Chapter 3

Terms

Bella POV

I opened my eyes to darkness. I was laying down on something very soft, it felt like a bed. I was wrapped up in the blankets, I was so very comfy. That was when it hit me, I wasn't in my bed. My bed was nowhere this comfy, and that's when all memories flooded back to me. Those creepy guys, Rose and Emmett leaving, Edward, Paul, Edward covered in Paul's blood. Oh God,no! I quickly sat up feeling a little dizzy from having moved so fast and yanked the covers off.

"So you're finally awake?" a voice said from the darkness said and suddenly a light switch came on. I blinked trying to adjust my eyes to the light and saw Edward sitting in a chair across from the room. No! No! Remembering him covered in blood, I ran for the door but was met with a locked door. I started pulling on it but it would not budge.

"You can do that all you want, but that door isn't going to open." he said smugly

I then started to scream. Maybe someone would hear me and save me.

"You can stop that too, all you're doing is giving me a headache and it's going to end up hurting your throat. There isn't anyone around for miles except my men."

I stopped. For some reason, I did when everything inside me wanted to keep on. I just looked at him as he stared at me. Was this really the man I was just with a few hours ago? No this was a killer. I remember all of the blood. Paul had to be dead. There was too much blood for him to still be alive.

"Where am I?" Finally finding my voice and how cracked it already sounded.

"My house." Short but to the point.

"Why?" "Where's Rose?" I remember him telling that guy I knocked down to take me to Rose.

"She's with my brother in the city." I wasn't in the city? "This isn't the city?"

"You're at my house on Lake Washington, it's very secluded here. There aren't any houses around for miles. I thought it would be best to bring you here."

"Look, Edward, I'm sorry I won't say anything, just let me go back to my apartment and get my things. I'll be out of here fast. I won't say anything."

"Ah, but that's the thing, I don't believe you and your apartment has been ransacked. I had my men bring some of your things that could be salvaged, they are in the closet there." He pointed to a door on the other side of the room. "And we cleaned your apartment up like you were never there," he said smugly

"Edward, please, I'm sorry. I really am a big secret keeper. I won't say anything about what I saw." I pleaded. I didn't want to die.

He walked towards me, eyes on mine. He was not the man I was with earlier.

"You're not going anywhere." He said with a deadly glare

and it made me shudder.

"Why?" I started to feel scared. Who was he? I remember Paul saying something about the Underboss? The Cullen Family? Then it hit me. I've seen articles on the supposed Crime families. My father would always talk about the one from Seattle and how he couldn't wait to take them down. I never understood how he could be a local police chief and so law-abiding. Now I was face to face with someone from the Cullen Family and it made my blood run cold.

"I take it by your sudden shaking you realized who I am?" Wow, he could read me like a book. "Don't lie Bella. Were you sent here by the Black Family to spy on me? Your father?" What was he talking about? The Black Family? Did he think my father sent me here? It was possible for him to think that. I did tell him my dad was a cop.

"We don't hurt women and children especially those of other families, but those women who are trying to hurt us, we do make an exception." He said in a deadly tone and I became scared. Maybe I could plead my case.

"No, my father didn't send me here, I ran away. You can ask Rose! Yes, she will back me up."

"I find it ironic that you specifically called Rose to come get you, knowing Rose was with my brother. I'm sure you had other friends?" He didn't believe me. He was going to kill me, I could feel it. "Rose and I always talked about moving away from Forks but she just happened to do it before I could. I actually hadn't been able to talk to her for a while. Jacob took up all my attention. I wasn't allowed to have social media pages and every time I would text or try to call Rose there he was so I didn't get to talk to her much. He told me he was all that I needed. I thought he loved me but I knew that wasn't love.

"Black? So you were involved with him then." He said matter of factly.

"Yes, he's an ex-boyfriend, but after my father kept pushing me to accept his proposal, he changed. He started..." I couldn't finish what I wanted to say. How he used to pinch my belly fat, the little that there was, how he used to grab my hair and slam me down on the table, how he... I can't even think about it right now but for the sake of my life, I needed Edward to know that I wasn't sent here by anyone. "He started becoming verbally and physically abusive towards me and that's all I want to say right now. It became worse when I realized I needed to get out of there. I guess I just thought I was doing the right thing because my father wanted me with him. He kept talking about taking my virginity and he beat up one of my guy friends at school. I told my father and he didn't agree with me."

