Dream Like you'll Live Forever

STORYLINE: Bella witnesses a murder after breaking up with her long-term boyfriend. What ensues is terrifying, dark and different... Thrust in to the world of the mob, what will come of Bella Swan? Will she survive? Will she toughen up? Will she fight for all she believes?

Major Mobward

A/N – I bet a lot of you have wondered where I've been and what the hell I'm doing, huh?

So, it's been two/three years since I last updated Dream Like You'll Live Forever... I was trolling through my old email inbox today and came across some emails and I thought, "hey, whatever happened to the story I wrote?" I couldn't even remember what it was called lol.

I finally managed to log in to the site, read through it and cringed! Most of my grammar is hideous, I don't like certain things I did with the story and I decided to sort it out :o)

DON'T PANIC! I'm not changing much... I'm just tweaking it, chapter by chapter... Bare with me guys, all chapters will be back up soon and I'll continue on from where I left off. I had to delete the old story and start again.

The only thing left to say is, I'm so, so, so, so, so sorry that it has been so long. I read through a few reviews, the majority of which were rather angry :o/

Oh, and does anyone want to BETA this story? PM me if you're interested and I'll get back to you... As I said, bare with me :o)

ALL CHARACTERS BELONG TO S.M... I OWN NADA!

*CHAPTER ONE*

How dare he? Who in the world does he think he is? What. A. Dick.

I stormed off, ignoring his calls and pleas as I made my way back to my car. Fuming was an understatement. I practically ripped the door from its hinges before sinking in to the seat of my crappy car. Only then, when I was safely in the confinements of my Ford did I let everything out and cry.

My life was a mess. I had nothing. No one. I was alone and only now was I really starting to feel and become aware of it.

He had cheated on me; my gorgeous, perfect, loving boyfriend of four years had cheated on me. Four years, gone, just like that.

I had thought I was going to marry Mike. Too often had I pictured what our children would look like, what their names would be and how many we would have. God, only last week Mike and I had stopped at the window of one of the most expensive baby boutiques in Chicago, just to curb our curiosity. Starting a family was something we had always been open about. Of course we would get married first, that was our unspoken rule. Little did I know, that day when we had been laughing together and looking at nursery furniture, planning our future and dreaming of the day where we could afford all the gorgeous, extremely over-priced baby accessories in that store, that he had probably ran off to his girl on the side that night. That night when he had said that he was playing poker with the guys.

Silly Bella. Naive, blind, stupid Bella.

Well then, now that that chapter of my life is over and done with, move on. Yup, he obviously wasn't that bothered about our relationship, so why in the world should I be? I'm a head-strong, intelligent and focused woman, why was I crying over spilled milk? I can't change what's happened and I can't take anything I said back. Even if I could, would I really want to?

Nope, he had done this, he had ruined it. All I had to do was draw a line in the sand, move on and start over... With ice cream, lots and lots of ice cream.

So with that, I pulled my car keys out of my bag and placed them in the ignition with the full intent of starting the car. However, just as my hands gripped the keys, ready to turn them, a flash of someone in my rear view mirror caught my eye and I found myself straining my neck in order to keep them in sight.

The man was wearing rugged, cheap clothes and had stopped at the car parked behind mine. He was sweating and panting so much his face was turning a darker prune shade with every passing second and he seemed pretty damn scared, terrified to be perfectly honest. Curiosity getting the better of me, I slumped down in my chair just in time to see two suited men approaching his hiding spot from the left and another two equally turned out men nearing from the right as they left the elevator, gaining on the short, stumpy, cheap looking man as he cowered behind the car.

I had parked on the rooftop level of a multi-story as it is usually quieter than the lower levels and after finding out about Mike's little secret, I figured an empty car park was probably what I needed after breaking up with him. Mostly in case he ran after me and started to cause a scene. More than that, I would need time to compose myself and cry my heart out.

Yeah, top floor seemed like the best option although, being eight stories up after breaking up with your long-term boyfriend probably wasn't an Einstein moment if I ever had one.

It was the middle of July and the lack of wind and the sticky, humid air made it rather easy to hear what was going once the four suited and booted strangers finally found the hiding, prune faced man.

"Unlucky Henderson, seems you've been found out," the tallest, suited man sneered at the dumpy prune who was now physically cowering behind the car.

