"Grazie, ma forse dovresti tenerlo per pagare per questa festa?"  She grumbled as she took the envelope.  She sighed, deciding to let it go.  The party was clearly thrown with the best of intentions.

"I don't suppose that my loyal bodyguards have managed to slither back yet on their bellies?"  She arched an eyebrow and when Calimero_DiGrazia didn't immediately say yes, she cursed, "Damn."  

She looked up to the sky as if to ask God what to do then finished her thought aloud.  "That means either they ran in fear... or... my father knows about my trip to New York.  Please tell me you forgot to send the Godfather an invitation to this little shindig, Padre?"

Aquila's fingers toyed with the hem of her dress, her gaze nervously following around the party-goers as they celebrated the momentous day. The don deserved it, that was for sure, but Aquila could never feel comfortable in such a setting. Watching people have fun, exchange gifts, flirt, it made the young lady feel faint. Perhaps if she could find a drink she'd be able to steady her rapidly beating heart, but for now Aquila stood on the sidelines at a party, exchanging soft smiles and 'hellos' as she debated ways to integrate herself into the celebration. Her eyes lead to Isabella, who looked as breathtaking as she did frustrated- amidst a conversation it was not Aquila's place to interrupt.  Holding back a sigh Aquila took in the scenery around her- and that's when she saw her.

Aquila's nervous gaze flicked to her sister, Vela, an obvious need for some for of social salvation evident in her glazed eyes. Perhaps Vela would be the cure to Aquila's social inadequacy.

Sal had received an invitation to Isabella's little crew party and decided to make an appearance. When the day of the party arrived he had been in his office when one of Isabella's bodyguards had stopped by to talk with him. This threw Sal a little because he does not have much communication with HER protection. The man informed him that Isabella had taken a trip and left them behind. 

"She traveled alone?" he asked to himself. 

"Where did she go... Why wouldn't she bring her protection with her?" he thought 

He had the man ushered away and got up and headed downstairs. He stopped to tell Tiny that Isabella's protection detail needs a reminder of how to their jobs and pointed to the man who was quickly trying to leave the Godfathers Headquarters. Sal felt bad it was obvious that the man had drawn the short straw and had to be the one to deliver this news. He watched as Tiny stopped the man and walked him into a back room. 

Sal headed out and got into the car with Junior and headed off to the party. 

Sal could not shake the feeling that Isabella had done something stupid. He was worried she might after Elias died but hoped her position would allow her to move forward without taking undue risks. 

Sal pulled up to the party and walked in and headed straight to Isabella. 

"Hello Isabella," he said to her seriously. 

A warm smile was plastered on Vela's face as she put a hand on her hip. She looked around her, feeling pleased that at last she had found her true home though she would always be grateful for her past experiences in different crews. Vela was surrounded by individuals who she would hold close to her heart forever, and her happiness seemed to reach extreme heights when she caught sight of Isabella. It seemed as if the world was going in slow motion, as Vela's eyes danced around, watching everyone laughing and exchanging words. With a hand still rested on her hip, she closed her eyes for a quick second just to take in the moment she was living in. The tower still stands, and will stand forever...

What will also live eternally is her love for her younger sister, Aquila. Vela's starlet of the night. She frowned slightly, noticing her nervous body language. Vela casually approached her with her hands at her sides. "You look conflicted. C'mere." Vela embraced her in a hug, the warmth of her affection being transferred to Aquila before whispering in her ear. 

"Let loose, sis. I'll be here with you."

Isabella heard her father greet her almost IMMEDIATELY after she'd asked her right hand to tell her that he'd over looked inviting the most powerful man in the city, of course... that hadn't happened.  "Thank you, Padre."  She said dismissing him so he didn't have to take heat for her shit storm.

She turned, knowing damn well her father would see her enlarged and split lip - undeniable evidence she'd recently been in a VERY nasty fight.  Make up could only do SO MUCH to hide this fact and the man whose arm she was on was not only wearing one of Elias' suits... but he looked like HE'D BEEN IN THE SAME FIGHT!

"Good evening, Godfather."  She said, choosing his title rather than her more familial name for him because she was in mixed company.  Will was from the Philly operation and so it wouldn't do to give her father anything but the utmost respect.  Instantly she was glad that the Padre had handed her a large envelope of money.  Without counting it she passed it directly to him.  

"For the family."  She said, repeating her Right Hand Man's words.  She hoped cash would delay the inevitable interrogation.

Tenkai being one of the excited immortal beings that he was , coming out of his room , seeing a godfather heading down the halls of their head quarters, he nearly froze, he had never seen the Godfather Salvatore_Luciano , but he had heard the rumors of him being a legend, he bowed in respects , as he sped past the man , keeping out of his way , being a gang leader , he knew well to stay out the mans way, because the look on his face told him he was kind of pissed off .

