AN: Hey everyone. Today you get the next chapter I promised. Sorry it took so long but I rewrote it. I just wasn't happy with the one I had done. Anyway just wanted to let you all know that this story will be translated into Russian by a member of the FF community, WhisperInTheDark 1234 and if anyone wants to give a translation a go, PM me. Also I started a Nannyella story if anyone wants to take a read.

THE MAFIA MISTRESS

Chapter Ten: The Bond Is Formed

Isabella's POV.

"A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path."
- Agatha Christie

After her somewhat harsh but necessary words, Esme ordered the entire Cullen family to leave me to rest until dinner was to be served in three hours. However that did not mean that all the members actually listened.

While Emmett, Rosalie, Alice, Jasper and Carlisle readily complied with Esme's request, Edward stayed firmly seated behind me and as soon as the door clicked shut after their exit, Edward pounced, pinning my body to the bed.

"Isabella Marie Swan," He growled into my ear, "what have you done to me? Why do I desire you so?" He asked as he skimmed his nose along my neck.

"I can't answer you. I don't even know what's going on" I whimpered out in reply.

"This isn't right. This desire I have for you. I am a husband. I have a wife, a woman who I would like nothing more than to see dead, but a wife none the less. I have a son. A son." He sighed softly before he sat up again and moved to the end of the bed before he continued.

"Isabella, do you believe in amore a prima vista? You know love at first sight?"

"No I can't say I have. I've only known pain for a long while. I gave up on everything else." I said softly as I pulled myself up so that I was not sprawled across the bed.

"I never believed in it to. I remember laughing at Jasper when he confessed he fell for Alice. Alice had just turned sixteen and Jasper was well on his way to being twenty and had already started working for my family. To say my father was pissed would be an understatement. He was fucking livid and it was by some act of God that Jasper survived." Edward said with a fond smile on his face as he stared off into the distance.

"Then I thought I had found the one thing I envied my siblings for. I had watched my brother and sister fall in love and gain so much from that one emotion. The happiness that radiated off of them was infectious yet poisonous. Their love poisoned me and made me desire something I should have waited to find but in youthful ignorance and arrogance, I decided that I would find it; I would go to love and not allow it to come to me. And I did just that and I got Tanya." He spat so venomously that I jumped slightly.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you" He apologized softly as he reached out his hand to me which I eagerly took. "I don't even know why I feel the need to tell you all this but Isabella I need some sort of explanation as to what is going on between us. I just groped you in front of my family, all of whom, make no mistake, saw the entire thing, but really don't care. I have never wanted anyone like I have want you but I am a married man and I can't ask you to live in sin. I know you are religious. And as much as I want to know you and maybe fall more in love with you, I can't ask you to do this."

"You won't be asking me anything, Edward." I cooed softly into his ear as I slide down so I was on my knees behind him; my chest pressed against his back. "I want this as much as you. I want to be able to have you in my life. I want to be able to call you mine even if I have no explanation as to way."

"I can't let you do that. You're the moon to me Isabella, the unattainable beauty; a beauty I can only admire but never possess."

"I am far from the moon Edward. The moon is scarred." I spat as he turned to look at me.

"And you're not? Vanity does not become you." He said as the emerald to his eyes turned into smoldering embers.

"Don't you dear tell me what does or does not become of me! You have no right; no claim." I said turning away from him as I moved away from him and attempted to stand only to crumple back down into Edward's arms with a yelp of pain.

"Are you all right?" Edward asked concern lacing his voice. "Should I call for Jasper?"

"Why would you deny me this, Edward? Why would you deny me something only you can give?" I asked softly into his shirt; completely ignoring the pain I felt and his questions.

"I would give you the world if I could but Isabella are you sure this is what you want?" He asked again as he gently cupped my cheek.

"Yes. Just give me a chance to know you. Give me a chance to love you." I replied softly.

"This won't be easy. You don't even know me." He said with a slight chuckle as he laid me back on the bed.

"But I would like to." I replied as I cuddled into his side.

"Fine but there is something I want to do." He asked as he played with my hair.

"And that is?" I asked as I kissed his lingering hand softly.

"I want you to spend some time with Matthew and me." He said as he looked at me with so much emotion that I felt my heart stutter slightly.

"Off course but I think I should change into something more suitable." I said; grimacing slightly as I looked down at my attire.

"There should be some clothes in the closest over there. Would you like me to go and get you something? Jasper would kill me if I let you put too much pressure on that foot."

"Yes please. Maybe a dress so that it doesn't rub against my foot. How many stitches did I have to get." I asked Edward quietly as he walked over to the closest that was set at the far side of the room.

"Fifteen. Father was livid. He would have killed Emmett if he wasn't his son." Edward said as he walked back over to me offering me a black and white dress.

"Don't you think that this is too dressy for dinner?" I asked fingering the material as I took in the designer label attached to the side.

"You're a Cullen now. You have to look the part." He said. "I'll leave you to get dressed. Do you need any help?"

