Disclaimer:
I own nothing but the plot and some lovely OC's that might jump in there. Oh, I also own some of the outfits. (:
Before Note:
Many of you know this story from what I had previously started before my accident. Please be aware that it is not the exact same. As I have stated before, the underlying plot is the same but I've decided to take a different approach. Please, please, please keep this in mind as you are reading!
Thank you all.
It's 1923. Women are homemakers and the Chicago Mafia is running around with all the power. Fresh from the small town of Forks, Washington, Isabella Swan has become the biggest Chicago reporter under the aliases I.M. Swan. When a stranger set on revenge discovers the truth of her gender, he threatens to reveal and destroy her unless she gets him the one thing he wants. A story to bring down the biggest mafia in the world. To the people, they're known as The Capones, under Al Capone. But in reality, they're the Masens, under Edward Masen.
Prologue
Wednesday, August 22, 1928
Five years ago, on this exact date, I met the love of my life.
Four years ago, on this exact date, I lost someone important to me.
Three years ago, on this exact date, I welcomed Angelo Masen into my life.
Two years ago, on this exact date, a hole was dug deep into my heart.
One year ago, on this exact date, I was given one of the best blessings ever.
It was a pattern. Good, bad, good, bad, good. This was a year for the bad and it just might be the last.
The choice was up to me. But either way, I died... and so did he. There was a gun to my head but a knife to his back. Ruin my life to destroy his or lose my life to empty his?
I looked down at my protruding stomach and sighed.
A simple story brought me to this life. A simple story brought me to him. Now, underneath my fingertips lay the button that could send this story off and end all. A gun to my head but a knife to his back. Say yes and the gun is lowered but the knife is inserted and twisted. Delete and the knife is thrown away but the trigger is pulled that will release a bullet on a mission to blow my brains out. It seemed I had one decision to make. Love or life?
"We love you, Edward Masen. We always will." I whispered as I hit the final key.
Chapter 1
Tuesday, August 21, 1923
"And how is the writing coming along?" Mama's voice sounded through the phone. I smiled as played with the frayed ends of my night dress. I lay on tiny bed as the residents above me were yelling, again.
"It is coming along well, Mother. I've become the biggest reporter in the city and they've yet to know who I am." I sighed, content with the status of my life in this current moment.
"And how is Angela, darling? Her family misses her so. Says they wish she would call them." Oh, my mother. Always intruding on other's familial matters.
"Angela is doing well and she will call when she's ready, Mother." I explained, sounding exasperated but truly amused at my mother, once again. The church bells tolled nine times, reminding me of the hour. "Mother, it's getting late. I must be going soon."
"Oh, I know, dear. But I miss you so much." Her voice dropped to a saddened tone and it tore at my heart. "When are you coming home to visit?"
"Soon, Mama. I promise." I whispered, as I had plenty times before.
"I love you, Isabella. As does your father." My mama said, trying to prolong me hanging up.
"I love you, too, Mama. Goodbye now." Before she could respond, I hung up the telephone. Angela came into my bedroom right as the line clicked dead.
"Was that your mother?" She asked carefully, sitting upon my bed.
"Yes, it was her. She says that your family would-" Angela silenced me as she held up her hand.
"I know, but I'm not ready yet." She whispered, tears evident in her voice.
When I had decided to move to Chicago, my best friend, Angela Weber, had made the decision to move with me. My parents, accepting my dream, allowed me to move and they thought that having Angela with me would make it less unbearable to part with me. Angela's parents, however, were not as accepting. On the night before our move, they had a huge argument, cementing Angela's decision to move with me. Every Sunday evening, when my mother calls, she always asks me to convince Angela to speak to her family.
I gathered her in my arms before she could fall apart and whispered, "Angel, you only need to when you're ready. But you miss them, and they miss you. It makes the most sense to call them."
"I- Okay." She whispered, as she had every time we went through this. But she still had yet to call.
"Now, wipe those tears, Angel. We've got a busy morning tomorrow." I said after her tears had dried up.
"It is Monday, after all." Angela finished our inside joke. We laughed together before she gave me a hug and sighed, "Goodnight Bell."