"No, this wasn't supposed to happen. I-I didn't do anything wrong. You have to believe me!"

Okay, this wasn't good. The poor stump of a man almost seemed like his life depended on whether these men believed him or not.

The taller man only sneered more at the obvious discomfort him and his men were causing the poor stumpy,

smaller man.

"You see Henderson," the taller man smirked, "you were under strict orders from Mr. Masen, orders which you purposely disobeyed. No one in the right mind would, or should, ever disobey Mr. Masen. You know that right?"

"Yes I know that. And trust me, I-I didn't do it on purpose, I-I swear I didn't. Everything was under control-""No, it wasn't under control. You were trying to rat us out. We have proof, we have eyes and ears all over this city and we know for a fact that you were ratting us out. I would say next time, pick your allies more carefully, but, there isn't going to be a next time." The tall man laughed at his last statement and the other three men who had been spookily silent up until this point, joined in.

"What? No, guys, please. Don't do this, it doesn't have to be this way. Take me to Mr. Masen, I'll explain everything. I swear-"

"You think we're going to take you straight to the boss just because you want to explain yourself. Henderson, no one ever gets to go straight to the boss, you, of all people should know that also."

The prune man was blatantly shaking now, looking from one man to the other, silently pleading with his eyes.

I was confused, what in the world could have this small man so terrified? Surely whatever the prune man had done wasn't that bad, surely they were just trying to scare him. He must be over-reacting.

Obviously not.

Just as I was beginning to think that the short man was being melodramatic, he screamed, I managed to hear something about why there was never going to be a next time and about his wife and kids needing him, before the four well-turned-out, taller men grabbed him and dragged him over to the edge of the rooftop, holding him over the side.

Oh. My. God.

Before I could stop myself, I screamed and ran out of my car just as the men let their victim fall over the edge.I froze, staring at the four men as they turned to me. My eyes were almost bugging out of my head as the realization of what they had just done hit me. Oh crap, now I was in trouble.

"Hey lady, what are you doing here? What did you see?"

I couldn't speak as the spokesman of the group started walking towards me. I was actually starting to think that the other three were incapable of words; however, I didn't have too much time to think about that, as all four men were now making their way towards me.

What was I going to do?

They were getting closer to me and my ability to move had suddenly been forgotten or disappeared. I was completely unable to get out of there and away from them.

My time was up; they were going to do to me what they had done to the prune man. My life quite literally flashed before my eyes, I thought of my mom and my dad, of all my friends and memories that I had from college and funnily enough, of Mike. I closed my eyes and braced myself; waiting for what I'm sure would be the firm grasp of the four men and the air as it hit my face on the way to the pavement below.

However, it never came.

I took a deep breath and opened one eye only to see all four men stiffen as the sound of approaching sirens broke the silence and only then did I realize that people in the street below were screaming and calling for help. Maybe I was safe.

Letting out the shuddering breath I had been holding, I turned to run back to my car, but the firm grasp I had been anticipating grabbed me and spun me round.

The speaker of the group was the only one in front of me now, both hands grasping my upper arms and I found myself unable to look away from his deep brown, almost black eyes, despite how terrified I was.

"Listen woman, you ever tell anyone what you saw or heard here tonight and I will personally hunt you down, you understand me?"

His voice was rough and menacing, enough to scare the living daylights out of me, that was for sure.

All I managed to muster was a fierce nod of my head, too scared to speak.

"Demetri, damn man let's go! The cops are on their way!"

The others obviously can speak.

With that said, the tall man, now known as Demetri, forcefully let go of my arms -pushing me backwards- and stalked off towards their black SUV that was ready and waiting to drive off like a bat out of hell.

I still couldn't move. It felt as though I had been standing in the same spot for hours before my body finally gave up and I fell to the floor in a heap, sobbing.

Some day this was turning out to be!

I sobbed and sobbed until I was pretty sure I was never going to stop dry heaving.

After a while, I was vaguely aware of footsteps approaching me and unfamiliar voices growing louder, although I couldn't make them out, everything seemed so faint and far away. To be fair, I wasn't even trying to focus, I didn't want to. For now I would just curl up in to a ball and wallow.

"Miss?.. Miss? Can you hear me?"

