Hey everyone! Sorry it's taken me a while to get this chapter up. I've had writer's block that was hard to overcome and artist block as well. I've been stressing about a million and one things. And my health is in question again… nothing severe but I've had a major weight loss with no explanation. I chalk it up to stress, but the Doctor says otherwise. So we are waiting for test results.

But enough about me. I want to give a big shout out to my favorite person on here. And quite possibly someone who will be attending college with me. Keeper of the Covenant you are amazing! I don't know what I would do without you. You helped rid me of my writer's block and you have been such a big support for me with all the drama and stress going on lately. I consider you family and a very good friend, one of my besties. So if we do go to college together in the fall I can bet on it that we will be joined at the hip, as you said before we're two halves of a whole. I am so thankful for all that you do for me, my ideas are always better when you help them grow.

So everyone go check out Keeper of the Covenant's fics, she is an amazing author and I recommend you go read her stories.

Playlist:

The Times are A-Changin' by Bob Dylan

Killer Queen by Queen

Don't Rain on my Parade from Funny Girl

My front porch looking in by Lonestar

Please read, review, and enjoy!

Chapter Fifty-Five

Playing with the Big Boys

When the door opened Bella squeezed her husband's hand, proud to finally begin her reign beside him. The light was bright, causing her to flinch but quickly she adjusted and began her descent down the stairs. She saw many members of their family and clan awaiting the return of the Don and Donna. Carlisle proudly walked with his wife, scanning the crowd of familiar faces with a smile. Felix waited at the bottom of the steps, ready to resume his role as Isabella's bodyguard. Faithfully by his side was Jane, standing at attention as she awaited orders from her Capos. And in her grasp was the leash of man's best friend, Da Vinci, who cried and struggled to get to his parents. Once at the bottom of the steps they were praised and welcomed back. Everyone stood in their places and waited to be addressed by their leaders. Da Vinci jumped up on Carlisle, who happily accepted the welcome from his dog child. Isabella received several licks and cries of happiness from her baby boy, and she petted him and cooed her love for him. Da Vinci missed them terribly, feeling abandoned although Felix and Jane took very good care of him. He missed his mommy and daddy and was now crying happily that they were home. Carlisle bent down and ruffled his fur, patting his back and praising him for being such a good boy. Da Vinci continued to cry as Bella petted his as well, alternating his attention between his parents.

Remembering that they had an audience, though they were not acting in a way that would make them seem unworthy of respect, they settled back into their alert and proper mode. Some of their clan members went inside to collect Isabella and Carlisle's bags. Carlisle took the leash from Jane and then laced his fingers with his wife's. The pair looked around at everyone who watched them, some eager, some in awe, and some not quite sure what to do now that they would take orders from Bella as well. Felix, on the other hand, was beaming with pride because he was the guard of their Donna. Of course he enjoyed his time alone with Jane but he was happy to have his friends back. He watched Bella carefully, smiling at her grace and poise. She was regal and respectable; there was no doubt as to who she was amongst this crowd of people.

Edward smiled to himself at the sight of his sister-in-law making her first true appearance to the entire clan. Of course it was official at the wedding, but now they were back to business.

"Welcome back." Emmett greeted his brother.

Carlisle smiled and nodded back in acknowledgement, and Bella did the same for Emmett was their Sotto.

"What's on our agenda today?" Isabella asked, and just as Emmett was about to speak Dean flocked to her side ready to report her agenda.

"Welcome back, Donna." Dean playfully, but respectfully, greeted.

"Thank you, Dean. Have you my agenda?"

"In fact, I do. I figured you'd like to rest after just getting back from Italy."

Bella shook her head in protest.

"I'm fine really. I've never had a problem with jet lag and I slept on the plane. I'm ready to get back to work." She reassured him.

"Well then, you're home has been baby proofed. Riley, Edward, Emmett, Felix, Jasper, Alec and I did it all ourselves." Dean blinked when he spoke and Jane snickered.

"Liar." Jane pointed out. "They had to hire professionals. I was babysitting these grown men to make sure they didn't get hurt when attempting to baby proof your house. They couldn't open half of the baby proofed stuff so I am guessing your daughter won't be able to either."

"Way to rat us out and hurt our egos." Emmett mumbled.

"I was just being honest." Jane batted her eyelashes while giving them her puppy dog eyes.

"Oh, well that's just not fair." Felix protested.

Then Jane turned to look at her boyfriend with the same eyes and his argument came to an end. He was helpless when it came to Jane.

"Then what's next on the list?" Bella asked as she and her husband began to walk with their entourage and the rest of their clan watching until they approached their advisors.

"Donna." Aro lowered his head, but she knew he was smirking just as the other two were.

