"Does your brother know you are leaving?"
"Shut up and drive Jacob."
"I'm going to have to call him."
"Do whatever you have to, just bring me home."
Jacob grinned at my fit of anger, opening the door for me to get into the SUV. He has been my guard since I was sixteen and seemed more like an older brother than an employee. He has seen my every emotion more than once and temper usually amused him.
After Edward left me staring after him outside I eventually made my way back inside only to find him sitting at the table with a leggy blonde in his lap. Alice and Jasper were on the dance floor together, looking more than smitten with one another, while Emmett sat at the table beside Edward as he surveyed the crowd. My hand had twitched, begging to retrieve my sig from where it was hidden inside my clutch and shoot her in her fake breasts or to let my fist swing out to rearrange her nose job. Edward must have sensed my presence because his dark eyes found me, bored looking as he placed his hand on her uncovered thigh. She seemed to bloom under his attention as she leaned into him and placing her lips to his neck, trailing kisses over him though his eyes never left me . He turned his gaze from me to Emmett and acted as if I wasn't even there. Instead of behaving maturely and leaving quietly I stalked over, picked up a drink that was sitting on the table and flung the liquid at her before turning and stomping away leaving behind me the girls shrieks and Emmett's laughter. I chanced one last look and found Edward watching me with narrowed eyes, his shirt slightly damp. At least he wasn't giving the blonde who was currently having a tantrum the attention she was after.
Stepping outside, Jacob followed me, ever my shadow and called for the car to be brought around. He had had the day off, only being called in by my father to watch over me when we decided to go to the club.
I listened as Jacob confirmed that Emmett knew of my plans before he started the car and drove me home. I refused to join in the light banter Jacob was trying to draw out of me and instead stared out the window into the dark night.
"What's wrong with my gattina?"
"I don't feel like discussing it right now."
"Ah come on Bells, it's me. Why don't you tell me all about Edward playing hard to get."
"Damn it Emmett! He gossips like an anziana."
"You may be bitter, but him ignoring you is probably saving his life." He laughed. "Your brother talks a big game about you settling down but there will never be a man good enough for his baby sister and from what I hear, your father is unimpressed by the youngest Masini."
"He is nothing more than a game of cat and mouse. I don't like being ignored."
"I think he is more than just a game or you wouldn't have made such a scene."
"Shut up Jacob."
"Don't add me to your shit list. I am just calling it as I see it. Have you heard the rumor about his grandfather?"
"What of Nonno Masini?"
Jacob knew not to speak of the talk going around with others, but we have always had a different type of relationship. We tell each other everything, knowing to act socially correct when with family.
"He isn't happy with his nephew who is suppose to take over for him. It has been said that is why Edward has been around your home more, people are hoping to win his mother over and allow Edward to take his place as head of the family as it was meant to be."
"It must be untrue, wouldn't my father say something if Edward is to be told the truth?"
"Just making conversation." He said with humor, throwing me a wink from the rear view mirror.
Minutes later we were driving through the gate at the end of the long driveway that lead to the house.
"I can get inside on my own." I shooed Jacob away as he opened my car door and tried to jog to the front door before me.
"It's my job Bells."
"Go get some rest, I can make it from here."
He bid goodnight and reminded me to lock the door behind me, earning an eye roll. The house was dark and silent, leaving me thankful I didn't have to explain why I was by myself and facing an angry father over the fact Emmett hadn't escorted me home despite the fact Jacob was there to drive me home and make sure I arrived safely.
Slipping my shoes off so they wouldn't sound off of the stone floor, I made my way to my bedroom without going noticed. Stripping out of my clothes, leaving a trail as I made my way into the bathroom deciding on a hot shower before getting into bed.
X
"Isabella?" My mom called out as I was placing my hair on top of my head with a hair band, leaving it in a messy bun. "I didn't hear you come in."
"I was trying to be quiet, I didn't want to wake you. I got in forty minutes ago."
"More considerate than your brother. They just got in."
"They?"
"Edward is staying in one of the guest rooms."
"Doesn't he have his own home?" I scowled into the mirror as I rubbed in face cream.
"Don't be so unwelcoming. Esme told me he is looking for a house or apartment and is currently having the room he is staying in at their home repainted. I offered him a room till his at his mother was finished."
"Sorry Mama, he tends to bring out the worst in me."
