EPOV
"Edward, if you can hear me do it again." My mothers voice was cooing softly.
Do what?
I could feel her breath against my ear, the first time I had felt anything after time and time again I lost consciousness. I had no clue of how much time had passed since I drifted back and forth between a state of awareness and completely nothing. I had heard the various voices of my family, including Bella's.
But never my Bella.
A tingling sensation made me wince, wishing I could move my hand away from whatever it was I was feeling.
"He did it! Edward, can you hear me? You just moved your fingers, squeeze my hand again. Come on Bambino!"
Was that the sensation? Was moving my hand?
I focused, trying to figure out how I had done it.
I winced again, red filling from behind my eye lids.
"Did you see is face? Carlisle! Do it again!"
The red light that had vanished returned, and I felt this time as my head moved from side to side.
"Il mio ragazzo dolce, open your eyes!"
"Esme, don't get your hopes up sweetheart."
"I know he is still in there."
"It could be just his body reacting, not his mind."
"Stop talking like that! This is your son, why are you giving up hope so easily?"
"Carlisle, why don't you go get some coffee."
Renata is here.
"I need to make my rounds anyway. I will be back on my next break."
My father was working? I was in a hospital?
I can do this. I struggled to figure out how to focus on opening my eyes.
"It's been months darling, I am sure he is just fearful Antonio wont recover and is protecting himself from being let down."
"I'm sorry." Mama was crying now. "I am able to at least look at my son every day, I should be thankful and not picking a fight with Carlisle."
"Shh, I understand... truly."
What does that mean? Where the fuck is my wife?
"Renata, look at him! Edward! Antonio Edward Masini Cullen you open those eyes right now!"
And it happened.
My eyes opened.
The light in the room burned my eyes, causing me to re-close them.
"I'll shut off the lights!" Renata said hurriedly, the room darkening seconds later.
"Can you speak? Edward, it's alright. Please Baby, open your eyes again."
I did as she requested, relieved that the overhead was shut off and the only light was coming from the window, leaving the room in a shadow.
"Ma-"
My throat was on fire, I started to cough slightly making it feel as if I pins stabbing at my throat.
"Take a sip baby."
I felt something poke my lips and I opened them slightly, realizing it was a straw. My vision felt blurry, as if I was under a strobe light. I was able to get a bit of water, listening to my mothers warning of taking it slowly.
"Bah." I gasped.
I wanted to scream in frustration over the lack of my ability to speak!
"Bella!" I finally spit out, closing my eyes over the effort it took.
"Let me call the doctor, okay?" My mother smiled weekly.
She averted her eyes, Renata's face covered in tears.
I pleaded with her though my eyes, begging for someone to tell me where my wife was.
She turned her back to me as her shoulders shook with sobs.
"Ma." I whispered, the only way I could speak without pain. "Where is my Bella?"
"Edward!" My father's voice filling the room.
I had my father on one side, my mother on the other while they covered my body as they hugged me and cried together, rubbing fingers through my hair. I appreciated that they were concerned, happy I was alert, but I wanted to know!
"How long?"
"How long have you been in this bed?"
I nodded, answering my mother.
"It's been four months since the accident."
"It was no accident." Renata turned back around, fire filling her tear stained face. "They implanted an explosive device in the car that was intended for my Isabella! They were close enough to see their mistake, harming Antonio and Jasper and taking her! They have my baby!" She was in hysteric's, my father rushing to hold her up before she fell to the ground. I looked at my mother to see her covering her mouth with her hand, silencing her own cries.
They took her.
They took her.
They have my Bella.
Four months.
My brain went into over drive.
Isabella had been taken!
Adrenaline filled my body. With a roar I sat up and swiveled myself so that my feet here on the floor. Ripping every needle that was taped to my arm out, I headed for the door.
"Edward!" My father tackled me, pushing me back to the bed.
The shock of his hands returned me to my weakened state, collapsing to the bed under me. Still I fought.
"Get the fuck off me! I need to call a meeting! I have to find her! Isabella!" I was screaming, my voice hurting my own ears as I continued ranting.
I was breathing hard when Cauis ran into the room.
"Antonio!"
"Cauis, get me out of this fucking bed! You have to help me get her back!"
He stayed silent, making his way to me with sure steps. Once he was at my side he sat on the bed and wrapped me in his arms.
And I cried like a bitch.
Everything must have been too much because the next thing I knew I was waking up again and it was dark out.
"You can go home tomorrow if you promise to hire a nurse and do what your told. Money speaks volumes."