"Goodnight Angel." I sang as she danced out of my room. I snorted at her unladylike antics.
Oh, if her mama could see her today. I thought to myself as I turned out the light and laid my head down to rest.
Wednesday, August 22, 1923
The combination of the sound bells tolling and the warmth of the sun's rays awoke me from my sleep. Little did I know that last night would be the last peaceful sleep I would get in a long time coming.
"Oh, goodmorning!" Angela exclaimed shocked as she walked into my bedroom with a cup of tea in her hands.
"What a pleasant surprise, Angel." I spoke with sleep in my voice. Although my mind was still in a state of waking up, I wasn't stupid. She wanted something, as always. I shook my head and laughed at her, saying, "What do you want?"
"You caught me, Bell." Angel laughed as she set the tea town on my bedside table. "Michael Newton wants a date with me but I told him I have to speak to you about it. So, Bell, what do ya say?"
"Tonight?" I asked as I sat up. Angel never asked for anything unless she really wanted it. She wouldn't go out on dates unless I was okay with it.
"Yes, Bell. Tonight." She replied with a voice full of hope. I shook my head and laughed at her.
"I guess but please be back before nine. You know that that's when the crazy people come out." Angel squealed and hugged me as tight as she could while whispering, "Thank you so much!" over and over again in my ear.
"No problem, Angel. I trust your judgment." I smiled as I hugged her back before remembering the time. "I have to get dressed now. Must find something new to write about."
"Oh, yes." Angela said as she skipped out of my room. Once again shaking my head at her antics, I stood up and walked to my closet. I decided today would be a simple day and went with a light blue sundress. I gently snatched the white cardigan my mother knitted me as a gift and slipped it on. Today, I felt like being something sweet. I slipped my feet into white ballet flats and secured my pearl earrings into my ear. What's a woman without pearls? Before leaving my bedroom, I put on my locket with the pictures of myself and my family inside and grabbed my light blue clutch. Running a brush through my long, wavy hair, I decided to put it into a middle ponytail and slipped into the bathroom to do my morning routine. After brushing my teeth and applying the slightest amount of lipstick, I was ready to leave.
"Have a good day, Angel!" I called out as I left the apartment.
"Be good, Bell!" She replied with her normal response. I laughed as I skipped down the steps of my building and pushed the door open to the outside.
"Oh, the air of Chicago!" I sang as I took in a deep breath of fresh air. I decided to stop at the grocery store to browse for what would be needed later. The walk took no longer than two minutes before I was in the dairy isle, browsing for milk. As I reached forward to grab one, a hand bumped into mine, sending waves of intensity through my arm. I looked up at the owner of said hand and gasped.
"I'm sorry, madam." A velvet voice spoke from perfect lips. The man had bright, green eyes and hair that was disarray underneath his fedora. His toned skin went well with his vibrant eyes that made my heart race. A crooked smile spread across his face. This man made my 5'7" body of pale skin with brown hair and brown eyes feel as if I were less than ordinary next to him. His frame towered over mine and it was clothed in a nice suit that reminded me of the images of mobsters. Something about this man screamed run but my body wouldn't bolt because something made me stay. "I'm Edward."
"Isa- Isabella." I stuttered through the response of my own name as my clouded mind began to clear up. "I'm Isabella."
"Well, Isabella, it's a pleasure to meet you." Edward chuckled as he stretched his hand out to grasp mine. I shook it slightly before shaking my head to clear the lingering clouds. "I'm assuming that you want that milk."
"Um.. actually, I can wait. I don't want to have to haul it around town while go walking." I said, my voice steady. A smile spread across Edward's face and I damned him for being so gorgeous. Using this chance as my out, I said, "I uh.. I must be going now."
"Wait," Edward called out before I could completely turn my back towards him. "You're gorgeous, Ms. Isabella. May I take you out on a date?"
"Oh, Mr. Edward, you have it wrong. I don't date." It wasn't a lie. I came to Chicago to work on my career and called off dating, but I couldn't tell him all that.
