Hey everyone! Thanks for all the awesome responses to the previous chapter. This one focuses a lot on Carlisle. It's a bit dark but it does have its light moments. I hope you like it. I couldn't get All I ask of you from the Phantom of the Opera out of my head during the later part of this chapter when Carlisle is talking about Bella to Edward and then the Bella and Carlisle moment at the end of this chapter. So please review and enjoy!

Chapter Eleven

The Beast, the Demon, and the Man

It was hard for Bella to adjust to Carlisle acting like a capo. It wasn't that she didn't like it because she knew that he could be like this, but she truly had never been exposed to it before. They sat side by side in the car simply holding hands to comfort one another. He had to be serious right now and so he couldn't show her affection. They were in the car with some of the people that worked for Carlisle. In the car following them were more of the "soldiers" and Esme who was still unconscious thanks to Jane. Emmett sat next to Bella hoping to be of some comfort to her, but knew that she was taking this all in for the first time and so it was a bit overwhelming. He had sent Rose to be with Alice and Jasper promising that he would come back for her to take her home after business had been dealt with. If it took long, which it most likely would, Rosalie could spend the night in one of the guest bedrooms in Alice and Jasper's apartment.

Aro, Marcus, and Caius would meet Carlisle at the warehouse to discuss what should happen to Esme. Carlisle wanted to kill her but he couldn't because she was a woman. Then again she disobeyed him and attempted to murder his girlfriend. Isabella gave his hand a gentle squeeze as if she knew that he needed her comfort to calm the million thoughts buzzing through his mind. Not only did she make him a stronger person, but a stronger Capo. She knew him well enough, regardless of time, to sense when he was over thinking things and needed to be pulled back down into reality. He turned to look at her, happy that they had removed their masks so he could now see her clearly. Feeling his gaze she turned her head to look at him. He squeezed her hand in return causing a tender smile to grace her lips. Her eyes asked him for permission and he granted it with his own gaze. Maybe from exhaustion or need for further contact and affection she leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder and so he wrapped his arm around her.

When the car came to a stop Carlisle knew he had to face the inevitable. Everyone rushed into the building because of the cold. Luckily the men escorting Esme were strong because she was still unconscious, not that she weighed very much. They would be taking her into one of the interrogation rooms in the basement that was completely soundproof so that no one could hear what they were doing. When Bella realized how exhausted she truly was from the drama of the night she sat down on one of the couches outside the room.

"You can sleep if you're tired, Love. Edward and Alec are going to stay out here with you."

She laid out on the couch on her side and Carlisle shrugged his jacket off, then draped it over her as a makeshift blanket.

"Carlisle." She murmured.

"Yes, my angel." He replied softly as he crouched down so that they were on the same eye level.

"Are you going to kill her?"

"I don't know, Love. I gave her an order as her Capo not to harm you in any way and I made myself very clear. When women decide to work for the mafia there is the debate over how they should be punished if they betray their clan or Capo. Does it make them different than a woman who does not work for the mafia that we would not harm? Or does being part of and working for the mafia forfeit them from the rule about not harming women? If she were a man I wouldn't hesitate to beat him or put a bullet through his head, as harsh as that sounds. I know this sounds terrible considering what you've been through."

"I understand, Carlisle. It's business. But I need to tell you something."

He cupped her cheek in his palm and searched her eyes for the answer.

"What is it, my love? Tell me anything."

"When I went into the gallery to be alone for a moment I was sitting on a bench looking at my locket. And then I heard the flute's tune. I couldn't mistake that flute. That tune haunts me. James would play it to get me to obey or follow. It's like hypnosis for me, or a siren that puts me in a trance. I wanted to believe that it was in my head but it was too real. I didn't want to follow but my body reacted. I didn't see James but only he plays that tune, Carlisle. When Esme stormed in the flute stopped playing. What if Esme hadn't stormed in? What if James was really there? I never saw him the entire night but that flute. That damned flute."

She was panicking now. Fear shook her body and he wrapped her in his arms.

"Everything is going to be ok, Isabella. I believe you. In some sick twisted way if he was really there Esme saved you. I'll get right on it."

Edward interrupted for he and Alec had been standing there the whole time.

"I'll call Carmen and see if we can get a list of everyone that was invited and attended. I'll also see if we can get the recordings from the security cameras in the museum. Hopefully we can catch the flute player in the gallery and figure out who he is."

