Chapter Two

New Design

E.P.O.V.

"Look, I promise I will get the money, if you can just wait…A week-"

Emmett cut of the balding man's sentence, "That's what you said the last time." He walks with a handgun in hand towards the man on his knees in the middle of a room he should be quite familiar with now, both head and nose bleeding with the beating from the but of my gun, "Look Dave, I don't want to do this, but you left us no choice."

"But I can get the money!" He screams in terror.

He knees down to his level, pulling what hair he does have and force his head in my direction, I clear my throat, "Sorry, but the luxury of time was forfeited when you decided to skip town."

"I wasn't trying to leave town! It's my mother, she's dying!"

"Well maybe you should have given us the money before you decided you wanted to join her." Emmett spoke into his ear, just louder then a whisper.

David seems too paralyzed with fear to cry, all three of us knowing the destiny of this man, "Please, please! You don't need to do this!"

Before David or Emmett could speak, I lift my rifle and pointed it at the sobbing man, "Say hello to Michael Jackson for me would you?" I shot three rounds into his chest, blood splatters landing on both Emmett's and my suit, a drop falling on my cheek.

Emmett looked at me, infuriated, "What the fuck man! I could have moved!"

I whip my cheek with the back of my hand, the weight of another death falls on my chest as I add to the body count. Keeping a completely cool exterior I face Emmett, "Well he wouldn't shut up. You may get off hearing them plead, but I find it deafening."

The sick masochistic bastard grins, pushing himself up to his standing pose as he flexes his chest, "You're paying for the dry cleaning dumbass."

I roll my eyes, leaving the room and walking down the corridor to the abandoned building Carlisle owns, "You're getting paid more then me, pay for your own fucking dry cleaning."

He snorts, "Please, stop whining, you're richer then the both of us and don't deny it. At least I'm not both Carlisle and Aro's favorite."

"Anyone can be their favorite as long as you're smart enough to shut up, do as they ask, and not ask questions." I explain dimly.

I prefer to work with Jasper when I'm on shift with the Volturi. Emmett is the shallowest guy I know with the astounding ability to spot and comment on the obvious. While people like myself keep their thoughts to themselves, as soon as Emmett thinks something it's a crystal clear, HD image. Nothing he thinks he doesn't say aloud. Which would be the reason why he's dating Carlisle's obnoxious daughter and got into this business. They are perfect for each other, both sociopaths, obsessed with their image and no morals to boot.

At least with Jasper I get piece and quite.

"So I hear that the Swan guy died."

"You know I never took you for a gossiper." I state bluntly.

"Seriously, do you realize what this means?"

"Am I supposed to?"

"It means that someone i.e. his only daughter is going to have to make up the hours."

I roll my eyes, "And this matters how?"

"I hear she's hot."

"Wait, so what happened to Rosalie?"

He rolls his eyes at me, "I swear you're gay." I grit my teeth, trying really hard not to add to the body count already over my head, "Anyway, so the girl's supposed to be a doctor or something. Rosalie told me that someone from Carlisle's underdogs is gonna be reaping her in."

I keep my breath stable and my footsteps in pattern, "And you think it's you."

Emmett snorts, "No, I think it's you."

I stop in the middle of the staircase and turn to him, "Why the hell do you think that?"

He shrugs, "Rosalie has connections considering daddy's the chiefs second in command. Apparently they will be asking you in tomorrow."

I grit my teeth, continuing to descend down the stairs. I get my iPhone out and text 'Ready for cleaning' to one of the many 'cleaners' on Aro's payroll. Putting it back in my pocket and pushing open the doors, I walk straight to the car, pulling my blood stripped jacket off and looking into the mirror of my Volvo XC60 to make sure that I have successfully relinquish all traces of my dirty deed up in apartment 3b. Praising the fact that there is no stains on my white dress shirt, even though I always come prepared with a second outfit in the boot in case of an 'accident'.

"See you kid." Emmett says from his Jeep.

"Wait, what's the name of Swan's girl?" I ask coyly.

"You'll be baby sitting Isabella Swan, try not to be a prude." He winks, disappearing into his car and drives off.

I lean against the outside of the Volvo, my other hand pinching the bridge of my nose. For fuck sack, why am I the one to baby sit some fucking pampered kid? Her father was a dirty cop back in Washington, and now his daughter is a fucking doctor! The irony in that is so rich.