"Aro, Marcus, Caius, there's really no need for that. You know me well enough." She tried not to blush and hoped she succeeded.

"And yet, you are still Donna. Excuse our formalities but it is the habit of years of tradition." Marcus explained.

"I understand." Bella replied with a smile.

"There are several clan leaders that would like to speak with you, Bella." Dean went on to inform her. "Carlisle is asked to be present as well, but from what I understand they want to see how you fair."

Caius clucked his tongue and shook his head. Dean wasn't being blunt enough and so someone needed to say it for him. He looked at his Donna with serious attention and merely stated.

"They want to see if you can 'play with the big boys'. Despite how highly respected you already are, especially by those of Italian blood, you are a woman and they do not know you as everyone in this clan knows you. You have grown very close with Alberto and so his clan has the uttermost respect for you and accepts your power. But others, despite how they may have acted at your wedding when you announced your role, others will always have their true opinions hidden. Besides, you interacted with so many leaders that night how can you truly recall each one. I am not criticizing, merely stating that it was your special day and not your job to remember the name, face, origin, and manner of each leader you met."

"Thank you, Caius." She murmured as she reached out and gave his hand a squeeze. "You and your brothers always have words of wisdom for me. I value each one."

"Just remember that you are Donna." Marcus added.

"And that you have just as much right to speak and be present as the others." Aro reminded.

Bella smiled and then looked to her husband who was gazing at her with pride and love.

After another look at everyone in her clan Isabella pressed a soft but quick kiss to her husband's lips.

"I'm ready." She murmured.

Taking a deep breath Bella grasped the handle on the door and pushed it down. Carlisle was beside her, brushing his hand slightly against hers but abstaining from affection because it was not appropriate for this situation. He followed her inside then took his proper place beside her. Bella scanned the men in the room, recognizing all faces but one. Carlisle noticed the lack of recognition on her face when her eyes met that of the one man.

"He's new." He whispered in his wife's ear. "He wasn't at the wedding, but with good enough reasoning."

She nodded in understanding just as Felix shut the door behind them.

"Hello, Everyone." Bella addressed, her voice clear and strong without even the slightest hint of nervousness or fear.

Everyone stood at attention and greeted the Don and Donna. Carlisle spoke up, meeting the eyes of each men to make sure they understood.

"As each of you are aware, my wife is Donna as I am Don of this clan. We understand this is unusual to most, but it is something we are quite proud of. Before you judge, only allow this possibly a chance."

The men seemed to think it over for a moment before they sat down and the pair remained standing.

"Shall we get down to business, Gentlemen?" Bella suggested as she laid the file folder on the table and flipped it open.

One of the men chuckled and rolled his eyes.

"If we were going to be doing business there would not be a woman in the room."

She knew very well that he was challenging her to give him a reason to say she didn't belong, but she would not give it to him.

"I see, well I understand you are not accustomed to females discussing your work, but let's not forget the Cullen Clan is just as much mine as it is Carlisle's. I mean no harm and wish to make no enemies, only am I standing in the place that is rightfully mine. I will not be swayed or chased into a corner, nor do I back down easily. So I suggest we do not waist our time with silly challenges and get to addressing the matter which we have all assembled here to discuss."

The man with whom Bella was not familiar leaned back in his chair with a smirk. He seemed to analyze the way she carried herself, the pace of her speech, and the strength of her appearance. If anything he decided her to be regal, a perfect match to stand with Don Cullen, Carlisle.

After Carlisle pulled her chair out for her she sat, and he pushed her in before he sat beside her at the head of the table. She recalled each face and name, committing them to memory but the one unfamiliar face bothered her because she knew not his name.

"Isabella, I'd like to introduce you to Giuseppe Salvatore."

"Another Italian." Bella beamed. "It's nice to meet you."

"You as well." Giuseppe replied. "I'd like to apologize for my wife and my absence at your wedding. My wife went into labor." Bella's eyes sparkled with understanding because in the not so distant future she would go through the same process. "My son was born at three in the morning, Damon."

She smiled softly.

"I understand, Giuseppe. Congratulations."

"Thank you, Isabella."

"Now shall we get down to business?" Bella suggested.

The men all seemed to agree and Carlisle smirked to himself, proud of his wife for her confidence. She carried herself perfectly and Carlisle couldn't help but admit it was a turn on. His eyes dashed across the table to Galileo, who was ogling her as well. An urge boiled inside the blonde Don to growl that she was his, but that would be foolish. He didn't understand why he felt the need to make sure Galileo kept his distance from his wife, but for some reason he wanted to pull her close and growl a warning to the man.

