"Time goes on even when we do not." ― Tahereh Mafi, Unravel Me

I'd never given much thought to how I would die, but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this. I sat in the empty room, trembling. I looked down at the baby in my arms, staring up at me. The sound of someone kicking down the doors sent trembles through my body. Finally, my door burst open and I knew I was going to die.

This probably doesn't make sense to those reading so I will tell you how I got into this position. Firstly, let me introduce myself, I'm Isabella Swan (though I prefer to go by Bella) and I am 22. My parents are Charlie and Renee Swan. I have 2 older brothers, twins, Emmett and Edward who are 5 years older than me. My best friends are Alice and Rosalie Cullen. They are dating Edward and Emmett respectively. Their parents, Carlisle and Esme adopted them when they were very young. They are like a second set of parents to me. We all live in Seattle.

Now, for the reason I am in this position. My father and Carlisle run a major illegal gang. Our rival gang are 'The Whitlocks'. The Whitlocks consist of; Jasper Whitlock, Maria Whitlock, Peter Whitlock, Charlotte Whitlock, Garrett Grey, Alistair Hunter, Irina Moreau, Laurent Moreau, Nettie García and Lucy García.

Our gang 'The Swan-Cullens' consists of; Charlie Swan, Carlisle Cullen, Emmett Swan, Edward Swan, Bella Swan (me), Alice Cullen, Rosalie Cullen, Kate Denali, Tanya Denali and Riley Biers. My mother and Esme have never participated in the gang. They prefer to just act as housewives. That is not to say that they can't defend themselves as well as the rest of us.

We have always been rival groups but it has recently gotten worse. Irina is Kate's and Tanya's sister. They have always been part of our gang, however, around two years ago Irina met Laurent and they fell in love. Irina couldn't marry Laurent because she was in a different gang to him so she left us and joined the Whitlocks. This made us all furious but especially Tanya and Kate. They had lost their mother and younger brother so the only family they had was each other.

The Whitlocks have been stealing small deliveries from us since this happened and we have retaliated accordingly but the last straw came last week. They blew up one of our storage warehouses that was storing $1.5 million worth of cocaine and guns. Thankfully, there were only minor injuries on our side.

We knew that we couldn't allow them to get away with this so we called a meeting. On Tuesday, two days after the attack we were all sitting in the meeting room discussing what our next move was going to be. Charlie sat at the head of the table with Carlisle on his right and Emmett on his left. Edward was beside him and I was beside him. Alice was beside Carlisle and Rosalie was beside her. Kate and Tanya sat beside her and Riley was pacing around the room.

"We have to do something that will destroy them!" Emmett punched the table "We have to let them know that this can't continue!"

"I REFUSE TO LET BELLA BE PUT IN DANGER!" Carlisle and Emmett where head to head. Charlie stood up.

"Carlisle, it's the only idea we have come up with, you know that Bella can defend herself. She will be ok and Edward and Emmett will be outside."

Carlisle was breathing hard. He glared at Emmett and Charlie in turn. "OK, but you need to know that I think it's a bad move." He walked out of the room and slammed the door.

"Bella, are you OK with this?"

What is this plan you ask? Well, this is it. In a week I would sneak into the Whitlock mansion via the secret garage under the house. After that, I would sneak into the main office Jasper, the head of the Whitlocks would be there and I would knock him out. Once I had done that I would use my radio to contact Edward and Emmett and they would come around to the back of the house and we would take Jasper out through the window. Now the question you are probably asking is why me? Well, the answer is that I know the layout of the house. When we were on speaking terms with the Whitlocks Carlisle and dad went to the Whitlock mansion to speak about making a trade deal. I was only around 13 at the time and I was in the car when Carlisle and dad had to make the trade deal. I got bored and decided to leave the car, the door of the Whitlock mansion was unlocked so I walked in. I can remember the layout of the house quite well. Edward and Emmett couldn't do it because although they were there with dad and Carlisle and also know the layout they aren't stealthy like I am.

The risks were major, I could get caught at almost every stage and there was no guarantee that Jasper would even be in his office. Even with all these risks, I knew that there was no other option, I had to do it.

This was a decision I would come to absolutely regret.

The day of the mission came quickly. We had Heidi design an outfit for me. It was all black and it had a knife sheath on each leg. I had knuckle dusters on too in case I got into any trouble on the way to Jasper. The top was tight and form-fitting but didn't restrict my movement. It was long-sleeved and I was wearing a gun holster. My thick mahogany hair was tied up in a bun so it didn't get in the way.