"What really woke me up was when Jacob demanded I move in with him and my father agreed. That's why I called Rose, I knew after that night I would have been locked behind Jacob's doors. He would have gotten rid of my phone and I probably would not have seen the light of day again!" Saying all that made me realize how sick Jacob really was and maybe how my father didn't really love me either and how close I had been to becoming Jacob's prisoner because let's face it, I would have been had I gone to Jacob's home in La Push.

"I don't even know why I'm telling you this, I guess I don't want to die, but dying would be so much better than going back to Jacob or my father!" I would not cry. I would not.

He looked at me and came closer, touched my face and looked into my eyes.

"Bella, I can't let you leave, you saw too much," he said tenderly.

"So instead of Jacob's prisoner, I'm to become your prisoner?" I spat at him.

In that moment, the tender eyed Edward was gone and in his place was the Edward I had seen earlier, the one that looked deadly. "Well, if you weren't so nosy and had gone with Jasper like you were supposed to then you wouldn't be here now would you?" He spat right back at me. He was right although I wouldn't admit it to him

"Now you will stay in here until I see fit. You will treat me with respect. I will have someone bring some dinner up to you. There's a bathroom through there where you can freshen up and maybe change clothes, I'm sure you would like to get out of that dress."

I looked down and saw I was still wearing the black mini dress from the club. But dinner? I know it was still dark outside but it had to be the wee hours of early morning right? "Dinner? How long was I asleep?" I said shocked, choosing to ignore the little outburst he said.

"Yes, dinner, Princess. You were out for about twenty hours," he seemed a little calmer.

"20 Hours?! Are you sure?" I couldn't believe I had been out that long but then again I hadn't been sleeping very well lately.

"Yes, Princess, now go change and I will have someone bring you dinner." He was very annoyed. I guess he wasn't used to telling people things twice but I wasn't going to bow to him.

"Oh you must have servants too, quick to do your bidding for the almighty Edward Cullen!" I spat. I would not show him any respect if I was going to be a fucking prisoner. I guess that was the wrong thing to say as he advanced towards me.

He came up to me, picked me up and slammed me down on the bed. He was on top of me with our noses touching each other as I tried to fight him off. It didn't do any good as he was much stronger than me.

"Listen well, Princess. I do not like to repeat myself so get up, freshen up, and then you can eat." I looked at him angrily. I could not believe this was the same guy that had kissed me earlier. I also noticed that my dress had ridden up giving him a view of my panties. I guess that's when he realized it and he climbed off of me and went to the door unlocking it, then closing it. Then I heard him lock it back up and talk to someone and walk away.

I couldn't believe in just a few short hours what my life had become. I went to the closet and grabbed my bags, thankful that most of my stuff was in here. I then went to the bathroom and turned on the shower, after using the bathroom. I waited for the water to warm before stepping in. I grabbed the soap and started washing my body until it became red. I broke down crying in the walk-in shower and sat there while the water fell on top of me.

Edward POV

I sat in my office chair in my home office with my glass of JD. Waiting on my men to bring me the info I requested. While all the events from last night replayed in my head, I'll admit sitting next to Bella Swan last night made me feel normal for a little bit. It was like she made me forget who I was. I even kissed her and I don't kiss anyone! After that kiss it was like reality slapped me in my face. I had to get away from her so when I went up to my office to tell Rosalie that it was time for her to get her friend and take her home, I was met by Jasper who said he saw some man pulling Bella down the hallway towards the side exit. James, my right hand man had just arrived as well, and I told him to follow me. When we got to the exit, Bella was trying to fight him off but she wasn't doing a very good job. It was also the same man who I had seen earlier sitting at another table staring at her. James and I knocked the dude out while I saw Jasper following us. I told him to get her out of here. James and I tugged that fucking asshole down to the basement, where I asked him who he worked for and why he wanted Bella. He must have been a shit soldier because as soon I cut off one of his fingers he started singing. He was one of Jacob's men and he had come to bring Black's bride back. I told him if she wanted to go then she would have and then I cut another one off. He said that she was meant for Black to secure the line but I was done with all his bullshit and I took off my shirt while James stood to the side. I slit that dude's throat and his blood sprayed all over me. I looked down at him until I heard a gasp and looked up and saw her. I told James to get her. How the fuck did she get down here? I must not have closed the door good enough when we came down here. James had knocked her out and I told him to get her to my house without anyone seeing her especially Rosalie.

