Summary: Isabella lived a perfect life with her husband until the abuse started. With the death of her mother, she may have just been given life changing gift: a way out. But with it comes a whole new world that she may not be ready to face. Maybe with the help of her green-eyed savior. Mafia, Crime, Abuse, Hurt/Comfort.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. Stephanie Meyers owns characters but the plot is of my original work.

Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Dying

I was in my last year at the University of Chicago when I met James. I was graduating in liberal studies—I wanted to teach in elementary school. For the longest time, that was what I wanted and my mother supported my decision strongly. She was a high school teacher and when I received a scholarship for the university, she was ecstatic. I've always excelled throughout my school years growing up. I've been an avid student and I've always been eager to learn.

I was never the most popular girl in school but I did make a lot of friends. Above focusing on my studies, I knew how important it was for me to be a part of scholarly clubs and have volunteer work. I guess my friends in high and in college were huge nerds but I fit in very well with them. This explained why I never crossed paths with James until my very last year at U of C. He was a business major, president of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, a legacy, social butterfly, tall and handsome, charismatic, and completely way out of my league.

The day I met him, he literally swept me off my feet. I was crossing the street with multiple books in my hand—the new quarter had just begun and student life was buzzing. With all the clutter in my arms, I didn't see the car making a rapid right turn. If James didn't pull me off the curb, I would have been run over. James saved my life and my books. Looking up while being cradled in his arms, James was the most handsome man I had ever seen. He looked down at me with such big beautiful blue eyes and his face was etched with worry.

People stared and stopped. Someone asked if we needed an ambulance. Someone else was already on the phone with the police telling the dispatcher a black Range Rover almost hit a pedestrian. Others picked up my books that had dropped. So much was going on all around us but all I could do was stare into his eyes. We were tangled on the pavement of Main Street. I was pretty sure I had some scrapes on my arms because it stung. James' right hand cradled the back of my head while his left hand was used to help prop himself up from the ground.

I remember him telling me two things in that moment. The first was asking if I was okay—to which I answered with a breathless yes. The second was, "You have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen." He sputtered and seemed lost for words before he listed off amber, mahogany, chocolate, hazel, and coffee, chestnut, caramel. He couldn't figure out how to describe the color of my eyes while I was lost in his.

So when I made eye contact with the brown-eyed man standing next to Jason Jenks, his eyes gave him away. My mother said she always loved my eyes and now I know I got my them from Charlie Swan.

When we locked gazes, I froze. I held my breath because I was afraid of what was to come as soon as we were face-to-face. Jason placed a hand on Charlie's shoulder and he was the first to break the contact. I dashed away from the window and shuffled into the living room. I felt like my throat was closing in on me and I couldn't breathe so I sat down on the sofa. I heard the door click and two pairs of feet walking in. I clutched at my chest as I heard them moving in closer into the room and then…

"Isabella?"

I couldn't figure out what to do with myself. I wanted to be angry with him because he wasn't a part of my life but here he stood. I wanted to ask him so many questions. I wanted to run and hug him because he was all I had now as fucked up as it was. I wanted to tell him that my whole life I wondered how it would have been like if I knew who my father was. It turns out he was some rich guy who paid child support, and that was all he was.

"I'll leave you two to talk a little. I'll be in the office," Jason said after clearing his throat. He gave me a nod before walking down the hall and disappearing.

"You can't imagine how long I've waited to meet you," Charlie started. I couldn't bring myself to look at him in the eye again so I focused on the wall on his right instead. "Isabella, please."

"You had twenty-four years to meet me, Mr. Swan."

"I couldn't and you know that. You don't understand—"

"Then make me understand," I snarled.

"I talk but you talk," he negotiated. "You ask a question, I answer. I ask, you answer. That's how we're doing this."

"Fine." He and I both sat down opposite of each other in the living room. My hunger was long forgotten, and I wanted to do something with my hands. I settled with clutching the throw pillow between my fingers.

He cleared his throat and asked, "Who did this to you?"

"My husband," I said.

"Husband," Charlie swallowed thickly. "And who is your husband?"

"I ask first," I held a hand up. "Why did you let my mother run away?"

"She didn't want my lifestyle. Who is your husband?"

"James Witherdale. What did she not like about it?"

"She didn't like the family business. She didn't want to raise a child into my world and being the man I am, I wanted to give her everything that she wanted. Even if it meant I wasn't a part of it. I did it for Renee. Did James Witherdale do this to you?"

"This?" I cocked my head to the side as I finally looked at his face. "What is this? You'll have to be more specific, Mr. Swan."

"I'm not going to ignore the fact that you're extremely malnourished, Isabella," he deadpanned. "Given the fact that Jenks had to bring you to the Davenport safe-house, I'm not going to pretend that you're not covered with bruises. Even if it were hidden under your clothes, you'd have to be incredibly stupid to not see. You're too thin—and even that's coming from me. I want to know if James Witherdale did this to you."

"Yes," I answered. "So this whole time, you paid a pretty penny to keep your guilt away? So you don't have to feel like you abandoned a child?"

