Isabella's POV:

The ballroom was loud and busy.

I stood with my parents as they greeted I think the fourth couple, although I can't tell as all the people here looked the exact same.

Oh no this woman has a mole on her left cheek , the last one had a dimple instead.

People charaded their partners around the dance floor

I was almost 100% that I'd be one of them being charaded around the floor within the next hour as my parents keep trying to set me up.

"Your daughter so beautiful, I have a son around the same age , here he is!" A woman spoke to my parents cheerfully bringing my attention back

I look up and see some man, who looked a couple years older than me , smirking at me like a creep.

I'll have to pass

"I'm sure she'll dance with him later on in the night, right Isabella?" My father gave me a warning look so I just nodded with a polite smile on my face

The woman nodded with a bright smile , her son staring at me a predatory look.

My parents dragged me off away from the woman and her son.

I think for once in my life I was glad to be aggressively dragged away

"Stand up straight, you look like a pig." My mother mumbled in my ear and I nodded, doing as told because I'd rather not be beat unconscious again

As I got lost in my thoughts and corrected my stance, the doors of the ballroom flew open and gasps, whisper and tension filled the room

Everyone nodded their head in respect at whoever it was although this was some normal respected guy

This man was Leonardo Russo and he wasn't respected he was feared.

The room was silent and for some reason I was out of it , not registering I was the only one not nodding my head.

Until I see Leonardo literally look right at me.

Oh my god

"Nod your god damn head girl." My father screeched from besides me making me quickly snap my head down to my feet

I still felt his stare on me

I heard a few more people enter behind him.

His crew.

Ace De Luca and Killian de luca

They both were also feared not quite as much as Leonardo but close

The chatter began slowly spreading across the room so I took that as a sign to look up , Leonardo was still staring at me.

It must be someone behind me that he's looking at I thought to myself so I turn around but no one's there

I looked up again and this time , they were all looking at me , all three of them. Now they were chatting aswell though.

Fuck

Why am I scared?

Suddenly I am snapped out of my trance by my mother , who grabbed my hand in the tightest grip ever.

"What the fuck are you doing?! Stupid girl!" She yelled at me and I'm pretty sure even Leonardo who was on the stairs could hear her as she scolded me

I shrunk down in fear.

Tensing up knowing that any second now she would sl-

Suddenly a stinging sensation spreads across my face.

Slap me.

Also no , not one person will jump in because unfortunately in these types of family this is normal , maybe not to the extent I get at home but a slap here and there is normal.

I'm not stupid, I know it's not meant to be but this is my life

Hopefully I'll escape it someday soon.

My eyes were watery because of her harsh slap but I fight them back

"Now go dance with someone and make yourself useful, we'll deal with their later." My father spoke with a threatening voice and dark smirk on his face

"Of course father" I spoke my voice weak as I tried to fight back the tears because of the pain but also the embarrassment of getting hit in public

I hated this but I wasn't going to let them have the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

I walked over to a mirror in a hall out of the ballroom so I could clean up my makeup because it has smudged slightly

"Stupid girl." I mumbled to myself trying not to cry as I looked for my wipes and mascara as I did this I felt a few presences around me but I thought I was being stupid so I didn't look up

I finally find the mascara but as I picked it up I dropped my note book which fell to the floor

I sighed about to crouch down and pick it up but a voice spoke from behind me

"A notebook , writer wouldn't have guessed that." A deep voice said from behind me and startled the absolute shit out of me

I jumped in shock and looked up at the mirror seeing none other than Leonardo fucking Russo stood behind me

Not only that but with Ace De Luca and Killian De Luca besides him.

"Oh my , I am so sorry sir i-" I stumbled out turning around with a startled look on my face , I had to look up as he was alot taller than I thought.

He was extremely intimidating

He was an amazing looking man but I was too scared right now to process that.

"No need to apologise." He spoke in the most emotionless voice I'd ever come across , Ace picked up my note book observing it closely

"Isabella Rodriguez? Isabella.." he read my name of the front of my notebook, giving his brother and Leonardo a look

"Yeah that's me again I'm so sorry I just had a p-" I started but I was quickly interrupted

By Leonardo.

"I said no need to apologise." He spoke sternly getting irritated

"Right sorr-" I was going to reply but stopped myself realising what I was saying and they all gave me looks making me look down in embarrassment

I took a deep breath

Come on Izzy , pull yourself together.

Just gotta get out of here.