Edward wasn't quite sure why the flute would have been used with James, who he assumed was her abuser. But he knew now was not the time to ask questions. Carlisle nodded in thanks, signaling for Edward to get on the phone. Edward was actually happy to have left Tanya with her brother for the night. He couldn't deal with her right now because of everything that was going on. He thought he would be more upset watching Carlisle and Bella at the moment, but made the fact that it was time to work helped him get through this. Or maybe it was his love for Bella that made it easier. He wanted to protect her and so it was just as important to him as it was to his brother.

"I love you, Isabella. You should rest now. If you have a nightmare someone will wake you. And if you're still asleep when we're done I won't wake you. Do you want to go to your apartment after this or mine?"

"Yours."

"You know I won't leave you, Isabella."

"I know. I just want to go to your home. I love you."

"I love you, Angel. Rest now. Sweet dreams."

He let go of her and kissed her forehead. Within seconds she was sound asleep on the couch.

Carlisle entered the room void of emotion. Isabella was asleep under the protection of two of his men and so he could stop worrying. Esme was finally coming around when he approached her. She was bound at her wrists and ankles and forced to kneel on the concrete floor. Her eyes opened and she searched the room and tried to move.

"Don't waste your time, Esme." Carlisle scoffed.

He could feel Marcus, Aro, and Caius watching him closely.

"I told you there would be consequences for going against my orders and attempting to harm Isabella."

He pulled out his gun and stalked toward her. He took off the safety lock and smirked. Scaring the shit out of her might make her more willing to cooperate and so he shot at the cement an inch from her knee. She shrieked and he laughed.

"You wish I would put you out of your misery. Isabella informed me that your intrusion in the gallery cut off a flute's tune that put her in a trance. So for that I thank you though you cannot understand the significance of it all."

"I heard the flute. She followed like she was in a trance."

"Did you see the person playing the flute?"

"No, but I assume she was moving towards him or her."

"When you decided to go into the gallery after her did you see anyone else go into the gallery that maybe she didn't notice?"

"No. I was under the impression that she was in there alone until I entered and heard the flute."

"Why did you jump to the conclusion that killing her was the answer instead of talking things out with me like adults?"

"Get rid of the problem and there's a solution."

"You do realize that you've only angered me and stripped your family of its honor. I do not look forward to speaking with your parents about this after all, you're practically family. Now the question is, what do we do with you?"

He walked away from her to converse with his advisors.

"I say kill her." Caius demanded.

"But she is a woman." Marcus protested.

"But she is one of our assassins. You gave her an order and she disobeyed you. She went after your woman and tried to kill her. I think she's exempted from the no women and children rule." Aro declared.

Carlisle nodded his head in agreement.

"An example must be made out of her so that our enemies see that I will not tolerate anyone who tries to harm those whom I love. No one hurts my Isabella and gets away with it." Carlisle practically growled.

"Then do you know what you will do?" Aro asked.

Carlisle nodded and then turned on his heel.

"Jane, Heidi, Chelsea, and Renata could you please come here for a moment?" He asked his favorite female soldiers. They rushed to his aid eager to please their Capo.

"Ladies, you are aware of the crime Esme has committed?" He asked with a darkly satisfied tone.

"Yes, Capo." They replied in unison.

"She hurt Bella." Jane stated angrily.

"That's right, Jane. And as you can imagine I am very unhappy."

"What do you need us to do, Capo? She went against your orders and so she must pay. As you told us no one hurts Bella and gets away with it."

Carlisle couldn't help but chuckle. Chelsea was so eager and he was pleased.

"Always so eager, Chelsea. You'll get your taste of revenge soon enough. Would you ladies like to help me get my revenge on Esme?"

"Of course, Capo." They replied in unison.

"Very good. It's nice to see your loyalty worn so proudly. You shall all be rewarded when your deed is done. Now as you know we do not harm women and children but I am willing to make an exception for Esme because of what she has done. Though I think I've found a loophole. A man cannot harm a woman, but there is nothing against a woman harming another woman."

All four of the women smirked.

"Do what you like with her, but do not kill her. You can make her wish for death."

Carlisle then stalked towards Esme and jerked her chin upward.

"I warned you, Esme. If you beg for death it will not come. This is what happens when you go against my orders and hurt what I love. Hopefully this will teach you a lesson and maybe you can redeem yourself, but that's highly unlikely."