A table lamp switched on and I saw Cauis sitting with his legs crossed in a chair near my bed.
"I have stepped up in your absence. We have done everything to find her." He looked broken, his voice void of emotion.
"They why isn't she here?" My voice cracked.
He stood and brought a cup of water to me. I was shaky, but managed to get the straw to my mouth and drink greedily.
"She's gone." He whispered, tears filling is eyes. "I've done everything Antonio."
I fell to my pillow, covering my face with the palm of my hands and sobbed into them. There was a small part that was horrified I was showing this emotion to people, looking weak. For the majority though, I didn't give a shit. Nothing mattered but my wife.
"Bring me home. I don't want to be here a second longer. Now!" I screamed into the small room, vigorously wiping at the tears on my face.
He was silent, helping me dress in the loose black sweats and a gray t shirt he had brought for me from home. I slid my feet into sneakers without tying them and stood.
"Let us get you a wheelchair, yes?"
"Fuck off."
It was the first we had spoken in almost an hour.
He sighed but kept a slow pace to match mine as we walked to the elevator, a bag of pills I had to take in his hand.
"Call the men." I ordered once we were seated in the car, refusing to look at him as he picked up his phone.
Twenty minutes later we were parked in front of the entry to my house. The lights blazing as if she was inside waiting for me. I bite the side of my cheek till I tasted blood and got out of the car, slamming the door shut behind me.
There was a barking and I could see a dogs head in the window of the front door.
"Guilio must know it's you." Cauis said with a small smile.
The front door opened and he came running like a race horse toward me.
"Shit, he's huge."
"Still a pup, he will get bigger yet."
I knelt to the ground, allowing him to slobber all over me.
"Hey buddy." I chuckled, petting him around the ears.
He whimpered and whined as I stood back up, weaving slightly from a wave of dizziness.
"Let's get you inside. You are over doing it." Cauis said worriedly, trying to steady me.
"Get off me."
I didn't want him to touch me, I didn't want my parents to touch me. I wanted no hands on me but Bella's. She had to be terrified, wondering why I hadn't found her yet. I refused to think of the alternative.
It felt as if I had just left as I settled into my desk chair, grateful it was an over stuffed one. It helped to ease my sore body. I opened a drawer and found a flask I had put in it alone with a glass.
"Edward, no liquor." Cauis frowned as I filled a glass.
"Shut the fuck up and go wait for the men."
He grumbled under his breath but left, closing the door behind him.
I stared at the picture on my desk, a wedding photo of Isabella.
She was perfect.
"Antonio. They are here."
"Bring them in."
I watched silently as Jasper, Jacob, Sam, Seth, Carlo and Emmett filled into the room. The rest were standing guard outside of my office and around the grounds. They were allowing no one access to the house and on high alert now that I was home.
"Your grandfather is on his way." Carlo spoke. "He should be here-"
"I'm here boy." My grandfathers gruff voice sounded before we saw him enter the room.
"Nonno." I barely whispered.
There was something about seeing my grandfather standing before me looking as strong as ever that brought out my emotion again.
"Shh my boy, we will find our girl, yes?"
"You being here means everything to me."
"Where else would I be, huh? I get a phone call informing me my Antonio is harmed and Isabella is missing. First plane I could get I was traveling to you."
I sat back down, motioning for everyone to pour their own drinks.
"Why hasn't she been found?" I asked, taking a large gulp of the whiskey, savoring the burn.
"There is nothing. No leads, no motives, no suspects. We checked the Crudele's, she isn't there. James is in some rehab. No one knows anything. It's like she just vanished. When the car exploded, all man power ran to help you and Jasper." Emmett informed me.
At Jasper's name I glanced at him, realizing he had been in the actual car. He was covered in scars. Some from burns, others that looked like slashes which I assumed was from metal and glass shards.
"You okay?"
"Not so pretty anymore, but after a few surgeries, I'm living." He nodded at me.
"I want more men hired." I said loudly. "Put everyone you can on the streets. Ask questions and dig where you haven't dug and where you already have. Until I have a body..." I stopped speaking, swallowing deeply and blinking before continuing. "She is out there waiting for us to save her. Now get the fuck out of my sight."
I closed my eyes as they filed out, opening them when I heard the door close to see Emmett, Carlo, Nonno, and Cauis sitting in their seats watching me.
"I want blood. I want someones god damn head mounted on my wall. Who ever did this is going to pay. Their Mama and Papa will pay. Their children, cousins, aunts and uncles will feel my wrath!" I screamed, pounding my fist against the desk. "And now, I'm getting drunk. Leave."