"I sense something between the two of you."
"Don't you start with the superstition."
"I know, I know. I am going back into bed, I only came out to hush your brother. There is ice cream in the freezer, I bought your favorite."
"Mint chocolate chip?"
"Like I would offer you any other kind."
"Thank you, good night."
"Sweet dreams, darling." She smiled softly, kissing my forehead before leaving.
I covered my sleeping shorts and tank with a light robe before leaving my bedroom, my slippers slapping against the wood as I walked down the hallway to the stairs. Grabbing a bowl I filled it to the top with the ice cream my mother had promised, eager to dig in when I saw it was from my favorite creamery. As I turned I grabbed the spoon to taste my treat, screaming out as I slammed into a warm body.
"Are you going to make it a habit to run into me?" Edward's low voice filling the dark hall.
"I didn't hear you."
"Tsk Bella, it's the second time you spilled something on me tonight.
I looked Edward over, ice cream covering his gray t shirt. I couldn't stop my eyes from traveling over the rest of him, noticing his thin black pajama pants and bare feet. He made a noise as he grabbed the bowl from me and sat it on a sofa table that was against the wall behind me, his body leaning into mine as he did.
"What are you doing?" My voice shook slightly from the feeling of him so close to me, his smell filling my senses.
He didn't answer me as he took a few steps, causing me to take steps backward till my back was pressed against a wall. I tried to push him away but he only grabbed my wrists and held them above my head in one hand as his other was placed against the wall near my face.
"What exactly were you trying to accomplish with your stunt tonight? I had to spend the rest of the evening with a sticky shirt stuck to my chest."
I giggled slightly.
"I don't find it amusing. It was some fruity concoction, quite disgusting."
His face was almost touching mine now, our noses skimming one another.
"You're drunk." I stated, smelling the liquor on his breath.
"Not nearly enough."
"Oh?"
"If I was drunk enough, I would be passed out in the bed above our heads. Instead, I am drunk just enough to come downstairs for a glass of water only to have you dump your ice cream all over me. Wearing that, showing your body off. Making it extremely difficult for me to remain a gentleman with my best friends younger sister."
"Are you always a gentleman?" I asked, raising a brow in challenge.
"Do I feel like one to you right now?" He growled slightly, pressing his body into mine. Making his arousal quite clear as he ground it against me. "I know I need to keep my distance from you." His lips close to my ear, a light kiss being placed against my neck. "You wont be good for me."
"I will be very good for you." My voice sultry, nipping at his ear lobe.
He pressed his body against me even harder, his hands lifting me by my thighs so that my legs were now wrapped around his waist.
"You should be telling me to stop." His voice husky and full of promise as his lips brushed against mine.
"She might not, but I sure as hell will. That is, unless you want your goddamn brains decorating my wife's walls." The new voice calm.
"Papa!" I gasped, placing my feet back to the floor.
"Shit." Edward muttered as he stepped away from me, turning reluctantly to face my father.
"Go to you room Isabella." He ordered, his eyes never leaving Edward.
"It's not just his fault, I am to blame also!"
"Your mother will deal with you in the morning, I said go!"
"I wont leave you alone with him when your temper is this high." I stomped my foot like a petulant child.
"Bella, I can handle your father. He wont be the first irate father I have dealt with."
"So you make it a habit of deflowering innocent girls?" My father's voice booming as he strode quickly to Edward, shoving him roughly against one shoulder. "You think you can stay under my roof and have your way with my daughter?"
"What the hell is going on? You woke Rosie with all this yelling."
Emmett appeared in only boxers, his hair mussed as he looked between my father and Edward.
"Get dressed and get this stronzo out of my house."
"What has he done?"
"You are going to question my orders?" His anger turning on Emmett.
"Papa!"
"I told you to go to your room! Your friend thought he had the right to scandalize your sister!"
"Papa, remember who his family is." Emmett said quietly.
"I don't give a shit about his grandfather right now! Alliances be damned!"
"Alliances?" Edward uttered, speaking finally.
"You. I catch you with my daughter alone and in a promiscuous situation again, you better be prepared to give her a ring."
"Are you serious right now? You are telling me I should marry her? We didn't even kiss!"
Edward suddenly had my father gun pointed at his head, effectively shutting him up and causing his eyes to bug out.
