The Mafia Mistress.
Chapter Six: The Oath.
Isabella's POV.
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified, terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."
- FDR - First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1933
I woke up to the calm feeling of someone running their fingers through my hair.
"Il Trono?" I heard someone say heatedly. "Really, Esme….did you have to tell her that? Could you not have waited until Edward and I spoke with her?"
"Oh relax. She asked about the family and I told her I could not tell her much because of Il Trono. Then she asked what Il Trono was so I told her. No harm done." She said as she continued to run her fingers through my hair.
"No harm done?" Mr. Cullen said sarcastically. "Esme, you were there when she fainted. I swear by the time we are done with this poor child, she would have fainted in shock so many times that she would have a concussion."
"Carlisle," Esme said as she began to speak, only to be stopped when she heard the door open.
"Is she awake yet?" I heard the voice of Edward Cullen as he entered the room.
"No, she isn't but we can't put this off since your mother already explained the politics behind the appointment of the Il Trono." Mr. Cullen said with a slight chuckle.
"Of course my mother would do that." Edward chuckled in his deep baritone which caused me to smile.
"Oh look! She's smiling. I know you're awake, Ms. Isabella Marie Swan. Up you get." Esme said as she tickled my sides causing me to shriek in surprise and fall of the couch with a thud.
"Ow!" I moaned as I curled into myself. "Why? Oh why do I always have to greet the ground this way?" I asked rhetorically causing Esme to burst into laughter.
"Not funny Esme!" I yell-whispered.
"Let me help you up, Bella darling." Mr. Cullen said with a small smile as he reached down for me.
"Thank you, Mr. Cullen." I said as my cheeks burned crimson.
"Not Mr. Cullen, Bella. Call me Carlisle, papa or anything else. It's rude to have a family member addressing me so formally. Don't you think?" He said as he tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear before seating me to a chuckling Esme.
"I don't like you anymore, Esme." I said very childishly while pouting. "Carlisle is my new favorite." I said.
"Okay enough you too. You would swear you two were children." Carlisle said as he took a seat opposite us and next to Edward, who had stayed very silent throughout the entire exchange.
"Alright Bella. There are a lot of things that you need to become aware of but I will try to keep it short since we have all had a very long day. Firstly, I am sorry for what I am about to tell you but from this moment on you are considered to be a Cullen. As a result, you may never leave here unless supervised and with heavy security."
"What?" I asked dumbfounded as my hands began to shake in utter fright.
"Bella, sweetie, calm down and listen to what I have to say." Carlisle continued in his signature paternal voice. "Because of what happened six years ago when you father passed on, your family attracted some very unwanted attention from the King mafia family. You have to understand that with your father's death their family and the dealings within their family where brought out and in the direct gaze of the police. Everything became compromised in that family. It was a chain reaction. Before your father, the King Family was at the top of the pack but after your father's death and the fact that the police has gotten into every inch of their dealings, a lot of bad blood and hatred surfaced. Remember not only was the King Family affected but every single family that once dealt with The Kings. Do you understand the magnitude of this, Bella?" Carlisle asked as he stopped for a minute.
"So basically there are several mafia families out there who want my blood to flow?"
"Exactly. For the last six years, I thought I was doing you a favor by allowing you to live your life and keeping you out of the dealings of the mafia but I was wrong. You needed the comfort of a family; the comfort I now readily offer."
"Okay?" I said even though it sounded more like a question than an actually answer.
"You're confused, Bella." I heard Edward say for the first time sine this meeting actually began.
"To an extent." I said as my mind whirled ahead as it pieced together everything I was ever told about the mafia by my father, Charlie and what I was being told tonight.
"Tell me and maybe I will be able to help with your obvious confusion." Edward said in a very soothing voice as he got up and took a seat next to me.
"So all this protecting you will be doing is solely because of the fact that mafia men want me dead and you feel guilty because the reason they want me dead is because my father, while trying to protect an innocent girl, killed one of the bastards and left their organization in shambles?" I asked in a cool and calm voice.
"There are several more factors but that is that gist of it." Carlisle said with a nod of his head.
Before any of them could have predicted what I was about to do, I jumped up and threw the crystal vase that was sitting on top of the coffee table in front of me, into the wall causing it to shatter into millions of pieces.
"You have got to be kidding me! If I am so much of a burden that you feel guilty that my father is dead and now you're stuck protecting his grief stricken daughter, why don't you off me yourself? Pay one of your men to pull the trigger or why don't you man up and pull it yourself? Huh?" I shouted as the unexplainable rage and grief coursed through me.
"Isabella, we don't mean it that way!" Esme cried out. "We want to help you. Yes, your father's death is a part of the reason as to why we have decided the help you but not the main reason."
"Lies!" I screamed. "I don't want pity. I don't want sympathy. I want to feel like I belonged somewhere; to know that I wasn't alone but this decision to keep me here is based on guilt. I don't want it. I don't want it." I sobbed over and over as I pounded my fist against my chest as I tried to beat back the building pain.
"Isabella!" I heard Edward say forcefully.
