Special thanks to my Beta!
Jasper shuts the door to the car and before going around to my side. I drum my fingers on my leg, aching to tell him that his sister is in a relationship with asshole. But it's not my place, in this world there are customs. If there is one thing they value it's their privacy. Alice's husband is their business partner, I know that they cannot just kill him.
"You okay?" Jasper asks.
I turn and look at him, seriously look at him. He has a dark beauty in lowly lit car that fuels the idea of the bad boy image that he upholds. Of course I want to tell him what I have learned but I don't know how. Jasper and Edward's relationship is tedious at best. This would send it over a cliff. Is it wrong that I don't want to tell him because I don't want my name to be tied to interfering in Alice's marriage?
"Yeah, just a little tired."
Jasper nods, accepting my answer but I know that he doesn't completely believe me. I turn and look out the window. Tonight just opened my eyes to what I have agreed to be a part of. Is this something I am strong enough to live with? It's at this moment that Jasper laces his fingers through my mine with his free hand. Looking down at our intertwine fingers I find my answer. I won't abandon him.
Jasper takes me back to his place to stay the night. I have to work tomorrow so I am looking forward to getting home and go to sleep, mainly cuddling up against Jasper. The best way to sleep is to be curled into his chest. We joke and say I am pup but he doesn't know how good it feels to be with him. Jasper pulls up outside of his building, I notice Peter is leaned against the entrance a cigarette dangling from his lips.
"You're not coming up?" I ask, frowning as I turn to look at him.
He shakes his head, "I got a couple of things to tie up. I won't be back tonight."
"Be careful," There are other things I could say but I bite my lip. I don't want my potential last words to be harsh.
He leans over and kisses me gently on the lips. Easily I melt into him, deepening the kiss. My hands reach up and tangle in his hair as I bite his bottom lip demanding entrance. He eagerly open them and my world explodes as our tongues dance. He pulls away after a moment and stares into my eyes.
"Try and get some sleep okay?" I nod knowing that it's futile.
We both know I won't get any. Over the last couple of days we realize that I get significantly less sleep when I am not with him. It especially happens when I stay at his place and he isn't there, I don't sleep at all. Peter helps me out of the car and follows me inside. Jasper thinks its because he isn't in the bed with me that I don't sleep. That's partially true but its also has to deal with the fact that I don't know if he is dead or alive. This makes me wish we were still fuck buddies at least then I wouldn't have to deal with all of this.
"You want me to grab some ice cream while you pick the movie?" Peter asks as we enter the penthouse.
"Yeah, put in extra gummy worms," I call as we part ways.
The next day I am nursing a headache probably from lack of sleep staring angrily at my phone. Jasper just text me saying he will be flying out of town later tonight but he will drop me off at home before he leaves. I am starting to think that he doesn't want his dick to remain attached to his body.
Last night was hell because I was so tired. But every time I would start to drift off my brain would remind me that Jasper hasn't came back yet. Peter never complained knowing that more was going on than missing Jasper sleeping next to me. Then this morning I hadn't heard from Jasper and that made my mood worsen. I am just now hearing from him. At two in the freaking afternoon!
"Are you guys hiring?" I look up at the sound of the soft masculine voice.
The guy is lanky with a shy demeanor. His face is round but not chubby. His blue eyes are drastically different from caramel colored skin. The first thing that comes to mind is that he is timid, very timid. Benjamin, better known as Benny, has his hands stuffed in his pockets and head looking down at the ground.
"Yeah," We aren't, we already have a full staff but I can't turn him away.
Something is going on with this kid. I don't know what but something is broken about him. It angers me that his own family won't have anything to do with him because he was born out of wedlock. I can understand disowning the birth mother but not the child. He hasn't done anything wrong. I wave Garrett away as he moves to escort Benny away.
"Paper application or is it online," He says the last part with defeat.
"Verbal," He looks up at my response in shock.
He smiles, "Okay when can I get an interview?"
