Till Death Do Us Part

Chapter 1

Isabella (Izzy) Rossi POV:
I awoke to my maid, Elda, opening the curtains in my room. I loved Elda. But I hated it when she woke me up. My beauty sleep mattered a lot to me.

"Your father wants you down for breakfast in ten minutes, Izzy."

I sighed. I got out of my warm bed. My feet hit the cold wooden floor. I almost winced.

It took more than ten minutes to get ready. But when I finished, I looked rough. My hair sat in a messy bun. Strands fell around my face. I wore a T-shirt and jeans.

I did not mind my look. I worked in a bookstore. Not much happened there. I saw the usuals most days. They would not judge me. Not out loud, at least.

I walked down the stairs. I entered the kitchen. My father and mother sat there.

"How is it fair that Sal does not have to be here, but I do?"

My father rolled his eyes. Sal was my big brother. Let me tell you, he had more power in this house than anyone but my father.

I never knew how we got so rich. My family kept secrets from me. But I never questioned it. They treated me like a princess.

"Must you always complain, Isabella?"

I sat down. I ignored my mother. Food piled onto our plates.

"Ah, has the princess decided to grace us with her presence?" My brother Sal said. He messed with my hair. He took a seat.

I rolled my eyes. My father chimed in. "Son, how was... business?"

I ignored them. I stuffed my face. You might think I skip meals. But those who know me see I eat all the time. I have a high metabolism, I guess.

"Izzy?"

My eyes snapped up to my father. He had called my name. I had no idea for how long.

"Yes?"

"You will be at the bookstore today, yes?"

I nodded. I raised an eyebrow. I wondered where he headed with this.

"My daughter, you are twenty. You have no husband. No house. No purpose but that bookstore. It is time to—"

I cut him off. "Papá, no voy a tener esta conversación ahora mismo." (Dad, I will not have this talk right now.)

I excused myself. I headed to my car for work.

My brother can sleep with whoever he wants. But Sal and my father made it clear. I must stay innocent until marriage.

Trust me, that was no issue. Guys avoided me. I saw how awkward I got at talking. So I started ignoring them too.

Mama said I must marry someday. Papa and Sal said it too. I always brushed them off. They had no say in who or when I married.

I arrived at my bookstore. I smiled at the big letters. "Rossi Reads."

Corny, I know. I was fifteen when I dreamed it up. My father made it real by eighteen. It became my business.

I greeted folks all day. I checked books in and out. Nothing big happened. Except I spilled coffee. I scrubbed it off the rug.

That changed near closing. The bell rang. Someone entered. I glanced up from the worn copy of Pride and Prejudice. I shelved it. I expected Mrs. Henderson from down the street. Or a college kid coming to return a textbook.

Instead, a man walked in. He looked like he stepped from a movie. A dark, dangerous one.

He stood tall. His suit cost more than my whole stock. His deep-sea eyes scanned the shelves. He dismissed them. He sought something beyond books. I knew right away. He did not want a book. He wanted me.

"Isabella Rossi?" His voice rumbled low. It sent a shiver down my spine. Before I answered, he went on. "I am Marco Vitale. And you, Miss Rossi, are to be my wife."

I laughed like an idiot. Right in front of this rich, hot, scary man.

His eyes darkened. He looked to the guy behind him. "Get her."

Before I knew it, hands shoved me into a car backseat. My face went pale. I screamed. They pulled a gun. That shut me up fast.

Marco sat in front. The other two flanked me. Guns pointed at my sides.

I grew up spoiled. I admit it. That means I cannot stay quiet when I should.

"Hey, estúpido, why don't you quit being a pussy and tell me why you're doing this?" (asshole)

He raised an eyebrow. The men pressed guns harder as a warning.

"If you were not my future wife, I would kill you. But I will train that tongue."

This sicko thought we would marry. He thought he could silence me. My own parents could not.

"When my dad finds out, he will send every cop in town after you."

They all laughed. "Are you that dumb? You don't even know who your father is. Or what he has done?"

I stared at him. Like he had two heads. What did he mean? My father was a sweet old man. Not as bad as Marco.

"Oh yeah? What is he hiding?"

I asked in a smartass tone. Soon, he held all the power.

"Your father leads the Spanish Mafia. He signed you over to marry me. The future head of the Italian Mafia."

"Liar," I said. I wondered just a bit if he spoke truth.

"Am I?"

He smirked. He told the driver something. I did not hear. I questioned my whole life.

I sat pale and scared. I prayed to any god. Please let Marco be a liar.

Heyy guys!!!! This is a book I'm really excited for after a lot of consideration about what I should write I finally decided on what to write!!! I hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it!!!
Xoxo-Kenzie ♥️