Jasper Whitlock, 2006

I was in too deep. I was way over my head. This was a territory I wasn't familiar with. But how could I deny what I felt? How could I keep it hidden? As I looked around the room at all the hardened faces of the criminals I called family, I realized pretty fucking quick I would have to find a way.

Bella invoked things. Feelings I shouldn't be having. Especially for her. I tried to talk myself out of wanting anything to do with her a number of times, only to talk myself right back into it.

Her brother had seen it too. He had warned me about going after his little sister. He didn't want me anywhere near her; at least not in a romantic aspect. I was a criminal. Not because we exchanged information and I was willing to go out on a fucking limb for my family, didn't mean me and him were pals and I could date much less fuck around with his sister.

Then I thought about the things we have down in the sack and I smirked. Oh I fucked her alright.

Forget my deranged pride. What was I going to do? I was falling for her and I was confused as fuck about it. On the other hand, I have never seen things so clearly. Love was a screwed up game. Wait, was it love? Was I falling in love with the unobtainable girl? Was she unobtainable though? Could I still say that? I mean I have "obtained" her more than once, so...No! This wasn't what I should be thinking about. Anything to do with Bella could wait until later. Right now was about business, the end was closing in on me and I had to get things done.

Alexei Chekov had already landed in the country and would be arriving any moment. I should be thinking about the motherfucker I had to babysit.

Alexei Chekov was the son of the leader, Vladimir Chekov, one of the most ruthless men in all of Europe. Alexei was a lot like Michael, he was the little brother looking to prove himself to his big brother, and enforcer of the Chekov gang, Sergei Chekov, as well as their father, Vladimir.

Sergei was a lot like me. In fact, it was disturbing how similar Pop, Michael and I were to the Chekovs. We both loved and respected each other and if anyone threatened that, we would cut their throats. That was where the similarities stopped though. The Whitlocks weren't as fucked up as the Chekovs when it came to how we went about exacting revenge. The blood and gore were too twisted and the Chekovs loved that shit. They were fucking terrorists.

"Where's your head at, Jasper?" Michael asked, waving a hand I hadn't noticed until now, in front of my face. I slapped it away.

"What?"

"I've been trying to get your attention."

"Ever thought I was just ignoring you?" I wasn't. I just wanted to anywhere but here. This crisis of conscience shit was fucking with my nerves.

We were at one of the warehouses in the boardroom awaiting Alexei's arrival. I wanted to get right down to business, but he wanted to relax first. I made it clear to their liaison I wasn't interested in that. We would talk business as soon as Alexei's feet hit American soil, then party after.

Michael had a smug smirk on his face I was sure I was about to smack him over the head for. The asshole was about to say some shit.

"I thought you were thinking about a certain…"

I was in his face so fast he looked like he stopped breathing. I was pretty sure he did. I didn't feel an ounce of air hit my face while he stared in to my eyes…terrified.

"Say something else," I said in a menacing tone.

"Jasper," Peter started and I leveled him with a furious glare, effectively shutting him up.

"Listen, Jasper," Michael tried. He started breathing again.

"Shut the hell up!" I snapped. "Not another word."

Aro laughed, reminding me of his unneeded presence. He was here to oversee the deal. The bastard wanted to be in this shit from the beginning to the end. Too bad, it won't be the ending he was hoping for. I would never hand over the Whitlock gang to his doped up, scrawny, backstabbing ass.

"What's with the attitude, baby blue?" Aro taunted. "I want to know what the kid has to say."

I glared at Michael when it looked like he was about to answer Aro.

"It's none of your concern," I sneered at Aro. "It's a family matter."

I stressed on the word 'family' while I spoke to the bastard. He scoffed.

To others, it may sound like he wasn't affected by my little snip, but the fucker was. I could feel it in my bones.

Peter got the call. Alexei was on route to the warehouse. Good. I wasn't one to be kept waiting. I had been here long enough already. Being around Aro made my skin crawl and my blood boil. Bella could calm that and I wanted to get to club and see her. I hope to God she was wearing something tight. Something I would want to take off with my teeth.

The limo pulled to a stop on the security screen. A bulky guy who could be described as Emmett's twin, or if I was being truthful, he was bigger than Emmett, got out of the limo and started to make his way to the building with two guys flanking him.

I didn't want to at the moment, but seeing Alexei, in the flesh, reminded me of a conversation with James.

