End of Innocence

by pappy73

They say what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. Being an Italian Godfather will not stop a Sicilian Principessa from killing me, it will only make her more determined. We fight hard and love harder that's just who we are, but when faced with the largest obstacle of our life, can we come out of it togther or will it tear us apart?

2. End of Innocence Chapter 1

Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. I do not own anything Twilight or related that is all Stephenie Meyer. I do however own the plot to End of Innocence.

A/N

Hello! This is my second go around with this fic. Mobward is still my favorite! This go around it will start off with a slow burn.

I hope everyone likes it and will take it easy on me. Like I said it's my first fanfic so it is a learning experience for me.

This story started going in a direction I didn't like. I had reviewers telling me that Edward was a cheating abuser. The abuser I could see, but the cheater I didn't understand. Oh well, like I said it started going down a path I didn't like. So, I changed it. Some of it is still the same, and some of it has been drastically changed.

Do not expect me to change it just because it is going in a direction you don't like. The mafia is a dirty business.

Some of the men in this story are cheaters, abusers, alcoholics, and yes, even murderers. If that is a trigger or if it's not your cup of tea, turn away now.

I would like to thank Tiffany Cullen for beta'ing and putting up with my poor use of comma's and grammar usage. Your a true sweetheart!

Without further ado…

End of Innocence

Chapter 1

~~BPOV~~

My eyes searched the room only to find a sheet of black surrounding me. The damp, musty smell that I awoke to was beginning to burn my nostrils making it drip with mucus. I had no idea how long I'd been here or how long they planned on keeping me which caused a panic to stir within me.

"Hello?" I cried out into the unknown.

No sound.

"Is anyone out there?"

Again, I listened and was greeted with nothing but the sound of the sobs I fought so hard to control.

My stomach grumbled reminding me that it had been a while since I last ate. It felt like days had gone by. I yearned for some homemade Italian pizza. It was the last thing I had eaten at dinner before I was taken captive. The last I would ever eat of my father's cooking.

The tears came harder, which only made me more miserable. My bladder was urging me to relieve myself, and I had nowhere to go. That was the least of my worries, however. I had something more pressing.

Things like, where in the hell was I? Who had done this?

At the house, the one called Marcus didn't seem interested in anything but information on him. When he didn't get what he had come after, I was the one he had come for only after killing my parents in cold blood.

Why?

Never mind what they would do to me. What would they do to him? What were their motives?

How long would I be left alone?

There was a sound to my left, a door opening. I schooled my features, took my anguish and tucked those feelings away. I wouldn't show them any weaknesses.

A man with short, dark hair and menacing eyes entered the room throwing a scrap of lace at me.

"Get up, and put this on. The boss wants to see you," he told me brusquely.

"I'm not doing anything until you tell me why I'm here, you asshole!" I snapped. I was not going to cave into these maniacs. I was not going to show fear; if I did, then they could destroy what was left of me.

"No questions."

I didn't want to acquiesce to his orders, but I knew that playing along was the only way to live through this nightmare. I eyed the man, urging him to go away so I could undress in private.

"Hurry up." He urged, not giving an inch to my silent request.

I was shaking in fear, scared of what they had planned for me, but I'll be damned if they knew it. I didn't want to give them any reasons to touch me. I inspected the slinky garment. Fine, black silk nightie, soft to the touch with its delicate lace stitching.

My prison guard, with his height billowing over me, pinned me with an unforgiving glare. There was a glint in his eyes, something dark and mysterious. This man had deep secrets I wished to learn.

"Do you mind, I'm not changing in front of you."

He smirked, and to my surprise, turned and left.

I quickly shed my clothing, and slipped the lux lingerie over my head with seconds to spare. When he came back, he was holding up an expensive, dark leather collar.

"What the hell, do I look like a damn dog? You're not putting that on me, I can walk on my own just fine," I yelled.

"Boss orders, I follow instruction. You will wear collar. Now, put it on. " He spoke broken English, and it was difficult to understand over his accent.

These people are out of their damn minds.

I grudgingly placed the collar around my neck, hating everything it could represent.