He stormed away from her.

"She's all yours, Ladies." He growled.

He burst out of the room slamming the door and the leaned against the wall as he tried to catch his breath.

"Carlisle." Edward spoke up with a puzzled look on his face.

"Jane, Renate, Heidi, and Chelsea are taking care of her." He replied. "Mother fucking bitch. How dare she put me in this position!" He slammed his fist against the wall only to look aside and see Bella's sleeping form.

All his anger rushed out of him and he drifted towards his other half.

"She kept mumbling something about 'that damned flute' and 'the chains on the wall'. Then she started to whimper and right when I was about to wake her she stopped whimpering."

"She must have been dreaming about James and chains he would restrain her in."

"Was James her abuser?" Edward asked.

Carlisle nodded.

"And much more. It's Isabella's secret to tell, but in this situation in order to understand what James is doing here and where he could be, we all need to know the truth." He took a deep. "They loved one another until he abused that gift and forced himself upon her. Then he began to physically abuse her, which eventually led to collaring her and forcing her to be his submissive. She has scars from his abuse."

His eyes fell to Isabella and he sighed. She was so beautiful.

"Don't be fooled though, Edward. She may appear fragile because of her past, but she's a fighter. She went to therapy and it helped her be able to function in society again. But she still gets nightmares from time to time. Considering what she went through tonight with Esme and even the possibility of James being nearby I'm surprised that she can even sleep or that she hasn't convulsed from nightmares. But she might just be so exhausted that sleep won."

Carlisle perched on the arm of the couch and found himself stroking her soft hair gently. It calmed him and let him cool off.

"Why didn't she ever talk to me about it? I would have understood. I would have been more patient." Edward asked, hurt evident in his voice.

"That's a conversation you need to have with her. In the short while that she and I have known each other we have learned a great deal about one another. She'll talk about things when she's ready. I was shocked when she spoke to me about it so soon, but I was glad. Now I know a bit more about what troubles her. Sometimes we'll be out and she'll see something that triggers a memory from her past. Sometimes she can shake herself out of it, and other times she needs someone to remove her from the situation." He then looked up at his brother with honest eyes. "I know you're angry with me about Esme."

"I was." Edward corrected his brother. "Until tonight. I didn't know she was going to do something so rash. She never acts like this. She mixed work with life. She's been compromised."

"I agree. I couldn't bring myself to murder her despite how I want to."

"Are you holding back because of feelings you have for her?"

Carlisle shook his head fiercely.

"No, mostly because if that flute player was truly James, Esme broke Isabella from her trance with her attack. Neither situation would have been pleasant. If James had gotten a hold of her…"

He couldn't bring himself to finish his statement.

"Is that why you brought her here?" Edward asked to change the subject.

"You realize that she and I had a fight before we came here. At first I was going to send her home with the others. I was going to leave her for good for her own safety because I felt guilty for tonight. But Isabella stood her ground and convinced me with the truth that I was suppressing so that logic could triumph. I can't walk away from her without destroying myself. I can't hurt her like that. If it were any love but this I would think she would hurt for a little while and get over me, but I knew the consequences. She is my better half and is not afraid to call me on it when I'm wrong. I feared she would be afraid if I let her come into the warehouse, but then I told her she could come with me if she did as I asked. I had to bring her inside. If James has come for her, and even if she was under watch of our guards, it's not like I could leave her in the car."

"You should have Esme killed." Edward stated.

Carlisle was shocked.

"I'm going to speak with her father tomorrow. I'm only doing so because our families are so close. I feel it is the respectable thing to do."

"Don't talk to Mrs. Platt about it. That's only asking for Hell."

"I'll speak with Mr. Platt first, but he can tell her and then she can speak to me. He was once Father's favorite assassin. We all know that they both were heart broken when he had to quit because of his health."

"It was all of those damned cigarettes he told us not to smoke while he puffed away on them in our faces." Edward chuckled with a smirk on his face.

Carlisle couldn't help but laugh as well.

"I know that Esme is strong willed and a mere beating even to the brink of death wouldn't break her. We can strip her of her weapons, but we cannot strip her of her will without excessive abuse. I will not carry out her torture like a slave driver. Isabella understands that this is the way things in the world of the Mafia, but even then there is such thing as too much. She tells me I am not a monster, but we both know that's not true. A monster wouldn't order another woman to be beaten within and inch of her life."

"It's to protect Bella." Edward argued.

"That's beside the point. I'm still a beast when I have to carry out punishment. I'm still cold hearted when I have to kill. I'm contemplating what to do with Esme now because I will not have Esme continually beaten merely because we don't know what to do with her. Despite whether Isabella says she understands that it's business, if Esme continues to be beaten she might very well see me like James. I have to find a balance between the monster and the man whose eyes have been opened. I'm not just living for myself anymore, Edward. It's not just about what those in the clan think of me and how I'm and our clan is perceived by our enemies. What Isabella thinks about me matters immensely."

"That's why you can't stay in the room while they're punishing Esme?"

Carlisle nodded.

"It makes me sick even though it has to be done. It's like I told Isabella on our first date. Killing, harming others, and other things of the sorts, I don't take pleasure in it and I'm not proud of it. It's survival. It's kill or be killed. What the girls are doing to Esme, that's an insurance policy. I can't risk something happening to Isabella. I'm not living for myself anymore. Before her I didn't want to die, but I didn't give a shit if something happened to me as long as I lived up to Dad's legacy. But now that I have Isabella, I can't afford to slip up. I'll die before some lays a hand on her. I've got a reason to live and I have a duty to fulfill. As fucking hard as it is to believe I have a purpose."

The two brothers stood in silence. Carlisle was focused on Isabella and watched her sleep. Edward was taking in everything that his older brother had just said. As much as he didn't want to admit it, his brother had changed tremendously. Carlisle had always been responsible and mature, but he seemed more so now than before. He had been reckless though just as he had stated. He felt he had nothing to live for but their father's legacy. He was a changed man and still changing.

…

Esme laid on the floor still like death with her broken life. The torture was finally over but she could not move. Her eyes searched the room trying to find the reason for the end of her torment, but she could not find one. It was then that the door opened and her heart ached. Carlisle entered unaffected by her current state. Slowly he approached her ragged form and the others backed away from her. She could find nothing to feed off of. He withheld emotion, even anger. Silently he crouched and sat on his heels as he inspected her limp figure.

"Were bones broken?" He asked no one in particular.

"A few I believe." Jane replied.

"I'll have Eleazar come check on her in the morning. I'll not disturb the good man tonight. Now Esme, you must be wondering what I plan to do with you."

He was expressionless. Everything was locked away.

"You're too much of a coward to kill me." She spat.

He smirked at her and actually laughed.

"You'd like that very much if I killed you, wouldn't you? You'd love to be put out of your misery."

"You're just doing this to chase me away so I'll back off. You'll never get rid of me."

"Again, you taunt me so you can be granted death, but I won't give you the pleasure. Death is easy, but life, surviving, that's hard. You've had it easy all your life, Esme despite what you do for you a living. My siblings and I have had an easy life as well. I'm giving you a second chance at salvation, Esme. We all need to stop taking the easy ways out and learn the value of working hard and striving towards a goal. I should kill you. I should just eliminate you so I can rest assure that Isabella is safe, but I've found another way. Tonight you'll get to lie here in pain under watch until morning where Eleazar will come to patch you up. Then I'm sending you to Italy."

Her eyes widened in horror. She understood what he was doing.

"You're sending me to her?" Esme gasped.

"You haven't seen your aunt in quite some time. I think we both know you'll be put to the test and there will be no escape."

It was basically a women's correctional center but for women of the Mafia in the countryside of Italy. Esme wasn't Italian nor did she have any Italian roots, but her aunt moved there, fell in love, and now that is where she resides.

"So you're making me someone else's burden."

Carlisle shook his head with a smile.

"I know it seems like torture but maybe you'll thank me one day. You can't get out until you're certifiably better and she'll be updating me on your progress. You won't be set free until I say so."

Esme wanted to cry but she wouldn't in front of him or any man.

Carlisle looked over his shoulder as he stood up and found his advisors looking at him with pride. And so he dismissed everyone but those who he needed to stay and keep watch over Esme until Eleazar came in the morning. Edward was taking Emmett back to Alice's to get Rose and his car. And now Carlisle could take home his angel.

When he went to retrieve her he found that she was still sound asleep. He couldn't help but smile as his hard exterior melted away. Carefully he lifted her from the couch bridal style. She remained asleep during the drive home and did not wake until he tried to get her out of her dress in the bedroom and into one of his t-shirts so she would be more comfortable.

"Carlisle." She murmured, her voice heavy with sleep. "What are you doing?"

"I was trying to change you out of your dress and into one of my t-shirts so you could sleep more comfortably, but it seems I have woken you during my efforts."

She sat up on the edge of the bed and pulled on the t-shirt to cover herself. He was already in a pair of pajama pants and ready for bed. Their familiar connection buzzed between them causing him to move in closer and wrap her in his arms as her arms circled his neck. Soon his lips were on hers and she was kissing him with a fiery passion. When she pulled him down onto the bed he did not object.

"I love you." She moaned into the kiss.

"As I love you." He panted in reply.

He attacked her lips once again and then stopped suddenly. He laid down on his side and pulled her to his chest as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. He needed to have her close.

"Carlisle?" She asked unsure of his actions. "Carlisle, are you all right?"

"I sent her away to Italy to live in the correctional society for women of the mafia that her aunt runs. That wasn't until she was beaten. I'm a monster. But I almost lost you tonight. Please tell me if you hate me. Be honest."

She stared at him in shock.

"Carlisle Cullen, I could never hate you. You did what you had to. You saved my life. We're a team, Carlisle. I love you. Why can't you see that I love you no matter what happens?"

He stared deeply into her eyes in awe.

"I'll be better, Isabella. We are a team. And right here, what we have together, this is worth the world to me. I love you with all that I am. You've changed me so, but for the better."

She shook her head as she laughed softly.

"Silly man, I have not changed you. You decided to change or maybe I gave you the opportunity to. Regardless it's all your doing, Carlisle. Monster, beast, man, friend, love, family man, or Capo and whatever else, I love you, all parts of you. If I did not I would have not asked to go with you to the warehouse, knowing full well what I might have to face. You have to understand that my love for you knows no bounds. As you have sat back and listened to me about my past and helped me through talking about it and sorting out my thoughts, this is my way of doing the same for you. I don't want to be one of those girls who has to sit at home while her man does business because she's afraid of being in a business place of men. That's not me and that's never been me. You go to my office to see me and so I get to go to yours. Of course I'll give you more of a heads up for obvious reasons. But if we want to progress any further with this relationship you have to realize that you can't protect me from your life, because what you do is part of who you are. Sure I'm scared shitless about James. The fact that he might be here terrifies me, but I'm trying to be strong because letting him shake me doesn't help anyone. I'm learning from you."

"Just like I'm learning from you. You are something special, Isabella."

Her eye lids then dared to fall and he chuckled softly.

"We can talk more in the morning. I'm guessing you want to go with me tomorrow to take care of some business related to tonight."

She nodded in reply.

"All right. We'll stop by your apartment on the way so you can change your clothes and take a shower because I'm sure you'd be more comfortable."

They both hurried under the covers and snuggled together chest to chest with his arms around her and one leg across hers to make her feel safe. He wasn't going to let James touch her. He'd have to get through Carlisle first. Isabella was his precious jewel that he would guard with his life. She owned him and was his guardian angel, and now it was his turn to be hers. He would watch her heart while she slept as she did his, while he kept her body with his like a shield, sheltering her from the world as she slept. She fell asleep with a smile on her face due to the comfort of the warm cocoon he had formed around her. His presence would prevent the nightmares that would come if she had been alone. She was safe and her guard was down completely for she trusted Carlisle to keep her well and cherish her heart, mind, and body because he was her peace, and not even James could disturb her blissful slumber. Carlisle looked down at her sleeping form and kissed the top of her head.

"Sweet dreams, Isabella. I love thee truly. I promise to love you and to be a better man for you. I swear to protect you. I'll be open with you. I'll always be honest. You are my existence. Time does not determine love, and I know that ours is true without a doubt. Whatever we have to face we will face it together. But I hope that while you escape from the troubles of the world tonight, you dream of bliss, and maybe I am in that paradise for you are in mine. Every night since we met you warm my dreams with happiness. I only wish to do the same to yours. You are my blessing, Isabella, and despite the monster I see when I look at myself in the mirror, I hope to be your blessing, too. Because ever since I met you I believed in miracles, and I want to be your miracle, just like you are mine."

His eyes fell heavy after he kissed her temple once more. He held her through the night with a smile now sure that he was with his other half. Isabella was his soul mate, irrevocably, undoubtedly, and most of all, permanently. He couldn't be happier.