"No I'm good. I'll call you to help me stand when I'm done. I don't think I can take on gravity by myself right now."

"Off course." He replied before walking out.

.

.

.

Fifteen minutes later, I was cradled in Edward's arms as he walked through the Cullen mansion and into the most beautiful playroom I had ever seen.

"Da!" I heard being squealed across the room and that was when I noticed that the entire Cullen family was here and this time Tanya was there too.

"Hello, my little prince." Edward cooed as he lowered me gently into a seat next to Jasper who instantly pulled my legs into his lap and then walked off over to Matthew.

"How are they feeling, Bella?" Jasper asked as he rubbed his hand gently over his handy work. "Any pain?"

"No. Just some itching. Is that normal?" I asked as Alice scowled in Tanya's direction.

"Yes. I gave you a local anesthetic and then some morphine. You should be okay for a while but I'll be giving you some more after dinner to help you sleep." He said softly as he looked at Alice too.

"Hello Alice." I murmured softly at her.

"Hello Bella. I love that dress." She replied brightly all the while still staring at Tanya.

"Alice, what are you trying to do?" I asked as I accepted a drink from one of the maids.

"Kill Tanya." She said bluntly and loudly causing everyone to turn towards us and Tanya to scowl.

"Try it pint-size." Tanya sneered as she walked over to where we were seated.

"I don't have to try anything Tanya. I don't try. I just do." Alice growled standing up. "What? Isn't this the first time in the last two weeks that you have spent more than twenty minutes in the same room as your son? You don't think we all know why you're here. I wouldn't blame you though. Bella is kinda gorgeous. I mean, did you not see what I saw when Edward and Bella walked in here? Did you not see how Edward cradled Isabella to his chest; all loving and protective, holding her like she was the most precious thing in the world? I mean if I ever saw Jasper carry a woman that way, I might think the same as you so I understand your jealously. If I was you and my competition was Isabella, I would be scared too. Look even your son likes her and he has autism." And true to her words, Matthew was struggling with his nanny in a silent plea to come closer to me.

"Edward, why don't you bring Matt closer? He obviously wants to see Bella." Alice said still staring in the direction of the seething Tanya.

"Alright enough!" Esme exclaimed. "Alice sweetheart, I know how much pleasure you get out of goading Tanya but please don't make her talk. You know I hate her voice and I might end up killing her if she continues to talk, so please let her shut up."

"And you killing her is a bad thing, how?" Rosalie asked as he lounged against Emmett. "I would think that you would be doing the world a favor."

"What the hell is wrong with all of you? I am standing right here. It's not my fault that you all are envious of me. After all I represent everything you all are not." Tanya sneered as I noticed how the men paid very little attention to what the women were saying.

"She's right you know." Alice said somberly as she sat back down. "She is everything we're not."

"I know." Rosalie said, matching the sudden lifelessness and somberness that Alice was showing.

"So a yeast infection, plastic breast, no sense of style, a loveless marriage, no sex life because my husband, as sexy as he is, won't touch me with a ten- feet pool, looks that say 'Hi, I ate a bottle of tanning spray so even my ass is bright orange' and ears that make me look like Dumbo make her better than me. All that makes Tanya better than me." Esme said with a look of horror on her face.

"Yes, Mama. I'm afraid so." Alice said as she wiped off an imaginary tear from her cheek.

"Oh! You forgot to mention the nose job." Rosalie exclaimed with a slight bouncing in her seat.

A moment to silence followed before all three women broke down into peals of laughter. Esme was leaning against Carlisle as she laughed and even Carlisle chuckled a bit. Jasper, who was holding a giggling Alice to his chest, wore nothing more than a smile while Emmett laughed out loud as Rosalie crackled at a manic.

"Edward, are you going to sit here and let them talk about me and to me like that?" Tanya shrieked in outrage.

"Yes, I am." Edward said in a blunt manner as he played with his son. "Do you want to go meet Isabella son?" Edward said as Matthew raised his head at the sound of his father's voice.

"Da?" He asked in response as he crept over to Edward. "Da?"

"Would you like to play with Isabella?" Edward asked again as he stood with Matthew in his arms and walked over to where I was seated.

"Say hello Matthew." Edward said with a smile on his face as he crouched down so Matthew as in line with me with his back pressed against his father's chest but instead of speaking, he shyly buried his head in his father's chest.

"No, no. Dad's here. It's okay baby." Edward cooed to his son. "See she's just like you." Edward said as he pulled my hand out to show Matthew my palm. "Look baby just like you."

Cautiously Matthew turned his head to look at me before turning his attention to my hand and then shocked me by placing his baby soft hand on mine allowing his palm to touch. Edward, with a smile firmly planted on his face, encircled both Matthew and mine joint hands with his own and in that one moment, I realized that they were now my boys and I would fight heaven and hell for them both and in the back of my mind, I knew all my battles would be with one Tanya Cullen who I saw glaring at me from behind Edward.