"Well surely you can make an exception, can you not?" He spoke confidently and I just wanted to kiss the smirk off his lips. But that was not me. I'm not even sure where that thought came from. Sensing my hesitation, Edward shrugged and grasped at my hand that had fallen to my side. "I'll tell you what. I'll give you my phone number and you call me when you're ready for a date. The offer will be ever standing."
"Oh, Mr. Edward, I cannot. You must have some gorgeous woman awaiting your call at this very second." The words slipped out of my mouth and I slapped a hand over it in surprise. I had just insulted this man who may as well be of very high social standing. How could I? My face flamed with embarrassment, I quickly said, "Oh dear, I'm so sorry about what I just said. I hadn't meant it. Please forgive me."
"Feisty but sweet, I forgive you, Ms. Isabella," He spoke, laughing. "But only under one condition."
"And what might that be, sir?" I asked, amused that he thought I was feisty.
"A date." I wasn't even shocked at that. "You give me a date, and I'll forgive you."
"Why, Mr. Edward?" I was confused as to why this man would want such a thing. "Why a date with me?"
"Because, Ms. Isabella, you," he caressed my cheek, "are the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen and I would love to have a date with you."
"I'll call you." I giggled as I grabbed the card out of his hand and walked away from him, without the milk. I shocked myself with the audacity that I had back there but I continued walking without looking back. As I exited the store, I noticed the men dressed like Edward standing outside of it. Knocking it off as a coincidence although my reporter instincts were telling me to back around, I continued on my way.
After an hour of walking, I came across a green space with people bussing by it and nobody stopping in it so I decided to. Sitting on an empty wooden bench, I crossed my legs as a lady should and leaned back to watch the clouds in the sky. Only a few minutes passed before someone sat on the bench next to me. Turning to look at my peace intruder, I was met with bright, blue eyes. But this time, they belonged to a woman.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt your thoughts." A sweet voice spoke from this woman's bright red lips. She was beautiful with tanned skin and brunette hair. Her white and pink plaid skater dress flared out on the bench as she set her white bag down next to her while crossing her legs. She looked like she was just out for a stroll. "Why, I'm just crazy for forgetting to introduce myself. Hello, my name is Mary-Alice."
"It's uh.. It's nice to meet you, Mary-Alice. I'm Isabella." I spoke as I shook her outstretched hand. It didn't slip my eye that she was wearing a brand new engagement ring that shone brightly in the sun. "Recently engaged?"
"Oh, yes. Happy times." Mary-Alice smiled a sweet smile that made me kind of jealous. She had a love that made her smile like that. My dream was to have that but here I was only nineteen. "What about you, Isabella? Any relations?"
"Oh, dear, I'm only nineteen so no. There are no relations at this moment." I was once again shocked. I would never reveal something like that to someone I didn't know. But something made me trust Mary-Alice. Something told me it was okay. "You're not afraid of being robbed on these streets? You are wearing quite a flashy ring."
"Oh, no. My fiancé is very well known and always has me watched as to protect me." She said as if it were the simplest thing in the world. I turned to notice the men from the grocery store standing around the park at inconspicuous locations. Noticing, Mary-Alice said, "You have a very good eye, Isabella. You should call him."
"How- how do you know?" I asked, suddenly on high alerts.
"Oh, no, please don't be scared." Mary-Alice said as she placed a comforting hand on my knee. "Edward is my cousin, I was there in the grocery store when you met him. You hadn't noticed me because you were so into him. I just simply wanted to meet the woman who captured his attention and ran out on him. Edward never gets shocked like that and he never tells someone he just met his first name. So, I wanted to see why he would."
"I- I have to go." I said, standing up abruptly. Mary-Alice stood up just as quickly and I watched as her guards tensed up, ready for action. Mary-Alice grabbed both of my hands.
"I didn't mean to scare you. Please don't let this prevent you from calling him." I opened my mouth to respond as she continued, "I saw your face when you were walking out of the store. You were going to call him."
"Mary-Alice, I have to go." I said quickly and snatched my hands away from hers before walking- more like running- away.
"Please, Isabella!" She called after me. Ignoring all her pleas, I kept running away until my lungs burned leaving behind her and her pleas. Today has been a very, very strange day and I just wanted to go home. It hadn't even been eleven in the morning yet, according to the bell's tolls.