Once in place, he tugged me along out into the hall and up some stairs to an office with two large, solid, black doors. He knocked, and a resounding "Come" made me turn my head to look up at my guard.

My rope handler jerked harshly, and I nearly tripped through the doorway, trailing after him.

He threw a look of disgust over his shoulder and I snapped back, "What? It was your own damn fault."

A chuckling further in the room stole my attention, and I came face to face with the man of my nightmares.

"So, Isabella, we meet again."

The sound of my name rolling off his accented tongue made me feel dirty and cheap.

"I must say you have blossomed into an exceptionally, beautiful young woman. Tell me young Miss Swan, did your father have time to train you to be a mafiosi wife, just as worthless as your mother was, before he met his untimely demise?"

Sarcasm dripped from his words, and I was dumb founded. This was my kidnapper and my parent's murderer? I stared at the traitor, Caius Buscetta, underboss to my father for nine long, grueling years.

This underling carried himself in an audacious, domineering manner. That tempted women, who feared and wanted him all in one breath. His jet black hair was slightly curled all over barely brushing his shoulders, and his hard, dark blue stare commanded those around him to bend to his every will. He knew his assets, and relished in it. Women, like my whore mother, easily fell in to his tangled web of lust and deceit. Behind the pretty picture he presented, lay a man who was ruthless and cunning.

He'd do anything to get what he wanted, even slaughtering the man who gave him everything; my father. Like betraying him with his wife wasn't enough.

Renee' found it amusing that I was aware of her affairs. When my father was out of town on business, Caius made it a point to visit after twilight; they were none to quiet about it either. Many acted completely oblivious to their escapades, while I confronted them on more than one occasion. I made empty threats about revealing their sins, but it would have devastated Charlie.

My father was Charles Provenzano Swan, the notorious Godfather of Organized Crime in Corleone, Italy.

When I turned 13, my father began grooming me to take my rightful place in the Borgata of the Sicilian Mafiosa. This was highly unorthodox considering women were not in the mafia, but according to Charlie I was the principessa to the Sicilian Mafiosa, like it or not. I didn't want the title and fought hard against him until I couldn't fight anymore.

My mother, Renee' Manzilla-Swan, was a typical mafia wife. She didn't hear anything, see anything, and therefore she couldn't say anything. She spent her days shopping and her nights drinking, except for when Caius or the other men she entertained demanded her time.

I wanted to spit on this man before me for his heinous crimes.

Thou shalt not lust after another man's wife.

Caius seemed to understand that I had no intention of answering his question, and he turned to speak with the man who brought me before him.

"Don't you think she's very beautiful, Demetri? She would be the perfect trophy to show off as my prize, no?" he said appraising me.

Demetri gave me a once over, "To plain for you, Boss,"

"Hmm, yes, but I can see the appeal. You're beauty is understated by your fair unblemished features," Caius said while twirling a sharp, silver letter opener between his fingers.

I still hadn't responded as I felt a harsh tug on the rope tied to my collar that almost sent me to my knees. I shot the behemoth a death glare.

"Watch it testa di cazzo."

"Thank the boss for his compliments." He sneered.

"I will when I want to, dickhead."

"Easy Demetri," Caius interrupted.

"Oh, they were right about you. You are feisty. I like my women to put up a fight."

I gave him a challenging look before asking him what I had been dying to know.

"Why did you do it? Was it for the power, because you're a miserable bastard if you're hoping to rule the mafiosi?"

His eyes flashed with a warning, and he cocked his head to the side not saying anything. His jaw clenched tightly, and his eyes narrowed. I was beginning to feel uncomfortable under his steely gaze as I witnessed his eyes visibly transition from the sky blue they were to a stormy night grey.

I pushed a button that set him off, he was pissed now.

"Shouldn't you be more concerned about what's going to happen to you?"

I was not about to let him know that I was terrified. All my life I had to be strong. Charlie always said to look a person in the eye. Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world right in the eye but remember to not show my fear. Do not exhibit fear; fear was a weakness.

"This is the way I see it Miss Swan; your father's time was up as our Godfather. He was growing soft, weak. He also had pertinent information that I needed, but he refused to cooperate. He made his grave and had to lie in it."