I groaned and tried to sit up, which I quickly realized was a bad idea. It hurt, my whole body hurt and I had no idea why. I couldn't remember much. I couldn't remember anything.

Oh.

Yes I could... Mike cheating, me breaking up with Mike, Mike trying to stop me and crying, me crying in my car...The prune man, the suited men...

Oh god, the threat, the prune man being thrown over the edge and then...nothing.

"Miss Swan? Can you open your eyes for me?"

I tried to blink, I wanted to open my eyes, and I wanted to know where I was and who was talking to me. I also wanted to know what that annoying bloody bleeping noise was.

Slowly I managed to blink a few times and was blinded by the bright lights directly above me. Ergh, seriously? I just wanted the dark, I wanted to welcome the dark, and I was tired and mentally done, why couldn't everyone just leave me alone?

"That's it Miss Swan, can you see me now?"

I focused on the man standing over me, he was so white. Like an angel.

"Am I dead?" I croaked out, shocked by how hoarse my voice sounded.

"No Miss Swan," the man chuckled, "you're in hospital, I'm Doctor Daniels."

I finally opened my eyes fully and took in the man beside me, the whiteness had been his lab coat and hair, he was no angel, just a doctor and the bleeping was a heart monitor.

Damn.

"What happened, why am I here?" I managed to whisper. My throat hurt like hell, making it hard and sore to speak.

"We were hoping you could tell us, Miss Swan. Some officers found you at the scene of a crime, curled in a ball, crying and heaving. When they tried to pick you up, you fainted and then went in to shock. Your vital signs are fine and everything is working normally, we were just worried about what got you in to such a state... You don't have to tell me this, there are officers waiting outside to talk to you when you are ready. Just make sure you take it easy and don't put yourself through too much stress or get worked up about anything. Stay as calm as possible and don't put any strain on that head or heart of yours, I only want to be seeing you next to give you the go ahead to go home, not any sooner."

I smiled at the older man as he helped me into a sitting position and handed me a glass of water.

"You have the IV to give you vital fluids, but water is a nice soother for your throat which I'm sure you'll be grateful for. The IV will inevitably save your life but there is nothing better than the feel of water on a dry and coarse throat, don't you think?"

My smile only grew wider as Doctor Daniels handed me the glass, I liked him.

"Um, Doctor? When will I be able to leave?"

"Well Miss Swan, that depends."

"Oh what?" I asked.

"On you," he answered back. "There are nurses' close by who will check on you and your vitals every hour, if you need them just press that button right there and that will let them know that you require their assistance. Now, as for being discharged, when I'm happy that you are healthy enough to return home, you can go." I blinked up at him, about to argue that I felt fine when he continued, effectively reading my mind. "You may think that you feel fine now but I can assure you that you need time to let your body adjust to the trauma it has experienced. Too much strain and stress and you will be back here before you know it and next time you may not be so lucky. So please, Miss swan, relax and trust all us doctors and nurses here to take care of you and assess your physical state."

His smile was infectious and as he spoke those words I knew there was no denying it, as much as I wanted to, there was no way I was mentally or physically ready to go home. My head and body hurt, I felt like I had been beaten to a pulp, my throat felt like I had swallowed a cheese grater and my mind, well, my mind was in shreds.

"Okay." Was all I could manage as I took a gulp of my water. I felt so thirsty and I was sure I was going to be calling a nurse in here pretty quickly to get me another glass.

"Please, Miss Swan, sip the water. I know it's a lot to ask as undoubtedly, you will feel really thirsty but it will work wonders for your throat if you take your time and sip the water. Think of your throat, and your bladder for that matter."With that I laughed, something about him was charming, I knew he was just a doctor and they probably get classes on how to charm patients, whilst they attend med school, but I still liked him.

"Now, Miss Swan, do you feel well enough for me to let these officers in? They want to ask you a few questions. They've been waiting for four hours." He sniggered to himself quietly.

"I don't know what to tell them, I mean, I don't really remember anything."

"Miss Swan, don't stress yourself out about this, please. Just tell them what you do know. That's all they can ask of you. Oh, and if you do feel like they are putting too much pressure on you, just press that button." He pointed to the red button beside my bed. "I'll be more than happy to escort them off my ward for putting strain on a fragile and recovering patient." He winked before flashing me that charming smile again.

