Chapter 3
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
BPOV
I looked at Edward after he said that and smiled a little. No boy has ever showed any interest in me, and I didn't know what to say back. So, I just grinned.
"Let's go talk to Mom and Dad. I'm sure mom doesn't want you going back to your house, when she knows the condition of it." He said.
I didn't say anything, I just let him pull me back to the living room by my hand. Everyone was still sitting in there looking at t.v., and when Edward and I walked in all eyes were on us.
"Mom, dad, can Bella and I talk to you?"
"Sure, come talk in the office. You know how ''curious'' the kids become every time we have to talk." Esme said. She even uses the air quotes on the word curious.
Edward and Carlisle laughed and walked ahead to the office, and Esme and I walked behind. I looked over to her and wanted so bad to ask the question that has been brewing in my mind all day. Before I could stop myself, it was already coming out.
"Esme, why do you and Carlisle carry a gun?" I asked somewhat quietly, but I knew she heard me.
She faltered in her step and looked over to me. She surprised me when she answered me.
"We'll talk about that when we get in the office. Okay?"
I nodded my head and looked forward. We soon came to a big wooden door and Carlisle put a pass code in. What's with that?
We all walked in and Edward showed me to my seat, as Carlisle and Esme walked over behind a big desk and sat down.
"So, you wanted to talk to us about something?" Esme asked.
I looked up at Edward expectantly.
"Do you think Bella could stay here with us? I know you guys don't want her going back home. Especially under those circumstances."
Carlisle smiled and Esme looked thoughtful.
"Edward, you know what that entails correct?" Esme asked.
"Yes, I do. And if it's okay with you two, I would like for all of us to explain exactly what goes on around here, to Bella."
I sat confused and stunned. Confused, because I'm not sure I wanted to exactly know what goes on in this house. Stunned, because they just accepted me into their family, people I don't even really know, and they are willing to make me comfortable by telling me what they are hiding.
"Esme, can you retrieve the offsprings out of the living room?" Carlisle laughed. I knew he was trying to lighten the mood and it worked.
Esme walked out of the office and returned with Jasper, Alice, Rosalie and Emmett behind her.
I raised my eyebrow at Edward, wondering what was going on. I was kind of getting scared.
"What's going on?" I asked Edward.
"You'll see."
Esme cleared her throat and looked at me.
"Bella, our family comes from Italian roots. Meaning, we have Italian in us." Esme said.
"Okay.., but what does that have to do with anything?"
"See, my family has a reputation that you don't mess with. My uncle and father were in the Mafia."
It was all falling into place now. I gasped and jumped up. They are all in the Mafia. The guns, the house, all the money.
"Y-y-you are in the Mafia?" I stuttered.
They all nodded, including Edward.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because, you are going to be a part of our family now." Carlisle said.
"No, I am not. I'm leaving." I said. I was scared out of my mind.
I ran out of the office and down the hallway. I have to tell someone, anyone. I prayed to the heavens when I saw the front door, I pulled it open and ran off the porch. Great, I don't have a way home, and I'm in the middle of nowhere. The Mafia? I can't believe this. I'm going to die.
I took off down the path, even though I had no clue where I was going and I'm not that good of a runner. I heard footsteps behind me and tried to speed up. They were going to kill me. What do I do?
I looked to my left, right, and had nowhere to go. I kept running and the footsteps only grew closer.
Before I could comprehend what was going on, my body was slammed onto the ground harshly. I was so startled that I started screaming. I looked up to see Emmett getting smacked in the back of the head by everyone. Including Esme.
"Dammit Emmett, you could have really hurt her. What the hell were you thinking? I'm going to shoot your god damn dick off."
I've never heard Esme sound so mad.
"Ma', I was only trying to stop her. You know she can't get away, especially with the information she knows." Emmett said shamefully.
Before I could even think about what to do next, I was lifted off of the ground by Edward and thrown over his shoulder. I wanted to cry, but I decided to show no fear. After all of the torment, torture, beatings, and bullying I have to put up with at school, I learned how to show no emotion.
After a ten minute walk, we were finally back to the house and in the living room. Edward still hasn't released me, and the back of the sweatshirt I had on was coming up my back.
"Edward, are you going to put me down?" I asked, trying to pull my shirt down. I didn't want anyone seeing one of the reasons why I was being made fun off.
"Are you going to run off? Because if you are, I'm not going to put you down."
