A/N I don't own Twilight
Thanks to everyone who has been supportive! Also I know every time one question gets answered two more questions take it's place. But all in time! I have a thought out story plot and it will take some time to completely unravel all the mysteries. BUT it will stay exciting and this chapter will answer some questions.
Some people have said the chapters are too short. I'll be updating every day MON-FRI and this week a lot is going happen! If I was updating just once a week I would make the chapters longer, but since there will 5 updates a week I think the there starting to become an okay length.
Also I have no beta so all mistakes are mine.
Chapter 4:
BPOV
Two days and two nights had passed since being brought to wherever I was now. Now it was day three. Liam didn't mind the new location. He had a crib, toys, food and me so he was happy. They, the Cullens, had made sure Liam had everything he needed. Esme brought three meals every day to Liam's room for me and Liam. I hadn't seen Carlisle since the initial meeting. I hadn't seen Edward either for three days. I didn't know whether to be happy or upset about that. I knew he was somewhere around here. I heard people walk around in the hallways. I also knew there were guards outside my door. I heard Edward talking to them and checking on me. One guard offered to show me around while someone stayed with Liam. I declined. I was too scared to leave Liam. I hadn't left Liam since I woke up here. I slept in the rocker in his room and there was a bathroom attached. I hadn't showered though. I was afraid to leave him. Being in the shower made me vulnerable. I considered bringing him in the bathroom with me but there the lock was on the outside of the bathroom so I would still be vulnerable. Plus I didn't want to put on the same dirty clothes after getting clean. I knew I had clothes somewhere around here in another room. I knew I had a room somewhere with my belongings. I never gave them the chance to show it to me. Partly because I was being stubborn. Hey I didn't choose to be here. Partly because of the safety issue. But I also had a feeling it was me and Edward's room and the reality of my situation hadn't sunk in all the way yet. Part of me trusted Edward and thought he would take care of me. I wanted to slap that part. But I couldn't deny what ever it was between us.
Esme walked in with lunch and her usual smile. I smiled back. Despite the circumstances I liked Esme. She was very maternal and easy to talk to. Liam was bouncing up and down excited for food.
"Bella how about I watch Liam so you can take a shower? I'm sure you would like a break and a chance to freshen up. I brought you some fresh clothes"
I didn't know what to say. I would love a shower and clean clothes! But I was still nervous about leaving Liam. I trusted Esme but I was so use to being over cautious. Being over cautious was like auto pilot for me. I started feeding Liam his food and didn't answer right away and instead chewed my lip.
Sensing my nervousness, Esme gently said, "Liam will be fine. I can assure you of that. I will stay in this room with him and not take him out. He is completely safe here. You have to take care of yourself also. I know you have been sleeping in that rocker for the past two nights also."
I looked down at the carpet. Since Esme put it that way, it made me feel guilty,
I contemplated for another second. "Okay, I'll shower then eat."
Esme smiled and handed me the clothes and a toiletry bag. I then made my to shower in Liam's bathroom. A shower was exactly what I needed. The hot water helped to relax my muscles. Sleeping in the rocking chair wasn't helping my back. I grabbed the shampoo that had been in the toiletry bag Esme gave me and got to washing my hair. Strawberry...My shampoo at home had been strawberry scented. Coincidence? Had they gone through my home? If so wouldn't I have had my old clothes? But that would tie back, right? I don't know... My head started to spin with all the questions I was throwing out. Anxiety crept me and rushed through the rest of the shower. I dried and inspected the clothes Esme had given me. They weren't my old clothes but definitely looked like something I would wear. How much did this family know about me? I had so many questions
I made my way back into where Esme and Liam was. Liam had finished lunch and looked to be enjoying himself playing with some trucks. I grabbed my lunch and sat down.
"Mama!" Liam yelled when he saw me. He ran up and hugged me and then scurried back to his toys. Esme smiled, clearly happy that Liam was happy.
"Can I ask you something Esme? Mafia related?" We hadn't discussed anything about the mafia or me kidnapped since two days ago. Or was it three? Everything was a little jumbled. But I didn't know if she would agree to talking about the mafia or the family.
"Of course."
"How does it work? The whole wife thing? Does every family just swoop in and take women they want to marry?"
She smiled to my surprise. "I guess it would seem that way. I've been hesitant to discuss it all with you. Edward originally wanted to be the one to tell you and explain everything. His plans for all this haven't happened the way he wanted. I don't know when he plans on discussing any of this again with you." She paused contemplating and then looked at me and said, "But I think you deserve answers. It also may be better coming from me, a woman and also a mafia wife."
I shifted in my seat. I picked at my sandwich. but eagerly waited for her to continue.
"There are multiple mafia families. A lot more than the average person realizes. They all follow a certain code and rules. Every individual family also has there own set of unique rules but they must compliment the universal mafia code and rules. For all mafia families the importance of maintaining secrecy is a top priority. Yes the general public will have their speculations and everyone may "know" per say but there can never be any evidence or anyone outside the family that knows the truth. Traitors are not dealt with well. Also maintaining and continuing the family is very important. Years ago the families had issues with having children. Wives were unable to conceive or were unfit as mothers. Wives also started to turn on their husbands. That is when the families started to ensure the wives would be a good fit to be a mafia wife and mother. A wife had to pass certain qualifications. It evolved over the years and families developed ways on how to obtain these wives, some families go about it differently."