"Papa, enough with the theatrics." I rolled my eyes, though not taking my eyes off of my father's trigger. "Edward, I apologize. As I said, my Papa is a bit protective." Watching as Emmett took the distraction to whisper urgently into my fathers ear, hopefully reminding him Edward knew nothing of our ways.
"Did he really ust pull a gun out?" Edward practically squeaked.
"Go to bed, all of you." Papa ordered, his face dark and unhappy. "It was no joke Antonio, next time you will do right by my girl." He stated before turning away and going back up the stairs.
"This has been one fucked up night." Edward mumbled as my father walked away.
"Dude, what the hell?" Emmett asked a stunned Edward.
"Your father had a gun pointed at me!"
"I told you she wasn't the girl for you!"
"Really Emmett? You are suppose to be my big brother!"
"You didn't tell me your father would shoot me! We didn't even kiss!" Edward repeated, still looking in shock.
"So now that my father threatened you, you are never going to talk to me again?"
"I wont even look at you after tonight! When I said you were no good for me, I didn't think it was to this extreme!"
"Wait, you told my sister she isn't good enough for you? Maybe I should shoot you myself for insulting her like that!"
"Will you three shut up!" Rosie yelled from the stair case. "You two drunks, go to bed, now! Bella, we will talk tomorrow. Right now I am an extremely pissed off pregnant woman who is being denied her much needed sleep.
"Sorry." Emmett sighed, holding his hand out to Edward.
"You seem to be apologizing a lot, but I get it now after your father's performance." He shook Emmett's hand.
"Edward-" I started as Emmett and Rosalie disappeared to their room once more.
"No. Nope, no way. You need to stay the hell away from me. I will be going to a hotel tomorrow." He said as he walked backwards, away from me.
"Seriously? You came onto me and now you are saying it was my fault?"
"You should have warned me your father would go insane! He should be institutionalized, drawing a gun out at people like that."
"What do you expect from a-, never mind. Goodnight Tonio."
I stomped off leaving him to stare at me, his shirt still covered in my ice cream.
X
"Bella, what were you thinking? Under your fathers roof?"
Rosalie and I were sitting outside, a huge table umbrella protecting us from the suns rays.
"I was thinking about the hot man who had his body pressed against mine." I droned, placing the straw against my lips and sipping my ice cream float.
Rosalie's recent cravings were root beer floats and lucky for her my father was good friends with a man who owned an old fashion ice cream parlor. I secretly had a suspicion he paid my father for protection rather than actually being my father's 'old friend'.
"Mmm, I can't blame you there. That man is one fine piece of ass."
"Really Rose?"
"Sorry, ever since I entered my second trimester I can't get enough of your brother's -"
"Stop! No mention of my brother's nether regions please. Edward hates me, it doesn't matter how good looking I think he is."
"He had his hard on rubbing against you, but he hates you?"
"You didn't hear what he said after you and Emmett left."
"Bella, you are beautiful, he would have to be gay not to be attracted to you. I'm sure your father just scared the piss out of him."
"Even before Papa threatened him, he said he 'knew girls like me'."
"Ah yes, I remember Emmett talking about his mother trying to set him up. She may have left her family, but she is determined he marry an Italian girl. I suppose some ideas are hard to let go of. His last girlfriend, holy cow. She makes me seem sweet." She giggled. "I'm telling you, a true cagna."
"Why did he date her then?"
"I suppose he thought himself in love at first. She wasn't always that way. Once he asked her to marry him, I guess she thought she was in. Much to her surprise and everyone else delight, he told her to get lost. His last straw was when she told off a waitress for bringing her a salad with bacon in it despite the fact it was written on the menu that it came with it. Emmett and I were lucky enough to be present for that escapade and witnesses to Edward telling her off. I think there were many other instances he stayed silent about, and finally it was too much."
"Papa told him he would have to marry me if he ever found Edward and I together again."
"Your father is crazy when it comes to you. Don't worry about it, we will figure out a way to have you and Edward talk. I think you two would really get along, maybe develop a relationship if given the chance."
"No thank you." I sniffed, looking away.
I only wish there was more truth behind my words. I hadn't been able to get him out of my mind for over a week.
x
Gattina - little cat
anziana – old woman
pettegolezzo - gossip
stronzo – asshole
cagna - bitch