Mob Boss

Chapter Twenty: Suitable for Framing

Bella Cullen

When I landed in New York I immediately took a cab from the airport to the Four Seasons hotel not wanting to waste any further time. When I arrived I immediately noted the security inside, when a security guards shoes are polished more than a typical hotel guest you know there's ties to the underworld

I checked in and made my way up to my suite, I immediately changed into my outfit and styled my hair. I applied my makeup perfectly before I double checked I had everything I needed with me.

It didn't take Melina's security more than an hour to appear at my door to escort me to her suite. I was patted down before entering, a wand was waved over me to prove I was not carrying any guns just under wire in my bra. When I stepped into the room Melina was sitting in an arm chair by the large roaring fire. The suite was breathtaking, from the cream carpets to the solid gold lamp bases and gold trim side tables.

"Isabella, it's a pleasure." Melina said as she crossed the room to me and I held out my hand to shake hers but she brought me into a tight embrace.

"I must apologies for the security, Aro insists. Please sit, may I offer you a drink?"

I smiled politely.

"Please"

"Champagne?" She asked and I nodded.

Melina poured us two glasses of champagne and handed me my glass before taking her seat opposite me.

"To new friends." Melina said raising her glass and I did the same.

"Isabella I must say I've always wanted the two of us to meet. Despite our husbands...different points of view."

"Nicely said" I commented.

"Well I do try, there is a higher standard for ladies of Rome." She said before tucking her thick brown hair over her shoulder.

Melina was beautiful, she dressed modestly, but she was probably Aro's idea of perfection, from the olive skin, to the full lips that rocked the matte red lipstick and the eyelashes you knew were fake but look great anyway.

"There are standards everywhere, a real lady doesn't have to discuss them" I replied.

Melina smirked "Aro did tell me you had attitude."

"I'm sure Aro had a lot more to say about me than that," I looked down at my glass before meeting her gaze "I don't judge you for living a polygamist lifestyle Melina, it's not my place."

"Yes, as I understand it. Edward has never taken another wife. Such a shame. Men need many women, that's why divorce rates are so rare to those of us open to the idea of polygamy and it's advantages."

I couldn't help but smirk and Melina raised her eyebrows.

"Forgive me, but I'm sure there are disadvantages, just like there would be for any husband or wife."

"But you're not married to a regular man, Isabella you are married to the richest mobster in the entire United States." Melina said leaning forward and I smirked.

I crossed my legs "So, let's get down to business. I don't want to waste any more time pretending I'm here for a simple favor, this isn't about showing good standing to the neighboring clans." I said.

"Why do you think that?"

"Well because if this was about us being civil than Aro would have allowed all his wives to attend fashion week," I watched Melina closely for a reaction "Instead he sent you alone Melina. I know you're his favorite."

Melina smiled back at me.

I leaned forward in my chair "Whatever my husband has chosen to start, he will finish." I told her

"Not if he's going against my husband and our family. Which is growing stronger in numbers, by the second."

With that said Melina brushed her hand over her stomach revealing a small bump and my mouth fell open slightly.

"You're pregnant?"

"Yes."

I looked away from her "And it's a boy."

Melina smirked "Yes it is, how did you know?"

I met her gaze and smirked "Well done." I told her

"Yes, Aro is very pleased."

"I'll bet."

"But he had his doubts over my coming here, he assumes I will be attending fashion week, but there are so many dangers to his heir that he likes to play it safe," Melina looked to me "So when I told him I wanted to meet with you to show good spirit he objected, but I assured him since you had once been pregnant yourself, you would never possibly be a risk to his first born son." Melina said before she reached the bottle of red wine on the side table beside her upon a silver tray.

She unscrewed the cap before she then picked up her hotel phone and hit a single button.

"What are you doing?" I asked her.

Melina's smile dropped as she gripped the phone "Please...please help me...oh my god...I'M LOSING MY BABY!" she screamed

With that Melina dipped the bottle of red wine all over her exposed legs and down onto her chair and the floor but it wasn't red wine inside the bottle instead it was blood.

I jumped from my seat and Melina immediately grabbed my wrist twisting my arm behind my back as she held me to her.

Melina smirked before screaming into the phone "BELLA PLEASE DON'T HURT ME...PLEASEEEE MY BABY! MY BABY!" Melina screamed as I pulled myself away from her.

She was framing me, she was setting me up.

I grabbed my clutch bag and ran to the door pulling it open only to find a security guard in my face. Thank god for Charlie, the one thing I always carried besides my phone was the pepper spray he'd given me when I was seventeen. I sprayed the guy in the face before running down the hallway finding the stairs rather than wait for an elevator. I raced down the steps two at a time until I found myself on the ground floor and I ran out of the back entrance, the exit leading out into an alleyway. I was lucky there were no paparazzi outside the front entrance, I didn't stop running until I was several blocks away from the hotel and I quickly hailed a cab.