I then went up and noticed the door was still slightly ajar so she must have squeezed through. The club was closing up as I went in the hall and noticed Jasper holding his head. He said she knocked him down and his head bounced on the stairs. It didn't knock him out but he had a killer headache. I called him stupid even though it was me who didn't make sure that door was closed all the way. I told him I wanted footage of all he could get and a background check on Bella Swan, Jacob Black, the dude that I killed and her father. I then went up to my office and told Emmett he could take Rose home. That bitch kept asking about Bella but I gave Emmett one of my looks as to tell his girl to shut up and not ask questions. Emmett knew I was in no mood and got Rose out of there. We closed down the club and I made my way to my car. On the way home I texted Emmett. I wanted to know everything Rosalie knew about Bella. He told me he would get what he could. He knew her address but anything else would probably have to wait. I didn't like it but I agreed.

I had pulled up to my house then and the guard at the gate let me in. I parked my car in the garage and went into my three story waterfront home. I met James in the foyer and he told me he had put her in the third story bedroom that had a lock on it. I pulled the text of Bella's address and told James to get someone to help him but I wanted all of her stuff brought here and to make it look like she never lived there. I also told him to pay the landlord off. He agreed and left. Earlier this morning, he returned with what he said he could get. Her apartment had been broken into. He had already called Jasper to see if he could get some footage. He also paid a visit to the landlord and told him there was never a Bella Swan who lived there. He also had Seth sit on the street watching for him to make sure he didn't run to the police.

I then called the doc to come look at Bella. Dr. Alistair Lowe was our doc who patched us up and who he made house calls to. He arrived around 11 am and examined Bella. He said she would probably wake up sometime tonight and that her body was just in shock. He left after I told him not a word of this to my father. Around 6 pm, I waited in Bella's room for her to wake up. It took a couple of hours, but she did. I didn't like facing her without answers but I would have all of those tonight. She told me she ran but was I to believe her? When she smarted off to me, I saw red, no one talked to me like that, and she was no exception. I also felt like she was telling the truth because she was shaking. After her dress started to ride up, I had to get out of there. She was making me feel like I did earlier and that was not going to happen.

I drank some more when my phone went off. It was the guard at the gate announcing James, Jasper and Emmett were here. Finally, I would know more than what I was able to get out of Bella. They entered one by one and took a seat in the chairs I had in the room. They looked at me like they were waiting on me to talk. What the fuck?

"Someone better start talking!" I was in no mood for games, I was also exhausted.

"So I was able to get background checks on everybody that you requested," Jasper said. Glad one of my men had something.

"Isabella Marie Swan, Age:21. She just finished her associate's degree in Human Services at Forks Community College, guessing she wants to help people. She also wrote a lot. She had applied to Seattle University but they never received any info on her after they sent the admissions letter. I only know that because I was able to hack into the admissions computer. She was sent the letter to the address that she resides with her father. That's how I found him. Charlie Swan. He is the Chief of Forks and an all-around upstanding citizen. He lost his wife in a car accident. The past few years since the death of his wife, Charlie's debt continued to get higher, not sure what he was doing? I haven't dug in that far, just got the gist for you tonight. About a year ago, his debt was cleared away. This raised a red flag to me, so I started looking at everything, and noticed since Swan's debt has been clear, the crime in Forks and La Push has grown. "Hmm...interesting." Jasper continued talking

"We all know The Black Family ran by Billy is nothing. They have never been a threat selling dope here and there. Well, Billy died a few months ago and Jacob of course took over, and he's looking to make it big. All the crimes from the past year have been connected to the Black Family. I looked it up and every reporting officer was Charlie Swan."

"So in other words Charlie is covering for Jacob?"

"Yes, they haven't made it on the ATF or FBI's list yet but I feel like they will soon. . Charlie isn't covering his tracks very well. It's like he wants to get caught."

"So where does Bella fit in? None of this makes sense about her. Why did Jacob want her?"

James spoke up then. I gave him an eye. How did he have any info on Bella?

"I think my friend that I brought can answer that, actually he told me some of it but he really wanted to speak with you about it."

"What friend? Are you out of your mind bringing a stranger to my home?" This motherfucker has lost his mind. I reached for my gun that was in my desk drawer.

"Whoa! No it's Seth. He's the one who helped me clear out Bella's place earlier. After he found out whose apartment it was, he acted like he had seen a ghost. I made him spit it out. He knows her." Seth Clearwater came to us highly recommended by one of our other guys. He had been roughed up by Black and wanted to join. He was put through some very hard tests, but has proven to be loyal. He's a low man which is why James is asking my permission for him to come in here.

"Fine, tell him to come up." James left to go get him and that's when I looked at Emmett. He hadn't uttered a word and that made me worried because Emmett is never this quiet.

