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Chapter Seven

The Mobster's Forgotten Bride

BELLA SAT IN the back of the taxi beside Alice still shaken from the ordeal that she'd just gone through, she was upset and wondered why Anthony was unable to escort them home safely; instead sending Emmett who now sat quietly in the front seat of the taxi.

"Penny for your thoughts," Alice spoke softly from beside her.

Bella blinked her eyes and turned to look in the direction of Alice's voice. "Hmm?"

"You're so quiet." Alice said with a worried frown.

"Oh-I was just thinking about what happened."

"Are you alright? Did he hurt you? Why didn't you say something? Oh God Ed-Anthony is going to be so-"

"Alice!" Bella said loudly cutting her off. "I am not hurt, I already told you that. I'm just a little shaken is all."?

"But-but you said-"

"I was being quiet because I was wondering what was so important that Anthony couldn't escort us home himself…instead of Emmett?" Bella said. At the mention of his name Emmett straightened up in his seat his eyes ever watchful in the rear view mirror.

"I'm not sure, but knowing Anthony it had something to do with business as well as prosecuting those men who attacked you," Alice replied.

"Oh," Bella whispered. So that's why he didn't come with us? Because he wanted to make sure that the thugs were turned in to the authorities. Dear lord speaking of them what was her father going to think or say when he found out about this? He would not be to happy that's for sure, suddenly his words from a few nights ago rang in her mind.

"There's just something about him…I'm telling you that man is trouble."

A small smile formed on her heart shaped face, wouldn't he be pleased with himself knowing that his guess was on the mark…well sort of. It should be her that held that nickname trouble because she always found herself in some kind of predicament. As she said before and she'd say it again she was known around town for being a danger magnet and it seemed to be holding true. Now she wished that there was a way to keep this harrowing event from her father, she considered as she sat in the back of the taxi. But knew that there was no point in trying to do so, because if Anthony was going to turn them in, then most likely one of her father's relentless officer's have already got in contact with him.

"Please don't let tonight cause a rift between you and my brother," Alice said gently.

Bella blushed, "I-I wasn't thinking about that."

Alice gave her a quizzical look, "Really?"

"No-no, I was just upset that he couldn't come with us."

Alice reached for her hand and held it tightly, "Bella, I am going to tell you this because I think you need to know," she paused taking a deep breath, "My brother is a very prominent business man, he keeps to himself and doesn't show or give into his emotions. But seeing him with you tonight, the way he acted…his protectiveness toward you." Alice paused again giving Bella's hand another squeeze. "I have never seen him act like that before…and that's why I'm asking you to give him a chance, and not let what happened tonight come between the two of you?"

"But-but we are only friends. Besides I think your crazy…Anthony doesn't have those kind of feelings for me," Bella said with a wistful tone in her voice.

"So you do have feelings for my brother?" Alice gushed.

"I-I."

"I knew it! You like him?" Alice squealed.

Bella sat there staring at this beautiful, small, pixie like woman and knew that she and Anthony had to be related because there mood swings were starting to give her whiplash, she thought.

She also knew she couldn't deny that she had strong feelings for Anthony any longer, and how to go about telling him was a mystery to her After all she was the one that had told him they needed to start out as friends first, because they were moving to fast. Now she regretted those words with a passion, so what if she'd only known him for five weeks, it seemed longer to her…like they'd known each other for an eternity. Bella was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't realize they'd pulled up to the curb in front of Alice's apartment.

"Well I guess this is where we part ways," Alice said sadly.

"Yes, err I'll be seeing you," Bella replied feeling shy all of the sudden.

It wasn't surprising to see a bodyguard standing at the curb waiting patiently for Alice, he moved forward to open the door for her. Alice gave Bella a hung before turning to get out of the taxi.

"It was very nice to meet you. I hope even after the events of tonight that we could do this again sometime…I would really like to get to know you better?"

Bella gave a small lopsided smile and nodded her head in agreement, " Yes I would like that as well."

"Well until then good bye, Bella," Alice said then leaned forward to give Emmett who was sitting in the front passenger's seat of the taxi a hard stare, "You take real good care of my friend now, Emmett."

"Don't worry about it, Bella will be safe." Emmett replied in his booming voice.

