This is another historical fiction I've been working for a while. Hope you save it in your Queue. Thank you for waiting. Updates coming every 3 days💛

Thanks for reading.

Your author,
A.S.G.

Disclaimer: Violence and Trigger Warnings.

MORTHALL
1920s America, state of New York, in the middle of the greatest glamour and never ending parties is my story...

Oil was the dream. International relations were easy and necessary. Politics left in utter chaos. Technology helping bridge communication and territory gaps. The police force struggling to catch up with the growing targets sprouting from everywhere.

"The world is ripe for the picking and everyone wants their corner. But we Waterfords will rise to the top, no matter what," grandfather said it not as an encouragement but a vague threat to those around him.

The mafia was so beloved, business could be done in plain daylight. Robin Hood lived inside of everyone's heart. Whether you were doing the stealing or just reading the papers. It was the time for the people to rule even if under the guise of the night.

"Get your paper here! Get ya news! Fresh like bread, don't be an old snooze!" The boys sold papers to one and all.

At the end of my summer abroad I, Isabelli Rose Waterford, orphaned both parents was on my way back home to New York. Fresh off the boat from Europe, with a companion to make sure I got here, or else why would anyone leave Europe.

Grant Waterford, a Sicilian man of no affectionate sentiments, was my grandfather. He took over as my guardian after my father died. My mother was the first one to go. I like to think the world knew my parents loved each other too much to keep just one of them here suffering behind. 

At nineteen years of age I was the only heir to my grandfather's business. I felt the weight of it though not as a man, not the sort of light weight bearable enough because they had to take over the family business and some whined their way into it. On the contrary I felt it like chains bejeweling my body as the calling card for suitors that lined up to make me their wife so they could join the familia. To think of a man laying one finger on me sent me running for the hills. I had never had lovers, or fallen ill to some lovelorn feeling towards them, not after what I saw my grandmother go through with my grandfather, and the spinning wheel of women my uncle Jack kept around. Him being the worst of all.

I crossed the threshold to the family house like walking into mined territory, one spot soft and filled with grace and another ready to blow me into smithereens. Memories of being constantly in and out over the years gleamed for a second. Grandfather would always find ways to keep me away from the family business to avoid me becoming a hassle to it.

The heavy dark wooden doors creaked in and the unlit hallways echoed my heels. The shiny floors; stained glass windows let the inside come alive in a collection of reflecting colors. The walls adorned with the paintings of the family and friends dating back to Italy. Some of them I had even met in person in my travels.

"Grandmother?" I asked around the house. "I'm home!"

I raised my voice to see I had arrived to an empty house. Grandfather usually stayed in the city and grandma in the garden. Our house was almost near the water an hour away or so from the city.

"Miss Waterford, Mr. Waterford urged you to read this upon your arrival," one of the staff gave me a letter.

"Oh thank you," I accepted it.

-Dinner tonight. There'll be a car for you at eight.

Somebody came in to help me get dressed in an light green dress embroidered with pink beaded flowers. Then I was presented with a black box. When I opened I saw the emerald earrings ring and bracelet for me to wear.

My mother wore these jewels during the inauguration ball they threw my father when he became the President of my grandfather's company. She wore a burgundy gown and her big smile with her love sick eyes at my father. I missed them even though I had spent almost a decade now without them.

Tonight I expected the usual, my grandfather parading me around during dinner and asking me to dance with strangers. Strangers to me yet usually crucial to his stepping up in the world. Forging connections as he called it, silly how men seemed incapable of keeping appearances without women around to prop them up on their pedestal.

A little late the chauffeur quickly helped me inside the car and drove trying to make it on time afraid no doubt that this would be his fault.

Soon the city lights bled inside the car through the window reminding me of it's grandiosity. Ms. Bennet was right what are mountains compared to men?

"Waterford," I mentioned my name at the door to the man.

"Of course Miss Waterford, the front left table."

"Thank you sir." I smiled wading through the middle of the tables to my grandfather who had one of the prime tables.

"Isabelli," he acknowledged me.

"Sir," I nodded to him and took a seat as my corset shrunk two sizes too small.

