“Like a gang? Is there a gang in your neighborhood?”
My heart races with dread at the thought of some deadly gang living next door.
“Of course not. Listen I am going to tell you because you will be me for a while, but I need you to promise to keep this information to yourself. It’s very important.”
“Yeah. I promise.” I flippantly respond.
“No, Bella.” The vehemence in his words. I turn and find him glancing my way with anger in his eyes. “This is important. I’m talking life and death. If I tell you this, you cannot breathe a word of this to anyone.”
I gulp down a lump in my throat. I just left a life and death situation. Seems I exchanged it for another.
“I promise, Uncle Tony. You are scaring me though.”
“Good. You need to be scared. It is healthy to be scared. It will keep you alive.”
I nod at his words.
“The Catalini family runs Brooklyn and most of New York.”
“Ok? Who is that?”
He sighs and takes a deep breath. “My sweet, innocent, Bella. The Catalini family is the Italian Mafia.”
I gasp. Mafia?
“I thought they had been eradicated from New York? The mafia still exists?”
“They do. They just are a little more low-key. No need to seek public vindication. There are been a shift in the family recently so things will be tense for the next couple weeks, but things will settle. I just want to make sure you are safe. Careful.”
“Of course, Uncle. I will.”
“Good girl. Only one more thing for tonight. If the police come, you do not speak to them. I don’t care what they ask you, you do not respond. If they haul you in for questioning, you tell them you know nothing and want a lawyer. The police cannot protect you. The Catalini family can. Always trust and defend the family and they will always protect you. You got that Bella?”
“Yes, Uncle.”
I couldn’t worry about the Mafia. I would stay out of their way. I have my own issues to worry about. Lord knows, the police are the very last people I would ever seek help from.
Chapter One
Sofia
Six months later
“Sofia! Finally! I thought you were never going to get here.”
“Sorry, Izzy.”
I rush past the hostess and my new friend into the staff room and throw my purse down as I grab my apron. I have been working at Bello Italiano for six months and so far, everything has been good. I also have been able to successfully avoid the supposed mafia and there has been no word from my past. It seems things are finally going my way.
“Sofie, where were you? I was worried.”
“Not now, Mia.” I tell the other server who also just so happens to be a new friend. “I am late enough.”
“It’s not busy yet. What happened? You are never late.”
I turn to her and let out my frustration. “There were these guys that looked like trouble, so I ended up double back and walking four blocks out of my way before heading back.”
“Wait. What guys?”