As he sped out of there , as fast as any immortal could , moving in a blur, he came out of the doors and came outside, seeing some familiar faces , and then he saw his two favorite girls , what seemed like they we're standing together , he was going to go greet them with drinks.

He grabbed two trays , one with food , and the others drinks , and walked over to them , with a soft smile on his face, swing how gorgeous they looked, he chose right , they we're well respected and we're well properly dressed .

"Aquila ,Vela ... It's good to see you here ...I brought food ,and drinks ." He said , softly speaking , as he stood next to them, offering the trays so they could grab what ever they wanted. 

Stephen comes sliding out the kitchen drinks in had, he was travelling at such a speed he just missed Godfather Salvatore_Luciano, he had to double take that he did really see The Godfather here. Stephen stopped in his tracks and greeted him, he knew he had to show him the upmost respect.

"Good evening, Godfather, If I may could I possibly take your daughter just for a quick chat."

Stephen stood nervously, what the hell was he doing, his hands started to clam up, he hid the alcohol behind his back, he did not want to give the Godfather the impression he was taking her to get drunk but he knew him and Isabella-Luciano had to talk and alcohol was the best way to get people talking. After the passing of his best friend and her husband Elias him and Isabella-Luciano have not spoke about it, they had both felt the full effects of it and neither one was good at showing there feelings.

Isabella felt immediately awkward.  She suspected blowing off her dad was bad form but if her Left Hand Man had something so pressing that he had to interrupt her talk with a Godfather... well shit, that had to be important.  And if it wasn't, maybe she'd be thankful as fuck that she could pretend that it was!

"Of course, Stephen."  She looked at her companion.  "This is ... family business I fear.  Would you mind terribly if I left you here at this table a moment?  I promise to return to you and Godfather Luciano as fast as I'm able to do so."

She looked to Salvatore, "Father, this is William Bowden.  He's a very good friend of mine who, despite my careless behavior last night, managed to prevent me from coming to serious harm... at a significant cost to himself I fear.  Would you please keep him company for me while I see what Stephen here needs?  I'd like for you two to get to know one another... if you would."

With that she took Stephen's arm and leaned in close to him, "Thank you... is there something really happening or were you trying to bail me out of the shit storm before it began?"

Double checking Godfather Luciano was out of sight, Stephen pulled out the bottle of whiskey he had taken front he kitchen, he looked as Isabella and smiled, while still looking over his shoulder for what he had just done was very stupid of him, but it had to be done. Stephen walked with Isabella into her office and shuts the door behind him.

"Part of me took you away to save you, but also you know as well as I do we need to talk about what happened with Elias. I need to know you are ok?."

Stephen looked at Isabella and the way he body language changed when facing that question, he took out two glasses and filled them he placed one in front of Isabella and held one himself.

"We are not leaving this room until we have discussed this." Stephen wondered if he was brave or stupid tonight first he had spoken to the Godfather and interrupted him now he was given order to The Don.

Isabella looked at the whiskey and the two glasses.  She looked at Stephen and then at the door.  She considered her derringer in her garter belt.  Instead she took the whiskey and poured a shot.

"What is there to talk about exactly?"  She took the shot and began to refill the glass.  "If I tell you I'm okay ... you say I'm lying or you think I don't care.  If I cry and tell you that I feel like the very air was sucked out of my fucking lungs and I'm two bad days away from eating my own gun ... well, what confidence could you possibly have in following me as your Don?"

She shook her head, trying not to be angry and failing.  She did the second shot.  "What is it you want me to say exactly Stephen?  How are YOU doing after a group of cops beat your friend so badly that his already busted up liver exploded poisoning him to death?  Is the party helping that?"

Stephen looks at Isabella.

"Look at you, you have cuts and bruises all over you, this is not what Elias would want." Stephen realises shit was real and he was treading on very thin ice but for he was only doing it because he cares about Isabella and her safety.

"We have all suffered here, Elias was my one true friend, I have to live with him not being here as well." Stephen took a step over to the window and opened it and looked out he turned back around at Isabella.

"What do I want?" He says to her

"What I want is for you to be ok, everything to be ok, getting into fights in bars or however you got them cuts and bruises is not the answer, you want to take shit out on someone take it out me, I should of been there for him and I wasn't. I will stand here and take every word you have to say until you are ok."

Stephen takes another drink and a deep breath.

"You son of a bitch..."  She snarled.  "How dare you.  You should have been there for him?  YOU!  How exactly was THAT going to work?  You should have been there when?  When he took the bullet to the liver on my father's orders, trying to prove himself worthy of my hand in marriage?  Or maybe you think you should have been there when they beat him to death, to buy me time to run like a fucking coward?"

"You know what... you ... you... GAH!"  She roared and began making her way towards the door in a huff.

Stephen steps in her way to prevent her for leave.

"Your not just walking away again, you got things to say so say them." 