They still sat, staying silent. Watching me as I refilled glass after glass till they had to carry me to my bed where I passed out.
BPOV
"James." I blinked sleep away as I stared up into his face that was hovering over me.
"Quickly, sit up and make it look real." He whispered, kissing my forehead quickly as we heard footsteps.
I watched in horror, as I did every time.
He stabbed himself with the needle and rolled his sleeve back down in under a minute, then grabbed my arm and poked it with a sewing needle he had hidden in his fist, the syringe half out of his fist like he was shooting me up.
"Lay back down and I will bring you food as soon as she is gone." He whispered, acting as if I had passed out and he was laying me down.
"Good job James. I knew I could count on you. After all, it wasn't just my family that was left without a thought by the Masini's and Cigno's."
"Why are you drugging her though? You haven't explained that part to me."
I could hear the slurring in his words as he struggled to appear sober.
"Edward can't stand drug addiction. When we return her to him, she will be doped up, withdrawals following soon after. He will want nothing to do with her and we will have our chance to regain what was stolen from us. I will have Edward, and you will have Isabella. Watch her, I will call tonight." I heard as she blew him a kiss and walked back down the stairs.
I had no idea how long I had been here, in a house she had hidden somewhere. Half of the time she wasn't around so James and I didn't have to play the game we were playing this morning. She traveled to Italy often to inform her family of the progress she was making often. The first month here, the actual time a guess, it was mostly being locked in a room and being ignored. James sneaking in daily to give me food. He told me he had no idea she was planning on kidnapping me and keeping me hostage. He was caught stealing the drugs he was pushing and she offered him the money to make up the profit in return for his services. He thought it was a simple ransom gig till he saw me and realized she had no plan to return me to Edward. He apologized for what he did at my engagement party. He was still bitter at the time for being refused my hand in marriage and allowed the drugs to take over, saying things he later regretted. He proclaimed his love for me that he still held for me since high school, his reasoning for asking my father's permission to marry me.
He was the one to hold my hair back as I vomited, the one who sneaked in a test and held my hand as we waited for the answer.
He gave me vitamins and food when Irinia would otherwise withhold nourishment.
He was the first to know I was pregnant.
He suggested a pregnancy test when I couldn't hold down food and vomited constantly. His words made me think back to my birth control. When I left the house to stay with Edward's parents, I hadn't packed the pills. I never even gave them a thought with everything else that was happening then. I had no idea how far along I even was.
"The baby is kicking."
I could see the drugs affecting James fully now, his hand on my stomach with black eyes and a silly smile.
He took the drugs for me and the baby and I helped calm him. Giving him a reason to stay, to help us.
"Lay down James."
It was his idea to take the drugs she wanted me injected with. The first time he tried to just dump it out, she saw him do it and sliced his arm with a knife. He was still unable to bend his left arm fully since then. He refused to harm me or the baby though, and pricked me with a sewing needle instead, making me press enough to leave a slight bruise while he emptied the drugs into his own body. He made me practice his behavior and study it so that I could mimic him to the fullest. By the time I was able to pull it off, it was too late. He could no more refuse the drugs as he could refuse to breath.
"She's going to be gone for two weeks this time." He slurred. "We need to get you out of here." His hand still rubbing the spot the baby had kicked.
I was growing by the day it seemed, and I was unable to wrap my head around it. Everything seemed so surreal. I was only grateful that it was James she choose to help her, thinking he would hold enough of a grudge to want to harm me. Then the shock of my pregnancy. James and I didn't tell her when we knew, she only found out as my stomach grew round enough for her to notice. She laughed and danced around, telling James it was even more perfect to send me back not only an addict, but to have Edward's child born one also. How ever weird it may sound, James became my best friend these past few months.
"James, help me."
"I'm trying Bella." He whimpered.
"Will you take me home? I know your scared that you will be killed. I promise, Edward will protect you. I will tell him how you helped me, how you saved me."
"I don't even care anymore if I die. Let's go."
We waited a few hours, waiting for Irinia to call to confirm she had left the states and for James to sober up enough to actually be of help. I probably could have left without him, but I didn't know the codes that allowed the doors to open. I also didn't want him hurt if she came back and found only him here.
He helped me down the stairs and out the door. The first time I breathed in fresh air in what felt like forever.
"Bella, we have a stop to make first."
"What? James, we can't risk it!"
"It's alright, I wont allow you to be harmed. Trust me, okay?"
"Where are we?"
"About two hours from your home."
This whole time I had been so close to Edward?
"Where do we have to go first?"