"Right now. Take a seat," I smile at his enthusiasm. My smile falters when I see Peter on the phone looking in my direction pointedly, "I'm going to ask you a couple of questions okay?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Were you actually interested in a job or did you just want an excuse to talk to me?"
Benny blushes, his golden skin tinted red. I sip on my smoothie and yearn for a cup of coffee or something with caffeine. He ducks his head in embarrassment, though this just makes me want to comfort him.
"Both," He says shakily before looking up at me, "I saw your face on the magazine next to my cousin face and I had to read it. I knew I knew your name from somewhere so I did more research about you. You're amazing. This bakery gives forty percent of its earnings to charity, those who can't afford to pay full price for sandwiches can choose their amount, and you do semi-annual bake sale to raise money for shelters and underfunded schools. In your spare time you volunteer at the local soup kitchen to serve food and you donate food, you go the homes of the elderly and check up on them and make sure they have their medicine and other necessities."
"You did your research," I note.
"I promise I am not stalking you it's just the more I read the more I wanted to know. I guess you know who I am," He mutters
I sigh, "Yes, I do. I know that you aren't allowed around your family. I know that is part of the reason that you came in here today. I know that you are my new cashier and that you start Monday at four. That should be enough time to get from school to here. I also know that my fiancée is going to be in here in thirty seconds so you should take the back entrance."
Benny turns around wide eyed as Jasper is storming out of his BMW his blonde hair messy and his eyes furious. Not bothering to argue with me, he takes off for the back door, ignoring the looks he is gathering. I lean back in my seat waiting for Jasper to get to me. He stops abruptly at the front of my table his eyes on the back door and nostrils flares.
"I hope that is for me," My mouth waters looking at the bag from my favorite restaurant.
Jasper looks down at me seething, "You are not on my happy list right now."
"Why ever not it's not like I am dangling food out of your reach as punishment," I pout only to laugh as he hands the bag over to me before taking a seat.
"Imagine my surprise when Peter calls me and tells me that you are talking with Benny. Not only that but you don't allow for him to be removed out of here. Do you not realize how this could go over? We don't act the way we do just because Isabella, there are reasons."
"Reasons? What reason is there that your entire family act like a child does not exist? Tell me the fucking reason! you treat him like a damn parasite, so in return you expect me to." I growl before taking a bite out of my chicken Alfredo.
Jasper eyes flash before he is on his feet tugging me to mine and leading us to my office. I make sure to grab my bowl and allow myself to be taken into the privacy my office offers. Jasper settles me on the couch before pulling a chair over so he can sit in my face. I prop my feet up waiting on his explanation.
"Benny represents the affair that my uncle had. He isn't a full Cullen he is the reason for the pain my uncle and aunt has," Jasper says with a straight face.
"He is the reason! Are fucking kidding me? You uncle cheated on your aunt. He didn't have enough respect for her and fucked a woman without a condom. Instead of being a man and taking care of his fucking kid he has your family alienate an innocent child. How in the fuck does make it Benny's fault?! He didn't ask to be born he was! It was your uncle's responsibility as man and father to care for him."
"Uncle gives his mother money for the child more than enough," Jasper comments. "Really? Then why did he have on shoes that were falling apart, why was his shirt cheap and thread bare. His pants had patches in them. From what I picked up on he doesn't have a computer let alone internet."
Jasper looks thoughtful, "I don't know what is going on with him financially and I will ask my Uncle about it but you stay the out of it. You don't go around him. He isn't family."
"No," Jasper looks at me shocked, "You are wrong Jasper. Your family is wrong and I refuse to ignore this. He has a job here starting on Monday and you can't stop me."
"Isabella you can't do this," He warns.
"I can and I am. You really don't care because deep down you know its wrong. You just want to appease your family. But we have a family that we are starting and I refuse to have the same values as the house you grew up in. Now come hold me and take a nap with me because we both look like shit," I demand and he obeys.
Being a girlfriend to a guy in the mob has it ups and its downs. The people around me absorbs all of the good and ignore the bad. I can't do that. I am not programmed to not care for those I consider my family. The women all laugh and giggle as they swipe their black cards not caring that their men are paying the price for it. Not to say that the men aren't enjoying the fruits of their labor either just that they know it comes with a price.
