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I'm totally updating on time and I'm damn proud of that. Happy Valentines Day everyone and see all you cuties at the bottom.

Ruthless

Chapter 11: Murderer

[Bella's POV]

It wasn't until I was sitting in the back of an expensive black Cadillac that I was struck with realization.

Either Edward Cullen was an absolute idiot or he was a manipulative mastermind.

I was hoping for the former but it was probably the latter. He handed me a gun. A gun! Didn't he realize that I absolutely loathed him? Didn't the boy get the hint that he was the bane of my existence? Seriously, how thick do you have to be to not realize that the girl you're an absolute asshole to and are forcing into a criminal marriage hates your guts and wishes you were dead?

Clearly, as thick as Edward.

One shot, that's all it would take. Just one pull of the trigger and I would be cut off from his life. I would be free. It wasn't like he didn't deserve it. The boy was a criminal. Chopping people up and destroying lives was practically foreplay for him. I would be doing this fucked up world a favour, not that it deserves one.

"Bella?"

I blinked and glanced up to see that Alice was twisted around in the passenger seat so she could get a good look at me.

"Are you alright?" She asked cautiously. "You seem out of it."

I shook my head and muttered," No, just lost in thought."

Just considering becoming a murderer.

The cold piece of metal that is tucked into my waistband burned against my skin and I flush deeply. Alice's sharp gaze takes note of my blush, but she doesn't comment on it.

"I still can't believe dad let you come," she mumbled, shaking her head slightly.

I arched a brow at her and I was about to bitch at her for assuming that I'm incapable of saving my father when I realized what's she said.

"Dad?" I repeated curiously. "I'm sorry, but isn't Dr. Cullen your father-in-law?"

She nodded and her lips curved into a smile, her white teeth gleaming from between her rosy lips.

"He is, but I was practically raised by the Carlisle and Esme so I call them mom and dad. They're like the parents I never had but always wanted."

I pursed my lips, taken aback by this piece of information and fighting the urge to ask her more.

She studied me for a moment with an oddly pensive look on her before adding, "They saved my life, Bella. They're good people."

"They're criminals," I retorted automatically, unable to hold it back.

A beat of silence.

"That doesn't automatically make them bad," Alice finally said. "Who a person really is isn't defined by their profession or lifestyle. It's their morals and their heart that matters. They may be criminals but they're the damned sweetest and most loyal family around."

I looked down at my lap. I didn't know how to respond to that. It would be like arguing with someone suffering from Stockholm syndrome.

"At least they're better than the Hales," she added quietly.

I glanced up at her with my eyebrows knitted together and a frown accompanying my narrowed eyes.

"What do you mean?" I asked suspiciously. "Mr. and Mrs. Hale a little stiff, but they're nice people."

Alice let out a snort and shook her head.

"Trust me, they're the farthest thing from nice," she muttered.

"Don't be stupid. They're really sweet. They were practically my surrogate parents while growing up," I replied, ignoring the gnawing in my stomach. "I know them really, really well. Trust me."

"Like Edward did with giving you that gun?" She retorted and raised an eyebrow at me.

My eyes widened and I sputtered out, "H-how did you know?"

"I'm not the analyst of this group for no reason, Bella. I notice things others don't and I'm damn good at getting in and out of places. I've been trained alongside Jasper, Emmett, and Edward," she explained. "I still can't believe Edward would give you that gun, though."

"I'm not going to shoot you guys," I mumbled, my stomach churning with the undecided lie. The decision was still hanging like a knife above their hunched over backs.

"I wish I could believe you, Bella, but I can't. Especially seeing how you're lying."

"I'm not lying," I blurted out automatically.

"Like I said, I've been trained alongside some of the best fighters ever and I did even better with psychoanalysis training than Emmett and Jasper. Jasper may be our psychoanalysist of the group but I'm better than he is."

I blinked and stared at here, unsure of how to react.

The corners of her mouth lifted and she said, "I know your tells. I can tell when you're lying just by your body language."