I sighed. "Okay, let them in."

"Okay, take it easy and take care, Miss Swan."

"Thank you, Doctor." I croaked as he left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

Great, what was I going to say? I had been warned about telling the truth by the brute on the rooftop but could I really lie to the police? My dad was in the police force; Mike had been in the police force. Could I really go against everything I had had in my life and lie to the officers that were about to come in to the room?

Yes, was the answer...Yes I could lie to them because if I was to be truthful to myself, I was more shit scared of the men on the rooftop than I was of the whole Chicago Police Department.

"Come in." I grumbled as I heard a knock at the door.

"Miss Swan, Hi, I'm detective Evans and this is Deputy Jones. If you don't mind we would like to ask you a few questions about what happened earlier today regarding you and a dead man found on the ground below the building you were found on, who is believed to have jumped or been pushed."

So I told them, told them how I couldn't remember anything and that I didn't see anyone else on the roof top nor did I see the man being pushed. I only saw him jump, only saw him take his own life. I felt terrible, I had lied to the police, I had lied and that poor old man was dead. The only person that could bring the people that had killed him to justice, had lied. Lied because I was scared. Lied because I was selfish and lied because I valued my own life way too much and I should be ashamed of myself for it.

I was the lowest of the low and I knew it. So after the officers had left with no answers to their questions and being no further ahead in their investigation, I curled myself into a ball and cried myself into a restless sleep.

I had decided that I didn't want anyone to know that I was in hospital and luckily the doctors and nurses had all respected my wishes and not given any information or details to anyone who had asked. Apparently there had been a lot. I didn't know why, as the only people I would expect to want to know, if they found out -which I'm sure they hadn't- were my mom, dad and maybe Mike.

It was a little strange that a lot of people had inquired and asked for information about me. Maybe all the staff had been mistaken, that it was, in fact, someone else they were asking for. The wires had to have been crossed somewhere. I only had a few friends in Chicago and they didn't think it strange if I went a couple of weeks without contacting them.

My closest friend Angela, knew I was going to break up with Mike after I found out he had cheated so I had no doubt that she would have thought I had just gone away for a bit to clear my head and that she had nothing to worry about.

After two days in the hospital, Doctor Daniels finally dismissed me and I was able to return home. My car had been brought to the hospital and I had been given my handbag with all my belongings.

I sat in the car and turned my cell phone on for the first time in two days.

68 missed calls and 34 text messages, all from Mike. There was no way I was going to sit and read through all of them so I just decided to delete them all and give Angela a call, tell her I hadn't in fact, disappeared off the face of the earth.

"Hey Bells," she answered after the fourth ring.

"Hey Ang, how are you?"

"I think the question is, how you are Bella? How did everything go with Mike?"

I sighed. "Yeah, not good. I ended it, he cried, apologized and begged me to forgive him. I'm sorry I haven't been in touch for a couple of days, I had to clear my head, you know?"

"Yeah I get it," she answered back. "I'm sorry it had to end that way Bells, I really thought you guys were it for each other you know?" She sounded truly upset.

"Yeah I know Ang. Listen, I'm in the car right now, heading home. Give me a call sometime and we'll catch up okay? I need to know how your visit to Ben's parents went."

She giggled at that before answering me back.

"You got it, take care Bella... Bye."

"You too Ang, Bye.

So I hung up and started my drive home. Thank god for Angela and Ben, they were my sanity most of the time, the only people I could truly call my friends and it just so much happened that they were the kindest, most loving friends anyone could ask for.

I pulled up to my little town house at 10pm, just as the sun had set and walked inside. It felt strange, considering the last time I was in this house, my life had been perfect. I had had a loving boyfriend, just graduated from college with honors and hadn't witnessed a murder.

I walked in to the kitchen to make some coffee and froze in my tracks as I turned on the light. There were two dark, tall figures standing in the shadows and as I turned to run back towards the front door, I was hit over the head with something heavy... Everything went black.

A/N ~ See?... No major changes.

The next chapter is coming right up :o)

For those who have already read this story up to chapter 30, be patient... I have to become familiar with this story again in order to write more... This is my way of doing it :o)

But hey, look on the bright side, I'm back in the game!