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AN: Because of a very success full experiment (i.e. the last chapter got over 50 reviews), you all get the next chapter today. But before you read this chapter I have a question: Do you think we could reach 70 reviews. If that is possible go for it. If not, you still get a chapter tomorrow, hopefully. If not tomorrow then Friday for sure.
THE MAFIA MISTRESS.
Chapter Nine: The Angel of Mercy.
Isabella's POV.
"What if a demon were to creep after you one night, in your loneliest loneliness, and say, 'This life which you live must be lived by you once again and innumerable times more; and every pain and joy and thought and sigh must come again to you, all in the same sequence. The eternal hourglass will again and again be turned and you with it, dust of the dust!' Would you throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse that demon? Or would you answer, 'Never have I heard anything more divine'?"Friedrich Nietzsche quotes (German classical Scholar, Philosopher and Critic of culture, 1844-1900)
Fear.
A dictionary definition of fear would be something along the lines of 'a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid,' with synonymous as terror, dismay, fright.
But never in any definition would they tell you that in that one moment you the paralysis you get or the prayer you say in your head asking that if this be your last minute that all would be well or the regrets that swim through your mind and above all else, your desire to live.
I knew the moment I saw Carlisle Cullen, six years after my father's death, that I would be tied to this family; a family that stood for everything my father was against. I had heard of what they were capable of: the families that were killed, the drugs brought in, the guns sold and then there were the politicians that they bought, the laws they had made them passing in Congress for their benefit alone.
And while the world gladly painted them as the most evil and malicious, there were still the charities and the funds they had for the needy; the charity auctions and Christmas dinners were they gave to those without; the houses they built for those who lost everything that made them humble; made them kind; made them caring; made them human.
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It took me the better part of three days to think all this though. For hours I would think of their family interactions at least the little I had seen. I smiled fondly as I thought of how Esme held hands with Mr. Cullen every time they were close. I thought who Alice and Jasper seemed to move in complete synchronization with one another, needing no words to know what the other needed or wanted. The relationship between Rosalie and Emmett had a dedication and purity that I had yet to see in any relationship. Though he terrified me to my very core, the giant of a man held is wife like she was his most precious possession and would do everything in his power to keep her well and safe.
But in all the relationships I had witnessed, the one that left me breathless was the one shared between Edward and his son. I never knew a fatherly bond existed like that until I saw Edward with his son. Everything he did he did fir that little boy and it was plain to see that even though he hated his wife with a passion, that little boy held Edward down and for that he was amazing.
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I once again found myself buried blissfully in the plush pillows of the bed. I sighed in absolute contentment and I allowed the feathery pillows to cushion my body as I attempted to lull myself back into that welcoming blackness. At least that was my intention until I remembered the reason as to why I was here.
Before I could control myself, I jolted out of the bed and a gut-wrenching scream tore through my lips. I found myself propelling myself backwards away from the voices I heard calling my name.
"No!" I exclaimed as I felt a hand wrap around my wrist pulling me until I crashed painfully with a rock-hard chest.
"Isabella, hush now. You're safe." I heard the voice of Edward Cullen coo into my ear. "Emmett won't be able to hurt you again. Hush now mi piccolo bellezza."
"Why do you always have to see me in tears?" I wailed into his shirt causing him to hold me tighter.
"Do you not want me to see you?" He asked as he touched my cheek allowing that electricity to surge through us both.
"I'm scared. I'm sacred of what you all would do to me. That's why I did not say the oath at first but I wanted to. I want a family. I don't want to be lonely no more." I cried out in my completely unexplainable hysteria.
"And you won't be. You have a family here. Now stop these tears and we'll talk." He said gently as he wiped my remaining tears away.
After giving me a moment to collect myself, he gently pulled back and fixed me so I still sat on the bed with my back pressed against his chest allowing me to see the entire family there including a very banged up Emmett Cullen.
Unable to help myself, my muscles tensed instantly in fear.
"I'm here Isabella. He can't hurt you." Edward cooed again while caressing my cover stomach. It was only then that I noticed that some one had clean and clothed me in what I knew to be a very expensive silk nightgown and silently I wondered if this would forever be my attire in the Cullen Manor.
"Isabella," I heard Mr. Cullen call from across the room where he sat with a visible distraught Esme. "How are you feeling, dear?" His eyes shining in paternal affection and concern.
"My back is a little sore and my legs feel slight irritated." I answered honestly as I tried to reach down to feel what was causing the irritation only to be stopped by Jasper as he held my hand.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, darlin'," He drawled in a Texan accent that left me gapping like a fish. "I had to remove some glass from you leg from where you hit the ground and it's understandable that your back is sore. That resulted….." He started to explain before I cut him off.
"From when Emmett slammed me against the wall." I finished for him gulping.
"Yes." He replied with a shake of his head before he asked me if I was in pain.
After telling him that I was fine, I looked eyes with Rosalie only to see her lower her head.
"I'm sorry, Bella. I did not know he would do this." She mumbled still looking at the floor.