A rich laughter bubbled from his belly, but it wasn't out of joy.

"You will not get away with killing my father Caius. Every Mafiosi Boss around will come looking for you once word of what you have done and that I've gone missing is out,"

"See that's where my genius plan comes in. I'm listing you at auction to smuggle you out of the country. After that, you'll be untraceable, and my hands will be cleaned. Anymore questions I can answer for you principessa?"

He was selling me? Like a sex slave?

"What the fuck do you mean sell me, I'm not fucking cattle?"

A giant hand flew out of nowhere and backhanded me. I could taste the copper of blood spilling from my mouth; my face swelling from the second impact it'd received in a matter of hours.

"Well now, surely the men are not going to be happy about that one." He said dryly, watching my blood mare his premium carpet.

"Miss Swan, do you know who I really am?" he asked, cocking his head to the side trying to contain his amusement at the same time.

"Yes, you're a sick, twisted bastard who likes to play games with people's lives. Someone that's going to meet his untimely demise when he gets caught," I implied, standing tall and fearless.

"Demetri, be a good man, and correct Miss Swan of her ignorance." He said, waving his hand at Demetri as though to be dismissed.

I heard fingers crackling, and the minion did his master's bidding.

"He is the grandson of the late Calogero Vizzini the Boss of Bosses in Sicily," Demetri relayed robotically.

My breath hitched and I started hyperventilating before everything faded into darkness. My only thought as my heart raced, it can't be.

When I came to, I was imprisoned back in that tiny room before I was taken to Caius. Remnants of the conversation in the office trickled back into my memory, and I digested all that I had learned.

I had been kidnapped by Caius Buscetta, my father's most trusted right hand, to be auctioned, sold, and shipped off out of this country. Another mafia war lurked, waiting for something to set it off, and my disappearance would begin the domino effect.

Calo Vizzini was known as the Godfather of Sicily, Italy prior to my father's reign. He ruled the La Cosa Nostra and brought it together as we know it today. He maintained peace throughout not only Italy, but it extended in America as well. After his death, Charlie took his place as the next Godfather, igniting malicious hatred within Caius.

Just then the door opened, and I was greeted with another visitor. The steady staccato of designer heels clipping on the hard wood floor beneath me, captured my notice. A beautiful woman wearing the six inch killers stood over me.

Her grey pencil skirt wrapped around her firm figure, a crisp white blouse barely containing her abundant chest; a sable mane arranged in an elegant up style.

"Good, you're up. Your showing starts in thirty minutes so I have little time to get you presentable. Come." She demanded.

She was void of emotion, and I sensed that she may be a force to reckon with. I followed her to another small room that had a shower and a small vanity set up in the corner.

"Strip, bathe, and use this when you're done. Don't give me trouble, or I won't hesitate to call on Demetri," she said pointing to the lotion.

Before she was out the door, she uttered one more order, "You'll be wearing these," motioning to a pile lying on the vanity stool.

Not wanting to go round three with Demetri, I obeyed. When she came back into the room, she grabbed a brush, yanked roughly, untangling any knots before she French braided it. She didn't bother with much make-up, citing that her Boss wanted me resembling a fresh, virgin sacrifice. She did however apply a light coat of mascara and a swipe of lip gloss across my plump lips. They were slightly engorged from the constant abuse I dished out; I was continuously nibbling on my bottom lip.

When she deemed me appropriate, she told me my time was up.

Off to the auction block I go.

I was terrified.

Demetri returned, placing my collar and rope back on before he shoved me out the door. He was closer to me as we walked, like he was hanging back with purpose.

My rope was completely slack when I caught up with him. We stood side by side, though it was only momentarily, just long enough to whisper in my ear, confusing me further.

"I know you have no reason to, but trust me. Keep your head down, and don't utter a word."

I was ushered into a large, opened den, and told to stand in the middle of it. Only a bra and thong set, the shade of warm amethyst, concealed my attributes. I felt a cool breeze skate across my skin; my nipples perked and were visible under the flimsy material of the bra. I knew it wasn't only the cold in the room that had me slightly trembling, however.