"It's half an hour in the opposite direction."
"I'm scared." I whimpered.
"We have made it this far, we can survive the rest. I will sacrifice my life for yours if I have to."
"I will never be able to repay you James."
"Name the rug rat after me." He winked and opened a car door for me.
Half an hour later, just as he had said, we stopped in front a home James called a safe house. James disappeared inside of the house and came back out of with a child, looking to be three years of age.
"What are you doing with her?" I questioned hysterically.
"This is Tania's child." He stated simply as he buckled her into the back seat.
"She needs a booster."
"Well we don't have one and I'm not risking you or her to stop and buy one."
I slanted my eyes as I watched him walk around the car to the drivers side and get back into the car. Studying the little girl, she stared back at me with round eyes that were shaped like her mothers, but the startling green color could belong to no other but a Masini. Her hair shimmered in the light cast from lamp posts a dark red color.
"James..."
"She isn't Edward's." He said dully. "I wouldn't spring that on you in such a careless manner."
I turned back around, staring out my window as James clasped my hand in his.
X
Two hours later and we were entering town, twenty minutes away from my home.
"Do you think he is alright? I saw the explosion..."
"If what Irinia says is true, he has been in a coma. I can't tell you much more than that. I have been a prisoner just as much as you in many ways." He frowned. "It's my own doing, of course."
"We will get through this together. I can't imagine what would have happened to me if it hadn't been for you." I said softly, squeezing his hand.
"We're here." He said minutes later.
We were parked outside of my house, shocked with how many men were now swarming the car, the lights shining brightly inside of the house.
"Get the fuck out of the car!" Someone screamed, opening the door and pulling James from his seat.
The commotion woke the little girl who had been previously asleep, she began to scream and cry.
"Get out! Who are you and what are you doing here?" I was screamed at, a man I didn't know shoving his face into mine.
"Please, let me hold the child." I pleaded.
"Answer me!" He bellowed instead, his spit covering my face.
"Isabella?"
It was slow motion as I turned to the side and saw my father running down the stairs, his coat flying behind him as he ran.
"Daddy?" I whispered.
"Grazie Doi, hai riportato mia bambina." He cried when he reached me, pulling me into his embrace.
"Papa." I cried into his chest, relishing the feel of his arms around me.
I was brought out of my little bubble when I heard James cry out in pain.
"No! Don't hurt him!" I screamed, trying to rush to him while my father held me back. "Papa, he helped me escape!"
"Stop! Non fargli del male! Bring him inside to an empty room. We shall let Antonio deal with him."
"Edward is here?" I whispered, afraid I had misheard.
"Si, he is inside."
"I was so afraid... the car..." I stopped with a sob.
"La mia ragazza dolce, we have much to talk about." He nodded to my stomach with a raised brow.
"Papa, he doesn't know."
"There is no hiding it, he will soon." He held me tight against his side as he walked me to the house.
I noticed Seth behind us carrying the little girl. He gave me a nod and warm smile when he saw me looking at him.
"Isabella!" I heard gasped after gasp.
Nonno Masini, Emmett, Cauis, Jasper, and Sam came into my view and I thought my legs would give out in relief..
I felt all their embraces as they hugged me to them though my eyes stayed closed, feeling overwhelmed.
My body began to sway, arms catching me before I fell.
"Emmett, please. Allow me to bring her to him?"
I opened my eyes to find myself in Emmett's arms, Cauis standing beside him with outstretched arms.
"Cauis, we need to speak." My father said, glancing at Nonno Masini as he spoke. "Emmett, take her to Antonio. Make sure he is, ah, presentable first?"
My brother growled but nodded and started walking to the stairs.
"Isabella." He said in a single sob.
"I missed you fratello."
"God damn it." He sat down halfway up the stairs. "Just let me hold you for a moment, please."
We clung to one another, crying into each others shoulders till I felt a hand on my back.
"Isabella, your husband deserves to know you are safe." My father said gently. "I understand how you feel Emmett, I too feel the same way."
My brother nodded and dried his eyes, lifting me once more in his arms and proceeded with the rest of the stairs. He held me with one arm as he knocked with the other on my bedroom door.
"Leave me the fuck alone!" I heard Edward scream, jumping when I heard something crash against the door.
"He has been like this since he returned home, since he found out you were missing."
I was confused, not knowing what had happened since I was taken.
Emmett put my feet to the ground and motioned for me to back up. I did as he requested and yelped when he kicked my bedroom door open.
"I'm going to fucking kill you!" I heard Edward scream.