I was very nervous but didn't let it show.

I drove up the drive to Whitlock mansion. I ditched the car about halfway up the drive and started walking. I could see the garage and I knew it was closed. I knew that in five minutes a car that carried Peter and Charlotte Whitlock would drive-in. I waited and at exactly 10 am I saw the car. I hid in the bushes beside the garage and saw a man lean out of the drivers' side window and put in a code to the keypad. The door creaked open and I waited until the car drove in. I followed in after it. The door closed behind me and I hid in the shadows. Peter and Charlotte Whitlock got out the car with the driver and made their way to the elevator that was there. I knew the place was big but I didn't think it would need an elevator.

I waited for exactly 5 minutes until I moved from the shadows. By this time my eyes had adjusted to the darkness and I could see around 15 cars parked. I could also see that beside the elevator there was a set of stairs. I decided to take them as to not arouse any suspicion.

When I got to the top of them I could see there wasn't anyone there. This seemed to be the corridor directly in front of the main door. This would be a great way to sneak out, I would have to remember that. I slowly crept out and I made a beeline for the office. There were many turns before you got to the office and I struggled to remember but I did manage to. I was a bit suspicious as I hadn't seen or heard anyone since I was in the garage. Still, I carried on. I eventually found the office door and I saw that it was already opened a crack. I stopped but couldn't hear anything so I slowly crept inside.

I scanned the room and I was couldn't see anyone so I properly analysed the room. Bookshelves stretched up to the ceiling of two of the walls. The other wall had a massive desk in front of it as well as a giant window behind it. Just when I was about to walk over to the desk I heard shouting. I ran behind the door so if anyone came in I wouldn't be noticed right away.

"For fuck's sake Maria! I told you not to do that!" A man said.

"Well Jasper she wouldn't go to fucking sleep, what else was I supposed to do?!" A woman supposedly Maria, replied.

"What do you mean, 'what else was I supposed to do'? She is a BABY you can't just hit her over the head and knock her out to make her go to sleep, it doesn't work that way!"

I was shocked. I couldn't believe that Maria would abuse a baby. I knew she was evil but even the wife of a gang leader should have some sort of moral code.

"Whatever I don't care anymore! I'm leaving"

"You can't just leave!"

"Watch me!"

"MARIA YOU BITCH!" I heard the sound of a door hitting the walls and then the slamming of the main house door.

A few moments later the door of the office opened. I held my breath. I saw him then. Jasper Whitlock.

I had seen Jasper before but never shirtless and with a baby in his arms. He was talking to the baby.

"Shh, it's ok darlin'" The baby started crying even louder.

"Now come on, it's alright, Maria's gone and I won't ever let her hurt you again."

The baby started cooing and giggling.

"That's a good baby." He started rocking her and softly singing.

I knew that he was my enemy and that I shouldn't care about him but I couldn't help it. I could tell this man really did care about his daughter. I almost felt bad for what I was about to do but then I remembered what he did.

I stood up straight and closed the door. He turned around and saw me. His mouth dropped open. This was the first time I had seen his face and his baby. The baby was swaddled in a purple blanket and was sound asleep. This wasn't what held my attention though. My eyes were stuck on his face. His strong jaw and perfect teeth. His strong steel grey eyes that seemed to hold so much pain and strength. His honey blonde hair and his perfect eyebrows. This was before my eyes appraisingly raked down his naked top half. His six-pack was on show but that wasn't what my eyes were drawn to. My eyes were drawn to the scars that crisscrossed all over his arms, neck and torso.

He managed to snap out of it before I did.

"I don't recall making an appointment with you."

I quickly snapped out of it when he said that.

"That'll be because I didn't make an appointment."

"Then why are you even here?" He didn't sound confrontational, more tired.

I didn't say anything just slowly walked over to him. When I got close enough I asked,

"How old is she?"

"2 and a half months"

"Name?"

"Tabitha May Whitlock"

"That's a nice name."

"Yeah, I know. Can you just tell me why you are here?"

"How old are you?"

"Why do you need to know?"

"Just 'cause. You seem a little young to have a baby."

"That's cause I am. I'm 25."

"You should probably put her down so we can properly talk."

"Yeah, you're probably right." He walked over to a cot in the corner of the room and put her in it.

"So now why are you here?"

He went to a corner and poured himself what looked like whiskey.

"To kill you." He didn't even flinch.

"I thought as much. Sorry to tell you that you can't do that." He glanced to the cot "I have to live for her. You know if you got here this time last year I wouldn't be talking to you, you would just be dead."