"It's time to go Miss Alice," her bodyguard said.

Alice gave Bella a disappointed smile and backed away and shut the door leaving Bella alone in the taxi with Emmett and the driver. Bella raised her hand in a wave as the taxi pulled away from the curb and headed in the direction of Forks.

What seemed like no time at all the taxi arrived at her home and before she could get out, Emmett was there to politely open the door for her, and then started to follow her toward the front porch.

"I don't need an escort to my front door, Emmett," Bella said under her breath.

"Mr. Masen asked me to see you safely home and that is what I'm doing," Emmett responded.

In defeat she let him follow her as she slowly climbed the stairs leading to the front door of her home. This was something she was going to have to get used to for she wouldn't put it past Anthony to hire many bodyguards to watch over her after what took place over an hour ago. The image of that long black barrel flickered before her eyes, and for once she was glad to have the protection, though she worried that her father might see Emmett and wonder why he was hovering over her like he was.

"Well…this is it," Bella said as they both stood in front of her door.

"Humph," was all Emmett said.

"So, err thank you." Bella said giving him a shy smile and wondered why Rosalie liked this man so much.

Emmett gave her a lopsided smile and laughed, "I'll be seeing you again, Rosalie wanted to introduce me to you anyway…guess she don't have to do that anymore huh?"

"I-I guess not," Bella blushed.

"See yah, Bella," Emmett said as he turned and quickly made his way back to the awaiting taxi.

She watched as the taxi pulled away from her driveway and disappeared down the street. With a sigh she turned and unlocked the door, and quickly made her way inside. God, Bella Swan what have you gotten yourself into? She asked herself as she slowly slumped against her door, and found that she didn't have an answer.

At the meeting

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Edward's grandfather Alistair thundered as soon as he and the rest of his men strolled through the conference room door.

"I had something to take care of," Edward said as he pulled out an empty chair close to his father, and sat down.

"Is that so?" Alistair snarled.

"Yes," Edward answered.

Alistair Cullen leaned back in his chair at the head of the long table and glared darkly at his grandson. To think that he still after all this time had the balls to defy him, he thought. He may have stepped down, handing the reins over to Edward but he still could take it away from him, the boy may think he has control of everything but he Alistair Cullen still had a lot of power and authority over the Cullen crime family and to defy him by casually walking into his office two hours after the time he'd given him to appear just wasn't cutting it.

"I need everyone out of this room, all except immediate family," Alistair commanded, and waited as all the henchmen filed out of the room, his gaze never once left Edward's defiant eyes. Once the door shut behind the last man he leaned forward his elbows resting on top of the table. "Tell me…what was so important that you defied my orders to attend this meeting?" He asked through clenched teeth.

"I all ready told you-"

"Damn it boy!" Alistair bellowed, "Don't take that tone of voice with me!"

Edward's mouth tightened in defiance as he tried to bite his tongue to keep from flinging insults at his grandfather. He was the only one that could talk to him like this and get away with it. Hell he didn't even take this treatment from his father. But he knew he had to sit there and take it, because his grandfather was still one of the most powerful Don's in the Cullen crime family, and until he passed from this life would always still be over him.

"Edward it would be best if you answered your grandfather," Carlisle spoke up from beside him.

Edward chose to ignore his father, "So what of this situation, that was so important I had to be called from my…activities this evening?"

"The situation is now under control, Edward. Though if you'd have been here on time it would have been a different story," Alistair said.

"What are you talking about?" Edward asked blowing out his breath as he sat by his father waiting for his grandfather to fill him in.

"It appears that someone set up an ambush this evening. I've been keeping my eye on Seattle for a while now, because of all the mysterious killings. Killings that I have found out recently are targeting our drug runners. Your mother, Esme was in one of the Limo's coming back from a charity event she took part in when the limo was suddenly under a barrage of bullets."

"What?" Edward roared.

"The shooter had been poised from his point position on one of the many tall buildings surrounding the intersection. Luckily it was one of our buildings and our men were able to locate and get to the guy with the gun."

"Is mother alright?" Edward asked.

"Yes she was looked over by your father, but she is very shaken by the ordeal."

"Where is the shooter now?"