"What's my tell?" I asked, cocking my head slightly.

"Your ears turn pink whenever you lie and your cheek twitches," she said matter-of-factly.

"What about you? What's your tell?"

Alice smirked and shook her head at me.

"We've been trained to hide our tells. I could fool a lie detector just after six months of training."

"Don't you just have to control your pulse since every time you like your heart rate speeds up?" I wondered, my voice slightly catching at the end as we went over a bump.

"Exactly, but it's not as easy as it sounds. You'll learn soon enough, though."

I frowned and said sharply, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, since you're a part of the family now, you're going to have to learn how to deal with all this and if Edward lets you go on missions and stuff then you'll need to learn more than just self defense."

"He's not the boss of me. He doesn't decide anything," I snapped and then let out a deep breath. "Besides, I'm not going to be a criminal like you guys."

"Really? Then why are you here?" She challenged.

"I'm here to save my father," I growled. "What part of that do you people not understand? This isn't me joining your stupid mob. It's me saving my father and that's it."

"Why are you so intent on saving him seeing as he - how do you put it - sold you to the devil?"

"This isn't a fucking show on MTV," I snapped. "No matter what, he's still my father and I still love him. He's the only family I have let and I'm not just going to leave him to die."

"To die? Bella, we're going off to save him. Nobody told you to come along and help. We could've done it just the same," she said softly, not at all patronizingly as I thought she would.

There was a moment of silence as I debated internally.

"I don't trust you guys," I finally admitted. "How do I know you guys won't just kill him and then tell me that he was killed by the Volturi and there was nothing you guys could've done?"

"We're criminals, Bella. Not monsters," she replied firmly. "We're not the Hales."

"What is your stupid prejudice with the Hales?" I asked, slightly annoyed. "They're much better than some of the parents around here."

"You're so naive, Bella. You don't understand anything that goes on here and you're not even willing to listen," Alice scoffed. "The Hales are fucking filth."

"Does your precious sister-in-law know you're talking about her family like that?"

"Trust me, if she had her way they'd be dead by now."

"Look, there's one simple thing you're not understanding. The Hales didn't sell Rosalie out and that in itself says a lot. Their arrogant daughter was the one who decided she wanted to marry fucking criminals," I hissed.

"You're so fucking ignorant!" Alice cried, throwing her hands up in the air. "If you had just bothered to listen to Rosalie those first couple weeks when she went around begging you to listen, you would know the truth about how horrid her parents are. She begged you, she fucking pleaded for you to just listen and you turned your back on her. You bitch about how horrible of a friend you are and yet you're the one who abandoned her. When she needed you most, you decided you were too good and better than her to actually take a fucking second to here her out."

I say there staring at her, stunned to a loss of words. I didn't understand what she just meant and clearly there had been some miscommunication to make her think that I was the one to leave Rosalie. Rosalie was the one who chose the Cullens over me. She's the one who betrayed me.

"Alice-" I began to say, but I was cut off by the driver, one of the members of their mob, barking out, "We're here."

In seconds, Alice was out of her seat and clamouring over me to grab a big black suitcase. She pushed down the back of the passenger seat and began setting up her laptop on it while crouched on the seat next to me. In a moment, she had two Bluetooths set up, one for us each, and the layout of the property was open on her screen.

"Alice, report your status," Carlisle's voice came through the Bluetooth and I jumped because it sounded like he was right next to me.

"Bella and I are clear. Jimmy is outside the car with Carlos. They've got their weapons drawn and are at ready position."

"Bella, are you clear?" Carlisle asked, concern obvious in his voice.

"I'm clear," I said, stumbling over the words.

"Stay in the fucking car, Bella," Edward suddenly growled in my ear. "Don't you fucking dare leave the car, no matter what happens."

"What if someone torches the car? An I supposed to just sit here and burn to death?" I retorted angrily, unable to hold it back.

"Are you trying to kill me?" Edward snarled. "Don't you fucking play smart with me. If you get even so much as a scratch on yourself, I'll lock you in my fucking room and make sure bubble wrap and pillows are your best friends. Alice, make sure she stays in the car."

