Disclaimer All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Edited by Sjdavis84 andStillDreaming85


I dragged my sorry ass to dinner one lousy step at a time.

Ma had threatened to come by my place and drag me to dinner, apparently I was missed.

I couldn't have Ma show up here, not when they don't know about Bella, not that Bella has been around much lately, but I still did not want to risk it.

The wife…

The wife hasn't been around much. She's been working overtime to avoid coming home, and when she is home, I might as well live with a zombie as there would be no difference.

I have Jasper following her around. I wanted to know where she was at all times, not just for my own curiosity but for her safety as well.

Mike has gone ahead with the charges. There is now a formal internal investigation into Captain Swan's dealings.

Swan was a sick fuck, and I didn't trust that he would not take his anger out on his daughter if he were to get a hold of her. So far he has kept his distance, and I can only hope he continues to do so.

I watched Bella move around from one room to another. She would pass by me and not acknowledge me at all, it was as if I were a ghost to her. Well, I guess I might as well have been.

I would try and make small talk with her every single day.

I'd ask her how she was, what she did that day, if she was okay. Every time I got the same response, her sweet smile and saying everything was fine.

Did I buy it?

Not for one second. But what the fuck could I possibly do?

I had fucked up. I know I did.

I didn't know how to apologize and honesty, what apology could I possibly offer her?

I don't see hallmark making any 'I'm sorry you caught me with my cock down her throat' card.

I just wanted her to talk to me, yell, scream, shout. Right now I would even let her kick my sorry ass until she put me in the hospital. I would take anything over the silence.

"What are you doing?" I asked, following her around the kitchen.

She smiled up at me taking her eyes from the electric mixer and shrugged, that was all she did.

"Can you please say something to me, please? Christ Bella, it's been over two weeks."

"I'm making a berry tort. I'll let you know when it's done," she said. That was the most she's said to me in the past two weeks.

"What's a berry tort?" I asked pretending I didn't know, hoping she would continue to say more than two words to me.

"It's a cake."

"What's the occasion?"

She shrugged and went back to ignoring me again.

I let out a deep sigh and rubbed my fingers over my eyes. I was getting sick of this. I was getting sick of trying. It seemed no matter how much effort I would put in, she wouldn't budge.

GOD, I mentally screamed. I just wanted her to show one bit of emotion. Whatever it was I would take it, anything had to be better than this.

"I'm going out soon. You going to be alright by yourself?" I asked.

I didn't tell her that Jasper would be outside, I also didn't tell her that I was going to dinner at my parents. I was hoping she would react somehow, maybe she would think I'm going out to the club again and do something, do anything.

I was wrong.

"Okay," she smiled and continued with whatever it was she was doing.

I gave up and left the room. I picked my keys up and made sure to slam the door on my way out.

I have no right to be angry when I know I am the reason for her behavior, but she's so fucking frustrating, it's making me want to pull my hair out. How many hoops is she going to make me jump through until she accepts my apology?

How many flower arrangements am I going to have to send to her at work? I have spent over ten thousand dollars in flowers in two weeks. I'm not complaining. I would spend all the money I had, if she would just show some kind of emotion.

I climbed in the car and smacked my head on the steering wheel once, twice, three times. Maybe I needed to take a different approach with her. She wasn't impressed with the flowers and gifts I've been giving her. I found a pair of earrings in the trash yesterday. Who throws out Tiffany's? The wife, that's who.

The more I thought about it, the more I knew what it was that I needed to do. My problem would be getting her to communicate with me, but then again I could always force her?

~FromVegasWithLove~

Dinner with the family was a fucking mess. This was why I didn't like coming to these things. Everyone talked too loud, ate too much, and drank even more.

It didn't help that mom had invited Vlad Stepanov, his wife and daughters.

Ma made sure I sat next to Lauren, their eldest.

For as long as I can remember, she and Lauren's mother have been trying to get the two of us together.