As Jasper kisses me goodbye on my doorstep I know the price for the life he is living. It's a piece of him, a piece I will never have because it will always belong to the family business. I hug my robe tighter to my body as I watch him drive away never once looking back at me. It seems like the men I allow into my life always leave me wondering if they are going to come back. I had to do this with my father and now I have to do this with my soon to be husband.
I got a couple hours during the night. Not too much and I can definitely feel it in my bones. Peter breezes into my house at this exact moment wearing a smile and holding out a steaming cup. God, my life would be ten times worse if the guys Jasper hired weren't this laid back.
"Tell me that is coffee and I swear I won't tell anyone," I say exited at the aspect of drinking coffee.
Peter grins and offers me the cup, "Close, its decaffeinated and I clear it with a OB/GYN."
I don't care that there is no caffeine right now my body cannot tell the difference. I don't have to go into work today seeing as how it's a Sunday and we are only opening for like four hours. Sunday is my off days that I spend in the city visiting the poor. Yet, today I don't feel like it. I feel down.
"What's on the schedule?" Peter asks casually, taking one of Garrett's cookies.
Nothing at all but I don't tell him this. These last couple of days I haven't been acting like my normal energetic self. I have been bumming it out. If keep this up I am sure Jasper will pick up on it and make a big deal out of it. So I settle with a shrug and leave the kitchen in favor for the living room couch. I hold the hot cup in my hands and curl up and get comfortable.
Except that Peter comes in and blocks my view. I glance up at his worried face with interest. What is it now?
"Tell me you at least want to do something," He demands.
"Uh, I guess. Do you have something in mind," I ask not really caring just wanting him to report something positive back to the boss.
"Yep, go get dressed."
So this is how I end up outside of a pet store. We go inside against my better wishes. I am not a fan of cats never have and never will be. We are greeted by a cheery blonde with slanted blue eyes. She waves at me before launching herself into Peter arms. Uh, what am I missing?
"Peter, I missed you this morning! You always leave before the sun comes up," She pouts prettily. She seriously makes pouting to die for.
"Sweetheart, I told you I am working," He tells her briskly but with a soft tone.
She nods accepting the vague answer which leads me to wonder how close they are. I know Peter didn't just bring me here so he can get chewed out by his girl so I wonder what his motive is. Peter still has a protective hold on the small of my back so I can't leave his side. I look around the shop enamored with the different things it holds.
A bald head catches my eyes and I turn flabbergasted upon seeing Garrett. He waves at me before giving an affirmative nod at Peter. My mouth still hasn't closed by the time he pass us and leave out the door. He scoped the place out! Now it makes sense why Peter hasn't turned me loose yet.
"I am going to leave you two and go look around," I mummer feeling uncomfortable with the gooey eyes the blonde is throwing Peter way.
My first stop is the fishes even though I don't have room for a tank. It's fun just to look around at the different animals. Jasper has a huge tanked filled with exotic fishes at his place that he barely spares a second glance at. There is a weird looking one that is round. The sticker outside of the box says blowfish.
"That's an ugly fish," A husky voice says in my ear.
"ARGGGHHHH!" I scream jumping all the way into the air.
Emmett is bent over laughing his ass off. I glare at him not the least bit amused as I slow my racing heart. Sly fucker. Peter is looking at us warily before he is tugged away. I stick my tongue out at Emmett before turning to look at the tank.
"Huh, and here I thought it looked just like you," I giggle before moving onto the next aisle with interest.
"Cool, gerbils!" I chuckle at Emmett's enthusiasm.
They are cute with their little wheels and fat bodies. I couldn't have one because they remind me too much of rats and rats bring back bad memories for me. It doesn't faze Emmett that I speed down this aisle and I am glad he doesn't call me out for it.
"So I was wondering what was up with you going all Laura Croft at Jake's dinner party?"
I shrug, "What do you mean?"