"Quit ordering me around, Edward," I snapped.

"Edward is right, Bella. You're not to leave the car unless you're in danger. Without any training you're completely vulnerable," Carlisle added. "Edward, you could've said that nicely. Don't scare the poor girl."

"She's scaring me. I'm this close to grabbing her and taking her home."

"Take her home and make some lovin'," Emmett bellowed and I winced at the volume.

"Emmett! She's turning red," Alice cried.

I shot her a dirty look, but she just smirked.

"Edward, keep the damn foreplay for later when she's tending to your wounds," Rosalie interrupted.

"What? Wounds?" I repeated worriedly, a little scared. "Did something happen already?"

"You worried about me, Princess?" Edward's smooth voice murmured in my ear and I could practically feel his smirk.

"Blood makes me woozy, Cullen," I snapped, feeling the tips of my ears burning. "Try not to make a mess."

"Quiet, everyone. We need to focus. Save the jokes and innuendos for after," Carlisle commanded. "Jasper, state your status."

I was quiet after that, listening as everyone cleared their statuses. It wasn't until Edward, the last to clear himself, began giving out commands and his voice turned serious that I started to feel my blood rush through my veins.

"Jasper and I are heading in from seventy degrees north of the back door. There are two guards at the door and they're facing southwest. Carlisle? Permission to clip them?"

"No, Edward," Carlisle said firmly. "Tranquilize them. We're not here to cause a massacre."

"Tranquilize? They'll just get back up and kill us later. It's better to get rid of them now," he argued harshly.

"They're also very replaceable. Aro will just get another ten for every man you kill."

There was a soft sigh and then two faint 'oomphs'.

"Two men down. The door is clear and we're going to enter now," Jasper said quietly. "Rosalie?"

"Keep in mind that I only could hack into the outer cameras. The cameras near the center of the property are closed circuit. The halls from your end are clear."

"Emmett and I are clear to approach from the west end," Carlisle added.

"There's one man walking towards the hall you'll enter into. He's heavily armed," Rosalie informed him.

"Emmett, shoot him in the arm and legs."

"Wait, Emmett gets to kill him and I don't?" Edward grumbled.

"We're not killing him. We're incapacitating him."

Emmett and Edward both complained quietly under their breaths, but a second later there was a muffled yell and a loud thump before Emmett called out, "One man down. Clear."

I was on the edge of my seat as they went through this process for another ten minutes, incapacitating seven more people. Beside me, Alice worked on modifying the escape plans and trying to hack into their main security system. Rosalie had been able to get through three layers of their security system but the two innermost layers were proving difficult to crack. Rosalie focused on guiding both groups through the intricate halls of this abandoned warehouse turned office.

"Carlisle," Rosalie suddenly called out. "The cameras just went black. I can't see anything anymore."

A loud crash came through the Bluetooth and immediately we were all alert.

"Edward, what's going on?" Carlisle demanded. "Edward?"

My heart fell into my stomach when there was no response.

"Jasper, what is your status?"

"Run!" Jasper yelled, his voice sounding distant.

A series of gunshots broke through our panicked silence and there was a loud grunt.

"Is this who the great mafia boss Carlisle sends to save Swan? Pathetic. Swan is as good as dead," an unfamiliar voice with a Polish lilt grunted into the Bluetooth.

My heart nearly stopped and there was a chorus of "Bella, no!" as I wrenched the door of the SUV opened and ran out into the night.

Jimmy and Carlos were at a loss as I sped past them and they called out after me.

"Ms. Swan, come back!"

"You've been instructed to stay in the car, Ms. Swan!"

"Bella, come back! Stop!" Alice yelled through the open door.

"Do I go after her?" She called through the Bluetooth.

"Stay in the car, Alice," Carlisle ordered, anger evident in his voice. "Isabella, get back in the car. This isn't safe. We're going to find your father and I promise we won't let any harm come to him."