Seconds later he appeared before my eyes, causing my breath to stop. He lunged at Emmett, only stopping when I let out a stifled cry.
"No." He whispered, staring at me with round eyes.
He looked terrible.
Pale and thin, cheek bones sticking out of his face. Dark circles under his eyes and hair that looked unwashed.
"Emmett..." He whispered, eyes unblinking as he stared at me. "Tell me I am not hallucinating."
"She's really here." Emmett said gently, his hand placed on Edwards shoulder.
Edward let out a sound that was nothing but broken and ran to me, his arms engulfing around me.
"Edward." I cried, wrapping my own arms around him. "Don't let me go, please!"
"Never, never, never ever,." We cried together, falling to the floor in a heap of tangled limbs that refused to let go.
X
Two hours later I was showered and sitting in Edward's office. Edward had showered with me, his hands shaking as he washed me. He had avoided all contact with my stomach and was was sitting at his desk, giving me a look I couldn't decipher.
"Tell me, what happened Isabella?" Nonno Masini cooed at me as if I were a child.
"The car explosion." I said, a single tear falling down my face. "I watched in horror as men rushed into the flames to try and reach Edward and Jasper. I never got to see if they pulled them out alive or not... arms grabbed me from behind and something was placed over my face. I-I blacked out. When I woke, Irinia had me tied to a bed. I was tied up for two weeks before James came into the picture. She told me that it was my fault she wasn't a Masini. I found that odd since Edward is technically a Cullen. The longer I was there the more I found out. Her father was the man Esme was suppose to marry. You," I nodded to Nonno. "and his father arranged the marriage. Irinia and Tania's mother was a secret. He had promised her everything. He planned on marrying Esme, to use the money she brought him to support his true love and their expectant twins. When Esme left, he lost his chance at a fortune. His families money had dwindled and was counting on the dowry Esme would bring. The twins were born and he killed himself, leaving the mother penniless to raise his daughters alone. She then turned to selling her body for money and food. When Tania was 18, she met Cauis and fell in love, marrying him without realizing the importance. When she wrote Irinia, telling her of her marriage... Irinia came up with a plan of her own. To win over Edward, the true heir to the Masini fortune. She somehow found out Cauis was never going to take over and left him and Tania alone. But when Edward called their engagement off, she tricked Tania into coming to America to visit, instead trapping her and not allowing her to return to Italy and to her husband." I took a deep breath, seeing everyone entranced by my words. "I don't know much else except that she planned on drugging me enough to become an addict and return me to Edward, thinking he would be disgusted with me and divorce me. After that she would be able to wiggle her way back into his heart."
The door burst open and James was thrown into it, now sporting a black eye.
"James!" I called in distress.
"You!" Edward roared, jumping to his feet.
He grabbed James around the neck, slamming him against the wall as his fist hit James' face.
"You thought you could hurt her and get away with it?"
"Stop!" I screamed, running to James and shielding him with my body.
"He helped me! He gave me food when I would have otherwise starved to death! He stabbed himself with the needle so that the baby would be unharmed! He took me away from my prison and brought me back home!"
"So that is the biggest secret of all." Edward sneered, looking over my body. "I will gladly step aside. How stupid of me for thinking anything different. You are nothing but golosa."
Before I could even think I slapped him across the face.
"I have done nothing but think of you while I was imprisoned. Loved you even though I feared I would never see you again."
He actually scoffed at my words.
"Isabella, he has become fond of alcohol since he awoke from his coma and found you gone. He is not himself." Cauis whispered into my ear.
"You dare to speak such words to me?" I was now openly crying, hating the weakness I displayed to him. "There is a little girl down stairs that has a good probability of being your daughter."
I stormed out of the room, collapsing against a wall in heavy sobs.
"Bella." James spoke softly, sitting to the floor beside me. "I need to tell you that I am leaving. I will be going to my father and hopefully into a rehab. The next time you see me I will be well."
"I am going to miss you."
"You heard Cauis. Help him over come his addiction. He is confused and hurting. Be the strong, supportive wife I know you want to be."
"I love you, James."
"I love you too."
"Exactly what I thought. And my grandfather thought I had misinterpreted the situation."
We looked up to see Edward standing before us seething. I couldn't even blink as he turned and stomped away, his office door slamming shut behind him.
X
Bambino – baby boy
Il mio ragazzo dolce – my sweet boy
Grazie Doi, hai riportato mia bambina – Thank you god, you brought back my baby girl
Non fargli del male – dont hurt him
La mia ragazza dolce – my sweet girl
golosa – greedy whore