Page 7 of Vincenzo's Promise
Asshole.
I no longer had to imagine what the people in my father’s world thought.
Just by his reaction, I knew. My skin was too dark, my long, thick curly hair was too kinky, and my curvaceous body wasn’t lithe, like those of the Italian beauties this man was probably used to. However, in no way did my hair, skin color, or body diminish who I was. I was Isabella Lombardo, daughter of Cyrus Lombardo, Don of the Scuderi Family. I wasn’t the person he thought he’d marry and maybe now, he didn’t want me. I was in no way ready to marry anyone, especially not like this, but his reaction hit me at my core. Even though I didn’t know him, it still hurt I wouldn’t or couldn’t be accepted by someone in my father’s world.
This is probably how my mother felt.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” De Maio spat, looking back and forth between my father and me.
Before he continued his tirade of me not being what he expected, I decided it was time for me to walk away. I didn’t want to say something that would be deemed disrespectful to a crime boss. I had better things to do besides sit there and hear this man speak down about me. They could work all this out without me.
“Papa, is it all right if I go home?” I asked. “I’ve got an early flight, and it seems you need to further discuss this business proposal with Mr. De Maio, since I am not what he expected.”
I tried to keep the irritation out of my voice, but I was sure I’d failed if his expression was a sign.
De Maio began to speak but stopped immediately when I looked at him.
A slow smile moved across his face, which I ignored, turning my attention back to my father. My heart ached because of the sorrow in his eyes. Now, I understood why he’d done what he had all those years ago, and what my mother faced. It wasn’t to keep me out of sight, out of mind like I’d always thought, but to protect me and my mother from people like this arrogant man sitting in front of me. Cyrus had warned it would be hard for me to be accepted as a Lombardo to others in his circle. Now, I’d seen it firsthand.
“Yes, you may go, my dear. Your brothers can take you home. Don’t spend all your time in those books, Bella. You are home to rest. You will be back at work soon enough.”
His concern for me was touching, wiping away my anger and disappointment. My father was proud I’d become a doctor, but he felt the world was passing me by without me fully living. He was right. I had no life outside of my work. No boyfriend, no children. What was I supposed to do other than work?
“You know how hard I’ve worked to get to this point, Papa, but I promise to take it easy today. Just for you.”
“Good.” He nodded his approval. “I will check on you when I return. I love you, Bella.”
“I love you too, Papa.”
I kissed his forehead, looked at the Boss of the De Maio clan one final time, and looked away from his inquisitive eyes. With my head held high, I walked out of the restaurant, my brothers following quickly behind.
My feelings towards the man were confusing. While his reaction repulsed me, there definitely was an undeniable attraction to him. But I wouldn’t marry anyone who couldn’t accept me for who I was, even if I had to figure out another way to get my father and brothers out of the mess they’d gotten themselves into. I was a Black woman who happened to be the daughter of one of the most powerful Dons in the United States. Whether Mr. De Maio chose to accept me was up to him.
He would learn soon enough that, while I might be naïve to the world he and my father navigated, I was still a Lombardo and wouldn’t bow to any man.
Including him.