"I mean you holding a knife to your uncle throat and then later stabbing him in the hand," Emmett states bluntly, "Which made my grandfather instantly love you, by the way."
"Jake is the only sibling I have and only one of the three biological family members I can say I have. With the other two being Billy and my father. Jake father treated him like shit when he came out of the closet. I promised Jake I wouldn't let Billy hurt him," Emmett looks at me with solemn eyes.
"You love him."
I nod, "I do. I don't let someone in easily you can ask Jake. It took him years to get under my skin and into my heart fully. But once I love you, I love you wholeheartedly and fiercely. There is nothing I won't do for you. Jake says its my weakness."
"Do you think you could ever love us like that?"
"I do already. I can't make it known yet because I have to make sure I won't get hurt in the long run," I turn to look at Emmett, "You're the big brother I always wanted Em nothing you could do would change that. I don't know how to turn my love off. I even still love my mother."
"What happened to you?" Emmett asked.
"That isn't something I am ready to talk about even with five years of therapy under my belt."
"Does Jasper know?"
I shake my head, "He knows there is something to my story but he doesn't know what yet."
Emmett wraps me up in a hug. I melt in it enjoying his familial comfort. For the longest time I always assumed that it would be just Charlie, Jake, and unfortunately Billy. But since meeting Alice it seems like more people keep coming into my life. Normally this would make me queasy but it just fills me with a warm fuzzy feeling.
"Hey, there you are," I turn from Emmett and look at the blonde chick.
She is willowy and it makes me jealous. I am short and getting chunky though Jasper says I look cute. He has to say those things. My attention comes back to the girl as she shift her weight from side to side looking a tad bit flustered. Its then that I realize that Emmett is a burly giant and can intimidate people based on appearance alone.
"Hi," I say as I lean against Emmett arm.
"Uh, are you finding everything ok? Has anything caught your eye?"
I shake my head, "No, I didn't really come here to buy anything. Peter sprung it on me."
"I know something that you would find adorable," She says with a small smile. I hope to god she isn't about to show me cats.
Emmett and I follow her through the store. She has a very fast pace for my tiny legs and I feel like I am running to keep up with her. Of course this cause Emmett to laugh. Without looking back I elbow him in his lower stomach causing him to grunt in pain. He then smacks me in the back of the head. I stop and turn around to hit him in the chest. Soon we are just exchanging hits and pokes.
"Guys!" I jump hearing the stern voice.
Emmett and I stop and look at the chick embarrassed. She looks at us both with astonishment. This is why Emmett and I always have chaperones because we can't be left alone. We are both competitive and childish. The blonde shakes her head and turn back around. We follow her like faithful puppies with a tail tucked between our legs.
She takes us in a back room causing alarms to go off in the back of my head. Emmett has the same idea because his hand is resting on his waistband and he has me pulled close to him. The girl kneels down in front of a cage and starts cooing.
"Aren't they the cutest thing?" She calls before moving away from the cage.
The cage hold three puppies with thick full fur. They are the most adorable things ever. I pull away from Emmett and kneel down in front of the puppies. They are sleeping all cuddled with each other and their eyes are shut.
"What kind are they," Emmett asks already kneeling beside me.
"They are a mix between a purebred Siberian husky and timber wolf. Some say they can't be tamed because of the wolf blood," The girl says.
"How'd you get them?" Emmett looks skeptical.
"Our supplier sold them to us when he brought in this shipment. We got them a couple of days after they were took from their mother. They are still getting bottle fed."
They look so fragile. I hate that they are in a cage that doesn't look comfortable at all. They are babies they don't deserve to be caged at all.
"We will take all three. Get us some doggie beds, the food they eat, and all the other shit," I look up at Emmett shocked, "What I can't treat by baby sister?"
I look down at the dogs knowing that I want them but could never buy them for myself. They just look so helpless and adorable. So I look up at Emmett and nod and watch as he is led out of the room by the perky blonde. One of them open their eyes and peek at me. I smile as my heart melt, I never had a pet before. I guess there is a first time for everything.
