Mafia's Bride.

CHAPTER 1: THE BETRAYAL

The call came just after midnight.

Isabella Lorenzo... Now Moretti, by marriage, was busy pouring herself a well earned glass of wine after another long day tolerating her new family. As she eased herself gently into the couch, her phone lit up and started vibrating.

"Should have put you on DND" she muttered in annoyance as she reached for the phone.

It was an unknown number, and she didn't usually fancy answering unknown numbers. Her instincts however kept pushing, and she eventually took the call.

"Isabella Moretti?" a deep voice asked.

She paused. Nobody had called her by her maiden name in the last three months since she got married.

"Yes. Who is this?"

There was a small pause before the caller finally spoke again. "Your father has been arrested, and the council has summoned a trial tonight. Your immediate attendance is required, good day."

The line went dead before she could even ask a question. How could this be possible, what could they possibly have against her father. She had to talk to Luca, surely there should be something he can do.

She found him in his library, focused on a bunch of books and documents with a serious look on his face. He seemed really busy, and she felt bad that she had to disturb him, but she had no choice.

"Luca," she gasped, "my father's been taken, they said the council's trying him tonight."

He paused, looked up very slowly like her words didn't quite register to him, but he replied all the same.

"I know."

Isabella was stunned.

"You knew?" she asked, her voice gradually rising. "And you didn't even bother to tell me?"

Luca stood up slowly, gently closed the document folder he'd been holding after placing an envelope in it. He went to stand in front of the mirror, adjusting the gold cuffs on his suit. "It wasn't my place."

"Wasn't your..." She choked at the words, then managed to try again. "Luca, that's my father."

"Your father is a Don, Isabella, and he has been arrested by the Internal Mafia Council... It isn't a personal affair, it's simply protocol."

She stared at him in shock. "Arent you supposed to protect him from something like this?" She asked sobbing. "Isnt it part of the wedding agreement?"

Luca had no time to respond before his father, Don Nico Moretti walked in. He looked excited, followed by his two heavily armed guards. He ignored the sobbing Isabella, and spoke directly to his son

"Luca, get ready immediately, the council meets tonight and we have been summoned."

Luca nodded. "Understood Papa."

Isabella stepped forward. "I'm coming too."

Don Nico finally turned to her, as if seeing her for the very first time. "This is a Council matter, it's not a show for women."

"He's my father," she snapped. "And I received a summon also."

A smirk appeared on Don Nico's face. "Very well signora, just make sure you remember where your loyalty lies."