"Speak up Emmett, what is it."

"Look, Rosie didn't tell me much but that Bella never wanted to stay in Forks and that she felt bad for leaving Bella behind when she moved here. Bella's father is an asshole and that's why she didn't hesitate to pick her up when Bella called. I wasn't going to let Rose go by herself so I went with her to get Bella. When we got there she took off like a bat out of hell and got in the car with us. I didn't want to alert Bella but I had texted Sam who was following Rose to give a look around. He followed us over there. Also,on the way, Bella threw her phone out. It's in the river somewhere. She stayed with us that night and then she got an apartment a few streets over from my building. Rose was probably with her every other day and if she wasn't I'd have Sam go back and forth watching.

I just felt like Bella was running from her father. I didn't know about Jacob until last night. Rose also says that Jacob is a dog and has been pining over Bella for a while now. Rose always said Bella turned him down. So she was shocked to find out they were engaged. That's all I know because Rose is pissed at me and is refusing to talk to me until she hears from Bella. Emmett said all put out.

"What the fuck bro? Who gives a shit if she is mad, tell her to stop that shit." I would never understand why him and Jasper were such pussy whipped shitheads. Although Jasper was married to my sister so that mothafucker better be treating her right. Emmett looked at me like I had grown a dick on my face

"Man I can't wait until you have to get your wife." Emmett started chuckling.

"Shut the fuck up Emmett."

"Wife? What?" Jasper said.

"Nothing." Jasper wasn't in the top of the family, he wasn't an underboss or consigliere so he didn't know what had to take place before becoming the boss. He may have been married to my sister and he may be aware of what happens in the family but he wasn't aware of some details.

"They weren't engaged." A voice said from the door. It was Seth. "Sorry I keep hearing that they were engaged but they were not to us sane people at least. Black basically told her she was to marry him, he never asked her. She didn't have a choice as soon as her father told her to marry him. She told me this, but I already knew because of my sister."

"How do you know her then?" I asked

"We had been friends for a while, I attended college with her and I watched how much she had changed. Jacob saw us talking one day and then he and Paul beat the shit out of me. He told me he would kill my sister if I didn't leave town. I had no choice so I left. I later find out that my sister was not his prisoner as I originally thought but she had been fucking Jacob from the start." Seth appeared shaky and angry

"Dude, you didn't know, but it makes no sense why he is so hell bent on Bella if he has your sister?"

"I should have taken Bella with me or warned her. She had been my friend since childhood." He then looked at Emmett. "That's why I've tried to avoid Rosalie. I don't want her or Bella to know I've been here the whole time, I feel ashamed and the reason why Black is so hell bent on Bella is because she is a virgin."

"What does that have to do with anything?" He wasn't making any sense. Why did that matter? I mean it was a perk sure but what the hell?

"In the Black Family, the head guy or leader is required to marry a virgin. That's why he wants Bella. That's why he uses my sister for his needs right now," Seth said disgusted. "He may have taken over for his father but some of his men don't see him as the rightful leader yet, not until he marries. I also know Jacob was so furious that he beat Charlie and Paul for Bella escaping. I would like to thank you and Rose for that Emmett. I do know Paul was sent here to find Bella.I guess Paul knew who you were and that's why he didn't try to get Bella when you helped her. He was in charge of following her. I have a contact in the Black household that feeds me info and watches out for Leah. He told me that Paul had reported to Jacob last night that he found her and would bring her home, but no word had been heard from Paul in the last few hours. I have a feeling Jacob knows where Bella is now. I bet he's the one that broke into her apartment"

This was way too much information, Seth had been through a lot but Bella definitely. Did I help any tonight with the way I treated her?

"I would like to return to my business now. I will contact you if I have any more information"

"Yes, thank you Seth. James, go with him and make sure he gets home. I'll contact you in a little while."

"Yes, boss." Seth and James walked out, and I turned to Jasper.

"Go home as well, but I want you to keep tabs on the Black's and Seth. Let's make sure he isn't lying to us. I'm guessing the man I killed last night was this Paul guy. I have a feeling Jacob will send someone else or himself." I didn't think Seth was lying, after all Bella had told me a friend of hers had been beaten up by Jacob. But I would keep that information to myself.

"You got it boss."

I then turned to Emmett. "Look, I'll never understand your love for that woman, but you can tell her Bella is with me and is safe and that is it. Maybe Bella can talk to her soon."