"I'm sorry, Carlisle," I whispered, pushing away undergrowth that flew in my path. "He's my father and Edward and Jasper are caught or injured or...worse."

My voice caught in my throat and I nearly tripped as I ran down the steep hill we were parked above. Just at the bottom of the hill began the concrete edge of the property and sure enough, I could see the roof of the building through the thick branches of the trees that hung over me.

"Bella, please go back. You'll get killed," Rosalie cried, sounding close to tears, but I didn't have to time to think about that.

"This is my father and I love him, Rose."

"Bella, get the fuck back into the car. Edward will be so pissed if he finds out you left," Emmett growled. "He'll have a damn heart attack."

"We don't know what happened to Edward. I'll try to find him too," I replied, my voice strong with determination. "Rosalie, where did the camera's suddenly go black? Can you direct me to the place?"

"No way, Bella," she shrieked. "Are you stupid? What's the point of saving Charlie if you're going to die doing it? Charlie won't want you to risk your life. Edward-"

"Edward doesn't give a fuck if I'm dead or alive. This is about saving Charlie and then finding Edward and Jasper along the way," I cut her off angrily.

"Isabella, Emmett and I are going for Charlie. Get back to the car. Now! This is a direct order!"

"Sorry, Carlisle, but you're not my boss. If you guys can't help me then I'll do this myself," I hissed.

Before they could say another word, I ripped the Bluetooth off my ear and shoved it into my pocket. I didn't bother turning it off incase I need to call out to them, but I couldn't listen to them order me to come back.

I slowed down a little as I broke through the trees, but the moment I saw that the area was empty except for two men laying on the ground slouched up against the wall.

I ignored them and rushed to the door next to them, grabbing the handle and hurling myself into the dark hall. The walls were illuminated by small, flickering lights and the sound of my clumsy footsteps echoed gently. I tried to remember from memory which path's Rosalie had told them to take and the occasional puddle of blood or an unconscious man told me I was going in the right direction.

I was alone until a few minutes later when I was about to turn the corner, but pulled myself back in time when I heard voices. I pressed my back up against the wall and hoped they wouldn't be able to hear my hammering heart.

"Kroshvy caught that Cullen kid, the blonde one," one of them said.

Jasper. He had been caught. That meant Edward was still out here.

"What're they going to do to him? Same as Swan?" The other asked.

My heart stuttered and prayed they hadn't heard that.

"Aro just had him tied him up and left him next to Swan. The poor kid wouldn't be able to survive the torture he's putting Swan through."

I bit back a cry at the thought of my poor father being tortured by these horrid men. I had to find him.

I pressed closer to the edge of the corner to hear better and just as they mentioned my father again, I felt a hand come to rest on my waist.

"What's a pretty lady like you doing in a place like this?" A cold, marble-like voice whispered in my ear.

I froze up and it took me a moment to realize two things.

This wasn't Edward.

The gun was still tucked into my waistband and there was no way I could reach it now.

Slowly, I turned around to face the tall man who was still gripped my waist tightly. I found myself staring at a hard, defined chest and when I peeked up, I met the prettiest grey eyes I had ever seen. They had nothing on Edward's emeralds, but they were still really striking.

I opened my mouth, but words wouldn't come out so I just gaped at this beautiful man.

"Isabella Swan, right?"

Numbly, I stared at him, not giving him an answer except that it was probably written over my face.

"You're pretty. I can see why Cullen wants you," he said with a smirk.

I bit my lip nervously, hoping Carlisle and Emmett could hear this man speaking. The Bluetooths were sensitive so I really hoped they were enough to hear this creepy, gorgeous man from my pocket.

"Hmm," he hummed and raised a pale, skinny hand. His cold fingers brushed over my cheeks and I could feel blood pooling under the skin they touched. "I had heard you were a feisty little thing, but you're just as submissive as all his other bitches."

I swallowed the bile threatening to make an appearance and flinched when he suddenly brought his face close to mine.

His lips were nearly touching my own as he whispered, "I was hoping he would share you with me like he does with all of his other bitches, but now I'm thinking that I might just keep you all to myself."