It wouldn't matter to them that I have no interest in the dumb bitch. The two have been planning our wedding for years.

"Oh, the two of you will make beautiful babies," Mrs. Stepanov gushed.

"Yes they would, but first they need to walk down the aisle," Ma said.

"For fuck sake, not this bullshit again," I said, throwing my fork down.

"Hey, watch your mouth at the table," dad warned.

"Oh, come on, don't tell me you haven't had enough of this bullshit? Every time we all get together this is the only thing I hear. This is why I don't come around to dinner, it's so I don't have to deal with you assholes," I said.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw dad trying to fight a smile. He was on my side, even though he took Ma's.

He couldn't stand Vlad, and he couldn't wait to get rid of him, he was just waiting for a good reason and the right opportunity.

Ma was the one who wanted me to marry Vlad's daughter, just so we can unite the two families, grow in power, you know bullshit like that.

I was Italian, my father was Italian and my mother was Russian. What a combo right? I know.

Technically Elizabeth isn't my biological mother.

Dad had gotten involved with Elizabeth's sister Siobhan when she was only sixteen. At the time, dad was only twenty-one and had no clue who she was.

Long story short, dad knocked Siobhan up, and I came into the world. Which would not have been a problem if Siobhan wasn't the granddaughter of the Russian mob family.

When she found out she was pregnant, she ran away. Dad didn't know about me until I was three years old.

Mom came back, but by then dad had married Elizabeth. It was an arranged marriage, and he had no way out of it.

My grandfather had a sick obsession with the Russian's. He wanted to take them down and be the last one standing. He thought by marrying dad and Ma it would get him closer to them. It took a few years, but one by one grandpa took them all out.

"Ed, stop," dad said trying to keep a straight face.

"Edward where are your manners?" Ma asked.

Yeah, she's one to talk about manners. She's not drunk yet. Where the fuck are her manners when she's sauced up?

"Sorry mother dearest, may I please be excused," I said in my good boy voice.

"No you may not, dinner is not finished," she said.

"Very well," I said, slumping back down in my chair.

I let the women gush over what a beautiful couple Lauren and I would make. Vlad stared daggers through me, and dad was on his fifth beer in so many minutes, and I am dying inside sitting here watching them all.

I've got my piece tucked in the back of my pants. I reckon I could have them all out cold in under five seconds.

Yep, I'm going to do it.

All I could hear around me was bullshit talk and annoying laughter.

I reached into the back of my pants.

"Edward, what do you think?" Ma asked, snapping me out of my homicidal thoughts.

"What do I think about what?" I asked, pouring myself a glass of wine.

"I was saying to Marina and Lauren, my mother had a beautiful country home in Suzdal. It is very beautiful there at this time of year. You and Lauren should go," Ma nodded her head.

What the fuck was wrong with all the women in my life.

"How about next week? They have forecast of rain in the city, it would be a good excuse to get away from it," Marina smiled.

"No," I said simply. I was sounding like Bella, like my wife.

"I agree it would be a good idea," Vlad said. "I am sick of all these games you are playing with my daughter. I think this will be a good idea for the two of you, you can get to know each other better and your mothers can stay here and plan for the big day," Vlad said.

Dad spit his beer out. He couldn't hold his laughter in anymore. At least one of us found all this funny.

"Edward, what is wrong with you?" Ma yelled at him.

"Come on, all four of you are priceless. I should record this shit. When you see yourselves in a few years," he laughed.

I felt a hand squeeze my knee. Lauren had her hands on me and a pathetic smile on her face.

"Don't touch me," I said removing her hand.

Lauren grabbed my left hand as I brushed hers away. She lifted it up to her face. Her eyes were on the ring on my finger.

"Why are you wearing that?" She asked.

"That is none of your business," I said pulling my hand back.

"I think I have a right to know."

"You think…You think you have a right to know?" I laughed. "You don't have any right. In fact, the only right you have is to stop touching me."

"Why are you wearing a ring that looks very much like a band on your ring finger, on the finger that a wedding ring would go?" Ma asked.

Maybe if I told them the truth they would finally leave me alone. It's not like they were ever going to meet Bella, I would never let her anywhere near these assholes. But I also couldn't hide my marriage forever, not with these two whores already planning a wedding.

"I got married," I said throwing my hands up in the air.

"WHAT!" Ma yelled "YOU'RE WHAT?"

"Congratulations," dad said raising a glass. "When do I get to meet the new daughter-in-law?"

"No," I said.

"How long?" Ma asked.

"How long what?"

"How long have you been married? How long have I not known about this?"

"A few months now," I shrugged. "I have to go."

"Sit. Down. Now." Ma barked.

"Edward, you're joking right?' Lauren asked.

"Do I look like I'm fucking joking," I said.

Needless to say, she was speechless, they all were. The only one that seemed to welcome the news was dad, but then again he was drunk shitless.

Ma stormed over to me and slapped the taste right out of my mouth. My head turned to one side from the force.

"Elizabeth, don't push your luck," dad warned.

"Are you kidding me? Your son apparently has a wife, a wife that we knew nothing about," she yelled.

"And I am sure we will get to meet and know her when the time is right."

"Where is she now?" Ma demanded.

"At home."

"Why did you not bring her with you?"

"Because I didn't think it was the right time for her to meet all of your sorry asses.

Now are you done, because I have to go?"

"I am far from done Edward. Sit down, call her, and tell her to get her ass here. I want, we want to meet her now."

"Ma, go take your meds and get the fuck out of my way. I said I'm busy, then I am fucking busy," I said pushing past her.

"Edward get back here right now," she called out after me.

I flipped them all off and left the house. Starting the car up I just sat there. I didn't know what to do or where to go.

I didn't want to go home and face the wife. Her mood bothered me, and right now I couldn't deal with it.

I couldn't go to Scorpion, I've been avoiding that place like the plague even though Victoria had called to tell me she has hired a new dancer.

One of the regular dancers was leaving, some poor fuck knocked her up.

I would normally do the hiring, but with my inability to go back there right now, I had no choice but to trust Victoria.

All I knew about the new girl, she was young, a brunette, apparently she had a good figure, nice tits, firm ass. Victoria said she was going to draw in a large crowd, apparently she had a baby face innocence about her.

Speak of the devil, she was calling me.

"What," I said.

"Are you coming?" Victoria asked.

"Why is it so important that I come?" I groaned.

"Because you usually do this shit, I only look after them and I'm not signing her paycheck until I get the okay from you."

"Why the hell not?"

"Because I don't want you coming in and seeing her in a few weeks, and then firing the poor girl because you don't approve of her. Come here, check her out. You like her, we'll keep her."

Motherfucker.

Motherfucking hell.

I smacked my steering wheel in frustration.

"Fine, I'll be there soon," I said and hung up, not waiting for her response.

~FromVegasWithLove~

The place was packed tonight. We were full to capacity.

Big Joe said Victoria had been handing out flyers all week about the new girl.

The poster didn't show any faces, just a woman's back in a pair of black lace panties. Victoria was calling her baby. She used words like sweet, innocent and forbidden fruit. Either Victoria was exaggerating, or our profits were about to go through the roof.

I spotted Victoria by the bar and made my way over.

"You made it just in time, she's on after Heidi," Victoria said.

"Please, no matter what, keep Heidi away from me," I said. "And get me some tequila."

"Is she being clingy again?"

"Don't ask."

Victoria didn't need to know about my personal life.

"You paint a very promising picture of this new girl. I hope you're not setting all these guys up for disappointment?"

"She's hot, she can dance, and she has that whole innocent thing going on for her, these perverts love that shit," she said.

"I'll take your word for it." I said, pouring myself a shot glass of the tequila.

"No need to do that, she's up."

The room went dark. A slow tune sounded through the speakers. It was a middle eastern beat but modern. Blue and purple flashes flew across the stage.

Slowly the dim lighting returned.

She appeared in the center of the stage. Her hair was down. The girl's hair was long and thick, and it reached to the middle of her back.

She wore black lace. A matching bra and pantie set. Her face was covered with a black lace mask. From my spot at the bar, I couldn't make out much about her. I couldn't see her clearly.

Her body, she was tall but not as tall as the other dancers. She had a slender figure. Curves in all the right places. Her breasts were the perfect size for her body shape, and she appeared to have a great ass.

I took another shot of tequila and leaned my back on the bar and rested my elbows. There was something about this girl, something I couldn't put my finger on.

I watched in complete fascination as she swayed her hips to the music matching every beat.

She swung around the pole like a pro, one would think this wasn't her first time.

She was on her knees crawling towards the edge of the stage.

She stopped.

She stood up on her knees.

She lowered her bra straps, biting her lip as she did.

She took the bra off slowly, ever so slowly.

She covered her breasts as she rose to her feet. She turned her back of the crowd as she continued her dance.

The guys in here were going wild for her. I have to hand it to Victoria, she could pick them.

"What did I tell you, she's good isn't she?" Victoria said.

"Yes she is," I said unable to take my eyes off her.

She turned back around to the crowd, chest exposed. The dollar bills started flying in her direction.

"Yay, we get to keep her," Victoria clapped.

"Does she know she shouldn't be offering lap dances unless they have been paid for?" I asked, noticing she had left the stage.

She was with one guy in the front on his lap grinding her hips into him. Her tits in his face.

I got up and made my way over, but by the time I reached them she was back on stage.

She finished her dance. The fuckers all went wild.

"Fuck me she's hot," the bastard that had her on his lap said.

I put my hand on his shoulder.

"What the fuck?" He was startled.

"If you wish, I could arrange for a private session?" I asked.

"Really? Fuck yes. Yes please!" He said, smiling from ear to ear.

"Hey what about me?" His friend asked.

"If your friend doesn't mind, you may join in,"

They high-fived each other. They were like children on Christmas. I wondered what this girl looked like up close that could make them so wound up.

I monitored for Tanya to show these two dumb fuckers to a private room, and told Victoria to show the new girl the way.

"What's her name?" I asked. It felt stupid to keep calling her the new girl.

"Marie" Victoria shrugged.

Well, I was here now I might as well stay. I needed to go over the books anyways.

As I made my way to my office in the back, Heidi came calling after me.

Fucking hell why can't I catch a break. I can't stand to look at her now.

But she was an insistent bitch.

"What?" I asked impatiently facing her.

"Mr. Masen, I've missed you," she purred running her hand over my dress shirt.

I brushed her hand off me quickly in disgust.

"Sir?" She was obviously confused by my change of attitude towards her.

"The only thing you can do for me, is stay the fuck out of my sight," I said getting right in her face, making sure she understood each word.

Maybe it was something in my face, maybe it was the murderous look or the fact that she realized I was dead serious, but she nodded and ran out of my sight.

I punched the code in to unlock the door.

I sat down, turned on the laptop and all the security monitors. I have cameras set up in the private rooms. Sometimes clients can get a little rowdy and rough with the girls. I wanted to make sure they were safe at all times.

I pulled the books out, setting everything up and getting ready to go through them, but my mind just would not co-operate.

I kept thinking of the new girl Marie.

I know I want to smack myself. She was alluring, I had to give her that. She was sexy, she knew how to move her body, and she obviously knew how to drive men crazy with it.

I slapped my hands over my face trying to think of anything else but the way her hips swayed to the music.

What the fuck is wrong with me? I shouldn't be thinking this shit.

I turned to my security monitors. I know I shouldn't, but I can't help but look. I feel this need deep inside of me that has to look at her. I can't describe it.

It's a strong pull wanting to bring me closer to this Marie.

I found her in seconds on the monitor.

The dickheads were sitting down as she danced around them. She hadn't covered her breasts up after her performance, and by the looks of it, she had taken that lace mask off.

She straddled one of the guy's laps. He put his hands on her ass, pushing her crotch against him. He was running his hands up and down her body.

She looked like she was enjoying it.

She grabbed his head and moved it to her chest. She let him bury his head in between her breasts.

What the fuck?

Hadn't Victoria told her that paying clients are only allowed to look and not touch?

I lost it completely when jackass number two got out of his seat and stood behind her, putting his hands all over her body.

She leaned her head back and smiled up at him.

No….

It's not…

It can't be…

I zoomed in on her face.

It was.

I threw my chair back and ran out of the room not bothering to lock it. I stormed down the halls in a blind rage until I reached the room they were in.

I kicked the door opened making all three jump in surprise.

"Man," the one standing behind her said.

He backed away from her holding his hands up in surrender.

She was surprised to see me yes, but she didn't look apologetic at all.

"Stand up," I ordered in a slow and menacing tone.

"I'm actually very comfy where I am. You can go now." She said, thinking she could easily dismiss me.

Someone must have heard the banging or saw me kick down the door and called security.

"Boss?" Big Joe said.

"ED," Victoria followed after him.

I went to Bella grabbing a fist full of her hair and pulling her off of that piece of shit's lap. I took my jacket off and covered her up with it.

"What the hell Ed?" Victoria yelled.

"Get out, all of you now," I roared.

"You," I pointed to Big Joe. "Don't let those two leave," I said.

"You heard the man, follow me," Big Joe said to the two fuckers.

"I think we are going to leave," one of them said.

I aimed my piece at his head.

"Okay, okay, we're going. Man whatever we did, I'm sorry."

"GET THE FUCK OUT!"

Big Joe grabbed them by the back of their necks and dragged them out.

That only left Victoria. She was the cause for all this mess, but I would deal with her after. Right now, I had a bigger problem to deal with, a much bigger problem.

"Get out Victoria."

"Let her go," she said.

"GET THE FUCK OUT!"

I let go of Bella, knowing she had nowhere to run and pushed Victoria out of the room.

I slammed my palms on the door.

I needed to calm down before I even consider turning around to face her.

After a few deep breaths I clicked the safety back on the gun and tucked it back. I finally turned to face her.

She stood there her arms folded, tapping her foot impatiently at me.

"What…What…What…"

No matter what I tried, I couldn't find the right words.

What was she thinking?

Why would she do this?

I was raging.

I was fuming just thinking about it.

"What's the matter baby?" She said with a pout. "You don't like the taste of your own medicine?"

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!" I roared.

I couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Are you trying to get people killed?"

"Why would I do that?" She asked.

"What do you think is going to happen to those two?"

"Don't be stupid Edward," she laughed.

"Oh, I am dead serious Bella. They touched you. They put their hands on you, and you let them."

I had enough. I couldn't hold it in anymore.

I turned around and slammed my fist into the wall over and over again.

"STOP IT," I heard her cry out.

"Shut the fuck up," I yelled back.

"What were you thinking? How could you do something so…so…stupid?"

"If you would stop freaking out maybe we might be able to have a civilized conversation." She said, a little too calmly for my liking.

"I just caught my wife giving a lap dance, rubbing her tits in another man's face while they sandwiched her, so you are going to have to excuse me if I'm a little pissed off here Bella," I said through gritted teeth.

"And how the fuck do you think I felt," she yelled.

"How do you think I felt when I saw you with that…In that way?"

She was trying fucking hard not to cry. It was taking a lot of effort, I could see that.

I hoped she didn't. I can't deal with tears.

Fuck me, she did.

There she was, my wife, tears streaming down her face, and it tugged at me. I wanted to go to her, hold her, offer some sort of comfort. But she held her hands out, letting me know she didn't want me next to her.

"Every time I look at you, that's all I see."

"Bella, please," I begged. I didn't know why I was begging, but it felt like the right thing to do.

"I fucked up," I said. "I'm sorry, I am so sorry."

She chuckled, shaking her head.

"You're not sorry," she said.

"Yes I am. These past two weeks have been hell for me. You won't talk to me, you won't look at me, you won't do anything," I said.

"Really two weeks? Two fucking weeks have been hell for you?"

She had that look again, and I sensed this was her calm before the storm.

"I have always been in hell, not just for two stupid weeks, but permanently. Every single day I've lived in hell," she cried.

"Let me make it better," I said taking a step towards her.

"How can you make anything better when you can't even give a sincere apology?"

"I am fucking sincere. I've beat myself up every single day. I hate myself for my actions. I hate the fact that I have made you feel this way. I hate the fact that you are standing in front of me right now in the state that you are, and I can't comfort you."

"Why would you want to comfort me when you feel nothing for me?"

"How do you know what I feel?" I said angrily.

"You've made it clear," she shrugged.

I have made it clear haven't I?

I've treated her like shit.

I've forced her to stay with me.

I've given her no way out, and on top of it all, I think I did what her bastard ex didn't do, I broke her.

I don't know, I felt weird. I felt like something heavy was trying to pin me down. My head hurt, my chest hurt.

I didn't know what the fuck was wrong with me right now, but I knew that if I just took her in my arms, held her close, that pain in my chest would go away.

"I want to go home," she said staring down at the floor.

Great, now she wasn't even making eye contact with me.

I took the time to look at her, I really looked at her from head to toe.

She had her hair done, and she had far too much make-up on right now. I loved her without all that crap on her face. She had something a lot of women didn't have, and that's natural beauty that shone through and made everyone else around her look like shit.

But as my eyes wandered lower down her body, my anger grew once more. Besides my jacket to cover her up, all she had on was a pair of panties and heels.

I closed my eyes and rubbed my hands over my face as roughly as I could.

I needed to hurt someone, and the only other person in this room was my wife, and there was no fucking way, no matter what she had done I could hurt her. I needed to know why.

"Why did you do it?"

"Do what?" She asked, wiping away at her eyes.

"This…here, tonight."

"Does it matter why?" She asked.

"It matters to me."

"I wanted to get back at you. I wanted you to feel how I felt, if not worse," she said, wrapping my jacket around her tighter.

"And if I hadn't seen you tonight?"

She shrugged, not offering anymore.

"If I hadn't come into this room, how far would you have let things go?" I asked.

"I don't know," she shrugged.

What kind of a fucking answer is that?

"Did you like it?"

I held my breath. Why the fuck did I ask her that? And where is this calm me coming from?

"No, I hated every minute of it. I hated dancing on that stage naked. I hated having all those eyes on me. I hated having them touch me. But if I had to, I would do it again," she said.

"Bella?"

She was in pain. She was in so much pain.

It was something I have never seen before, raw pain and hurt. It was there in her eyes, it was written all over her.

"No…No I would, because for the first time in my life I felt something other than nothing. I wasn't numb. While I didn't like doing it, it was exciting, and it felt good to have someone look at me and know that they wanted me. It felt good to have someone tell me I was beautiful and to know they were telling the truth," she sighed.

"I want you Bella," I said.

I stood in front of her. She made no effort to move away from me. I put my finger under her chin making her look at me.

"Do you?" She questioned.

"I have wanted you ever since I laid eyes on you in that bar in Vegas. I wanted you then, but I want you more now," I said.

Her eyes were downcast as fresh tears fell. I wiped away at them with my thumbs, I even brought one thumb to my mouth to taste. I thought it might help me understand why her tears affected me so much.

I wrapped my arms around her and had her face rest on my chest. She cried softly in my arms, and I just held her. I think this is what she needed the most right now, comfort. She needed comfort, and she needed love. I could offer comfort, but I didn't know how to offer love, but I was willing to learn.