"Isabella!" He said again shaking me slightly as he grabbed a hold of my arms.
"Calm down, baby doll. Calm down." He cooed into my ear. "It's not sympathy or guilt. We want you in the family. We want to protect you and give you a home so that you know that you aren't alone. Calm down, honey." He said as he pulled me into his chest as I continued to sob.
"Carlisle, you really are a tool." I heard Esme huffed before I felt her tiny arms wrapping around both Edward and I.
"Hello, Bella." I heard Esme say next to me. "Please forgive my husband. He's not the brightest bulb in the box. It's the age.' Esme said as she squashed herself into Edward's chest having ducked under his arms.
"Esme, you are in your forties. I am sure Carlisle is not much older than you.
"Ah! But that is where you are wrong. Mr. Carlisle Matthew Cullen is fifty-three." Esme said in a loud-stage whisper.
"Alright you two. Let's stop the conference you are having on Edward's chest and Edward let them go." Carlisle said sounding a bit miffed that his age was being discussed.
"But I'm comfortable." Esme whined causing both Edward and I to chuckle.
"Esme, please, for once act your age." Carlisle grumbled as he pulled her away leaving Edward and I standing together as his hand dropped to my waist still holding me against him.
"Gosh Carlisle! What poor thing had the misfortune of crawling up your ass and died?" Esme said as Carlisle placed her I a sit next to him.
"Why did I marry you again?" Carlisle complained.
"Because you love me and because I am the mother of your children and also because of the fact that you are terrified of me." Esme said confidently.
"Greater men than me have been known to cower in fear in your presence, my dear." Carlisle said earning a smack on the chest from Esme.
"Can we just get back to the matter at hand?" Edward asked as we took the seat opposite to Carlisle and Esme.
"Of course." Carlisle said as he pulled Esme into his chest. "Now Bella, I apologize for how I phrased my reasoning just now. I had no intention of upsetting you but I honestly never expected it to be so bad."
"Expected what to be so bad?" I asked as I shifted uncomfortably as all the Cullens were looking at me.
"Dad, wait until Jasper has spoken to her." Edward commanded before anyone could have answered my question.
"Yes, you're right." Carlisle said as Esme leaned against his shoulder.
"Well if that is all, I think I'll head back to bed." I said as I started to stand.
"That isn't all Isabella." Edward said as he pulled me back to him. "It's just that we are unsure as to how we should proceed with what we must ask." He said as he looked over at his parents as if silently begging them to take the lead on this conversation now.
With a small smile, no doubt at her son's plea, Esme jabbed Carlisle in his ribs and nodded in my direction as if telling him to start speaking. Sighing he obliged and adjusted himself before staring.
"Bella, darling, what we must ask of you is as a result of your conversation with Esme." Carlisle said as he leaned forward and grasped my hand in his. "While Esme was in her right to tell you about the Il Trono and the politics of it, it was not expected that you would be able to fit it together so fast."
"Meaning?" I implored as he took a breath.
"You figured out something that could destroy the entire Mafia world if ever told to the law enforcers." Edward said as he draped one of his arms across the back of the chair.
"Huh?" I said as I turned to look at him, his green eyes ablaze with pure, undulated power.
"Members of the Il Trono and by extension Signore del Sangue." Edward clarified.
"I was right then by saying that you are a member of Il Trono?" I asked as I cautiously looked at Carlisle who had let go of my hand and was now playing with Esme's wedding ring.
"Yes." Came his short reply before Esme took over.
"I apologize to you Bella but if the fact that you know so much gets out, the Mafia world will call for your blood." Esme said as she playfully pulled her hand from Carlisle's hand only to have him pull it back towards him.
"I mean it not like they don't want me dead already." I scoffed.
"Well aside from those, if word got out then even those we consider to be allies will call for your blood." Esme said as she silently begged me to understand.
"So what do we do to prevent that?" I asked as I looked over at Edward.
"We perform an Il Giuramento di Sangue." He murmured in his deep, velvet voice.
"A what?" I asked complete confused and terrified.
"It's a blood oath ceremony in which you will signify your loyalty to the family and officially join the Mafia world as a member of the Cullen Mafia Family." Edward translated.
"I can't do that Edward." I stuttered as I struggled to pull my hand away.
"Isabella, please be reasonable. You have to do this or else I should, according to Mafia law, be pumping your body full of lead bullets." Carlisle said as he made his way over to us.
"No please no. I can't swear loyalty to an organization like this. Please!" I cried desperately as I continued to fight against Edward's hold but the man was relentless. He just would not give in a let me go. Instead he pulled me closer to his chest, trapping my hands between our bodies and locking his around my back effectively stopping my movements.
"Isabella, listen to me!" Edward growled into my ear. "Firstly, stop being so goddamn stubborn and let as do the fucking blood oath if not: say the word and I will end you right now. I will not let your petulant behavior endanger my family. Do you understand me?"
"Edward, she's afraid son' Esme said soothingly from somewhere behind us.
"No, she is being stupid." Edward hissed before he threw me to the next end of the couch before standing.
