reminded.” My stare narrowed. I wouldn’t let him see the meek girl again.
    When Papa died I lost it. One psycho hospital visit later and I’d never let him see me weak. Yeah, you heard me right. The bastard locked me up in Detroit’s psycho ward. I was upset, hurt, and angry that my father left me. Isn’t that what happens when people die? Apparently sadness is a weakness that won’t be tolerated. All of the women in the Costa Nostra cry when someone dies, so why couldn’t I?
    “Why are you so set on being difficult, Bella?” he hissed. I infuriated him.
    I remembered that nice guy he'd been or maybe I imagined it. I was sure he'd calm down by now. That hadn’t happened yet.
    I blew out a breath. “Must you always be so overbearing?” I shot back. He was, and I hated him for it. I hadn’t been allowed to see Emily or the staff that I’d practically grown up with. Tony and Sal weren’t allowed to be around me either, and they were like brothers. I sat in this house for the last month alone. Well, Alessandra was here. Jax only allowed his staff to care for me. Even the gardener had been fired and replaced.
    But today was Saturday, the day he would be confirmed as the head of this family. I wasn’t allowed to attend the actual event of course; women weren’t allowed to be a part of those pieces of the darkness their husbands swore themselves to. The family would get together for a dinner after the fact. A huge celebration would take place which usually centered around food. I told him I wasn’t going to go. I refused. He was taking my father’s place after-all. But that was only a defiant tactic. An excuse not to go. Another way to piss him off.
    I remained seated on the chair while I slipped my red polished toes inside the silver sandals. I opened my mouth to spit something back but decided against it. I’d wasted too much energy being negative, it was all negative. I felt myself falling into a dark hole. Yes, I was having a pity party and the pity table only seated one, me .
    A few seconds had passed without me responding, he hated that. I think worse than me back talking to him, he hated my silence. So of course, I was silent more than not recently.
    “Why must you act like this?” His fists balled to his sides.
    I stood from the chair and faced the lake. It was calm and peaceful. A gush of air brushed my face. It felt good, cool and fresh. “I’ll get ready.” I drew a long, deep