"Oh, Lord, give me the strength to get through the rest of the day." I prayed as I walked onto the sidewalk and began my journey home. But the saying wouldn't be true if all things hadn't come in three's. A blonde man with piercing blue eyes slid into my path. Agitated, I asked, "Yes?"
"Now, now, Isabella. Is that any way to speak to the man who holds your career in his hands?" Even his voice was sleazy but what he said had caught my attention. I felt a shocked look come across my face for a split second before I reconstructed it. "Oh, that grabbed your attention. Tell me, Isabella, how do you know the Masens?"
"The who?" I questioned, confused. "I have know idea what you're talking about."
"Oh, but you do. You've spoken to two of them today." Noticing the realization spread across my face, the sleazy blonde smiled. "I'm going to make you a deal, Isabella."
"I do not have an idea of what you're talking about or what you could want but you have nothing to give me as I have nothing to give you." I spoke firmly before trying to walk away. The blonde grabbed my hand to stop me. "Sir, you're hurting my wrist."
"Now, listen here and listen close, Isabella, or should I call you I.M. Swan?" He whispered into my ear. "I want a story on the Masen family. It has to be a big one, one that will destroy their lives and spill all their dirty little secrets. Get me that, and I won't destroy your life or spill your dirty little secret."
"I- I don't know what you're talking about." I struggled to say as his grip tightened on my wrist.
"You want to continue your little success? Get me my story." He whispered again, his voice deadly. "I'll be in contact with you. In the mean time, get closer with the Masens. In fact, call Edward, go on that date with him tonight."
"If I don't?" I asked, my voice steady but my heart racing with fear.
"Oh, don't test me, Isabella. You don't want to see the outcome." He spoke as he turned to walk away, letting go of my wrist.
"What's your name? I need to be able to contact you, do I not?" I asked. I didn't want to contact him, I wanted to report him.
"Oh, Isabella, I'm not that stupid." He laughed as he walked away.
"Ugh!" I groaned in frustration and turned to head home, rubbing my reddened wrist. This man comes into my life at the grocery store and I end up getting stalked by his cousin and bombarded by his enemy. What does this man do? Why are there people guarding him and threatening me? Why me?
The church bells tolled eleven times and I ran up the four flights to my apartment with Angela.
"Angela, you will never believe what has happened to me so far!" I called out as I entered the apartment. There was no response but the silence. Where was Angela? "Angela, are you here?"
No response.
"Angela?"
No response.
"Where could she be?" I asked myself as I began searching the tiny apartment after setting my clutch down on the coffee table. She hadn't mentioned leaving this morning but she must be on her date.
I guess I'm alone now. I thought to my self as I slipped off my shoes and cardigan. Mama would have a heart attack if she saw me sitting on my couch at this moment during the midday.
'Go clean something or find a man,' she would say.
"Go find yourself a man, Isabella." I muttered to myself as I noticed the card sticking out of my clutch. A bright idea popped into my mind. I grabbed the card and ran into my bedroom where my telephone was. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I dialed the number and listened to it ring. With more confidence, I said, "Get yourself a man, Isabella."
"Masen." The velvet voice of Edward answered the phone. I opened my mouth to respond but couldn't say anything. He really was a Masen. After a long moment of pause, he said, "I'm going to hang up now."
"Wait, no." I said quickly, shocked that I said that. This man just keeps making my life weirder and weirder.
"Isa- Isabella?" Edward asked.
"Hi." I responded, meekly. Edward made my stomach twist into knots and my heart race.
"You called." He sounded shocked but happy. "I actually didn't expect you to call."
"I, uh.. I didn't expect me to call either." I admitted. My stomach knots tightened. "I actually got home earlier than expected and I.. I guess I decided to call."
"You're very adorable, Ms. Isabella." Edward admitted, chuckling through the phone.
"I am not sure I understand what you mean?" I tried to sound offended but my smile spread.
"Are you trying to make me feel bad, Ms. Isabella?" He asked.
"You caught me, Mr. Edward." I giggled. "About that date?"