"The bastard's still alive and is being held to be interrogated. Your father and I are not happy that this man was able to get this close to one of our family members without encountering resistance." Alistair growled. "Luckily for us your mother was in a bullet proof vehicle, and I don't see a way to prevent the same thing happening again…unless we get rid of the problem at hand."

Edward ran an agitated hand through his bronze hair, "I think I might know who or whom might be doing this."

"What do you mean?"

"As I have told the both of you before, we have been having issues concerning rival gangs. Two of those gang leaders Jacob Black and James Lucas apparently have decided to join sides. They have been stirring up a lot of trouble…at first I thought it was because they wanted our turf but now it has become very clear to me that it is more of a personal vendetta toward our family."

"This is what you've been keeping from us this vendetta you speak of?" Alistair hissed at Edward angrily.

"Up until this evening I thought it was noting, but to many things have been happening lately to be just a mishap," Edward answered.

"So what your implying is that all the gang riots, killings, ambushes, finding a mole amongst us…has something to do with a personal vendetta that Lucas and Black have suddenly developed toward us?" Alistair asked. When Edward didn't say more only answering him with a nod of his head he continued. "Edward this has gone on long enough. If you are certain that Lucas and Black are behind this then you need to put a hit out on them."

"I all ready have done that-"

"Why was I not notified of this?" Alistair asked. Then turned his hard, calculating stare on his son, "Did you know of this, Carlisle?"

Carlisle shook his head, "No father I did not."

Alistair turned his gaze back upon Edward, "When did you give this order?"

"A little over a week ago, I put out the hit that I wanted them dead or alive, and would give whomever brought them to me five million dollars in cash."

"And no one including you bothered to tell me?" Alistair asked gritting his teeth.

Edward shook his head in answer to his grandfather's question.

"Has anyone been able to catch them as of yet?"

"No, but I am working on that." Edward answered.

"Then what the hell are you waiting for? You need to try and figure out why Lucas and Black are causing trouble for our family…whatever it is it can't be good. We will need to hire more henchmen for the protection of our families and the don's. I fill like you have been shrinking in your duties of late as if you're preoccupied with something else."

"No! I have not!" Edward shouted, "I have men in training right now as we speak. I also had to pull a few extra men because of the problems occurring lately and to watch over Alice-"

"Alice! Why what happened?" Edward's father shouted cutting Edward off in mid-sentence.

"I have met someone recently and I wanted Alice to meet her. That is where I was when you called me having a late night dinner. I had walked them to a taxicab when these thugs attacked us…someone put them up to it and I believe it was Lucas. One of the thugs was shot and killed but the one that threatened her was taken to be interrogated and tortured for information," Edward paused for a moment and took a deep breath remembering the chaos caused his blood to boil as images of Bella's helpless tear stained face popped into his mind.

"Is Alice alright? Was she hurt?" his father asked.

"Her, her?" Alistair kept repeating.

"Alice is well, she wasn't the one that got roughed up."

"Whom is this woman you speak of and what interest do you have with her?" Alistair asked.

Edward stiffened in his chair not sure how to go about answering his grand father, "She-she is a woman I met a few weeks ago." he decided to answer not wanting to tell them that she was the chief of police's daughter.

"So another one of your many conquests? Is she the reason why you've been dropping the ball of late?" Alistair asked in a deadly voice.

Edward's back stiffened even more, and he tried with difficulty to reel in his temper. He was not happy with his grandfather referring to Bella as one of his many conquests, damn it! She was better than that and didn't deserve to be talked about as if she was a common whore, he thought.

"She has nothing to do with this," he said stiffly, "As I said I've been working around the clock to get to the bottom of this, some of the problems have already been taken care of."

"See that you do," Alistair snarled, "We don't need anymore problems…especially with the Gangster's ball being held in October. There will already be bad blood we don't need to add more."

"Yes grandfather," Edward answered.

Alistair Cullen leaned back in his chair once again, and continued to glare at Edward, "Speaking of bad blood, it leads me to the second reason for calling you here for this meeting." He paused and glanced in Carlisle's direction and received a silent nod from him before he continued. "The Denali's are an old family line that has been ruling over the Alaskan crime families as well as parts of the Canadian crime families. Their daughter Tonya is of marrying age and it has been discussed at great length that you and Miss Denali will become engaged-"

"What? You can not be serious?" Edward bellowed.

