Hello everyone,

I am so stoked about the response for the first entry for Forbidden. I am not going to lie, you all are in for one hell of a ride, and it will be my pleasure to dictate that journey. I hope you are all prepared for many, many twists and turns.

In this next chapter, we will take a very close look at Bella's predicament. Poor girl, I feel bad for writing her in this particular setting, yet it was an idea I have played with for months before writing a single word.

Thanks so much for all of your wonderful reviews, and also, I would like to thank the GR who pointed out my geography needed some attention. At least I was able to correct the error before we got too far along.

Thanks for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following.

Please review ….

The Forbidden Alliance

Chapter 1

ONE WEEK EARLIER ...

Bella threw her bag over her shoulder, waving to a few of her friends as she stepped out of the lecture hall. She only had two more semesters left, and she would say goodbye to Washington University forever. While Bella was extremely excited to obtain her teaching degree, there was a little apprehension too. When she finished school here in St. Louis, her dad would probably make her move back to Kennett, and honestly, she would rather stick a pen in her eye.

Parents were supposed to want bigger and better things for their children than what they had, but that didn't seem to be the case with Charlie. She bit her bottom lip, rolling her eyes as the goons came out of the shadows to flank her as soon as she stepped from the brick overhang.

"You know, I am perfectly capable of walking across campus without an escort," she threw over her shoulder at the men her father had hired to 'protect' her. She emphasized the word protect because that was not what these assholes were doing—far from it. They were quite obviously trailing her, spying on her, obtaining information. For what, she had no idea, yet their presence had the desired effect Charlie had set into place—everyone maintained their distance.

Yes, she had a couple of friends she managed to make over the months here, but aside from a few fearless, or maybe even curious people, that was it. Everyone else stayed as far away as possible. She tried to feel as if she didn't care, yet sometimes the loneliness was so suffocating.

Of course, her upbringing wasn't like the typical person's. She came from Kennett, Missouri, where most of the population hid the fact that the place was dictated by a ring of mobsters with connections everywhere. People didn't even breathe the fact they knew about the organized crime taking place there.

Bella even knew about her own father's shady dealings, hence the unwavering duo following her down the sidewalk. When she'd first started school here in St. Louis, Bella thought she was getting a fresh start and wouldn't have to worry any longer about the dealings in Kennett. However, that hadn't been the case, and like the mob, Charlie was the fly forever on her wall.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped off the sidewalk and headed across the well-manicured lawn, and just as she came to the shade of an old maple, her cell rang. The sound made her cringe a bit as she'd set that tone to alert her to her father's incoming calls. With a slight tremble in her fingertips, she answered. "Hey, Charlie, what's going on?"

"It's time to come home, Bells. You've had your little adventure, but it's time to fulfill your obligations to your family."

"Dad, it's the middle of the semester; if I leave now, I'll flunk my classes," Bella whispered frantically. Her fright-filled gaze darted around the courtyard. Random students that would never know her troubles dotted the lawn. Most laughed with friends, one couple leisurely lying beneath a tree reading, others hurrying to their next class. As her wide icy eyes fell on the goons lurking close at hand, misgivings filled her.

"Bella, this whole escapade is over. I have secured you a match with one of the most prominent figures in the county. You will want for nothing."

"Huh?" Bella's chest froze. The air in her lungs turned to little crystallized shards. He couldn't possibly mean what she thought he did. "Dad, what are you talking about? Match? What match?"

"That's a topic for later. Just get in the car with Thomas and Mark and come home now. We will discuss it all when you get here."

Before she had a chance to think, her guards came up next to her, giving her little hope of escape. Even if she were to try and flee, where the fuck would she go?

Bella swallowed the lump forming in her throat; all her plans burning to ashes. When she would've questioned Charlie further, the line went dead, and stern fingers took hold of her elbow. Fury she'd never experienced burned in her chest as she was led away from campus and pushed into the backseat of a Lincoln Town Car.

As Thomas dropped into the driver's seat, Bella thought about jumping from the car as it rolled onto the highway to take her back to Kennett.

Match?

Had she stepped back into the nineteenth century where such things were done? Of course, there was nothing ordinary about her lot in life, and such things were done to ensure secrecy among the corrupt; she'd just never envisioned it happening to her.

TFA

ONE WEEK LATER

"You cannot be serious," Bella hollered at the top of her lungs. Her ice-blue eyes widened as she studied her father. The whole left side of his face was purple, and a cut ran the length of his forehead. She could only imagine what had befallen Charlie to cause that type of damage. "I am not marrying Mayor Winthrop! Are you insane? He's old enough to be my grandfather."

"Bella, you will do what you're told." Charlie stood an inch from her face, spittle spattering across her cheeks. "I have wasted enough money on that silly education. Hell, I probably spent more than you will ever make. A teaching degree? You're the one that's kidding me."