"Several of you, as I understand wish to gain insight to the changes Carlisle and my clan have recently made, and why we have done it. Firstly, we have eliminated the use of the sex trade as a source of income."

"For morals?" Max, the rude man from before interrupted. "That's a waste of time and you're letting good money slip through your fingers."

"Is that really how you see the world?" Carlisle interjected.

"'Tis the only way." Max smugly replied.

"You have children don't you?" Bella spoke up.

"I do, but I don't see what that has to do with it."

"Do you have a daughter, Max?"

"Yes, two of them."

"How old are they?"

"Nineteen and thirteen."

"Do you realize that there are girls just like them in the sex trade? They come from good homes, just like yours. You've seen the girls you sell and I know this because you have a club where in private rooms you show them off. Unless I'm mistaken, and I assure you I am not, that on display in your private rooms you showcase your prized thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, and nineteen year olds. How can you do that to children that could very well have been your daughter's friends? I know that you would never let that happen to your girls so why would you promote that sort of abuse and violation of others? Everybody is someone's child, or someone's sister, brother, mother, father, cousin, aunt, niece and whatnot. How can you merely look at those girls as income like a hypocrite when you would be enraged and heartbroken if someone did the same to your daughters? I'm not arguing with emotion, Max, with all do respect I'm using reason. I won't fight you on drugs, or on illegal weaponry, or even hit men services, but I speak for my own family members who were victims of the trade and myself the victim of similar abuse and violation, that the trade is a cowardly way for a man to make a living. It is also shameful to take payment in exchange for the force sexual intercourse with girls that are far too young to even know what sex is and girls in their adolescent years. Girls their age should be enjoying their youth, playing outside, going to school, and having fun with their friends and family, not dancing in some God forsaken club fated to be raped for money by filthy men. They deserve better than that, and I am not just speaking to you Max I am speaking to anyone who sells these girls. You are not a man; only a coward to involve yourself in such a disgraceful industry. You would not condemn your children, your family members to this torture. And so why should you permit this to happen to others? I personally will never touch drugs, but I understand it is the way things are in our world and so I will not preach in order to stop that trade, just as I won't with drugs and our hit men services, those I can understand. Those girls are human, not some product you can sell. I will fight for them, my entire clan will fight for their rights. That is why we wish to use the power of the mafia to help break these circles. Of course you probably are wondering now, what's in it for us, how do we make money off of this?" She took a moment to pause and gauge each man's reaction. She was satisfied and so she continued. "You don't. When's the last time you did something for someone else just because you knew it was nice or that it was right? These girls never asked for this? They didn't all involve themselves in some bad situation that got them into this mess. Some of them are foreigners, just off the boat and they were starving and they were offered food. Expect there was a catch, they could never leave the facility they were lured into and they become sex slaves, to be blunt. Some of them are taken from their driveways, just having got home from school and are getting their backpacks out of their backseat, their backs are turned and then they're gone forever. Let's face it, it's too big of a job for someone to say let's leave it to the government or the organizations that focus on this. It's too big for the safe houses. And then what next after the girls are put in those shelters? Then what becomes of them? Not all of them are as strong as my two nieces. You'll forget about them because you've done your part, but it's not over for them. Now they have to deal with the memories, heal, get stronger, and overcome their fears. They don't know a world of happiness, and those that do feel it's a distant memory of the past and for some it's like a dream because it was so long ago it's not real. They get some of their humanity back when they are rescued. But they just need support and love."

She had each man in the room hanging on her every word. They couldn't believe how strong she was even when talking about such a sensitive subject.

"What I mean to say is that there is more to life, more to success then guns, drugs, and sex. I say let's increase gun sales, it's in higher demand to begin with. Let's focus on what we can sell, things that we have good resources for. What's the point of spreading yourself too thin by dipping your hands in too many goods and services to sell? You can make more and spend less on your inventory if you focus on one specific area until you've gained enough of a popular reputation so that you can branch off from there."

The men seemed very pleased with her proposal and declaration for change. Each took time to think over a response. They had expected a woman who would be timid or would fight with tears in her eyes. But Bella remained composed, her voice never wavering and she did not lose her argument to passion from the heart.

"You mean to recommend specialization in order to increase profits." Max mused allowed.

"It would reduce costs on surplus inventory. Our trades do vary quite often depending on the interests or needs of our clients from month to month." Giuseppe added.

"Exactly our point." Carlisle confirmed. "You see, in order to make our cover stories believable, they're not just stories. Isabella truly runs and owns a bakery." He turned to look at his wife with a smile. "The best in New York City, if you ask me." She blushed but couldn't help the smirk that tugged at her lips. "And my brother, Edward, works in the stock market, just like it says on his tax report and occupation information. There's nothing wrong with expanding the success of your clan's industry to traditional jobs and industries. It's actually smart because you're making a product or service available to a bigger market and that means more profit. It's really just about a slight tweak of perspective."