"Give her the notebook brother" Killian spoke and Ace snapped out of his trance , passing me the book in silence.

I tried to step away from them so I could leave but Leonardo stepped in the way so I couldn't leave

Staring down at me intensely.

"I have to go find my parents" I mumbled shyly with a polite smile

"I believe your parents told you to find a man to dance with" Ace exposed me making me look at them in shock and slight fear realising they knew I lied to them

They were important

Like dangerously important.

"I'd like to be the one you dance with" Lorenzo told me casually, catching me off guard. Staring at him completely froze at my spot

I was completely surprised by his words

"I um- I mean-" I stuttered out not knowing what to say and he nodded grabbing my wrist dragging me out the hallways

"Good thank you" he thanked me like I said yes , reaching the dance floor as the music started again and people made sure we were in middle of the dance floor as the song began.

Ace and Killian both followed and simply watched on the sidelines

I stared up at Leonardo shocked still completely out of it as he intensely gazed at me

I moved my feet with the song. Instinctly knowing what to do because of all the classes my parents made me take.

I didn't know what to say and even though I knew this dance by heart , I was scared I'd mess up.

I felt like everyone was watching

Making me even more nervous

I wasn't the best with audiences so I stared at my feet because I did not fancy looking at Leonardo as he damn well scared the fuck out of me.

"Look at me." Leonardo suddenly mumbled in my ear with a demanding hint to it though as his arm went around my waist , his touch sending shivers up my spine.

I looked up doing as told , scared If I didn't he'd get angry

"Stage fright?" He spoke in a slightly less cold tone making me take a deep breath and nod at him looking around seeing my parents, staring straight at me in shock.

"Forget anyone's looking, you look beautiful and I'm sure they're all just thinking the same" Leonardo randomly said making a weird nervous feeling abrupt in my stomach

I nodded, smiling the best I could.

I was so terrified right now.

The music intensified so we moved faster along with the music and he stared down at me with a peaceful look

"Thank you" I mumbled a little late but I think he understood what I was thanking him for

I looked like a right little suck up right now.

I wonder if he can read my mind

What the fuck am I going on about?

"How old are you darlin?" He suddenly asked staring down at me with a steady and weird look on his face

"Oh um I'm newly 19 , Mr. Russo if you don't mind me asking how old are you?" I spoke trying to form a sentence and gather my thoughts

Why did I say newly?

It's true but why?

I'm such a mess

He scrunched his eyebrows in dislike as I said Mr. Russo

"Leonardo. Not Mr. Russo to you and I don't mind don't worry I'm 22 years old love" he told me sternly in a commanding tone

Leonardo.

"Right I'm sorry I just was always tol-" I apologised once again and he gave me a look as I looked up

"You don't have to always apologise you know , you do it far to much." He reminded me and I agreed but like it's instinct

I nodded at him

"Yeah sorry" I mumbled , closing my eyes in frustration at myself realising I apologised again

For the first time all evening I saw Leonardo slip out a small smile.

The music stopping as he stared at me in amazement.

We held eye contact for a while before his friends stepped forwards and walked towards us with my parents following their lead

"That seemed like.. something" Ace looked at Leonardo suspiciously as Leonardo didn't take his eyes off me

"Isabella what on earth are you doing?! I'm so sorry If she bothered you at all-" my father grabbed me harshly pulling me to the side of him in a tight grip

Which made me hiss in pain.

"She didn't bother me in anyway." Leonardo spat back at my father pulling me to his side instead

I was confused.

Leonardo must have just needed company tonight.

"She didn't? Then Why'd you dance with her?" My mother asked looking me up and down silently saying something

At this point I didn't give a fuck.

"Because I wanted too." Leonardo replied, glaring at my parents with his friends doing the same

Not big fans of my parents either? Twinning!!

"I hope your not questioning Leonardo." Killian spoke like he was losing his temper with my parents

"Of course not sir" my father quickly replied and their fear made me smirk on the inside

My mother seemed like she was about to shit herself.

They were going to end up killing eachother if it wasn't for someone running into me and dropping everything she was holding

Leonardo was about to yell at the person but I spoke over him

"I'm so sorry, here let me help you." I mumbled crouching down and picking up a book

"It's okay I should have been watching where I was going" the girls voice was weak and sort of broken as she gathered her things

Suddenly as I registered the voice I looked up.

She looked up.

We both looked up.

"summer!?"

"Izzy!?"

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Chapter 1 donee, hope you enjoy the story so far x