"You have lost your mind? And who did you piss off to wind up with those bruises? Huh?" Bella yelled back, pivoting on her heel; she started to march across the carpeted floor to escape the venom in her father's eyes. "You are in-fucking-sane."

Bella was almost to the front door when she heard him mumble something about the Cullen's. Had her father fallen into debt with the crime lords of the Midwest? What the actual fuck was he thinking? If Charlie owed the Cullens … No wonder he was trying to sell her to the highest bidder. There was no fucking way she was standing by and letting Charlie have his way.

No way.

She had every intention of walking out when a hand locked around her wrist and spun her around. Adamantly, she tried to break Charlie's hold, feeling the bones in her wrist pop with the effort. "Ow … fuck. Let me go! I'm not marrying that decrepit old fool."

Charlie jerked Bella until she was nose to nose with him. Getting closer, until his skin brushed hers, he whispered menacingly, "Bella, you can protest in that pretty little head of yours all the live-long day, but you will marry Henry. If you try to flounce on this engagement, I will put you in a body bag. Do you understand me?"

While Charlie had never been a warm father, he'd never physically touched her before today. There was something in his tone that penetrated her bones—the hard gleam in his eyes flashing with murder. Refusing to tremble, she lifted her chin at a stubborn angle, and her teeth clenched until her jaw ached. "I never thought it possible to hate you, but you just changed my mind. It's little wonder why Mom left … or did she? Maybe you put her in a body bag too."

Charlie's swollen lips lifted in an evil grin. "Keep testing me, and you'll find out firsthand. You can hate me all you want; the price I'm getting for you is more than you're worth."

"Dick," Bella seethed, suddenly wishing she'd made her escape at school when she had half a chance. Now, all that was around them were trees and rivers for miles; no chance for escape, no chance for freedom.

No nothing…

A week later, Bella inwardly flinched as cameras hovered within inches of her face as they announced her engagement to Mayor Winthrop. Outwardly, she pasted on the best smile she could manage to conjure in this particular circumstance.

Over the last week, she'd fought tooth and nail with her father over the prospect of marrying the aging government official. The bruises on her father's face spoke volumes about his urgency to secure the 'match' between herself and Henry. It was beyond obvious; Charlie had fallen into the hands of the wrong people and was now leaning on her to clean up the mess.

Beneath the elbow-length gloves she wore lay bruising from being forcibly handled, one wrist nearly pulled from the socket. So, here she stood with a newly accepted fiancé, for better or worse.

Days later, Bella stepped off the curb with shopping bags in hand. Ever since she'd been told she was expected to marry the Mayor like some nineteenth-century martyr, she'd been looking for a quick escape. One day, Bella would give these goons the slip and beat a hasty fucking path … somewhere, anywhere but here. Bella wasn't sure where the hell she'd go, but there had to be someplace out of the control of her father and the Mayor.

Honestly, at this point, she didn't give a shit if Charlie put her in a body bag. Anything had to be preferable to being shacked up with a husband she didn't want—couldn't even imagine getting close to. Even as she considered her lack of options, her gaze darted around, seeking a sign—any sign. Yet these hacks—who weren't truly hacks—they were too fucking good at their job, never looked away, not even for the slightest second.

Bella felt a chill race up her arms that had nothing to do with the light spring breeze. Sniffling, she pushed a chunk of blonde hair behind her ear as she set the bags she held inside the spacious trunk. A twinge of pain tweaked her wrist, a reminder of her father's undying love. Scoffing with an air of annoyance, her icy eyes shot to the protesting joints as she slid into the backseat.

She was shopping for her wedding day—what a joke. It was not exactly how she'd thought she would feel about her 'special' day. With a phony smile plastered on her face, she had convinced Charlie to let her get her hair and nails done and shop—you know, to look her best for the day every woman dreamed about. While she maintained the pretense quite well, she'd used it as a maneuver to look for the best route to run. So far, however, Bella had come up with squat.

Bella nibbled her lip as the goons climbed into the car behind her. They were about thirty minutes out of the city when Thomas suddenly jerked the wheel, jostling them, causing Bella to fall against the door. Her head smacked against the window with a thud, a sharp pain stabbing through her skull as the car was propelled off the highway. Rubbing vigorously at the knot beginning to form, she blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of what was happening.

Her gaze went wide when Mark, who was sitting next to her, withdrew his gun as the car slid into a tree. Before she knew what was happening, two loud pops rang through the air, nearly deafening her as the sound echoed through her brain. She screamed as Mark fell motionless against her, his dead weight pinning her to the door. Warm liquid slid down her cheek, and a wide gaping hole appeared in the side of Mark's temple.

The urge to vomit claimed her, her stomach pitching and rolled, her chest filling with panic. Her wide eyes darted between the occupants in the car and the looming forest ahead, looking for a getaway. Without giving it any further thought, Bella threw the door open wide and tumbled from the car.