The curtains that blocked me from view on all sides slid open, revealing a score of men crowding the large meeting room, hopeful of purchasing someone tonight. I would be bought and used in under an hour. The thought had bile rising up my throat.

Three other girls were brought into the room with me. Each looked younger than I, and of different nationalities. When they came to stand beside me, they all clasped hands. The one standing beside me grabbed mine, and blessed me with her last, willing smile while she was still free, before blinking back new tears.

We were all in the same boat together, more than likely taken for the same exact reason. I squeezed her hand trying to reassure her, to give her some of my strength.

The dark haired woman in charge of our preparations came in again to appraise the goods; rating us and setting a number on our stomachs. The girl beside me bore the number two, while I was marked with a one on me. I couldn't figure out why I had a one, and all the others had a three, five, or a two written on them.

"Gentleman, welcome. As you can see, we have four lovely young women this week, all ranging from ages 15-22. Regretfully, only one of them still holds a virtuous status. "

One?

A jovial groan of disappointment fluttered about the crowd, before they settled back down and got right to business. She explained the rules; items on sell were rated one to five. One being of greatest collectability, to a girl labeled with a five for being worn and torn; used. The highest bidder won.

"Let's begin. First, is Luli, a fifteen-year old just off a boat from China. She is healthy, but not intact. She is well versed in house cleaning, cooking, submission, and has been taught how to deep throat. She can also take a full beating without as much as a whimper, Gentleman. Silence can be golden. As you can see she has been rated a 4. Let the bidding begin on Luli."

A few men were interested, and a bidding war began, all the while I kept thinking this couldn't be happening.

"SOLD to Bidder # 0054, you may collect your purchase after payment has been arranged."

"Next, we present Dasha, a fair skinned, eighteen-year-old hailing from Russia. She is healthy, but also not intact. She has been taught how to cook, clean, keep house and she also submits. She was brought in by her old master so she is well versed in all things of sexual pleasures; caning, beatings, whippings, clamps, anal play, and needle pleasure was used on this slave. Dasha is listed as a five. Do I hear one hundred thousand dollars?

These poor, hopeless girls. These perverted grown animals, how can they call themselves men? Fucking children? Some of the things they had been subjected to were frightening. I didn't even understand everything that had been described.

Caning?

Clamps?

I knew how to clean, and cook, and do laundry, but I had only ever been with Edward one time, as far as anyone else knew I was still a virgin. I had never even heard of the things she was reading off. I spared a thought for the young girl beside me wondering of her fate.

"SOLD to Bidder #0055, enjoy sir."

Time's up, It was my turn and I felt the onset of a panic attack. I fidgeted in place unable to do anything. I was good and truly trapped. I wasn't able to fight and stop this from happening. I would be sold, and a room full of deviants ensured that if I put up a fight, I wouldn't go unpunished. I felt the echo of pain in my cheek from earlier, reminded of Demetri's slaps…and advice.

"Trust me…keep your head down."

I doubted I'd ever fully trust again, but I'd heed his words, but only because I didn't have the ability to wrangle in my fear and keep them from seeing just how truly scared I was. I was mouthy earlier with my bravado. Now I had nothing left.

I held my breath, unable to completely block what was going on around me. Every second that ticked by, taunting me; my freedom nearly sold to the one who'd pay the most to rape and abuse me.

"Our next item is definitely something special. Isabella, brought in from Arizona, is healthy and quite a gem gentleman. She is our one and only intact. She is proficient in cooking, cleaning, and keeping house. Her sexual skills are extremely limited, but do not let that keep you away. She is someone who can be trained to your specification without needing to waste time breaking bad habits. As our only number one this evening, we will start the bidding at five hundred thousand dollars."

The bidding went by in a blur; I couldn't focus on who was bidding. The amount of money that was being tossed around was unbelievable, and it only kept growing.

"2.5 million!"

The lady conducting the auction almost faltered, staggered by the amount herself. I went completely numb.

"Going once." She called out, pausing briefly, waiting with anticipated breath to see if anyone would raise the bid higher.

"Going twice?"

