Chapter Seven: Answers
"Well, I met someone." I let out a pity giggle. "His name is Edward Cullen. He is the brother of Rosalie's boyfriend." I turned to Nonna Leona. "He is perfect for her. You can probably see that, though." I turned back to Nonna. "Edward is really nice." I sighed. "I met his family. They seem wonderful. His Nonna Gia reminds me of you, Nonna." A tear fell down my face. "Anyways, there was an incident where Rose and I were at her studio." My heart started to thump loudly in my chest. "I was attacked, so was Rose." My whole body shivered just at the thought of that night. "Edward and Emmett came to the rescue with their dad and Jasper, their sister's boyfriend." I sighed. "Edward said that their last name was Maseni to the guy before he killed him. I passed out. When I woke up, I confronted him. He admitted who he really was." I sighed. "I still feel so strongly for him, but he is the epitome of who you all warned me to stay clear of."
The wind picked up, and I smiled.
"My brain is telling me to run and never look back, but my heart," my voice started to break, "my heart is telling me that no matter what happens. He will never hurt me."
I sighed. "Nonna, would I be foolish to listen to something that changes every five minutes or should I listen to something that never changes?"
My heart started to flutter in my chest. "Thoughts what I thought too, but I still need to wrap my head around it all."
Then it all flowed out of me. "I will be a big target for any rival families. I have seen mafia shows and movies. The girl is the first one that the rivals kidnap. I would not be a good kidnap victim. I wouldn't. I will probably stress bake, and they would keep me as a baker." I shook my head. "In television, the women would sit back and let the men run everything. Children would have very tight rules, and they become targets. Please don't get me started on the subject of goomahs."
I paused. "I guess that I am just being stupid." I shrugged. "In all seriousness, though. I do want him." I looked at my papa's headstone. "I'm sorry, Papa. I know that he is the kind of man that you told me to stay away from, but I can't."
I looked up at the sky to see that it was getting darker. "Well, I have not paid any attention to my surroundings. I'm going to head home. Thanks for listening." I kissed all four headstones and left.
When I arrived back to the house, Edward was on his laptop. "Hey, Bella. You ready for a talk?" I nodded. "Let me finish up writing this last email." I bundled myself up on the couch and waited. Few minutes later, he put his laptop down. "How are you doing?"
I shrugged. "I'm okay." I let out a pity chuckle. "Where are the other two?"
"Rosalie and Emmett are having breakfast with her Nonno." I nodded my head. "Do you want the back story or just answers?"
"All of it," I said without missing a beat.
He nodded. "Stefan Maseni is my ancestor that started the Maseni Familia. He inherited it from Anthony Cullen who moved from Ireland to Italy to learn the business. It passed down from generation to generation. Stefan Maseni and his long time friend, Lorenzo Plattioni, got caught up with Anthony. Since Anthony didn't have any relatives when he passed away, it was handed to Stefan. He made Lorenzo his second. They ran it for a good bit before it was passed on. As the head of the family changed, almost everything stayed the same. The Maseni's and Plattoni's ran the familia. Fast forward to my great-great-great grandfathers, they moved to the states to create something bigger. They changed the last names and the rules. The Maseni's took on the surname Cullen while the Plattoni's took on the surname Platt. Throughout the whole time the the two families have worked together. There has been a long line of men being born with a few females in the mix. It wasn't until my Nonni had my parents. They became a legal family."
I gulped. "I'm scared to ask this." Edward just looked at me. "Who is running the family currently?" I could tell by the look on his face that he didn't want to tell me the answer. "It's you isn't it?"
He nodded. "Yes, it's me. I'm in charge with Emmett is my second in command."
My heart dropped into my stomach. "I have seen some movies where the families deal with human trafficking and child pornogrophy. Are you one of them?"
"No," Edward said with a stern voice. "Anthony Cullen did have a hand in prostitution, but when my family moved here and changed the family, it stopped 110%."
"What do you have your hand in?" I wrapped my arms around my body.
He sighed. "Weapons. Gambling. Some drugs." My eyes widened. "I don't test them or use them. I have a guy that does it." Edward moved and sat on the coffee table in front of me. "Tesoro, I swear. I don't use. Mom would kill me."
"What role do women have?" I paused. "If I stayed, what role would I have?"
Edward gently rubbed my arm. "Any role you want, baby. Nonna Elisabeth decided to run the family with Nonno Raf. Nonna Gia decided to stay in loop with Nonno Giorgo, but she wasn't invested like Nonna Elisabeth. Mama is only invested when it came to her children. Other than that, she doesn't care to know to some circumstances. When it comes to family, she is all in. When it comes to the other stuff, she steps back. It's up to you on how involved you want to be."