When she stopped rolling, she realized she was almost to the tree line when she heard heavy footfalls, shouting, and gunshots. Not even sparing a glance in their direction, Bella began to run, uncaring as limbs scratched her cheeks and body, yanking unmercifully at her hair. Her wrists, which were already injured, throbbed with pain from the fall. She wasn't certain how far she ran before she was in the midst of dense, dark woods.

Despite the pain and the throbbing of her head, she kept going, stopping to hide behind thick tree trunks every so often. She heard shots and her eyes welled with tears. What was happening? Were they after her?

Trying not to feel the pain from the tree branches as they scratched her skin, she crawled under a bush. The smell of old blood was now permeating her clothes and the throbbing sensations in her wrists and knees increased. Bella's jacket was ripped, and somehow, she had lost a shoe.

She decided to stay put and just listen before attempting to go any farther. She had an inkling where she was, and that gave her an idea.

Bella ran for all she was worth. The damn shoe she still wore was making it impossible to keep up the grueling pace. Without a second thought, she slipped the heel she wore off, and as soon as Bella stepped down with a naked heel, a thorn pierced her skin. "Son-of-a-fucking-bitch."

Helplessly, Bella hopped in place as she dug the thorn from where it was embedded. Glaring at the fiend, she threw it to the side and lowered her foot. As she tested her weight on the limb, she looked around at the surrounding forest.

She had no fucking clue where she was, and she had no idea where she was going. Bella shoved her hair from her face as a lock dangled in her eyes. The snarled strand held a twig in it, and she was sure by now she looked a mess. Even as she sought confirmation of her location, the sting of several scratches flamed across her delicate skin. She sat for a minute to catch her breath and tried to figure out how the hell she got into this mess.

Bella had been plotting an escape from her tyrant of a father, but she had no clue where she'd go. The only family she had lived in New York, or at least, the last she heard they did. Of course, when Charlie had enlightened her to his plans to practically sell her to the mayor, he spouted some shit about the Cullens.

Bella wasn't sure what Charlie's connection was to the Cullens, but judging by the discolored lumps on his face, they certainly weren't friends. Which left her to wonder … should she go to the Cullens?

She'd lived in Kennett her entire life until she'd moved to St. Louis for college. Bella knew exactly who the Cullens were. The Missouri Kings. Ruthless and mean mobsters, known to all of the occupants in the area, and while everyone knew this to be the case, no one ever dared to breathe a word.

If she remembered correctly, she'd gone to high school with one of them or so she thought. Alice was the daughter of the late Carlisle Cullen. While she vaguely recalled them, they had never been precisely friends. Hell, Charlie had never really allowed her to have many of those. According to Charlie, boys only wanted one thing, and it wasn't friendship, and as for the girls Bella had gone to school with, well, she didn't feel overly extended toward them.

If Bella hadn't remembered the Cullens from school or the fact that they had illegal ties to organized crime, there were always the vicious rumors circulating through the streets. There was speculation that Edward Cullen had off'ed his wife four or five years ago. Bella wasn't sure if there was any truth to those rumors, yet she wasn't entirely sure there wasn't either.

If the man would kill his wife, what the hell would he do to her? What other choice did she have? There was no telling who had driven them off the road, shot her goons. Were they after her? Well, she'd heard them chasing her before she'd given them the slip. Helplessly, Bella wandered closer to the street to get a better grip on her location.

Maybe if the Cullens had it in for her dad, they would be willing to help her get the hell away from him. Bella threw a quick look up and down the highway. The Cullens lived right on the banks of the Mississippi, and everyone in town knew where. Judging from where she currently was, Bella estimated the Cullen mansion was further south.

Foot after foot, and mile after mile, Bella pushed through the forest. At this point, her feet were tender, her big toe bleeding, and several cuts marred the sensitive flesh. After what seemed like forever, Bella finally pushed free of the surrounding woods to come to a break in the road. Wildly, she threw a glance up and down the highway. She had no choice but to leave the cover of trees to cross to the other side.

When the last car drove by, Bella forgot all about her sore feet as she ran to the other side and helplessly dove into the forest there. Tears blurred her vision as she pressed on, muttering curse after curse until finally, the mansion came into view. Bella didn't give it a moment's hesitation as she left the cover of trees to step out on a freshly manicured lawn.

Bella only made it five feet before the sound of shouting came from an indistinguishable location. Wildly, her head whipped around to discover the owners of the angry voices, yet no one was in sight. Before she even knew what was happening, she felt the sting of something in her calf, and suddenly the images before her blurred and wavered. Bella's limbs went weak as she slowly wilted onto the lawn, and as her eyelids slid closed, she saw several pairs of feet rushing towards her.

Please review… can't wait to hear what you all think, even if you wind up cussing me out during this fic lmao. Love you all, thanks for reading.