"Oh I'm very serious, I have been wanting to unite the Denali's into our crime family for years and this new turn of events has now made that possible. You need to settle down and you need a future heir."

Edward sat there shaking his head in denial, "No!" he said harshly.

"You will boy."

Edward turned to look at his father with a confounded look upon his face, "You can't seriously be approving of this?"

Carlisle took a deep breath, "I think it will be in the best interest of the family to do this."

"Your both fucking crazy," Edward snarled letting his temper get the better of him. There was no way in hell he was going to marry another woman, a woman he barely knew when he already had another one in mind…one he couldn't stop thinking about. If he were going to marry anyone it would most likely be her. Wait! Did he just say that? Did he even want to get married? He'd never thought of it before that is until Bella Swan came into his life. "I will not marry her."

"You may have been given the reins to the crime family but I still am the head of this family. My word is law, and if I tell you to do something you will do it or face the consequences of your actions," Alistair warned.

"Are you threatening me?" Edward demanded harshly.

"Take it as you will."

Edward slammed his fist down on top of the table, "I am a grown man, grandfather, and I will not let you dictate to me whom I am to marry. I will not…I repeat not be marrying anyone anytime soon. Especially someone that was hand picked by you and my father."

"Oh but you will, Edward. I think it's about time for you to put a stop to your philandering ways and settle down. Luckily you have not gone and gotten any of your whore's pregnant, but as of today you will get rid of any or all that remain, and from what you told us earlier there is at least one."

"Fuck you!" He bellowed at his grandfather knocking his chair to the floor as he rose up. "I'm not getting rid of anybody, especially her."

"Her? There you go with this same girl again. Has this skirt become an obsession for you." Edward's grandfather accused him, as he glared at him from across the table.

Edward stiffened, at his words; the action did not go un-noticed by his grandfather or his father. He didn't like the direction this meeting was going at all, and feared that he just might have put Bella's life in danger.

"Your cousin Marcus tells me that you are becoming close to this girl," Carlisle said from beside him.

Fuck Marcus and his interfering ways, Edward shouted silently to himself.

"Just how close is close? Hmmm? Lets see close enough to go against your father and my wishes. Close enough to willingly over look your responsibilities to your family when it comes to this girl." There was no mistaking the unconcealed anger in his grandfather's voice.

Edward continued to glare angrily at his grandfather, deciding not to answer him.

"Well what do you have to say? How do you defend yourself?" Alistair demanded of him.

"I don't have to explain myself to you," Edward snarled, and watched the look of rage cross his grandfather's face.

"Listen here you selfish bastard!" Alistair bellowed, "Just because you're the heir to this family does not give you the right to defy me. Now answer the damned question."

"I am in love- I have feelings for her." Edward corrected when he realized he'd almost admitted he was in love with Bella. In love no he couldn't be it was to soon he'd only known her for about five weeks now, he thought to himself. His bronzed head was bent, and he didn't see the look of shock cross their faces.

"What! In love, you know nothing of love." his grandfather scuffed, mockingly. "I will not have this Edward; you will break from this whore at once." His grandfather demanded.

Edward raised his head to stare at his grandfather, " What-what are you saying?" He asked stunned.

"You know precisely what I am saying. You have responsibilities to your family and your people." His grandfather ranted.

'My responsibilities be dammed!" Edward shouted. His hands fisted at his sides as he tried to control his temper.

"Do not talk to me like that. You are the eldest son, and I will not see it overshadowed by this whore." His grandfather spat out the last word in disgust.

"No!" was all Edward could get out of his suddenly clenched teeth.

"You dare to defy me?" his grandfather asked in a menacing tone. His eyes even from across the room bored into Edwards. Alistair was not the type of man to defy. He didn't get by all these years being a soft man.

Edward stiffened, in disgust that was directed at both his father and grandfather. "Father please." he begged him. "I can not do what you ask of me." They did not understand what such an action would do to him. To even think of breaking from her would likely kill him. He was to hooked on he, felt to connected to her to do what they asked of him. He did not lower his eyes from his fathers, nor did he back down from his grandfather.