Stephen grabs the key and locks the door, he chucks the key out the window he had opened, and stand in front of Isabella and looks her in the eyes.

"Im right here, take your anger out "

"You smug, self-righteous, arrogant..."  She could have gone on but she stopped herself.  "You think think me hitting you will make the hurt go away?"  She motioned to her cut lip and held up her cut and scuffed up hands to his face.

"You saw that man with me?  I beat the ever loving hell out of him... I could have gotten us both killed and do you think it helped one bit?!?  You're as stupid as I am!"  She turned from Stephen and the door and walked away from him.

"Grief isn't like that... you can't yell it out, or beat it down, fuck it away, or bleed it out!"  She crossed her arms in front of herself, her voice coming down from it's full on rage; she walked over to the window wondering where the hell the key might have landed.

She exhaled breath she hadn't realized she was holding.  "My wedding dress.  It came with the post yesterday."  She shuddered and held back a sob.  "I just stared at it.  I can't return it.  It's... it's all custom, it cost more than they pay every guy down at the Ford Motor plant in a month combined and ... I'm stuck with it.  You might as well bury me in the damn thing.  It's massive... but it might as well be a shroud now."

She buried her face in her hands.  "So... I just left.  I got on a plane and I went home only... my mom's dead too so... home was a graveyard." The sob escaped.  "I hate you."  She whispered through tears.

Stephen stood there for once in his like he was lost for words. 

"I am sorry for everything, i really am." After hearing and seeing Isabella crying this suddenly become more then a get your anger out situation, he realised no amount of anger would help the situation she just needed a shoulder to cry on. Stephen walked towards her and hugged her tightly.

"Hate me all you want I am always here for you." He held her for a second and let her get out her tears and really was quiet realived he had never got a right hook, he had heard they hurt alot. 

She let him hold her and after a moment she put her arms around him and hugged him back.  "You get a pass... because Elias would have fought for it, but if you ever make me feel like this again... there won't be a body for the feds to find.  Capisce?"  

She hugged him tighter.  "Now... you better know how to pick a lock with a paper clip... or you're scaling this fucking light house wall to go get the key because I CAN NOT leave Will with my father all night."

Tenkai feeling something clash against his head, it kind of stung, as a tear slipped from his eye lashes, if he were human, it wpuld have hurts, he would have probably passed out.

As the keys fell in his hands, he looked up after feeling that and hearing a scream , he raised an eyebrow.  "What in the gods ... Is this woman pissed off ...Or she just about to beat someone's ass ?" He whispered to himself, he put the keys in his pocket , and turned , and like an immortal , he could do thinngs a normal human couldn't.

As he jumped, onto the wall , he started to climb, and he noticed the higher he climbed , the louder they got , as he got about half way there , he looked down ,  seeing no one noticed , he then climbed higher , staying just beneath the window seal, and listened , making sure no one was hurt .

As he sat there, he noticed his boss was talking about Elias , he felt saddened , because he was suppose to plan their honeymoon , he missed him as well , he could feel the emotions coming out of the window from her , her pain , and suffering , and hatred, loss, her sadness , he just decided to stay there and listen in the shadows .

Hearing her words he looked at her and smiled cheekily, deep down he knew he shouldnt of confronted her but it was the right thing to do to get it all out. 

Now how the fuck were they going to get out of this room before Isabella changes her mind about given him a pass, he looks out the window to see if he can see the key.

"You seen how high this is?" Deciding that climbing out the window was not the beat idea he makes what can now be his third stupid decision of the evening, its lucky things come in three's and he kicks Isabella's Office down down.

"We are free." He laughs

Isabella face palms.  "You owe me a door." 

With that she heads right back out to the party and makes a beeline for her father and Will who she feared would now be sitting tied up under a super hot beam of light being put to the question with red hot pokers.

The approach of Godfather Salvatore Luciano may have been the most terrifying moment of William's life. It was no comfort that the only competition for that place had only been last night. With Sal's daughter on his arm, the suit of a man who had appeared to be his son-in-law on his back, and the marks of a battle on them both he had a hell of an uphill climb to appear anything but trouble. Isabella, kind woman that she was, had given him a leg to stand on before dashing off with one of her most trusted to seemingly address important business. Now he sat at a table across from one of the most powerful men in the underworld. Alone.

From the moment Salvatore had approached, William had inclined his head in respect and remained silent. He was an outsider here and as such was not about to interrupt any interactions the man had with his own. Now, though, he felt that it would be respectful to introduce himself.

"Godfather Luciano, I am honored to meet you sir. Your reputation proceeds you across this country." William had kept his fear in check, but as he continued his voice softened ever so slightly in spite of his efforts to remain neutral. "I've also heard that you can tell a lot about somebody by their kids. If that's true, you must be about the toughest man I've ever had the good luck to meet."