"How about tonight?" He asked.
"To- tonight?" I was shocked, that was so soon.
"Yes, Ms. Isabella." Edward spoke through his chuckles. "How about seven o'clock this evening?"
"That sounds so.." I paused.
Take it or leave it, Isabella. This is your one and only chance to save your career. The sleazy man might have a very good reason to want this story. Plus, it would make you big. Take it, Isabella. I thought to myself.
No, you're not a conniving person. That's not who your parents raised. My subconscious yelled.
"Isabella?" Edward asked, worried.
"Wonderful." I replied. "That sounds... wonderful."
"Wonderful." Edward chuckled. A smile spread wide on my face. "Where should I pick you up from?"
"Oh, I thought I was going to meet you." I spoke, truthfully.
"No, Ms. Isabella. That's not how dating works." He laughed, he seems to be doing an awful lot of that. "Have you ever been on a date?"
"Yes, I have." I answered, defensively. "I've- I've been on a date before."
"Alright then, Ms. Isabella." He chuckled, again.
"Stop laughing at me!" I exclaimed.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Isabella."
"And stop with the Ms. Isabella. My name is Isabella." I said, starting to laugh. The events today made me laugh and now I'm going on a date. "Come get me South Ellis. I'll wait outside the door."
"Oh, Ms.- Isabella." Edward tried to hold in a chuckle. I sighed.
"Let it out." I giggled while he chuckled.
"I'll see you at seven, Isabella." Edward whispered, after he stopped his chuckling.
"I'll see you at seven." I repeated before the line clicked dead.
I laid down on my bed, bursting with happiness. I couldn't wait to tell Angel about today and what I hope to be a wonderful night. But until then, I had eight hours to myself and decide what to wear.
"I need something to wear!" I gasped as I sat up abruptly in bed. I have absolutely nothing to wear and no best friend to tell me what to wear. "Oh, Angel, why disappear when I need you?"
No response.
"I'm such an idiot." I huffed before falling back onto the bed. Rummaging through my mind of the clothes that I have for about two hours, I remembered one dress that I had gotten two years ago.
'A modest flapper, that's what you'll look like in this.' My mother exclaimed as I had twirled in it in front of a mirror. My grandmother had gotten it for me as a birthday present. I smiled at the sky.
"Thank you, Nana Marie!" I exclaimed to the sky although my Nana Marie wasn't dead, not even close. Pulling out the white dress, I decided to go with the white shoes my mother had bought me.
'These are the shoes of the future.' Mama would say just to get me to wear them. The gold pedant on the shoes matched well with the gold of my locket.
My stomach growling reminded me to eat so I laid the dress on the bed and my shoes on the floor and skipped into our tiny kitchen. Remember that I didn't buy milk- and why- I decided to fix myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich because I didn't want to be too full for tonight's date. I squealed at that thought.
"Oh, Isabella." I muttered to myself. The sound of the door opening and closing awakened me from my haze as I was finishing up making two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The bells tolled two times as I called out, "Hello?"
"Bell!" Angela called out in surprise as she walked into the kitchen. She wore her typical out that I said she was always holding dear. She had one a collard skater dress with the cardigan her mama knitted for her button up. She was slipping out of her favorite bowed flats, and set her light green clutch on the kitchen counter next to mine. I didn't miss the gold promise ring she wore or the pearls in her ears. Her parents had gotten her those things as a gift for her birthday the year we moved here. It was their way of apologizing and making her promise to remain pure.
"'A daughter as pure as a pearl is every parents' dream.'" I whispered my Nana's quote as tears weld up in my eyes. Looking at Angel, I noticed her eyes doing the same. "I miss them."
"I do, too." Angel whispered, wiping at her eyes and laughing. "Enough of this emotional crap right now."
"Angel!" I gasped, laughing at her audacity to use that language. "Papa would be rolling over in his grave if he heard that."
"He'll be rolling over in his grave if he found out about my date." Angel replied as casual as ever, but she wasn't wrong. In our town, parents dictated who their daughters would be courted by and wed to. "How was your day so far? Why are you home so early?"