"Yeah well, I'm here now." I sat down on the edge of the desk. I honestly didn't know what I was doing, I should just be getting on with the plan but this man seemed to put me in a total headspin.

"Maria will be back soon you know." I told him "I'd kill her by the way, for what she did to your baby."

Just then Tabitha started to stir. I looked at her then him and he surprised me,

"You know what I trust you with her more than I trust Maria with her and I barely know you. That's fucked up."

I walked over to the cot and picked up Tabitha. She snuggled into me and fell asleep again. I put her down again.

"So tell me why did you destroy our warehouse?" I questioned him.

"We knew it would be a big loss on your side."

"Well, that's really the reason I'm here." I walked up and raised a knife to his neck.

"Don't fuck with us. We will destroy you."

He smirked and that is when I felt the knife against my neck.

"Don't just think you can walk in and threaten me like this." I dropped the knife, I knew when to back down and this was one of those moments.

"Good girl" He took the knife away from my neck. "Now let's stop with all these silly threats."

Just then we both heard the main door open. He looked at me and told me to hide. I didn't question it and just went behind the desk.

"Jasper, there you are." I could tell from the slight Mexican accent it was Maria.

"Where is my baby?"

"I am not giving her to you."

"Why the fuck not?!"

"Because you are a sadistic bitch and I am filing for a divorce. If you don't sign the papers I will force you too and you don't want to see how far I'll go to get them signed."

I knew that I had to leave and soon. I was about to move when I heard the sound of someone being slapped hard.

"How fucking dare you!"

"You have 1 hour to leave." Came Jasper's reply.

She stormed out and Jasper told me to come out. I could see a red mark across his right cheek.

"I have to go but don't think this is over."

"Oh I am many things but I am not dumb. I look forward to seeing you again. Goodbye Swan."

I just nodded. As I got to the door it burst open and I came face to face with Maria with a shotgun and 12 Mexican men behind her.

"Who is this little puta?" (bitch) She looked passed me to Jasper.

I have heard of Maria but never have I actually seen her. She was shorter than me, around 5'1". She had a look of utter hatred in her face. I knew I would have to fight back. I grabbed my Glock 18 from my holster. I took two steps backwards.

"Ooh, feisty this one." Maria sneered at me. "Has everyone forgotten how to speak?!"

"Maria leave." Jasper walked passed me and got face to face with her.

"Mátalos" I knew some Spanish so I knew she said 'Kill them'.

Jasper produced a gun from seemingly nowhere and shot one of the guys in the head, killing him instantly. Maria took her opportunity and ran out of the door.

I knew I had to help Jasper so I shot another guy in the shoulder. He fell to the ground. Jasper and I ran behind his desk. He grabbed his phone.

"For fuck's sake Peter!" He slammed his phone on the ground. "Damn you for never picking up!"

I looked out the side of the desk and shot another guy in the chest. Jasper did the same. 4 down 8 to go. This was when I remembered Tabitha, she was still asleep in the cot.

"¡Agarra a la bebé!" (Grab the baby!) I didn't know what that meant but when I looked over at Jasper I could tell it was something bad.

I shot two other guys that were slowly getting closer. 6 to go. One of the men managed to get to the cot and Jasper shot him, spraying blood over the baby pink canopy. Tabitha started screaming and I knew that I had to grab her.

I knew that I had to make sure Jasper was covering me. "Cover me." He just nodded.

I launched myself over to the cot and grabbed Tabitha. She quieted slightly when I did this. I looked around and saw only 3 men. I shot one in the leg, immobilising him. He fell to the ground screaming. Jasper stood up and shot the remaining two.

"We have to get out of here!" Jasper shouted, "Follow me!"

I was following him but just as he ran out the office door he was hit on the head and knocked out. I killed the man. It was the one I shot in the shoulder, this time I made sure he was actually dead. I knew I couldn't just walk out the front door because Maria could be waiting out with more backup.

I scanned the corridor and decided to hide in one of the rooms. I took Jasper with me, I didn't want the baby to lose both parents in one day. I grabbed his arm and dragged him to the room closest to the office.

The room was empty and I sat in the corner with Jasper beside me and Tabitha in my arms. I used my radio to call Emmett and Edward but there was no answer. I started to cry, never in my life had I ever felt so helpless. I was going to die, not surrounded by family but surrounded by Whitlocks.

Shortly after that, I heard the doors being kicked in and came face to face with what I was certain would be my death.