"One day Eddie, one day you will"

With that statement Emmett left my office and I was left alone to my thoughts. This poor girl had been trapped and was being forced to live and marry that asshole. I remember Jacob when his father came to mine for an allegiance. He was denied of course because he wanted to get in some things like trafficking women and such. My father told him to go to hell. Hey, we're bad guys, but not that bad of guys, right?

Oh, Jacob couldn't keep his eyes off of me, like he wanted a challenge. I remember the smirk he had for me when they walked out of my father's office that time. I now held someone he wanted. I didn't really want to call her my prisoner but long story short, she basically was a prisoner. I honestly didn't know what to do with her right now. I had Laurent guarding her door. It was locked but I didn't want to take any chances with her getting out. I also couldn't deny I had an attraction to her. I would never take advantage of her. I remembered that kiss and the shock I felt from her touch. I'm sure she hated me now and I guess the way I had left things didn't help either but seriously she saw me kill someone. It wasn't like I could let her go. Maybe she could stay in my pool house and have guards keep an eye on her. She would be away from me but still be on my property so I could check in. No, it wouldn't work since the pool house hadn't been updated yet with all the security measures that my mansion had. I could get Jasper to do it but then it would still be a risk. With her being in the mansion and on the third story she had three stories to get down and through all the guards and the one at the gate to escape. So keeping her in the mansion was probably the best bet. I would allow her to be able to explore the house. Maybe she wouldn't feel like a prisoner then. I honestly didn't see her being safe until Jacob and his men were all dead or… that's when a thought creeped into my head. A way for both of us to get what we wanted. It was crazy, but it might just work.

Bella POV

After my shower, some guard with long black dreads brought me some soup. I was hungry but for some reason I couldn't eat. I had been laying here lost in my thoughts until I heard the door being unlocked and one set of footsteps walking away down the hall as one walked into my room. I looked up and saw Edward. He came in and took a seat on the bed next to me. I looked at him confused.

"So, I've been thinking and I've also found out some info about Jacob." I looked at him. I hated hearing Jacob's name. "Okay, look you saw something you weren't supposed to see and now you're stuck here. I don't want you to feel like a prisoner, but also know I can't let you leave because of what you saw. I also know Jacob won't quit looking for you. He knows where you are, I mean he doesn't know you're here in my home but I'm guessing he knows you're somewhere within my family. You're safe here but to ensure that he will leave you alone, I propose an agreement." Edward quit talking then, like he was waiting on me to say something. "I propose we get married." I choked on my own spit. Did I hear that right?

"Married?" I repeated. I don't think I heard that right

"Yes marriage. Look in order for Jacob to leave you alone with this whole virgin/marriage thing you should just get married. That way he loses and he'll have to find someone else. For me to become what I want, I have to be married. So basically we would help each other out."

"Virgin thing?" What was he talking about?

"Yes. Apparently, The Black family has to marry virgins, that's why he wanted you so bad." Disgusting but was I really surprised after all I'd been through with him?

"So you want to have an arranged marriage?" I was not expecting this conversation.

"I don't see it that way. I'm asking you, not forcing you. If not, I'll have to move you somewhere or if my father finds out you saw me kill someone and didn't kill you then he will kill you. If you marry me, that also protects you as well. Hey, I saved you twice, once from Jacob and then from my father!"

"Your father would kill me?"

"If he knew you were a loose end to him. You would have means to hurt the family. Although Paul's body is gone and there's no trace of him left, it would still be your word against mine."

"The Black Family?"

"Look, I can't go into details about them but you had to know the Black Family was a small time crime family?"

"No, I didn't know but it made sense why he had so many "friends" around."

"Look I'm just asking you to take a little time to decide. You will obviously have anything you want. I have more money than I know what to do with. Divorce isn't an option so remember that before deciding. I know you hate me but in public and around my family, we need to act like we like each other. While we are here, you can hate me as much as you want. We must sleep in the same room to keep up with the charade. I can sleep on one of the couches in my room and you can have my bed. I don't expect sex at all from you so you don't have to worry about that. If you decide you want that, you can come to me and I'll make it happen."

"What about you?" I had to ask

"What?"

"If you aren't having sex with me. I'm not stupid Edward, you would find someone. I know you won't stay sex free just because you're married to me."

"If you decide that you never want to have sex with me then yes I will find someone else for those needs but It will be discreet and I would not embarrass you."

Could I live with that? A loveless marriage? I mean anybody was better than Jacob. I did feel something for Edward. An attraction? I know there were many different sides to Edward. I also know Edward would keep me safe.

"Fine." It sounded so final.

"What?"

"I'll marry you."

Yep, I had lost my mind, I was marrying a killer.