"How big of a target is on my back? If we have kids how much of a target will they be?"
Edward smiled. "Kids? You want kids."
I let out a very un-lady like snort. "Yes. That is not the point."
He chuckled before he turned serious. "I'm not going to sit here and lie. You will have a target on your back, but I have to be 6 feet under before anything happens." He paused. "Nope. Not even then."
I timidly nodded. "What will happen to me if I choose not to be apart of this life?"
I could tell that question bothered him because he eyes darkened. "Nothing. I would leave you alone."
"Isn't there a rule about that? Aren't you supposed to hire a hitman to kill me?" I thought that was the norm for someone not in the family.
Again, too much TV.
He sighed. "Yes. That person is supposed to die." I wanted to vomit. "Not you, Tesoro. Like I said earlier, I will not let anyone hurt you. I don't fucking care what the situation is. No one will bring you any harm under my watch. If you choose to be with me or not, I will always protect you."
"Why?" He raises his eyebrow. "Why am I so different?"
He smiled. "When I first laid my eyes on you at Sapori, I knew that you were meant to be my queen."
Whoa. Queen? Queen of the Mafia?
"There was something about you that drew me in. Then, I got to know you. I knew that I had to have you."
"Had to have me? I'm not someone's property, Edward Maseni or Cullen or whatever your last name is."
He chuckled. "My legal name is Edward Anthony Maseni Cullen." I shook my head. "What other questions do you have?"
"Will you fuck other woman?" I bluntly asked.
"Fuck no," he said without missing a beat. "I would never bring another woman into our family." I let out the breath that I didn't realize that I was holding in. Edward grabbed my hand. "I promise Tesoro. You don't have to worry about that."
"Okay," I said.
Edward leaned back into the chair. "Trust me, Bella. If I ever see you with another man, you would really see a side of me that you hopefully will never see."
My heart skipped a beat. The way he said that scared me a little bit, but it also turned me on.
"Okay," I said for the millionth time. "I still want a little bit of time."
He nodded. "Okay, Tesoro." He stood up. "Can I have a hug? I have to go back to Seattle."
I gave him a hug. I almost caved into him.
Almost.
He kissed the top of my head. "Bye, Edward."
He frowned. "Bye, Bella." He grabbed his jacket and walked out.
I stared at the door behind him. "Bella, what the fuck are you doing?" I loudly said to myself. I ran to the door and threw it open. "Edward!" I called out to get his attention. He was about to get into the car, but he turned around. I ran to him, and I jumped in his arms. Before he could get a word in, I smashed my lips on his. We kissed for a few moments before we pulled apart. "I will see you later."
I tried to unwrap my legs from his waist, but I couldn't. He held them to his body. "I don't think so," he said. He smashed his lips to mine.
A girl could get used to this.
When we pulled apart again, he let me get down. "Bye," he said. He got into the car and winked.
I stuck my tongue out at him and went inside. Not even seconds later, Rosalie busted through the front door. "Isabella Marie," she said with a smirk on her face. "What was that?"
I blushed. "You saw that?"
She giggled. "You bet your sweet little ass I did. I felt like I had to watch out the window. I heard you yell Edward's name, so I had to check on you." She threw herself on the couch next to me. "I thought I was going to have to break something up, but no no no. I got a show."
I laughed. "Okay, I get it. You saw Edward and I kissing." I paused. "How hot did it look though?"
"Fucking hot," she stated. I blushed as a response. "In all honesty, are you okay?"
I nodded. "I'm perfect. Is Emmett still here?"
She shook my head. "No, He was in the front seat waiting for Edward." My face dropped, and my cheeks heated up. "He won't say anything to you."
I shook my head. "Bullshit. This is Emmett we are talking about."
She nodded. "True." She paused. "Do you want to head back tonight? Dad and Nonno are just sitting watching sports. I feel pointless just hanging out here when I could be back at home getting some designs done." I nodded. "I'm going to go home and tell them that I am leaving. Do you want to come with me?"
"I will stay here and get some of my shit together. Your dad can come over and grab some of the food that was just bought." She nodded. "I will come over when I get my stuff together."
She nodded. "Okay, I will let Dad know." She walked out of the house.
I went upstairs to my room to grab my bag that I brought and my purse.
Bella: Rosalie and I are coming home.
Edward's name popped up on my phone. "Hello."
"Tomorrow night, I am taking you on a date. We will go to Skyscraper restaurant," he said.
"No," I said. "You will come over to my house, and I will make you Nonna's carbonara," I said.
"Sounds great. I will see you tomorrow at 7," he said.
"See you tomorrow," I said. We hung up, and I did something that I have not done in a long time.
I squealed.