"Oh, Angel, if only you knew." I muttered as I plated the sandwiches and decided to give one to her. We sat at the dinning room table as I began to tell her about my eventful morning. I told her everything, from the store encounter to the phone call. As I finished, she was holding back laughter. "Why is everybody laughing at me today?"
"Because you're so naïve, darling." Angela spoke as she placed a hand over mine. "The Masen family is a large, mafia family. At least, that's what Mike said."
"You've been seeing him already?" I exclaimed, pushing aside what she said about Edward's family.
"No, I bump into him a few times a day. He offers me coffee and lunch and whatnot but I decline. Well, I did." Her face broke out into a smile. "He was so happy to hear about you allowing me to go out. I mean, it's not like your my mother but he understood that I wanted- pretty much needed- your approval."
"Oh, Angel, you're so happy. What are you wearing?" I asked. "You show me yours, I'll show you mine?"
"Of course," she giggled. She pulled me into her bedroom, excitement buzzing off of her. On her bed lie black halter neck dress with white polka dots. Underneath her bed were a pair of white heels and a black clutch lay on the dress. "I'm going to wear my special pearls."
"Oh, Angel! You're going to look amazing." My eyes began to tear as I pulled her into a hug. Angela was only a few weeks younger than myself but she was always a little sister to me and now it was like watching her grow up. The bells tolled three times, reminding me that time was flying by today. "Tonight, we're going on our first dates."
"Oh, you have to show me your outfit." Angela squealed before dragging me into my bedroom. She gasped at what lie on my bed. Turning to me with watery eyes, she exclaimed, "The modern flapper dress!"
"Yes, yes, I know." I laughed, shaking my head. Reminding myself about the piece I had to write today before the mailman came, I pulled from Angela and she knew the look in my eyes.
"Go write, girl!" She exclaimed. I laughed and walked into the living room to turn on the radio and grab my pen and paper.
"Twenty days and America is still mourning the loss of late President Warren G. Harding. The question in the air: 'Will ex-VP and current President Calvin Coolidge be as cool as his last name?'" The newscaster laughed on the radio. Shaking my head, I began to write:
The loss of late President Harding is hard, but why is America still mourning? We live in a land of the brave and free...
The bells tolled six times as I was running down the steps with my freshly licked envelope to see Mailman Jimmy gathering his final letters from the boxes. He noticed my running and laughed, "Ms. Swan, almost late again, now. I won't always be here to wait to collect."
"Oh, Jimmy, you'll always be here and you know it." I giggled at our inside joke as I leaned in to kiss his wrinkled cheek. Jimmy and Angela were the only people in the city to know of my role as I.M. Swan. If it were to get out, there would be hell to pay simply because I am a woman. This reminded me of my deal with the devil and tonight. Running back up the steps, I quickly washed the day off my body before beginning to get ready. The dress hung loose on my figure but shaped my backside that was slightly larger than most.
'A blessing and a curse.' Mama called it. She would say, 'But, you're father has always loved it.'
"Ew." I whispered to myself as I shook that conversation out of my head. Curling my hair so it fell down to the middle of my back in ringlets and applying my lipstick were all I had left to do after I brushed my teeth and slipped on my heels. Making sure to secure my pearl earrings and locket, I took a deep breath before awaiting the tolls. I didn't have to wait long, though. As if they knew I were listening for them, the church bells rung the top of the seventh evening hour. "You're ready, Isabella."
Are you doing this for you or for.. you? My subconscious asked me. Blocking her out, I slowly walked down the four-flight staircase, taking each step at a time. I didn't need my known clumsiness coming out and taking this date to the ER rather than wherever Edward had planned. As I reached the last step, I took another deep breath before opening the building doors that separated myself from my date. Opening the door, I was met with green eyes and my breath flew out in one word, "Edward."
End Notes:
Wow, you've read the whole chapter. Thank you! Let me know what you think by reviewing, please! Any suggestions would be welcomed in PM. I am once again without a beta as I could not get in touch with my old one. So, please recommend someone for me (it could be yourself). THANK YOU FOR READING! I was very, very stressed about restarting. Lemme know!
xoxo, belle beans (: