I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT! BUT I WISHED I DID!
CHAPTER 11 (revised)
We were having a dinner party tonight I was told just after waking for the day, some of the other mafia families were coming over to discus business with Edward, and I told him that I would be happy to plan the dinner for tonight. I know that normally he would have Irena do it, but I have been doing more and more lately when I'm not so tired, though it is nice to come home from work at 12:30am and have dinner already done. I think I'm getting a little spoiled in that department, but because today was Sunday I had the day off and I really wanted to be a good hostess and prepare the meal for our guests, Edward said that was fine with him but if it became to much then we could call Irena back and she would finish it for me. So here I am standing in the kitchen trying to think of something the families will like, all I know is that they are the Irish family in Washington, that really doesn't help me any, I don't know what they like and don't like so I guess I will go with Irish food. I'm going to make traditional Irish soda bread, along with Irish stew and colcannon and then Irish potato candy, hopefully that will be enough and everyone will like it. I decided that I would wait a little while to start. The Irish stew will take the longest to do and I can work on other things while that is cooking. So I thought I would go outside in the back yard for a little while, I sat down on the swing I set my phone to let me know when I should start the dinner just in case I lost track of time. I just sat there thinking about the fact that I could be pregnant and what that would mean for me. First Edward would have to find a replacement for me at work, Marcus can't do it all by himself that's not fair to him, and who knows would I return back to work or would I like to stay at home with the baby, I don't know any daycares in the area and the hours wouldn't work because I work until 1am some nights, so who would watch the baby? I love my job but not enough that I would risk my child with a caregiver that late at night, most days I come in at 10 or 11am so I would hardly ever see the baby. We could higher a nanny but that is no better I still wouldn't see my child because of the hours, what to do? As I was sitting there lost in thought the swing moved a little alerting me to someone's presents.
"What has you so lost in thought that you didn't hear me calling for you?" Edward asked me with a worried look in his eyes.
"Just thinking about if I was pregnant what changes would be made, I mean things like you would have to find a replacement for me to help Marcus. Then the fact of weather I want to be a stay at home mom until the baby starts school or not, because I don't think that growning up with out the parents is right, I mean yes we can get a nanny, but with the hours that a chef keeps I would never get to see my child you know? Then the ultimate question would be weather I would even want to go back to work or not. I'm just letting things run threw my mind is all, processing I guess you could say. I should know by the end of the week too."
"Well as far as you going back to work you know you don't have too, I have enough money to support us and then some. I can see not hiring a nanny; I would probably cut back on the hours that I spent at the restaurant and the club as well so that I could be home more too. Finding help for Marcus is not a concern at all, he is the one who knows what he wants in a sous chef, and he did well the first time." He smiled as he put his arm around my shoulders. "We would also need to turn one of the rooms by our bedroom into a nursery, my mom would love to help with that, and that fact that it will be for her grandchild she will be over the moon happy, she has been after me for a couple years now to settle down and have kids."
"My parents would have been happy too eventually, I can hear my mom; she would be screaming about how she is so happy to finally have a grandchild that she would get to spoil. My dad would just grunt and say he was happy for me if I was happy and it was what I wanted, he was a man of few words but that was how he was. I knew he loved me, he didn't need to say it everyday, it was in the little things that he did to show me. I said with tears running down my face, I hadn't spoke about my parents in a long time; it still hurts to talk about.
"What happened to your parents?" He asked me.
"My dad was shot and killed in the line of duty about 6 years ago, it was a routine traffic stop and the person had a gun, the never did find out who it was. My dad had wanted to get cameras installed in the cars but the funding wasn't there, now after that they have the cameras in the cars. My mom and dad were divorced when I was little about 5 years old I think, she remarried to a minor league baseball player, they were on there way to his game when a drunk driver ran a stop sign and hit them head on, the both died on impact so there was no suffering that was about 4 years ago now. It's still hard to talk about sometimes especially when things like this happen and I know they would be happy for me, or when I graduated culinary school they would have liked to see me, but I can't change anything."
"I'm sorry baby, I had no idea, and you said they never caught the guy who shot your dad?" He asked me I just shook my head no. He continued to hold me while I cried a short while later my phone went off letting me know that I needed to start dinner.
"I need to get dinner going so that I still have time to get ready before everyone gets here." I said as I stood up to go back inside, Edward grabbed my hand and gave me a sweet kiss before walking us back inside. I got started on the dinner for the Irish family, browning the meat and preheating the oven.
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Finally about 3 hours later the dinner was done and I was finished getting ready, I decided to go semi casual for tonight. I wore a pencil skirt with a cale sweater and black flats. I curled my hair lightly and applied just a little make-up and I was ready to go. I walked down the stairs just as the doorbell rang letting us know that the family has arrived. I met Edward by the door and he took my hand then opened the door for our guests.
"Thank you for coming how is everyone this evening?" He asked as he shook there hands. "Let me introduce you to my lovely girlfriend, Bella this is James, head of the Irish mob, and his wife Vicky. James, Vicky this is Bella." He said.
"Nice to meet you." I said as I shook there hands. "Please come in dinner should be ready now." As we walked into the dinning room. Everyone took there seats and the dished were passed.
"How are things going in your end of town?"
"Good, except Black is trying to come into our territory that man thinks that he can sell his drugs to my people and get away with it. He needs to be stopped, he knows that he is on my territory and the cocky bastared doesn't seem to care. One of these days he is going to get to cocky and he will loose his life." James said angrily.
"Yes we have been having problems with him too. He has been going after my girl here, so I understand what you mean, he also tried to sell his drugs here to my people as well, but mine are loyal to me and told me right away what he was doing, they said that he was offering a better deal, but the quality was poor. Does he really think that by cutting the coke down that they aren't going to notice it? How stupid can you be?"
"He did the same to me too, that was what I was told that he could give them a better deal, and the coke he tried to sell off was pure crap barely any real coke in it. And then cut the percent down by half. I would like for us to team up and try to stop him if possible. I am willing to let your guys come into my territory if you will do the same, but not to sell only to open up stores like restaurants and things, and for protections the drug trade stays out of it, did you know he tried to open a strip joint in my area. I have a high class cliental and he wants to open shit."
"He has a strip joint around here now but it's in the "bad" part of town, and he is horrible to his employee's too. I have taken a few of them and given them respectable jobs. He is not happy with that, I think that is part of the reason that he is going after Bella, she also works at Delica as a sous chef for me." He looked at me lovingly. "The protection is yours and we are offering the same to you, we would want protection, and I know my brothers are looking to put up more buildings, in fact I have a brother that is in construction if you would need someone. He has done all the construction on all of my buildings, I wouldn't trust anyone else and he will be fair with the prices too."
"That would be great; I will need his number of course. What has this Black done to your beautiful girl here? Maybe we can offer some type of assistance."
"First he or someone who works for him messed with her truck, cut the break lines and all the wires on her engine, then put oil in her radiator, messed it up to the point that Rose couldn't fix it although it was an old truck and really needed to be replaced, I called it a death trap, she called it her baby." He said laughing while kissing my temple.
"Just laugh it up hun, laugh it up." I said with a smirk on my face, if he thinks that he was getting sex tonight after insulting my truck like that he is sorely mistaken.
"Better watch it man, she looks like she is going to get her revenge later tonight." James said laughing, "I know how that is when I piss off the misses she gets back by withholding the sex."
"Shit, you wouldn't do that to me would you baby? I mean it wasn't that bad." He asked trying to weasel his way out of this one. I looked at Vicky she mouthed 'stay strong, don't give in' I replied with a single nod in her direction so she knew I understood her.
"Yep" is said popping the 'p'. The look on his face was priceless; I had never denied him sex before so it will be worth it for the night to see how he tried to get out of this.
"Come on you can't be serious. I'm sorry that I said your truck was a death trap even if I do think that it was." He was giving me the puppy dog eyes now thinking that would break me; normally it did but not today.
"You can put the puppy eyes away they are not going to work on this sorry, I love you but you just insulted my baby, you know what that truck meant to me." I said trying to act like I was going to cry.
"I'm sorry baby, please don't cry." He said as he pulled me into his side, I looked over at Vicky again and winked letting her know I was really ok. We soon finished dinner and headed into the living room with coffee and the Irish potato candy.
"This is something I haven't had for years, I really like how you had the cook go with an Irish theme not many families do things like that, the food was excellent by the way, I would love to tell the chef before I leave here tonight." James said.
"Well the chef who came up with the idea and the person who cooked all the food is sitting right next to me. Bella wanted to do something nice for you and knew that you were Irish so she chose that as her theme for dinner in honor of you."
"Well my deepest thanks my dear, you have really out done yourself, the meal was excellent and the desert is great way to end the meal." James said.
"Thank you I thought you might like it, bring back the memories of a childhood. I try to do 'comfort foods' so I am really glad that you liked it." Shortly after they said it was time for them to leave they still had a long drive ahead of them. We headed off to bed then too I was tired after all of the thinking that I did and the cooking, I just wanted to sleep.
"Were you serious about withholding sex from me just for calling your truck a death trap?" Edward wanted to know, I just nodded my head yes and rolled over onto my side so that I could fall asleep.
"I'm very sorry for insulting your truck." He said with sincerity, but I still wasn't going to change my mind at least not tonight I was too tired anyway. "Please baby, look at me, I'm not pressuring you into anything but I would like to know for how long you are going to make me suffer." I just rolled my eyes even though he couldn't see me, it was funny to watch him try and find a way out of this.
"I don't know yet, but right now I am too tired to argue about it, I just want to go to sleep, my brain is tired and my muscles are tired, so please give it a rest for tonight. I will let you know in the morning." I shut my eyes and rolled over so that I was facing him, I could feel when he got into bed and I snuggled up close to him and drifted off to sleep after telling him I loved him.
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The next morning I thought the best way to wake him up would be with a blow job, but when I went to reach out for him, he was gone and his side of the bed was cold. I opened my eyes to look around and saw there was a note on his pillow with my name on the outside.
Love,
Sorry to have left you so early this morning but something happened at the club last night that I needed to take care of. Make sure you do not go anywhere without Felix today, I will explain more when I get home tonight, also please ride to work with Felix I would feel a lot better, just for today.
With all of my love,
Edward
That didn't sit well with me, he knew I hated when he didn't tell me things, but he did say that he would tell me tonight when he got home, I wondered if Felix knew what happened at the club. I got dressed for work and headed to the kitchen where Irena had breakfast waiting for me.
"Thank you Irena, I don't know if I say it enough but I really do appreciate you making breakfast and dinner most nights, after getting off work I'm just to tired to make anything, well that and being around food cooking all day doesn't help either."
"No problem my child, I have been doing this for Edward for almost his whole life, I was the cook at the Cullen Estate when he was just a baby, in fact I made his baby food from scratch none of that jarred crap." She said with a wistful smile on her face that must be bringing back some good memories for her.
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"Hey Marcus what do we have on the menu for tonight's service?" I asked like I do everyday when I came into the kitchen, but today I was met with a man I didn't know holding Marcus up by his throat against the wall, I was just about to turn and run when Felix came in behind me and went after the guy. Felix is a big guy and was fairly able to over power the other guy, but he had a knife in his hand and used it to stab Felix in the stomach causing him to go down quickly. The guy took off running out the door. I reached for my phone and called 911 and told them what had happened, then I called Edward, he was sending one of his guards over to Delica right away he also told me that Tanya would be coming also so Marcus and I can give her a description of the guy. I went to check on Marcus who was on the floor trying to catch his breath after being chocked.
"Do you know who that man was Marcus?" He nodded his head to let me know that he did know who it was, but was still having trouble breathing so I didn't ask what his name was, I figured the cops were going to ask him anyway.
"Was he one of Black's men?" He nodded his head again, when one of the bodyguards came in I told him what had happened and what I had asked Marcus he said that was fine and the cops were on there way along with Edward, he was shutting down the restaurant tonight and told me to let everyone know that they were to go home and be back tomorrow, and that he would still pay them for today. I did just I was asked when people asked what had happened I told them I wasn't sure what was going on and that Edward had called and asked that everyone go home after they had given there statement to the police and to come in tomorrow at around 8am so that he could tell us what was going on.
Once the police came they took care of Felix right away and sent him to the hospital, next they took Marcus, and then started with the statement from the employee's and they saved me for last I guess. I noticed it was the same creepy officer from my old apartment that was going to be doing my statement, I asked the guard to stay close in a low voice so that only he heard me. Alec, the bodyguard, gave me a small nod to let me know that he understood.
"Ah, Miss. Swan I see we meet again, but this time it's at work, funny how things keep happening to you or around you is it not?"
"So officer where would you like to talk" I asked him instead of answering his question, I knew what he wanted me to do and it wasn't going to happen.
"Can you tell me what happened here today?" So I told him everything that I could think of leaving no detail out, how I came in and saw Marcus being held up by his neck, how Felix tried to help him only to get stabbed by a knife. "You mean this knife?" He asked me showing me one of the kitchen knives that we have.
"I don't know what knife it was that he used I only saw that Felix had a knife wound on him and was bleeding." I couldn't be certain that was the knife that guy had used, so I wouldn't say yes or no to his question which only seemed to piss him off.
"How do you know it was a knife wound then if you didn't see the knife itself?"
"My father was the chief of police in our hometown; I have seen the pictures of what a knife wound looks like." He got a surprised look on his face when I told him that.
"Who was your father?"
"Fork's Chief of police Charlie Swan." I answered him with a smile on my face, I know he knew who he was, everyone in the force did.
"Oh, ok, but you said you didn't see the knife correct? So you don't know for a fact that it was a knife wound, he could have used something else." If he thinks I am that stupid he's crazy.
"No I did not see the knife but I do know for a fact that only a knife can make that kind of a wound, nothing else will." We could sit here all night if he wanted and debate this but I was 100% sure that it was a knife that was used. "What is your next question, I don't feel like sitting here all night answering the same question over and over again."
"Fine then, can you tell me what happened next?" He was getting a little mad that I wasn't playing his game. I told him that after that I called 911, sometime during that the guy ran out the back door, I didn't see which way he went, I didn't really care either, I was more worried about Felix bleeding out then anything else at the time. "Ok that is all I need for right now, if I have any other questions I will be in contact, are you at the same number you gave me before?"
"Yes that is were I live now, with my boyfriend." I told him with a smile on my face, I knew he didn't like that answer. Shortly after officer Newton left, Edward showed up running into the kitchen and pulled me into his arms.
"Oh thank god that you are ok, I got here as soon as I could, have you already talked to the police and sent everyone else home?"
"Yes, I told them all to be here at 8am tomorrow so that you could explain what was going on and what had happened, I figured you would want to talk to Marcus tonight and find out what it was that guy wanted. Marcus did say that he knew who then man was, but he was having a hard time breathing so I didn't ask him anything other then yes and no question so he would have to waste his breathe answering me. I knew he was going to have to talk to the police, he did say that it was one of Black's men though, I don't know if that helps you or not, but he does know the guys name."
"That's fine thank you for asking the question though that is a big help. I will talk to him later tonight he will need to get some rest first after an attack like that. I want him well rested, do you think you can take his spot for a couple of days or do you think it might be to stressful for you right now?" He asked me with concern.
"I should be fine hun, don't worry so much, even if I am it's too early anyway, you need to relax more or you won't be around, you'll end up having a heart attack. If things become too much I will always let you know, even if I'm not ok. I love you, heart and soul but you don't need to worry yet ok?" I asked him as I cupped his cheek in my hand. He turned his face to my palm and kissed it and pulled me back into his arms and held me tightly for a while until Alec reminded us that he was there. Oops forgot again that someone was in the room with us.
"Take me home babe, I want to soak in a tub and have you tell me about what happened at the club."
"Ok, let's go home and we'll talk." We left Delica and went home.
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When we got home he went into the bathroom and started the bath water for me and even put some bubbles in it.
"So what happened in the club that had you leaving early this morning and wanting me to ride with Felix today, does it have something to do with Black?" I asked after we had been in the tub for a little while.