"We are trying to protect you Isabella. All we ask is for you to trust us with this ceremony but you decided to freak the hell out. Damn it, Isabella we are trying to protect you why won't you let us?"
"Because, I am afraid." I cried as I stood to face him allowing the tears that I long kept at bay to flow. "My father was the chief of police and he painted the mafia to be these cruel heartless men. Now here I am being forced to realize that isn't so and then to be told I have to swear my loyalties to the same institution that I have hated for the last six years? Tell me Edward; how am I not supposed to be afraid."
"Isabella." Esme started towards me only to be pulled back by Carlisle.
"If you are so afraid then why are you here, Isabella? Why didn't you just tell us no when we came for you today?" Edward said in a controlled voice.
"I don't know." I sobbed as I fell into the couch.
"Isabella if you choose to play a game of chance with your own life, please have the courtesy to tell us so that we will not waste our resources and time protecting someone, who in the end, just simply wants to die." Edward said coldly before turning and leaving us in the room.
"Come, dear," I heard Carlisle say before ushering Esme out the room, "Isabella needs to think." And with that I heard the door close behind me and darkness surrounded me.
I had no idea how long I was left to my own devices in Carlisle's office. It could have been days, weeks, months but I wasn't sure. I had no real time maker except for the two meals that were brought to me everyday.
I had a lot to work through and I was secretly very thankful that the Cullens had left me along even though I would have greatly appreciated a bed and some clean clothes once in while but I did not have the strength in me to bother since all the thinking I was doing was greatly draining my strength.
I had made myself comfortable on the sofa when I heard a knock on the door. Expecting it to be my food delivery, I called whoever it was at the door in. However I was very wrong.
"Good afternoon Isabella." I heard the chilling voice of Emmett Cullen say.
"Good afternoon, Emmett." I said as I cowered away from him.
"You have caused some discourse in the family." He continued as if he had not heard my greeting. "And I do not like it. I do not like the fact that a relative stranger knows a lot about this family. It is unacceptable. What makes this even more outrageous is the fact that had this been anyone else they would already be dead but my father, brother and even my father-in-law have all ordered that you are not to be touched until you have made a decision. So now I ask you a question: have you made a decision. Isabella?" He asked looking at me with cold calculating eyes.
"No, I haven't" I stuttered out as I stood and back away from him.
"Well then," He said as a smirk grew onto his face. "That just won't do."
Before I could register what he was doing, Emmett lunged at me, pinning my body to the wall while securing one of his hand around my throat and squeezing slightly but enough to obstruct my airflow.
"Now, Isabella. I was all for protecting you but when you pushed my Rosie, well that was just wrong and then you endanger this family further by not pledging loyalty. Well we are going to fix that." He said menacingly.
With his free hand, he pulled out a knife from the jacket he wore and made a very precise and deep cut horizontally on my arm. As soon as the rusty scent hit me, I could feel the dizziness start as my knees buckled. Sensing that he only had seconds until I passed out, Emmett quickly collected a vile of my blood before pulling out a piece of paper where he pressed my bloody palm against it.
"Now repeat after me: In my own blood, I swear allegiance to this family. Should my loyalty ever weaver, I shall spill that which is left in me."
"I can't." I said; my speech slightly slurred.
"Yes you can't or else I will be putting a bullet in your skull." Emmett growled and I could feel a cool piece of steel on my temple.
"I-n-n…." I started only to stop as I started gasping for air, crawling at his bear hands, begging him to loosen his hold as he slowly tightened his hold.
"I don't have time for this." He roared before I heard the unmistakable sound of the safety clip of the gun being moved. "Say hello to your father for me."
Out of sheer fear, I could feel urine running down my legs and even through my embarrassment, I hoped he would not notice but unfortunately he did.
"Did you just pee yourself?" He asked sounding shocked and even compassionate.
At once, the pressure around my throat disappeared and I crumpled to the ground, falling in a puddle of my own blood and urine.
"Miss Bell…" I heard the voice of the maid who brought my food say before the sound of china and fine silvers hit the floor. "Master Emmett what happened?" the maid asked as she pulled my head onto her lap as I started to fade into unconsciousness.
But before he could answer, the sound of a gun firing echoed throughout the office followed by a groan of pain and the voice of Jasper Whitlock.
"I shall not be surprised if you die for this Emmett." He said in an eerily calm voice.
"Jasper," I called out softly as my throat prevented me from speaking loudly.
"Hush Bella." He said as he picked me up and cradled me to his chest. "Let's get you cleaned and patched up."
"No listen…." I started before we were once again interrupted by Carlisle and Edward.
"Jasper what happened?" Edward asked as he took me into his arms.
"One minute. Isabella wanted to say something. Go on Bella" Jasper said and with that all three men fell silent to hear.
"In my own blood, I swear allegiance to this family. Should my loyalty ever weaver, I shall spill that which is left in me." I said softly before closing my eyes.
But even as the darkness took me once again, I knew within my heart and soul that fear of Emmett and fear of what he was capable of was the only thing that sealed my faith with the Cullen Mafia Family.