I turned my face away from him and closed my eyes as his cool breath brushed over the hollow of my neck. My hands were shaking now and his body was closer than ever. His fingers brushed their way down from my cheeks and began making their way south. Just when his hands were about to make an unwanted acquaintance with my chest, I heard the one voice I never thought I'd be relieved to hear.

"Get your fucking hands off her before I rip this bullet through your brain."

Of course, he didn't wait for this strange man to react before pulling the trigger. There was a loud groan as the man was wrenched away from me and tossed to the ground.

I didn't wait to see if the man was dead or even able to stand up before throwing myself into Edward's arms. I pressed my face into his neck and my body shook as he gripped me tightly to himself.

"Shhh, it's okay. I've got you, baby," he murmured in my ear. "It's alright. I'm here now. You're safe."

"I-I was s-so s-scared," I cried into his neck, my eyes squeezed shut tight as I breathed in his scent. Just his very presence - the fact that I could smell him and feel his skin pressing against mine was comforting in a way I had never imagined. My right arm was gripping the back of his neck while the other one had bunched up the front of his shirt.

"I know, baby, I know. Don't worry, I'm here now. I'll protect you. You're safe."

I nodded slightly, still a little shaken, but then a thought came to mind. Hesitantly, I pulled back and let go of Edward's shirt to reach into my pocket. He watched curiously as I handed him the Bluetooth, having noticed that his was missing.

"You're going to need this," I whispered. "I heard them say that they had Jasper with Charlie and they...they tortured Charlie. We need to find him."

Edward nodded and attached the Bluetooth to his ear. One arm was still wrapped around me and I could feel his body heat mixing with mine.

"Carlisle?" He spoke into the Bluetooth and then winced as everyone began talking all at once. "I'm with Bella. My Bluetooth got stepped on by some asshole, but he's dead now. His buddy grabbed Jasper while we were fighting and Bella heard that they've put Jasper with Charlie."

I watched anxiously as a frown marred his face as he listened.

"I found her with that son of a bitch trying to shove his hands up her shirt and his tongue down her throat," he suddenly snarled, his grip on me tightening. "It was Alec fucking Volturi and he's lucky I didn't shoot his balls off."

I winced and immediately his hold loosened fractionally.

"Alice, I saw a set of stairs at the end of a hall back near where we were attacked. Where will that lead?"

He listened with a look of concentration on his face and then nodded.

"I'm going to take Bella with me. I can't leave her here for another bastard to come by and take advantage of. Fingers crossed that she won't trip over a dead body."

I slapped at his chest and he smirked down at me, looking strangely beautiful despite the violet bruise that was forming on his left cheek. I brushed my fingers over it and when he winced, reached up on my tiptoes to blow gently on it.

"Come on. They should be keeping Charlie and Jasper on the floor above, just five minutes from here. We're really close to the room they're supposed to be in," he whispered, turning me around and leading me down the dark hall.

"Supposed to?" I repeated faintly. "What if they aren't?"

He was quiet as we made out way up the staircase and down another narrow hall. Surprisingly, there was nobody in sight and we didn't stop until we got to a tall, scratched door. He motioned for me to pull out my gun as he pulled out his own. He kept one arm in front of me to keep me back and reached out to turn the knob.

"What if they are?" he whispered.

The door swung open, letting out a cold gust of air and along with it, all my courage and everything that had kept me from breaking down until this point.

"Dad?" I whimpered.

The petite blonde that was a holding a knife to his throat looked up at me and grinned viciously.

"Say goodbye to daddy, Isabella," she simpered.

A loud scream escaped me as she raised the knife and began to swing it down. My breath caught in my throat at there a loud gunshot and my eyes widened in horror.

*Hello, everyone! Bet you guys weren't expecting an update on time, haha.

Happy Valentines Day and as promised, this chapter is much longer. I hope it explains some stuff and that you guys can see how much Bella really loves her father.

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Next Update: Friday, February 21st, 2014