HER ATTRACTION

FOUR: WHAT HAPPENED TO ISABELLA?

ITALY

Vicenzo de Rocci, a lean man in his late sixties, quite handsome despite his wrinkles, neat and trim, scanty brows, bulging eyes and full lips, touches of grey hairs on his once jet black hair and by the edges, sat on his desk in his study looking down at a picture in his hand. One of the men in a black suit stood beside him while others stood in front.

He looked at the picture of the beautiful Isabella for a while and took out the papers from the file. He puffed out smoke and dropped the file and picture on the table.

"Tell me what you've got," he said in Italian.

"That is Isabella da Costa, the sister to the da Costa's family..."

"That's right, Domenico had a daughter, I never knew that daughter. Go on."

"She is a citizen of America, brought up by an Aunty called Bianca. She works with a publishing company in New York and is dating the son of a renowned lawyer in New York... No criminal records or association with any. She is Italian and speaks the language very fluently as well as four other languages..."

Vicenzo held up his hand and the man's words trailed off. He shook his head slightly and took a draw from his cigar. "Could this be a coincidence?" he asked rhetorically. "Does Leonardo know about this?"

"He knows about his sister's involvement in the situation but since Capo Riccardo remains unidentified, he doesn't know.

Ilaria slowly walked up to the door and placed her ears on the door to hear what they were discussing. She heard it clearly.

"That bastard," Vicenzo cursed. "Where is he now?"

"We lost all communications with him. The last we heard of him was at the airport after he was shot."

Vincenzo took a long draw from his cigar, puffed it out and stomped the rest out on the ashtray. "He better be alive," he said almost in a whisper then he stood up and took his staff which leaned on the dark mahogany table. The man standing beside him stepped aside and he walked away from the desk and started pacing about. His study was not like the regular studies. It was more of an arsenal. Different firearms, knives and even swords were carefully arranged in the room.

It has dim lights which cast a golden glow on the room. The couches were all rose red and arranged in front of the large desk that was the only thing that held books and papers in the room. There was a bar by the south side of the room and different wines stood on display.

"Get me a glass of scotch, will you?" Vicenzo said.

One of the men went over to the bar and poured scotch into a tumbler and took it to him. Vicenzo took it from the man and stood up and started pacing the room again.

"I only sent him there for one night, just one day, look at the whole trouble he is bringing to me. Getting connected with our enemy's sister. What if she is bait? They would find him in America and everything would be revealed. Could he do something without screwing up for once?!" Vicenzo yelled and hauled the tumbler to the wall. It hit the wall and shattered

Anyone that knows him, knew he has a quick temper. He hit his staff on the ground.

"Contact those in America, let them find him first before the police get to him. He is now connected to the killing of four people at the airport."

"Yes, Sir," the man who had given him the information answered.

Leonardo paced around the large living room while his men stood around silent. The only things that were heard were his shoes and staff hitting the floor. An older man with a vulpine face, sat on the settee watching him as he paced about.

"Pacing around won't solve this issue," the man said.

"Uncle Marco, what else do you want me to do then? Let's wait for Luca to be here."

"Why?"

"I'm sending him to America. Izzy's face is all over..."

Luca ran in cutting his words short. His face was lined with worry. He looked from Leonardo to his uncle seated calmly on a settee.

"Brother, you are here," Leonardo said.

"What happened to Isabella?"

"You are going to America, right away," Leonardo replied.

"No, I'm not," Luca blurted.

Leonardo shot him a sharp look and strode over to him. "What did you say?"

Luca raised his chin, to show that he wasn't scared of his brother. "I don't want to go to America, I don't want to travel at all."

Leonardo grabbed his collar and pushed him to the wall, pinning him and staring fiercely into his eyes. Marco stood up and went over to them.

"Nah, this is counterproductive," he said.

"Stay out of this uncle Marco," Leonardo said still staring into Luca's eyes.

Marco raised his hands in surrender and went and sat back on the settee.

"Now listen to me," Leonardo snarled and pushed Luca's collar up to his jaws. "You would go to America and bring back our sister."

"Why don't you go?" Luca asked.

"I don't need to explain to you but I will just tell you. I am the don of this family and I need to watch over my cartel."

"I'm sure you trust Pietro more than you trust me, why don't you f*****g send him to America and leave me the hell alone?!" His voice was strangled.

"Pietro is my right-hand man and you won't do what he would do in his absence, would you?"

"If you want to talk to me, talk to me like a man with rights, not like your prisoner."

Leonardo remembered he still pinned Luca to the wall, he drew him away from the wall and pushed him away. Luca staggered a few steps away and stood. He tilted his head to the left and right and straightened his shirt.

"Ah, ah," he cleared his throat and faced Leonardo again. "Real men talk over drinks."

Leonardo walked towards the bar. "Luca everything is not a joke." He poured scotch into two tumblers and walked up to him, handing him one. "This is not a joke, you are getting on my last nerve."

Luca downed his drink and raised his glass for another. Leonardo signalled Pietro who went and brought the whole bottle.

"You are lucky, I like you," Leonardo said.

"Because I have no interest in the family business." Luca took the bottle from Pietro.

Marco snorted, they both turned and glanced at him then returned to facing each other.

"I'm not supposed to be doing this but I'll make you a deal."

"Shoot."

"You can stay two more days in America and club all you want. I will make sure of that and I will make sure you get the best treatment over there if you know what I mean."

Luca smiled. "Of course, I do know what you mean. You can send your men."

"You think Isabella would trust them? She needs someone familiar to bring her back home."

"Why does she need to come back here? She has lived in New York all her life."

"Her face is all over the news and don't you think those men have marked her? She is safer here, in her father's land, under my watch."

Luca saw reasons with him, he poured another drink and downed it. "Then, I shall go to America. But, my poor little sister would be heartbroken to find out that her dad has been dead for how many years now?" Leonardo shot him a deadly look. "Alright, I'll stop talking."

Marco stood, smiled at them both and started towards the door.

Leonardo started heading towards the stairs. "You would leave first thing tomorrow morning!" he called.

"Aye, Sir!" Luca called back. He sat back on the settee and downed another glass.

Pietro helped Leonardo out of his suit and gently took his staff and placed it beside his bed where he always kept it. Leonardo helped himself out of the other clothes and walked naked towards the bathroom while Pietro puts his clothes on hangers.

Leonardo got to the door of the bathroom and stopped, without turning, he said, "I want to go to Caterina, she would be free tonight, arrange for me to see her as usual."

"Si, Capo." (Yes, Capo)

Leonardo walked into his already prepared bath and sat down in the water. He thought of Caterina, he only meets her at night and he always goes with Pietro. Pietro was the only one that knew about Caterina and his other secrets that even his brother didn't know.

He also thought of his sister, Isabella and how they would relate when she finally comes back to Italy. She had never been to Italy before, how was she going to react when she learned that they have been lying to her about their dad? How was he going to explain to her about the death of their father? He slowly slid down into the tub until the water covered his face.