Grant Waterford is Charles Dance

It was a big gathering but I didn't know exactly why. Two ladies about my age were watching me and weren't trying to hide it. What was wrong with me? I tidied up my hair, rubbed my teeth with my tongue discreetly, then patted down my dress. Why wouldn't they stop whispering and pointing?

The band got up on stage to entertain us and I was glad to focus on them. The noise died down for a minute as the curtains were drawn aside as the saxophone was heard loud and clear, the trombone announced it's presence and the trumpet became a main attraction. It was like the music entered people's soul pulling out a smile from them whether they wanted to or not.

"Did you see that grandfather?" A laugh escaped my lips as the man moved in strange entertaining moves while playing but grandfather grunted at me.

As they asked for people to join on the dance floor for the best part of the night the girls got up and began to head my way. In an attempt to get to away from them I hid in one of the halls behind the main floor.

My corset was becoming unbearable. But my governess taught me I should never be without it. Ugh what could I do? How was I going to get this thing off of me?

The bones picking at me, the sweat gluing the fabric to my skin. It was harder and harder to breathe no matter how much I tried. So I clawed with my hands to untie it but the knot was on too tight.

"Oh God," I felt the sweat on the back of my neck.

"Having trouble breathing?" The chilling voice asked me.

It was him. I could recognize the voice anywhere. It was a constant presence in my nightmares and it belonged to Jack Waterford.

"Uncle Jack?" I panicked turning away from him behaving like everything was fine.

"Good to know you never forget about me."

"What are you doing here?" I swallowed with nowhere to go.

"You looked like you needed my help." He said and I watched his hand caress my cheek.

"No, I am fine."

I lied to keep him at a distance but my skin tingled from how hot the inside of the place was. I felt the vapor of my breath like fire warming me to the point of a throbbing headache.

"It hurts to see you lie to me." He walked behind me.

Jack Waterford is Nikolaj Coster - Waldau

Uncle Jack a forty eight year old man with blonde hair and green eyes was my father's younger brother. Like my father he worked closely with my grandfather in the family business. He wasn't grandfather's right hand, it was hard to tell who was, but he was autonomous as far as I could tell. Just as threatening as my grandfather but not as secretive. He ran his own business within the family business and for the contribution to the family business.

"Tell me what do you need? You seem bothered by something," he whispered around my ears.

"My corset is too tight," I said knowing I wasn't going to get away from him now.

"Let me help you. You'll be free in no time," his voice changed, mellowed out, he liked having me at his mercy.

He skillfully made his way underneath my dress putting my hair aside and undid the knot. Cringing at his touch I had nothing to do about it but wait for it to end. He loosened the corset and as it fell to the ground I stepped away from it.

"I told her to make it tight, not to kill you." He confessed.

"What?" I snapped my head sideways but didn't look him in the face.

"It's okay now, I'll take care of you my little doll," he kissed my shoulder and I got away from his touch shocked by his scheme. Seeing red from what he'd done I stepped away from him but he stepped in front of me. "I'm not done yet."

He slid a ring on my finger and kissed it. Why was he putting this ring on me?

"What is this?"

"Just a little thing I wanted to deliver in person."

"Excuse me."

I backed away afraid of him and what he was up to. Ever since I had turned fifteen things changed. I went away for a summer and when I came back he started treating me differently. It was never the same and every time I had the chance to get away from him I did. I was afraid of what would happen if we spent too much time together in one place.

I left him alone in the hallway but the two girls who'd been paying attention to me earlier appeared in front of me.

"You are one hard little lady to get a hold of." The blonde one much taller than I talked to me like she knew me.

"I am sorry?" I didn't understand why she was after me but she grabbed my hand and touched the ring my uncle had just placed on me.

"Don't be."

"Do we know each other?"

"Not yet but it won't take long," she assured me holding out her ring that looked exactly like mine. "Welcome to the trinity Isabelli Waterford."

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Hope you enjoyed the first chapter.

PS. All comments and opinions welcomed <3

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No part, character, names, plot, setting, conflict or resolution, point of view, theme or symbolism of this story may be replicated.

Copyright: All Rights Reserved to A. Sena Gomes.