"Yeah, he managed to break in sometime after it closed and the alarms went off which alerts me on the phone then the police, so I had to go and see what damage he had done to the place. Luckily there wasn't much, I don't know if it was because he didn't have time or what. He trashed the first level, the bar had all of the liquor bottles broken and he made deep gashes in the dance floor, it will have to be replaced along with the alcohol. The tables and chairs were broken those will have to be replaced as well. The second floor wasn't as badly damaged, they got the alcohol there and some of the tables and chairs but I think they ran out of time. At least they weren't able to get into the offices and get the paperwork. The elevator is only activated by my key card and a pin number that I change weekly for security reasons. I'm not sure what he was trying to do by destroying the club. He has to know that people are not going to come to his club just because he destroyed mine, they will most likely go to Twilight instead and that is fine with me because that is Jasper's club. I had Em come out and look at the damage to see what kind of repairs are going to be needed he said it should take about 3-5 weeks but then the club will be as good as new. I also called James from the Irish family and told him to be on the look out incase this is some type of retaliation that he is doing because he was stopped from selling his drugs here, so he may target James's club's next." He explained to me, surprisingly calm for what had happened, I was pissed and it wasn't even my club.
"This Black guy is getting out of hand, going after someone's stuff just because you are mad is no way to get even, at least I don't think so, I mean you could just do the same thing to his club is he not worried about that? Or is this his idea and he has some sort of trap at his places for you."
"I didn't think about that, I had thought about going after his clubs but you do have a point about there being a trap, great job baby. Maybe I will just take some more of his workers, I can always use more help at the hotels, there are maids needed for the rooms, they wouldn't have as many, the laundry room could use more washers and dryers and people have to run the loads and fold the sheets and towels. The there are servers at the Casino that are needed too. What do you think?"
"Um, why are you asking me? I don't know how any of this works so you should do what is best, and if taking away his workers or 'money' as he sees it would be the best way then do it. But I really have no idea. Would he try harder to come after me now is that why you asked, because I will have more guards with me if that will make you feel better I won't argue with you on my security anymore."
"Let's get out of the tub and then we can talk some more about this the water is getting cold." I stood up and Edward got out and handed me a towel, we dried off and went to put on our sleepwear for the night and he took me into his office so we could talk some more and show me things I guess.
"Ok having more security with you would help me relax more if you don't mind. I want to have Alec, who you had with you today, and one other guard with you. I would also like for the time being that they drive you, just until we know how he is going to act. The other guard's name is Liam; he has worked for me a few years and is very loyal just like Alec. Alec has more personality then Liam does just to warn you, Liam is all business where as Alec is business but will also joke around and talk to you."
"Who will be with you then if your guards will be with me?" I was worried that he would be without anyone I knew he had 4 guards with him at all times and now I was taking 2 of his I didn't want him to be without his guards.
"I have people who are fill ins for when something comes up, so I will be using them, there names are Caius and Aro they have no personality at all but are very good at what they do so I will take them, I think Alec will be good replacement to Felix until he is felling better and able to return to work, when he does then I will take Liam back, you need people who will look out for you but also be friendly so when you go out it won't look so obvious that they are your guards." That made sense to me; I could see where having someone who doesn't talk would ask questions that I didn't want to answer yet.
"Ok anything else I need to know about?" I was getting tired and my mind really just wanted to process it all. "Have you heard anything yet about Felix? I would like to go see him tomorrow if he is able to have visitors." I was worried about him and I wanted to see him and tell him thank you for protecting me.
"No nothing yet but he may still be in surgery, I have the doctor who is doing the surgery and the one who will be taking care of him call me with updates if anything happens. So unfortunately in this case no news is good news that means that everything is going ok and there is nothing to report. I will hear something as soon as the surgery is done though so don't worry. As for seeing him you can go anytime you like you are on the list of people who are 'allowed' to see him, I have his room under protection as well so that the person doesn't come back and try to finish the job. Marcus I have not talked to yet but I will in the morning I wanted to give him time to let his voice heal, his room is under heavy protection too so you don't have to worry about him either." He knew me too well.
"Thank you that mean's a lot to me. I will go see Felix tomorrow before I go into work. I am really tired now so I am going to go to bed, are you going to be much longer?" I asked just as a yawn escaped me.
"No, not to much longer, get some rest love you need it." He said as he came over to me and wrapped me in his arms and kissed me good night.
"I love you baby, I will be to bed real soon."
"I love you too." I kissed him goodnight and headed off to bed.