"But you are not to blame." I responded as Edward gently rubbed my back. I knew nothing about this man and yet here he was doing the exact thing I needed him to do.
"I know but still….." She said with an underlying passion as she stood quickly and pushed Emmett away as he reached for her.
"Rosalie, I wanted to say something since the day I saw your father in front of the church. I want to ask him where the hell he was all this years. I wanted to know why no one came looking to see it I was ok. I wanted to know why no one seemed to care but even though I wanted to ask these questions I didn't. You know why?" I asked rhetorically.
"Because I had the answers. I know why no one looked; I know why no one seemed to care. I know why no one came. And it simply was because I appeared to be strong. To you all that night, I looked like the world's strongest woman; a woman who had already accepted her father's death. But I didn't. I couldn't. I was in denial. I wanted my father to live. I wanted my father to see his grandchildren. I wanted my father to walk me down the aisle if I ever got married. I wanted all that. I wanted to live in a world where my father lived and I tried to act like nothing happened. I tried to tell myself he would wake up; that this was all a dream. But it wasn't and then the truth finally hit home. I was the only one left. I was the only Swan standing. I had no on else; no family, no friend. No one."
"Bella." Esme started to say but I stopped her.
"Let me finish please."
"If there was anything I inherited from my father it was this need to be selfless; to give of myself without question. But now I want to be selfish. I want to get a family. I want someone to see my pain. I want someone to care." I said with a sigh as I laced my fingers with Edward.
"Well now you have a family, dear, even if you took an oath against your will." Mr. Cullen said with a soft smile. "And now having said that, we are all here to witness your first act in this family."
"Okay?" I said or more like asked.
"Emmett's faith, Isabella. You have to decide what we do with Emmett, Isabella." Edward's velvet voice purred into my ear causing my body to shiver involuntarily.
"What? No, I am not doing that. He might kill me." I whispered into Edward's ear all the while fighting the urge to kiss the sensitive skin there.
"He won't be able to do that if he's dead." Edward groaned turning his blazing green eyes onto me and with that one move the fire consumed me.
"What are you doing to me?" I groaned as my body fell back completely against his as he moved his hands under the comforter to painfully grab at my thighs that had not been injured by Emmett.
"I should be asking you that." He said as his fingers kneaded my flesh causing me to mewl softly.
"Isabella, give my family a decision so that they could leave." Edward commanded softly in my ear as we both fought against the energy surrounding us.
"I don't know what I want. I want him to suffer, yes but I also want to move on from this. Jesus! Edward help me make a decision, please." I huffed as my Edward-induced bubble popped when he commanded me to answer.
"In the mafia world, what would his punishment be, Mr. Cullen?" I asked as I readjusted myself against Edward's chest; pouting as he refused to help me.
"Firstly Bella, before I answer your question, please call me Carlisle, papa or anything else. Mr. Cullen makes me feel old." He said causing Esme to roll her eyes as she mouthed 'He is old,' in my direction causing both Edward and I to laugh. "And to answer your question, Emmett would be dead right now Isabella. He should be." He said coldly as he looked over at Emmett who lowered his head.
"No you won't kill him, Carlisle. If it's my choice then I choose to let him live and I am not doing this for him. I am doing it for the family. I know what it's like to lose a member of the family before time. I know what it is liked to be robbed of moments that you can't get back and I won't wish that on anyone." I said softly.
"Un angelo della misericordia." I heard Emmett mumble from were he sat.
"What?" I asked as everyone had nodded in agreement.
"He called you an angel of mercy." Jasper translated. "And you truly are."
"No, I'm not. My heart won't let me hurt anyone. Even if I wanted to." I sighed.
"You know Isabella, you remind me of something Carlisle's shank of an ex-wife told me and she said 'Solo la donna che è disposto a prelevare il sangue, sopravvive questa vita.'
Simply it's translated to mean: 'Only the woman who is willing to draw blood, survives this life.' Needless to say I disagreed with her at first just like everything she ever said but as time passed I believed her."
"Esme, no offense but I don't think you have a problem drawing some blood."
"You are right. Now, I would kill if I had to but at the begining I would have never entertained the idea of drawing blood far less for killing somebody. I was an innocent woman trying to make it out there in the world before I came here and ever since I came here, I knew I had to change things so take what I'm about to tell you in good faith and a bit of salt if you must. Okay?"
"Okay." I responded cautiously as Edward tighten his hold on my waist.
"Grow a back bone Isabella and start fighting becausee while we all know that you are hurting and trust me when I say we all want to help you but you need to fight now. Emmett should have been comdemned to death and while I am thankful you saved my son I will tell you this: it may not be today or tomorrow. It may be twenty years from now and someone outside of this family will try to hurt you and then neither Edward, Carisle, IlTrono nor God himself would be able to protect you. Deal with your pain, sweetheart. We are all here for you but don't let the world see your weakness. This is the mafia sweetheart. Don't let the world see your heart."