I kept my head down the entire time, my body vibrating as I stood alone, dead center of the room. All eyes on me, more men contemplating the pros and cons of out bidding Mr. 2.5 Million.

No one else came forth.

"Sold! To bidder #0050. Congratulations on your prize."

I felt someone jerk my arm and pull me backwards, telling me to stay until the last girl of the night was finished.

"Our last one of the day gentleman is Alla. This small one is sixteen years old, brought in from the Ukraine. She is healthy and is not intact. She had a young owner so she is not thoroughly broke in. She has been taught how to cook, clean, and service on demand. She is rated at two. Let the bidding begin, gentleman, on our last slave."

I watched Alla shake so badly that I could see her knees visibly quiver. She was wringing her poor little hands together so tight that they were turning purple. Finally, after what seemed like forever we heard "SOLD, again to Bidder #0050. Congratulations on your two slaves' today."

"Gentleman that concludes this week's auction, thank you for attending. Those of you that have purchases, please collect them now."

All hints of pleasantries aside. She meant business.

Alla and I were herded off to the side, together. I wrapped my arms around her trying to protect her, as though it were my job to. The pull and protectiveness I had over her was something I had never felt before being an only child, maybe it was she was still young. Being, sixteen she was still a baby in my eyes, yet she had done and seen more than I, the adult.

My heart broke for her and me.

Would I ever see her again?

Alla began to cry silently into my shoulder, and as I tried to shush her as a large, towering man approached us. It was the first time I lifted my head since entering the bidding room. This man wore his hair in short curls that teased his neck line, and he had clear baby blue eyes that drew me in.

This was our new master.

He had to have stood well over six feet, and he wouldn't take his eyes off his newest purchase. He looked down at me with his steely blue eyes; I knew I couldn't hold back the tears any longer. He grabbed a hold of my arm roughly dragging me out with Alla in tow. We got to the exit of the building as he stopped us, looking around.

"Look, I'm not that bad of a guy, well I am, but it depends on who you ask," he said chuckling.

I looked up at him and could see the dimples in his cheeks. He seemed boyish, and his words weren't unkind. I so badly wanted to be able to trust that maybe, just maybe life wouldn't turn out as badly as it seemed.

"But listen okay, my boss is a hard man, don't piss him off, don't look him in the eyes, and whatever you do don't talk back to him. Got it?" he said talking quickly.

He was giving us a warning, telling us how to act, for our safety.

Regardless, it was Alla and I now. We didn't have anyone else. I had to trust him, and hope that it wouldn't bite me in the ass one day. He was all I had left. He was the only one left to show me any true kindness. I was confused, but my instinct was something that had saved my ass in the past. My instinct was saying to trust this man.

I had no other choice. I nodded in understanding, but in truth I was terrified of what was to come.

"My name is Emmett by the way."

"Why are you telling us all this Emmett?" I asked him quietly.

It was his turn to look at me stunned and shocked, why I had no idea.

"Because what Caius did was wrong, but don't you worry. Boss will make it right," he told me with a menacing smile.

"Besides that, he has his own reasons. Here's our car, head down Principessa."

I opened my mouth just to close it again, speechless. Why would someone pay a lot of money for me?

How did he know I was a principessa?

"Okay here we go, sorry if I get to rough ladies, just doing my job. Alla, you have to sit closer to the front, the Boss wants to talk to the principessa," Emmett told us.

A sleek, black limo pulled up, and he opened the back door shoving me in first, and then told Alla to scoot all the way to the front. He slammed the door afterward, jumping in the front passenger seat. I looked around coming face to face with my new owner, and was I hypnotized.

Familiar soft, green eyes staring at me as though I were an angel from heaven. His hair was its same crazy disarray of a liquid copper, and he had the sharpest jaw line I had ever seen on another person before. His features were chiseled and hard.

He was gorgeous.

Before I could continue to analyze him further, he was barking out at me.

"Did I give you permission to look at me Isabella?"

I averted my eyes quickly to my lap. Then I remembered what Emmett had told me, "Do not look him in the eyes."

He pushed a small button on the center console which held a small phone, and similar buttons.

"Yes sir?"

"Put the young girl in with James. I have some business to discuss with Miss Swan." I could feel his glare from across the seat as I remained submissive and kept my head down.