Getting into the car, I slam the door shut, speeding into Chicago city at lighting speed to get back to my apartment. Just to shut myself out from the world and wash the blood off my already soiled hands. Pulling up in the underground parking lot, I grab my jacket and brief case and catch the elevator up to my pent house apartment on the top floor.

Being the only apartment on the floor, I unlock the door and through my keys on the side table beside the entrance and my brief case beside it, making sure to bolt the door shut before stripping off my shirt and unbuckling my pants as I make my way to the bathroom. Throwing my shirt, trousers, briefs and jacket on the ground beside the basin, I lean against the wash tower, turning on the faucet and rinsing the sweat off my face as I look with disgust in the mirror.

I knew there was no turning back when I made the deal with the devil. I look back at myself now and laugh, the pitiful poor law school student who only cared about a bank account and security, his soul never seemed to come into the equation when he first contemplated the idea of being employed by one of the most dangerous, feared, and respected mobs in the world.

Each threat, each beat up, each murderer I've represented, each kill is just more blood on my hands, now, after eight years of being in the game, the blood seems more like rain. It's not something that just stops, and cannot ever be controlled. I don't even feel the remorse anymore, only a small tug on the inside that adds to the weight of the body count.

Jumping into the shower, I scrub myself with a loafer and body soap. No matter how hard I try, how much soap I use, how hard I scrub, I never feel clean. Most likely because I never will be. Running shampoo through my hair, my mind goes back to the girl I'm supposed to teach. I already have a full time job at Baker and McKenzie, the best law firm in all of the Midwest. How am I supposed to keep my eye out on a doctor when I'm an attorney? Why isn't Jasper teaching her like the rest?

Finishing my shower and turning off the water I hear 'Renegade' being played as my phone start to ring. Quickly grabbing a towel I giving my hair a few tugs before answering, "Edward Masen."

"Ah, Edward, how are you my boy?"

My blood runs cold as the voice of my unofficial boss is calling me up. It isn't the first time, but it is indefinitely rare, "Yes, fine, yourself?"

"Well, very well. Now Edward, I have business I need attended and I believe you are the person for it. I shall need to meet with you now if possible."

'If possible' is only the feeling Aro likes to give to his workers to make them feel like they have a choice, if inconvenient, you'd better make it convenient, "Yes, of course. Where?"

"Actually, I'm in your apartment as we speak."

I stiffen, how the hell did he get in when I locked it from the inside? "I will be right out."

Hanging up, I dry myself hastily. Opening the door I go straight into my room, I rush to the closet and pull on a pair of briefs, black slacks, and a white blouse, not worrying about the state of my hair or how it was dripping on my now transparent shirt, but worrying about keeping my guest waiting. Almost slamming my bedroom door open, I walk calmly down the hall, keeping my cool as I walk into my living room where Aro Volteera sat in my leather one seated couch facing the hall. His manner calm, body professional, and eyes like a shark ready to attack his pray, disguise with a chilling smile.

He stands and pats me on the shoulder as a friendly gesture, shaking my hand, his other hand over my own, "Edward my boy, it's been so long since I've seen you."

"Yes, and I you," I say with a business tone of voice, "So what is the reason for a personal visit Aro? Hard to believe you've missed me that much."

He chuckles, sitting back down and invites me to occupy my seat parallel to him, "As briefly said on the phone Edward, I have business I would like to have you attend to, and you alone."

I nod, not gain to mention my prior knowledge of what he intends to tell me for the first time, "As you know, our relations and the chief of police over in Washington is no longer with us. Well he hasn't yet to fulfill his mandatory sentence for the damage he had caused when he first left the academy. His only daughter, Isabella Swan, is to fulfill the rest of his sentence."

"Does she know this?" I ask.

"No, of course not. She's currently residing in Evanston as a general practitioner. I think that her doctoring skills will benefit greatly with business, and it is mandatory that she becomes one of us."

"And how does this affect me?" I ask with fake innocence.

"She will need to be conquered first most, and then needs to be taught her place."

"Why isn't Jasper the one doing this? He's been teaching new comers since the second year he's been with us." I voice my confusion.

He chuckles, "My dear boy, Isabella is a special one. You see, she's a surgeon, and I want her to only work her magic on the people I see fit. I need a doctor I can trust thoroughly on to mend the most confidential patients."

