ISABELLA GAMBINO
1202 Words
“You brought mercy along?” Andrei questioned the boss as their car came to a stop in a vast, empty field.
Vladimir stepped out of the car, shut the door, and then leaned against it.
He only spoke when Andrei made the round to stand next to him.
“She hasn't had the opportunity to play in a while,” he answered.
Andrei whistled. “If you had given me better details, I would have worn my happy gloves.”
A small smirk appeared on Vladimir's face, just as the other car rolled in.
Both Maxim, and Hedeon stepped out. Their gazes lifted at the same time, resting on the big boss, and the second in command.
Together, and in perfect syncing strides, they approached them.
“Is it me or does Maxim grow taller by the year?” Andrei asked with a hint of humour in his tone.
“How old is the boy again?”
“Twenty this year, I guess. By the time he reaches twenty-five, he'll be rubbing shoulders with you.”
“We can only hope so,” Vladimir remarked, just as both men arrived into their midst. “Hedeon?”
“Yes boss?” Hedeon answered immediately.
“Did you know Isabella might be marrying Can soon?”
Andrei's chest tumbled hard, causing him to cough out.
When he gave out that information to Vladimir, he kinda wasn't expecting it to come out so bluntly in this manner. Especially not towards Hedeon.
“Give the man a bottle of water, Max,” Vladimir continued without giving either a glance. “Did you Hedeon?”
“No boss,” Hedeon replied, remaining composed.
“How do you feel knowing the woman you were once ready to marry in a heartbeat will be marrying another man?” Vladimir continued his interrogation segment.
“If that's her destiny, then so be it,” he replied once more, keeping his tone steady.
Andrei muttered genuine gratitude to Maxim who had retrieved a bottle of water from the car, and handed it to him.
After taking a big gulp, his throat instantly felt less stressed.
“But I'm feeling petty, Hedeon. Will you forgive me if I interfere this one time?”
Hedeon's eyes squinted all the way with curiosity. “What would you do?”
“Excellent question. We were supposed to go hunting. But I changed my mind. Not about hunting, but about our prey, and the location to capture our prey. Have you been to this location before?”
Hedeon looked around the field. It stretched endlessly, both far and wide. He had never been, but he didn't have the best feeling about it.
“No boss.”
“Tell him, Andrei.”
The last bit of colour he still had in his face completely disappeared.
No he didn't want to be a part of any of this.
Sure, Hedeon was never the type to wear his heart on his sleeve, but he still vividly remembered the dark period in his life when he found out Isabella was a Gambino, which meant he couldn't be with her.
Eventually, Vladimir gave his blessing on the condition that the Gambino's did not try to use the union as a way to start up some bullshit.
They clearly had some ulterior motives because shortly after, Isabella left for Italy.
She cut all contacts, and was never heard from. Until now.
He remembered clearly, and that was why he didn't want to be a part of whatever it was Vladimir was planning.
“Andrei?” Vladimir called his name again when he didn't swiftly start explaining.
Andrei took in a deep breath, accepting there was no escaping this huge responsibility placed on him.
“Hedeon?”
“Andrei,” he answered.
“Isabella is looking to purchase a bit of this particular land,” he began.
“Okay?” Hedeon shrugged, wondering what that had to do with him.
“Well, she comes here every Monday to access the land. It's a way to figure if it has good bones, soil, and consistency. That way, whether festivals or amusement parks, it'll take.”
Hedeon bobbed his head, but his eyes showed he was still not clear how exactly he was affected by any of this.
“Today is a Monday, Hedeon,” Andrei finally struck the hammer on the nail.
Hedeon, always calm and composed, inhaled sharply, his eyes widening.
He had barely recovered from what he just heard when the sound of an approaching car filled the air.
Vladimir's eyes lit up. “Seems we have company.”
The car came to a stop, and two men rushed out of it.
One of the men opened the backdoor, and a pair of penciled, red bottom stilettos stepped out first. The body followed right after.
Maxim whistled. “f**k, she's hot!”
Andrei sighed, as he looked at Hedeon who was doing everything in his power not to look behind.
“Go speak to her, Hedeon,” Vladimir ordered.
“Boss–” Andrei began, but shut his mouth when Vladimir lifted a silencing finger.
“I don't have anything to say to her,” Hedeon said.
“Tell her she's coming with us.”
Hedeon's eyes snapped towards Vladimir's. “We're kidnapping her?”
“It's either that or mercy has a bloody conversation with her right here. Pick your poison, Hedeon.”
Hedeon's heart pounded heavily.
“Make up your mind, Hedeon. She has seen us, and is now approaching. Surely, her dogs recognise us too. They whispered into her ears.”
Vladimir was barely done speaking when Hedeon instantly made up his mind, and turned right around.
He walked just a couple of steps before reaching Isabella who was also walking towards them.
Coming to an abrupt halt, he lifted his head.
Isabella's eyes flickered with something nostalgic as it recognized him.
“Hedeon?” She whispered, breathlessly.
“What are filthy Bratva's doing in our land?” One of her dogs, as Vladimir described them, stepped forward challengingly.
Hedeon gave him a brief once-over, before shifting his gaze back to Isabella. “You shouldn't have come here,” he said to her.
His voice, just like she remembered, hit her right where it always did. Straight at her heart.
“Wh-y?” She stuttered, all flustered up in the most heated way.
“Because–” his gun was out in a split second, and both men by her side were down on their backs in ten.
Isabella didn't scream. She was too used to violence to be fazed by a thing like this.
“What now? You're taking me? Let me guess, you heard about my engagement to Can?”
“Don't flatter yourself,” he tucked his gun back into his pocket, and turned around. “If it were up to me, I'd never see you again. Not even in hell.”
Vladimir watched his butcher return to him, already picturing his reward in his head.
“Your turn Max,” he said just as Hedeon arrived.
“Don't bother!” Isabella screamed at the top of her voice. “I'm coming to you.”
- Writer