As soon as Alla had exited the car, Edward wasted no time.

"Come," he told me after raising the divider up." I sat with my arms crossed, staring at this virtual stranger wondering what he wanted.

"I'm not going to hurt you. If I were, I wouldn't have just spent $2.5 million dollars in getting you out of the trouble you were in." He huffed out, lifting and running a hand through his unruly, bronzed hair.

"We need to talk and I don't know who to trust especially, after what happened to you and your parents. Now, can you please come over here?" He patted the seat next to him with the saddest look on his face.

I moved over, sitting next to him feeling uneasy and guilty. Guilty, because this was the same Edward that I had played with and grown close to as a child. Now, I didn't know if I could trust him or not. He had abandoned me ten years ago without as much as a goodbye.

He leaned over and started whispering in my ear. The feelings it elicited were not what I had expected.

"We both know who killed your parents and why, but if he finds out that I was the one to have bought you, he will probably come after you again. There are a lot of things you need to know, Izzy, and when we get back to my estate I promise I will fill you in on everything. For now, we have to make it look as though you were bought to be a sex slave. If anyone is watching or listening that works for him, and they suspect any different, there is no telling what could happen," he explained, pulling back looking me in the eyes. I stared at him willing my brain to start functioning again. Once it did, I nodded in understanding at what I thought I understood.

"Boss, we still have the meeting at Circoni's?" I heard Emmett's voice come over the speaker from up front.

"Yes, I have to set up the next shipment of coke. Let me know if Newt is on the corner, we'll know if the supplier has shown."

"Yes sir."

Edward turned back to me and sighed.

"Look, I have to meet with this supplier, but I need you to come in with me, Izzy. Like I said, if anyone working with or under Caius and Marcus finds out that you were not bought as a pleasure slave the consequences could be deadly. Just know what I say and do, I would never do it intentionally. We have to make this look convincing. I will explain everything I swear. Stay by my side, do exactly as I say and this should go down smoothly. Okay?" He asked still staring.

By the time the car was coming to a full stop I had started to tremble. I didn't know what to accept, but I sure as hell didn't want to end up in a body bag either.

"Hey, it's going to be alright, I told you I won't let anything happen to you." Edward told me before we stepped out.

The sun had started to set, making the day turn cooler. For New York that wasn't unusual I guess. If we were still back in Italy, it would still be in the mid eighties.

I felt Edward wrap his arm around my waist pulling me into him giving me a small, reassuring smile. He bent, whispering in my ear, "For what it's worth, I've missed you more than you can possibly imagine."

I smiled, downing my head. I just wanted to get this over with and find out what the hell was going on.

Walking into Circoni's was like walking into a little mom and pop restaurant back in Italy my father and I use to go to every Sunday when I was younger. The smell of fresh oregano, basil, and pesto brought tears to my eyes reminding me of the last Sunday we had spent together.

Flashback

"Ah, little Isabella isn't so little anymore hey, Charlie. Any day now, she's a gonna have a young man asking for her hand. You see, I'ma telling you. She's a beautiful girl." The older lady of the small Italian restaurant teased my father. He frowned shaking his head causing the old lady to laugh a hearty laugh, and my father glanced at me and winked.

"You are a beauty, Isabella, but you're my beauty," he told me.

That memory will stay with me forever, because it wasn't long afterward that Charlie changed. Something happened causing my father to start traveling more and staying in the states. That's also when my mother changed.

"Isabella, I need you to pay attention sweetheart. We've just been given the clear sign and we're approaching the supplier. Take a deep breath because here we go." Edward warned as we were taken back by the hostess and seated with one of the last men I thought I would never see again.

"Mr. Masen, it's good to see you again. I took the privilege in ordering a round of Mezzaluna. I hope you don't mind. I do love a smooth Vodka," the man commented, raising and tipping his glass forward as to a toast, before taking a large gulp.

"Harry, I came here to conduct business nothing more. If you don't wish to do so, I'll take my business elsewhere." Edward was a straightforward, no bullshit business man. I could see that just by his body language alone.