"No, I'm not going to run off. I promise." I said quietly and defeated.
Now that I look back on it, I don't know why I ran. It was pretty stupid, and crazy. But, you would have probably did the same thing.
Edward slowly pulled me from his shoulder and sat me down in front of him. His shoulder let out a loud pop and my ears burned with embarrassment. Was I really that heavy? I know I'm not skinny, or that fit, but I didn't think I was that big.
"Bella, you can't run off like that." A sweet, gentle, honey like voice said. Rosalie.
"Y-y-y-you guys are going t-t-to hurt me?" I asked. I never thought that I would die this way; I thought I at least deserved a funeral, with a nice home going.
"We are not going to hurt you Bella. We just want to talk to you, without you running." Edward said.
I looked up to him and nodded. I couldn't run anymore because I don't know the way out of this place.
EPOV
I didn't want to release her from my grip. She was so soft in all the right places, her curves were deep, and she felt like she belonged in my hands.
I pulled her off of my shoulder and down in front of me. My shoulder popped hard, thanks to Emmett; fucker dislocated it.
After I reassured her that we were harmless and not going to hurt her, she somewhat calmed down. I looked down at her and couldn't look away. She was just so beautiful. She made my palms sweaty, my eyes flutter, and my heart skip a beat. If the Godfather's knew that this woman affected me like this, that she had me by the fucking balls, they would laugh their asses off.
She needed to know how I felt, I don't want to hold any emotions I have towards her back. I wanted her to know that she could have the world if she wanted it.
"What are you going to do with me?" Bella asked. She sounded unsure. I wanted her to be sure about herself, I wanted to give her confidence she never had.
"We are not going to do anything to you. We just want to help you out and keep you here with us. Bella you have to understand, we just don't drop information like that on anyone, you are special." Mom said.
"How am I special? I've never been special to anyone."
Those words broke my heart. I just wanted to, put my arms around her and never let go.
"Well, you are a part of this family now. Since you know our secret, we have to keep you here. But since we actually want you here, there should be no problem." Dad said, winking at me.
"Edward, do you want me here?" She asked me quietly.
"Yes, I want you here. You don't even have to ask."
Alice jumped up and practically threw herself at Bella, Rose followed.
"Bella, I can't wait to take you to the shooting rang. You are going to love it." Alice said excitedly.
I looked down at Bella and she looked so unsure. I can tell she was uncomfortable, and probably didn't want to be here.
"Bella, lets go talk in my room."
I grabbed her soft hand and walked with her to my room. We went in, sat down and closed the door.
"I know you are uncomfortable, but how do you feel about this?" I asked.
"I don't know, how will people at school react? What will they think? What does all of this mean?"
"People at school don't matter, only you do. It doesn't matter what they think, as long as you are safe and they leave you alone is all that's important. This all means, that maybe you can stay here and get to know me a little better because I really, really like you."
"You like me?"
"Yes, I like you. Do you like me back, sorta?" I asked, as I rubbed the back of my neck.
I was nervous of her answer, but I really wanted to know. She rubbed the tip of her flip flop into my carpet as she looked down.
"Yeah, I sorta do." She said quietly.
"You do?" I almost screamed. I know that I act all bad ass at school, but I don't think I can act like that around Bella. I want her to see the real me.
"Yeah, I do."
I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to me, crushing her in a hug. You would think she just told me that she was in love with me, or that she agreed to marry me.
"Edward, you are hurting my side."
I slowly moved my arms, but didn't her go.
"Are you okay? Do I need to go get Esme?" I asked.
"No, it's just my bruises."
I wanted to fuck someone up at the mention of that. I think Mike needs a little warning.
"Come, lay down on the bed. I don't want you in any pain."
BPOV
I lay down on Edwards' bed and let out a sigh, it was so big and comfortable.
"How long have this been going on? I never knew.." Edward trailed off.
"Every since I was in the 3rd grade. I really never had all of the money, clothes, and things the other kids had. I didn't worry about it at first, but then I started noticing people treating me different. They wouldn't hang around me, talk to me, and they started picking on me. I never did anything to anyone, so when they started calling me names it really hurt, but eventually I could hide all the pain and sorrow so easy. Throughout the years it only got worse, it only became physical this year. I know I don't deserve it, but I don't have the power to stop them."
"Don't worry, you won't be getting hurt anymore."
I looked up to him and smiled. I've finally found my hero, and his name was Edward Cullen."