"I didn't want to abandon my child—you. I never wanted to. I didn't agree with Renee but I can't change who I am and what I do. She didn't feel safe, and she didn't want you to be in danger."

"What danger?!" I threw my hands in the air in frustration.

"Isabella, you're going to have to give me something," Charlie sighed in frustration.

"Mr. Swan, I don't know what you want from me," I finally exploded. "I have nothing left. No money, no home, and no family. Every single bit of humanity I had was stripped away. I don't even know who I am anymore. I had dreams and ambitions. I wanted to do so much with my life. All I did was fall in love and then what? My husband turned out to be an abusive monster. Who liked to hurt me, took away everything I owned and loved, raped me, and imprisoned me in my home. Now I'm stuck hiding, my mother's death may have been planned, my so-called unknown father turns up, and the only thing that can save me now is faking my own death."

I stood up and walked towards the window. "Then let's say I do get away and I successfully make James think I died somehow—which even until now, I don't understand how that can happen. What am I going to do after? I'm always going to live in fear of my powerful and well-connected ex-husband who may or may not be a part of the stupid fucking mafia. I'm going to have to pick up from nothing and all my years in college went to waste because I can't even use my degree and become what my mother would have been proud of. I'm going to live the rest of my life regretting the decision I made to marry James; and then, what? Who am I?"

Then it was just pure silence. Tears streamed down my face—I didn't even know I started crying. I wrapped my arm around myself and just stared out into the darkness. If I ever make it out of this alive, I will never step foot on Illinois ever again. It was my home, but a monster lived there.

I turned around slowly and looked at Charlie. In between my whole rant, his perfect posture had slumped over and he just stared off into nothing. He looked like he was deep in thought. Then he smiled.

"The day you were born, I was coming from a…meeting in Kingston. Esme was the one that called me. She was your mother's best friend. They knew each other since they were born. I knew I shouldn't have left your mother's side. We knew you were coming soon, but she insisted that she'd be fine. She said that Esme will be with her at all times and it will be okay. So I left then five hours later I get the call. I was a mad man driving all the way to the hospital in Larchmont. I drove so fast with one thing on my mind I didn't even notice the four squad cars chasing after me."

"What?" I gasped as I fell back into my seat.

"I was on the local news. It ended up being the top story of the night. I drove the entire ninety miles to the hospital without stopping and when I finally got there, I didn't care about the high-speed chase I started. I ran inside and rushed to your mother. I didn't want to miss your birth. I remember thinking to myself that I'd take care of it later."

"I made it with minutes to spare. She had been stalling the birth until I could get there but you were one stubborn baby. You wanted to get out so badly. Twelve minutes after I got there, you finally came out. And your gender was a surprise because Renee wanted it to be."

Charlie Swan sniffled.

"When I finally held you in my hands, it was like time stood still. You were so small and fragile. The thoughts going through my head at the time were things like 'will I be a good father to her?' or 'what if I mess this up?' I finally had a family and the pure happiness I felt when I first held you was and will always be etched into my brain. Renee was beautiful; even sitting there covered with sweat and tears. She was glowing, and the happiness radiated off of her."

"You had a quick birth. You made it easy for your mother—the doctors said that for a first time mother, the birth went smoothly. She was only in labor for three hours. We named you Isabella Marie Higginbotham Swan. I know your mother changed her last name to Hayes once she finalized the divorce."

"What…. Why…?" I finally asked.

"Renee—"

"Charlie?" Jason Jenks decided to pop up at the moment with a phone clutched in his hand. He came around the corner and apologized for interrupting. "As much as I know you two have a lot to talk about, I want to remind you both the reason why we're all here together."

As if I didn't forget…

"Oh, yes," Charlie agreed. He stood up and loosened his tie.

"Carlisle is on the phone," Jason said as he handed the phone over to Charlie.

Charlie excused himself outside as he talked on the phone with someone named Carlisle. Jason pulled out another cellphone from his pocket and he punched a couple buttons to make a call.

"Marie, please eat something," Jason reminded me.

"I won't be able to keep anything down," I apologized.

"This will all be over soon," Jason said before he held up a finger signaling that someone had answered his call. "Riley, update on Witherdale?"

I felt goose bumps appear on my arms when I heard that. I was so scared to know what James was up to. This was the second day I had been technically missing from home. Last night was hell, and I had trouble sleeping. I tossed and turned all night. I didn't feel comfortable with the lights off but I couldn't sleep because the lights blinded me. I should have been done with the chicken satay by now. It was six o'clock.

Dinner with James was always at six o'clock.

"Keep an eye on him then," Jason replied to his phone. "Be careful, he already pulled out all of his cards. He's full mode searching now."

Charlie came back in and he looked rugged.

"Jason, Carlisle is making arrangements with Eleazar," he said then he walked over to me. He squatted, and he carefully reached out to take my hand. I almost didn't let him but I did. His hands were rough, but they were warm as he cradled mine in between his. "Isabella, I will do everything I can to make you safe. I missed out on a lot and you're right, I had twenty-four years to make it right. We'll get you away from James—that much I can do for you."

I believed him.

"Charlie, what's the plan?"

This chapter was edited by EdwardsFirstKiss.

4/10/18