TWO SOULS AND A TIE

CHAPTER 3

Leonardo did not expect any more from his morning, as his night was so bad and cold, the whole encounter was something enough to give anyone a sleepless night. He couldn't help but wonder about the future. The path he had chosen was filled with uncertainties, and he could only hope that his decision would bring an end to the bloodshed that had plagued the city for far too long, but before that what about the sudden plague and commotion that was about to hit his family.

He could not even speak out to his wife, cause he knew our dreaded she was going to be by such news. Isabella had been a witness to so many things she never wished for and now this , she's had to stomach more pain than she ever wanted, but it was the only family she’s got, she had to live with it every passing day.

Meanwhile Diego had his whole night just pondering if it was a good stance for a truce, would it mean more good than harm, he knew he had a lot of talking to do with son, he had to love a lady for the sake of a truce. This would mean breaking up with his current girlfriend, the said alliance was going to hit everybody differently.

Would this risky gamble pay off or lead to an even greater chaos, there was so much now and much more to come.

Isabella was already running off to the city library, it was her most happy place, it took her away from the family dealings and many others, she saw it as a safe abode and an escape from her real life. Little did she know the day would start off so bad, so bad that it would spoil not just her mood for the day but also for the rest of her life maybe.

Leonardo sat on one of the couches in the corridor, just few steps behind the dinning table where she was taking her coffee, he was looking at her through the window blind, she didn't notice cause he had made sure to turn off the lights there, as she was taking and sipping off from her coffee cup, he stared and look at her with pity and pain, he hated the whole idea of bringing her into all of this, he thought of how he got such an intelligent and enigmatic lady as a daughter, he felt like he didn't much deserve her in the first place and now this, bringing her into a very painful state, making the choice of who she was going to get married to.

Marco and Isabella had grown up in a world filled with violence and uncertainty, and they were no strangers to the consequences of their fathers' criminal activities. But they were not ready for anything like this.

Just as Isabella took the last sip from her tea cup and wore her cross bag, Leonardo called to her gently with a subtle voice, she startled a bit and wondered if she was hearing the voice of an angel or maybe she was going crazy, how are you my daughter he said, she looked around again, and eventually Checked the corridor, Dad!! She giggled for a while and then she asked what are you now, A prankster? He forced a smile out from his face as he asked her to turn on the light and take her seat. He was not ready for this neither was she, but he knew he was still going to tell her anyway, and a delay would even make it worse, at this point he had not said anything to his wife.

He took a sigh and bowed his head down to the floor, Isabella could sense something was wrong and this got her a little worried. What is it Dad? Isabella asked, you know I'm already running late. You know I have a research I'm working on. The research would have to wait Isabella, I have something I want to tell you.

Okay Dad, i'm all ears, she said as she finally took her seat

I love you Isabella, that was the first thing that came out from his mouth, yes dad,i love you too Dad, isabella replied as she was feeling so uneasy, What is it Dad?

You’re getting married Isabella, you’re getting married, Isabella laughed for a second, she couldn't believe her dad was trying to be funny on a morning like this. Getting married to who Dad, i don’t even have a boyfriend yet, so what do you mean i am getting married, she laughed even louder,

But Leonardo hardened his face and he said slowly “ You're getting married to Marco. The name immediately rang a bell and she knew she had heard of that name before.

Marco? You mean Marco Diego?. What is the meaning of what you’re saying Dad?.

I'm sorry Isabella it is for the best, you might not know him that much but this marriage has to take place, i know you don’t like it neither do I. The fate of the whole family depends on this marriage, we’re settling for a truce and you both are our best options.

Her day was already bad, she couldn't believe her Dad would sell her off so cheap inorder to settle for a peace treaty, getting married to someone she barely knew, what was she now ? an atonement for war and Violence between the most widely feared mafia families in Las Vegas.

She left for her room and began to weep endlessly. He tried to follow her to her room but he knew it was just going to make things worse. The repercussions for his shortcomings had now fallen on his beloved daughter, he knew he was never going to forgive himself if anything bad happened to her.

The marriage proposal was quite different for Marco, it did not come as a shock to him,he was not thrilled with the idea of marrying someone he barely knew, he knew he would one day face the consequences and repercussions for his Fathers Shortcoming.

Marco and his Dad would normally sit for a glass of wine and Cigarettes every morning and have their usual morning discussions regarding the family business and all that, though indisposed to all of it Marco was very diligent with it. So this morning was no different from the rest, just as Marco was about introducing the regular business and little constraints he had faced yesterday, he was shocked at the response of his Dad “ Hey Marco, this is not the reason why i have called you here, as a matter of fact i have called you here for something far important, the fate of the entire empire now depends on it, we’re at the point of settling a truce with our most rivaled gangs, You mean the Moretti’s ? Marco asked Rapidly.

Yes, the Moretti’s, Diego Fellani said as he poured some more wine in his cup, my sworn enemy is about to my in law, am i not crazy, he said as he laughed Hysterically.

Marco was not surprised he was going to enter into a contract marriage with someone he didn't know nor had feelings of any sort for. He had seen too many of his friends and acquaintances fall victim to the ongoing feud between two families.

Though he understood the importance of the truce, but he did not expect that both families would one day settle for a truce, it was even more painful to him realizing the so many injuries and lives of some of the men he had lost anytime he had any encounter with the Moretti's, he felt like he needed to have his revenge before this, but it was all said and done now, he could not possibly change anything.

This truce is more important than anything you could think of, Fellani said. I know you might not be interested in this, but remember you’re doing it for the family, and whoever takes one for the family has made the most expensive sacrifice, you should find yourself worthy in such a position.

I know Dad, everything we do is for family, everything we do, Marco laughed as he silently walked away. He took his ride immediately out of the Family Mansion, as he drove, so many questions crossed his mind, so many contemplations, was he going to leave sophia his girlfriend after everything that he has shared with her, to love Isabella; i mean he barely knew the lady, and even if he did was she going to reciprocate the love, cause she was was also getting into the marriage against her own interest the same way he was, and even if they loved each other later on, would this bring an end to the feud, a vendetta that has lasted for a very long time between both families, was this the beginning of an end that he wasn't prepared for, the thoughts struck him like a bullet train. And as he drove he was left with only one answer “Family is everything, you must never forget that Son”.