"This all sounds very promising, Isabella." Galileo beamed. "And Carlisle, too." He added before he returned his gaze to the only woman in the room. "But there is another matter which unites all of us in this room."

Galileo looked at all of the room and it seemed no one wanted to speak up and agree with him.

"Go ahead, Galileo." Carlisle finally spoke up. "You've left your statement unfinished."

"Right, of course." Galileo complied after clearing his throat.

Isabella, under the table, rested her hand on her husband's knee. A few seconds later she felt her lion's hand on top of hers, lacing their fingers together. Just that small display of affection calmed her and made the world right, Carlisle just did that to her.

"The Romanian brothers, Stefan and Vladimir."

"The bastards." Max snarled.

"I see." Bella narrowed her eyes unsure of how much she should say. "On what terms do you all stand with them?"

"No terms at all." Max spoke up. "Bella, excuse the informality."

"It's all right, Max. I prefer, Bella, only a few people get away by addressing me by my formal name. What were you saying?"

"Those boys don't play by any rules. They don't have allies. Most of us prefer to keep an eye on them but never interact with them. It's not that we're afraid, it's just not worth our time or yours. You can't make agreements with someone who just wants to argue."

"Wise words, Max." Carlisle agreed.

Carlisle looked at the members of the discussion before addressing them.

"We're waiting for the right time. We're after something they want and I will not disclose at this moment in time, but it's only time before we will have to confront the brothers. There is much back story that I would prefer not to explain right now, but who knows what havoc might break loose. But until we have in our possession what they lust after, we are walking on a thin line."

"You have my clan's support." Galileo offered.

"As you have mine." Giuseppe added.

"And mine." Max added.

And so did the other men in the room.

"Well thank you, gentlemen." Carlisle stood, resting his hands flat on the table. "We truly appreciate your support. No one is happy about their rising power, but I can assure you what they want is disgusting. Not only do they covet the object which my clan seeks, and I assure you we will prevail to find it, it is only a matter of time, but they want something else."

Bella raised her head and met the Galileo's gaze.

"They want me." She stated without any trace of fear.

A heavy silence permeated throughout the room, everyone's attention focused on her. Carlisle bent slightly, taking one of her small hands in his two large ones. He brought her dainty hand to his lips, kissing her sweetly scented skin and not caring that the other leaders saw. He was her husband for God's sake, he should be able to comfort her with affection at any time.

"Love." He murmured softly as he tried to get her to look at him.

She was so focused on her thoughts. She would not let any sort of emotion show because she knew that she was much stronger than the fear the Romanians wished to install in her. He knew very well that the threat was not only on his wife, but posed on his daughter as well. And that scared them both. Their little girl once born could not be out of sight until they had the ring and had negotiated with the Romanians.

"My lioness." He whispered in her ear so that only she could hear him.

She came back to the surface and glanced around the room.

"I'm sorry, I was lost for a moment. They want me for my bloodline, but how can they still want me like that now that I am married. They were going to use that as a bargaining chip against our clan, but that was before it became mine too. We all know it's harder to kidnap a Don or Donna than it is to capture some belonging to them. The question is what game are we playing now? Are we simply just waiting for them to attack? I will not simply wait for them to come after me. We must search for what they lust after because it belongs to our clan, and I will not let it fall into their possession."

Isabella stared into the eyes of her husband, remembering the very first time she had seen those friendly crystalline blue orbs. She remembered the first time she witnessed them spark to life, the very moment they met. They had come so far since that fateful day and now she stood here as the Donna of a very powerful mafia clan with her partner and husband the Don. She smiled at the thought of how much she truly loved her husband.

The meeting continued on from there and ended well. As each man left they congratulated her once again and told them how impressed they were. Each man looked forward to working with her in the future. Giuseppe chatted with the couple for a few minutes and invited to come see his newborn son. It might be good practice since Isabella was due in five weeks. They agreed and thanked him for the invitation. They would be making a visit very soon.

When they returned home they let Da Vinci off his leash and he had a ball. The couple sat down on the couch and because of Bella's belly Da Vinci could only sit on Carlisle's lap. Their dog child cried and cried with joy and the loving parents just gave him all the love they had as they cooed their adoration and love for him while petting him. Before leading Jane to their room, Felix smiled at the family in the living room. It was nice to have the family back home because they were much missed. Now everything felt like home again. He never knew how important they were to him until they were gone. He didn't know what to do with without them. Deciding to give the small family some privacy, he followed Jane into the room, shutting the door with a smile.