Alistair rose from his chair and turned his back to him as he walked over to where the liquor cabinet was and poured him a drink. He turned back around to face him a hard, cold look in his eyes and said in a low deadly voice, "Then you leave me no choice." as he walked over to stand behind his desk.

Rage such as he had never felt before suddenly consumed Edward; the power of it caused an electrical charge in the room you could almost feel the tension.

"What - what, are you implying? He spat through clenched teeth. How dare his grandfather threaten him with the proposal of hurting Bella, He thought.

He was barely able to see past the red haze that clouded his vision. He was slowly losing control and giving reign to the sinister monster that he was.

His grandfather was aware of his grandson's dark mood, though it did not deter him from putting both his hands on his desk. He leaned forward for effect, "If you do not break this… fascination you have for this girl. Then you leave me no choice, I will take necessary action to prevent this from continuing."

The monster in Edward snarled, and raged. "Do not touch her!" he spat out, His fists balled together so tightly his arms began to tremble his knuckles turned white from the pressure, of trying not to loose control.

"I will do what I must; I will not have you ruin everything our family has built over the last 100 years." His grandfather snapped.

"I'll rip you from limb to limb if you so much as lay a finger on her." Edward sputtered with fury.

His grandfather stared into Edwards eyes the message in his was loud and clear, he would stop at nothing to rid them of Bella. And Edward knew just then that he would do whatever was in his power to stop his grandfather and father.

"Father," Carlisle, said, finally deciding to come to his son's rescue, "Maybe we need to give Edward time to think things through. As you said the Mobster's ball is slowly approaching…why don't we bring the Denali girl and Edward together at that point in time? They both will need time to adjust to the prospect of a mafia marriage." He tried to reason with his father, he picked up on the implication of Edward's words earlier of possibly being in love with this woman. If that was true he knew that his son would never willingly let her go even if they forced him to marry the Denali princess or not.

"Did you not hear what I said?" Alistair asked his son.

"Yes, and I think you need to let Edward come to terms with everything you just told him. Give him time is all that I ask."

Alistair stood up straight, moving to his full height. His arms crossed in front of his chest as he contemplated what his son was asking him. With a nod of his head, "I'll give you until the night of the Gangster's ball to make your decision concerning this matter…. I hope for your sake as well as the girls you make the right one," he said with menace, all the while still staring intently into his grandson's eyes.

Without another word Alistair decided to take his leave, he turned and walked out of the office leaving a raging Edward to stand gazing at his retreating back, fighting to control the raging monster that was trying to consume him.

"I bought you some time Edward use it wisely," Carlisle warned him.

Edward glared annoyed at his father; "You think I should be grateful to you for this?" he spat.

"Listen to me son, I sense that there is something between you and this girl, more than just lust. You will have no choice but to marry the Denali princess, but no one is saying that you couldn't have a mafia mistress or two. At one time I had one…but after I met your mother things changed. Believe it or not your mother and I also had an arranged marriage, and it turned out for the better," he said as he rose from his chair and placed his hand on Edward's shoulder.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Edward asked roughly, taking a step away from his father who had no choice but to lower his hand. There was no way he would ever disgrace Bella by asking her to be his mistress, then again you've already slept with her and plan on doing so again. His conscience tried to reason with him.

"I'm saying you have until the Gangster's ball to decide whether or not you want to keep this girl-"

"Bella."

"What?"

"Her name is, Bella," Edward said tightly.

"Then you have until then to decide to keep Bella in your life as you're mistress or not," Carlisle said before turning to walk out of the office.

"She's not a whore," Edward whispered to the now empty room. Before grabbing the vase of flowers in the middle of the desk and throwing it violently across the room where it smashed against the wall breaking into a tiny million pieces.

"Fuck my life!" He snarled in rage before turning on his heels and walked out of the office. "And fuck you old man!"

A/N: Hello everyone! Sorry I have not updated in a while but real life has been keeping me very busy. I know I usually give you all a real big chapter, but I figured you had to wait a long time for this so I wanted to give you a small update. The next chapter will be better and much longer, as my hectic schedule permits I am hoping to get another chapter posted by the middle or end of Sept. Hoped you liked this chapter and look forward to your reviews!

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