I had learned a lot in my years, but we'll get to that later.

"Straight to the point, I like that in a business man." He snapped his fingers and a waiter closed the doors behind us. I noticed Edward didn't take his eyes off of Harry Carell for one moment, nor did Emmett or the tall blonde headed guy.

Harry Carell is a mix between a hispanic and native american who was tenacious enough to stay away from the gang life. He and my father fell into the business of coke and heroin trafficking a little more than thirty-five years ago. They had met at a bar that serviced to men in the "industry" after one of my fathers shipments had been intercepted by the feds. Harry had offered up his coke to save Charlie the headache of not having the shipments ready in time. The jagged scar running across his face from cheek bone to cheek bone caused my father to pause and be leery of him, but Harry being the good-natured man that he is, brushed it off and continued talking business with my father. He offered him a deal that my father said he couldn't refuse. Charlie told Harry that if he screwed him over he would be walking with more than a limp, he wouldn't be walking at all. When Harry reassured my father on each shipment it was in and on time Edward became more at ease. So things had been made abundantly clear, Harry is loyal and trustworthy once he gets to know and trust you.

"Thirty keys, shipped in from Honduras for...two mil," Harry told Edward and it looked like Edward was going to take it. I had to stop Edward. Harry was ripping Edward off by over $1.2 million. If I didn't say something now and he actually took the deal, I would feel guilty later on.

"O...," Edward started until I sat there looking at Harry and gave him the signature Swan smirk. Harry knew that he had been made.

Harry started to sweat and shift in his seat. A clear sign of uneasiness.

"Now Harry, you and I both know you can do better than that, don't we?" I asked sitting up, throwing my shoulders back, and putting on that mask as my father had shown me.

"Isabella, it's so good to see you again. I was so very sorry to hear what happened to your parents." I could hear the trembling in his voice as he spoke and so could Edward.

Edward turned, looking at me with a quizzical stare on his face and letting his mask drop for a minute second before throwing it back in place.

"Yes well, as Charlie always said, shit fucking happens. Now, let's see what kind of deal you're going to give my fiance shall we?" I asked looking over at Edward who had a shit eating grin on his face.

"Yes, as I was saying Mr. Masen, I can get you forty-five keys from Honduras, the purest, whitest shit you've ever seen. It's been going for $500,000 a key here in the states, I can get it for you for say...a hundred a key. Does that sound fair to you Miss Isabella?" Harry asked wiping his forehead with his blue striped handkerchief.

Edward looked over at with a raised eyebrow as though to say, "well does it," and I didn't know if he was angry with me or not. I continued with my mask turning back to Harry.

"Good man Harry, but if you try screwing my fiance over in the future, I won't be so forgiving. Three days, we'll be in touch. Lunch is on us," I finished getting up and walking out with Edward on my arm.

Once we were back into the limo, I thought it best to apologize.

"I am so sorry Edward. I didn't mean to step on your toes. I've dealt with Harry Carell before," I started but was interrupted by Edward crashing his mouth to mine.

At first, I was stunned and didn't respond until I felt his tongue running along my bottom lip. I quickly snapped out of the daze I was in granting him entrance. Hearing his moan, and tasting him after all of these years sent me to places I never knew existed. I inched my hands up into the back of his uncontrollable, coppery, mane and circled my fingers in the curls giving a slight tug earning a growl from deep within his chest.

Dear Santa, Easter Bunny, and Tooth Fairy, please let me keep him. I'll feed him, wash him, and stroke him all of the time. Just let me keep him. Sincerely, Isabella

I broke away with the need to breathe just staring at him, wondering what he was thinking.

"I'm sorry, but that...what exactly was that back there?" He asked in wonderment.

I shook my head, looking out the window at the restaurant where we had just come. It had all come from an instinct that my father had taught me, but how the hell do I tell Edward that. I turned back to him putting my mask back in place.

"No, I get answers first."

"Fine, Emmett, let's head to the estate, Edward called over the intercom never looking back at me.

Finally, I was going to get some much needed answers.

A/N

I know it's different, but I hope the change was a positive one. Let me know what you think of the change!

~~*Pappy*~~End of Innocence