Chapter 4 - Nobody Threatens Isabella Romano
Isabella refused to act frightened.
“I am eighty years old, Dominic.”
“Seventy-four.”
“Close enough.”
“You’re not leaving the house.”
She lifted her coffee.
“You are not grounding me.”
Bella sat across from her at the kitchen table.
Dominic had brought her to the estate because Isabella insisted on seeing her.
Four guards stood outside.
Two more watched the hallway.
Bella whispered, “Does this happen often?”
Isabella whispered back, “Only when my son becomes dramatic.”
“I can hear you,” Dominic said.
“Good.”
He turned toward Bella.
“Hale’s men followed my mother from church.”
Bella frowned.
“Why?”
“To scare her into selling.”
Isabella waved a dismissive hand.
“They failed.”
Dominic's phone buzzed.
He checked it.
“Hale wants a meeting.”
Bella immediately said, “Don't go.”
Dominic looked at her.
She hesitated.
“I mean… isn't that obviously a trap?”
A faint smile touched his face.
“You're getting better at this.”
“I work in a café. We recognize suspicious customers.”
Isabella smiled.
“You should listen to her.”
Dominic stared at the message.
“I intend to.”
The meeting happened that night at Romano’s, one of Dominic's restaurants.
Victor Hale arrived with six men.
Dominic had eight.
Bella wasn't supposed to be there.
She came anyway.
Dominic found her behind the bar wearing her café coat.
“What are you doing?”
“Your mother sent me.”
His eyes closed.
“Of course she did.”
“She said you forget to eat when you're angry.”
Bella held up a paper bag.
“Sandwich.”
“Bella, Hale is coming.”
“I know.”
“You need to leave.”
The front door opened.
Too late.
Victor Hale entered.
He was in his fifties, silver-haired, expensive, and smiling.
His gaze moved immediately to Bella.
“Well.”
Dominic stepped between them.
“Look at me.”
Hale smiled.
“So she really did get your attention.”
Bella's stomach tightened.
Dominic's voice dropped.
“You know her?”
“I know every tenant in properties I own.”
“You don't own hers anymore.”
“Temporary inconvenience.”
Hale sat.
“Isabella should have sold.”
Dominic remained standing.
“You followed my mother.”
“A misunderstanding.”
“You threatened Bella.”
“Another misunderstanding.”
Bella spoke before Dominic could.
“You use that word a lot.”
Hale looked at her.
“You're brave when standing behind him.”
Bella stepped sideways.
“Now I'm not.”
Dominic muttered, “Bella.”
“What?”
“Please stop helping.”
Hale laughed.
Then he leaned back.
“This isn't about one apartment building. Your mother owns the access parcel. I need it.”
“She said no.”
“Everyone has a price.”
Bella looked at him.
“That's what people say when they don't understand the word no.”
Hale's smile vanished.
Dominic glanced at her.
Something like admiration crossed his face.
Hale stood.
“You think Romano can protect you?”
Bella answered quietly.
“I think the elderly woman you followed in traffic has more courage than you.”
Dominic nearly smiled.
Hale stepped closer.
“Careful.”
Dominic moved instantly.
He didn't touch him.
He simply stood between them.
The room went silent.
“You speak to her,” Dominic said, “through me.”
Hale studied him.
Then smiled again.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The weakness.”
Bella's expression changed.
Dominic did not.
Hale walked toward the door.
“See you soon.”
After he left, Bella exhaled.
Dominic turned.
“Never do that again.”
“What?”
“Challenge a man like Hale.”
“You challenge him.”
“I know what I'm doing.”
“So do I.”
“No, Bella. You don't.”
She stared at him.
“You think being poor means I don't understand dangerous men?”
Dominic said nothing.
“I’ve spent my whole life knowing when a landlord is lying, when a boss is about to fire me, when a man at table six has had enough alcohol to become a problem. People without money learn danger because nobody else is paid to notice it for us.”
Dominic's anger disappeared.
Bella handed him the paper bag.
“Eat your sandwich.”
She walked away.
Dominic stared after her.
His lieutenant approached.
“She doesn't seem afraid of you.”
Dominic opened the bag.
“No.”
“That bother you?”
Dominic looked toward Bella.
“More than it should.”
The next morning, Bella arrived at the café.
The front window was shattered.
Calvin stood inside.
His face was pale.
Paint covered the wall behind the counter.
Three words had been written across it.
SELL OR SUFFER.
Bella stared.
Calvin whispered, “What have you gotten us into?”
Then Bella saw something on the counter.
A single orange.
May you like
And beneath it, a photograph of Isabella Romano.
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