"You mean kidnap?" I couldn't help myself.
"We normally stay away from that. It is very common among other families. Some see it as ensuring the women is fit to be a mafia wife and mother. When choosing a mafia wife, she must be a mother, single, no family or connections. If she were to disappear, no one would really notice per say."
"So they choose women who already have kids?"
"Yes to ensure they can bear children and able to take care of children."
"And she has to be single with no family or friends?"
"Yes"
Well that's great. Everything I did to make me and Liam safe actually made me a prime candidate to be a mafia wife. "You said your family does things differently?"
"Yes, we normally don't forcefully take."
"But other families do? How do they get the women to agree to the life?"
A sadness appeared in her eyes. "They brain wash and use other tactics. But more families are going about it better. Some seek out women who are in bad situations and offer them a new life. They give them a whole new identity and protection. The women become loyal and the family becomes stronger."
"Is that what your family does?"
"In a way. We are not as organized about it as other families. When I met Carlisle I had just lost my husband and son. I had been in a forced marriage and didn't love John, my deceased husband. But I loved my son that I lost. Carlisle helped me get through the grief. He offered me a whole new life. I joined him without looking back. I had been wishing for death and Carlisle had breathed life into me. We had Edward shortly after."
Edward was the oldest. Wait that meant. "Since Edward is the oldest does that mean he takes over for Carlisle some day? As head of the family?"
"Yes" Even better. Not only was I to be a mafia wife, but a mafia wife to a Don.
"Do you have any other children besides Edward?"
"Yes, two other boys, Emmett and Jasper. They both are married with children. Jasper meet Alice when her son was two. She was independent and a free spirit and he loved her. She passed all qualifications and he eased her into the life. Emmett meet Rosalie in a low point in her life. She had lost a baby but the doctors said she would be able to have more. Her reason for losing the baby was not her fault. She figured out Emmett was in the mafia life before Emmett could fully explain, but she accepted him and loved him. They have a son now."
"So even if a women loses a child in pregnancy she still qualifies?" What can I say I was curious.
"Yes, as long as there is no indication that she can't have more children. They have expanded the rules more over the years. In some ways that I don't like."
"Like how?"
She didn't answer right away. That mean it was bad.
"Please Esme tell me."
"Jealousy between children at one point become an issue and also parents showing favoritism. Many families would not let the first child take over being Don, the leader, if it wasn't the biological child of the father who was the Don. So the families saw it fit that if the husband wanted to get rid of the wive's children that were not biologically his, the ones she had before him, he could. He had to do it within the first week of the soon-to-be wife arriving at the family's home."
Oh god. Fear consumed me."When say get rid of, you mean-" I couldn't bring myself to say it. I felt like I was going to throw up.
"Bella, I see the fear in you and you are jumping to conclusions. Edward would never hurt your son. Believe me he understands better than most." What the hell did that mean?
It was a lot to digest and I still had more questions. "This other family. Do you know them? Would they have?You know?" I couldn't bring myself to fully ask the question. If they would have killed my son.
"The other family that were going to take you is the Volturi family. Yes, they are known for disposing of the mother's first born. They also brain wash and use other tactics to ensure the compliance of the wives."
"That's awful! Inhumane!" What kind of person or family does that?
"Yes, I agree. Carlisle was raised to respect women more and lives in general. He was an only child. His mother's first born died in a car accident a year after becoming a mafia wife. They had Carlisle but were never able to have any more. He helped teach our boys the sovereignty of life and to respect women."
"None of your sons every planned on kidnapping women to become their wives." I said it more like a question then a statement.
"No. They wanted the women to have a choice so to speak. They couldn't tell them about the
family and mafia unless they joined of course. But they could see if their was that connection. That attraction or pull you feel towards a person. That feeling like you can put your life into their hands. Some feel it instantly, some it takes a little time." I knew exactly what she was talking about. I had felt it with Edward. But how? I barely knew him.
Esme continued, "If that connection and trust was there that meant they would accept them for who they are, mafia family included. Edward said he felt that with you when he meet you briefly at the park." Oh shit what had he told them? " He was going to do things so differently. Then we were informed the Volturi planned to take you. Edward was furious to say the least. You wanted to protect you. He knew the horrible things they would put you and your son through. He had no other choice but to take you to ensure your safety. He wanted you to fall for him naturally like what happened with his brothers, but he knew if he waited you would kidnapped by the other family."
I didn't know what to say in response. I had been pretty pissed the last few days. I had had no choice in the matter. But it was hard to be mad when they explained like that. I almost felt grateful towards Edward. He also probably pissed off the other family and made himself a few enemies. How would have things played out if this other family wasn't interested in me and tried taking me? What if Edward hadn't been practically forced to take me? Would I have let him get to know me? And me him? There was something there. I had been furious at him the other day but even though I felt it. I knew I needed to make a choice. Then there was a knock on the door.