"I'm still failing to see where I come in."

"Edward, you are a beautiful, charming young man, she is a stunning and engaging young woman. I need her trust, and I need her devoted. I also need her to be with you at every moment of the day until I know she will not try to escape her duties."

My minds black, "Wait a moment, you're saying you want me to romance her?"

"A way to pure devotion is through the heart Edward."

My blood boils, but I refuse to show and sign, "And what? She comes to work with me in the firm?"

He nods, "I've made arrangements, you now have a new paralegal."

"But she has been educated in law what so ever, she's a doctor!" I can't pull this off.

"Edward, calm yourself. She will be your legal assistant, she will be following in your footsteps, handing you papers in the courthouse, and fetching you coffee from the kitchen. Whatever you have her do is entirely up to you, but as long as it is only you who's doing it." He ends with a firm note.

I grit my teeth, "So the reason you chose me for this is because I'm unattached."

"Not just that Edward, but I also believe you are one of my most trusted associate. I see potential in this plan Edward, and I want you to put one hundred and ten percent into making this plan go as ordered. Do you understand?"

"Crystal clear." I reply.

Aro smirks, obviously finding something amusing, "Good. I have Emmett fetching the girl as we speak, and she will be brought up to this apartment in a matter of minutes."

I stood from my chair without thinking, "You already have her? She's staying here?"

"I've spoken to the girl, she knows and she also knows what will happen to her if she tries to leave or and any other silly plans. As I said before, Isabella is a special case, if she tries to leave or anything else, I want you to have Emmett teach her her place."

"And not me?" I grit my teeth, knowing that Emmett will go to more drastic measures then my own…Well, only because I hate to abuse woman, but in other cases….

"Edward, I want you to gainher trust. If you were there one to lay a hand on her you won't gain her trust back, or it will be a very grave task to do. I will be keeping updates, and you will be notifying me of all activities. I want a full report."

"Do I hand deliver it to Carlisle."

He thinks for a moment, "Yes, that would be best. I will be popping in every month or so to make sure I'm well informed." He walks himself to the door, "I must strongly remind you Edward, that this is a very delicate case and I will have no excuses."

I nod, and with that, he left.

I pull at my hair, infuriated. Emmett made it out as if they didn't have the girl yet, he made it out as if he was only an easdropper! Not to mention Aro making it sound like I had days before I'd meet the girl at the beginning of the conversation, and now I have this-this girl coming here and with a mind state of being kidnapped, she will most likely get creative. I do have a spare room, but that does not mean I had intended her to stay in it. My life is becoming a new design and I never added an opinion to it. Not a word.

Feeling pissed and cornered, I paced my room gritting my teeth, and my curled fists slamming against the three-seated leather couch. Not wanting to do damage, I throw myself on the couch and pinch the bridge of my nose to calm me down, taking deep and steady breaths.

So I'm supposed to invite a girl into my fortress of solitude, allow myself to get close to her, and have another infatuated girl after me. The flaw with Aro's plans I can already see is the vengeance of a woman's scorn when I cannot precipitate her feelings, then what will happen to me? I can't pretend I'm in love with the woman for the rest of my life just to amuse Aro that he has his own Barbie doctor.

Realizing the attraction the girl has to have for me reminded me of my mother, before she passed away. She told me that riches and glamour would never replace the love of a woman. Well she was wrong, because she died when I was seventeen because my drunken ass father couldn't afford her surgery, apparently buying alcohol for himself was more important, as if he deserves pity for being stuck with a cancerous wife.

The thought of my mother reminded me of how far I've strayed from home, how far away I am from ever feeling happy again. How alone I am. Even in an office of people, I can never shake off the feeling that when they go home they will have a healthy mother, a father who is not pissed to the extent that he doesn't remember his own name, a loving family. Me? I come home to the uninviting phone call from a mob lord wanting me to off the guy who has the perfect life, or another favor he needs of me, and now, I'll be coming home with a girl who's been kidnapped to work with them, and I'm supposed to romance her into it, so she will want to stay longer then the five years her father still has owing of his services, so she'll want to sell her soul. And even after the five years and she chooses to leave, to get out, I do not believe it will be as easy as everyone in the mob deleting Isabella's number from their mobile.

The knock of the door echo throughout the apartment, I open my eyes. There's no turning back this time.