"So your sister is gonna come for me if anything happens to you?" I didn't believe the chick I saw in that picture from James' family hiding place or whatever was some mini Rambo.

James looked at me. He didn't say anything. He just took a long draw of his cigarette and continued to stare at me. It was unnerving. I could freak fuckers with the stare and say nothing bullshit, but I hated when it was turned on me. Which wasn't too often. Most feared looking me in the eye.

He took another draw from his cigarette. "Yes, she will come for you. Shouldn't you be focused on the Chekovs and knowing who is who?"

"I already studied that shit." I did. I knew Vladimir would skin me alive and smile while doing it. I knew Sergei would pose a problem seeing as he was as skilled as me in a fight. His choice of weapons was his two 9mms and his dagger. I had two knives and two guns on me at all times.

"Good." James didn't say anything else.

"So, that little cutie is really your sister?"

His eyes were murderous when they snapped to me. "If it was in my power, I wouldn't need you. I regret telling you shit. I should let you and your lot fucking die. You're no saint. You're not trying to save innocents. Every one of you is guilty in some way or another! I'm throwing a lot away coming to you for help! Letting you know your precious psycho Aro is looking to kill every one of yous! But like you, I'm being fucking selfish! This is for my family's safety as much as yours."

In that moment, I could feel it. He was carrying a secret. Something he wasn't saying. Something he hadn't told anyone.

"What's with you?"

Leah was watching him closely. She would snap at a moment's notice and end this alliance if James made the wrong move.

"What the hell are you talking about?" he said angrily.

"Something's up. You look like your whole world is falling apart around you. What are you hiding?"

He looked at me. Long and hard. And then he started to laugh. It was borderline manic. "You're good, Whitlock. I've read about you, but to experience it, is something else."

"You're making it too easy for me. Matters not, you're hiding something big."

"Yeah. It's big. It has to do with Aro and my family. And the snitches who are going to turn me in."

What the fuck did Aro have to do with his family? "You know the snitches," I stated.

"Yeah." He took another draw of his cigarette.

"First, before I tell you, because I'm already dead, there's no fucking way out for me so might as well someone else knows the truth, you need to know that this shit with Aro, the Chekovs, Banner and all the big wigs in their back pockets is too much to just expose. We have to be clever. That'll be your part. You're not like your dad, Nicky. You're not as flamboyant and oblivious like Michael. You think, Jasper. You look at a situation from more than one angle. That's why I picked you to come to with this. You were my best bet. When this shit goes south for me, make Bella understand what we were doing here. She can help you complete my mission."

He started laughing but I was too stunned to speak. He knew he wasn't going to make it out alive and I had to admire his bravery for it. He was facing death head on. Some motherfuckers were pussies about it. But not this fucker. James Swan was one of the good ones. He was going down with a middle finger pointing at Death.

"You know, if you weren't a criminal and I didn't hate the thought of my little sister even knowing about boys, I think you two would have been perfect for each other."

"Oh yeah?"

James took a draw of his cigarette. "Yeah. Now, this is the truth about Aro and my family."

I was too shocked to speak after James told me what was going on. Leah was stunned and I had never seen her stunned.

"It's nice to meet you, Jasper!" Alexei said, greeting me with a brisk hug. He was a fucking brick wall, but I could take him if I had to.

"Nice to see you too, Alexei." I smiled. I wanted him to be at ease.

He nodded with a grunt.

"Let's take a seat and talk business."

"Yes, let's," Alexei said.

We took a seat and got down to business. Alexei tried to sway me away from the argument with his complaints about having to come straight to a meeting instead of going out and having a little fun first.

"I love the women," he said in a heavy Russian accent. "When do we get to them?"

Aro answered for me and I wanted to pound his face in because his answer to Alexei made my heart stop. "Speaking of women, there are lots of good ones Jasper can entertain you with. In fact, there is a feisty one at Jasper's club I think you would like."

Alexei got excited and my blood started to boil. No fucking way would I allow it to happen. I wouldn't subject her to him. I knew Alexei's background. To him, no meant yes and he loved it when the women fought back. Aro was putting Bella in Alexei's cross hairs. "I'm sure Jasper would let you play with her." The bastard smirked at me, daring me to claim Bella at the table.

"Is this true?" Alexei said, all thoughts of business blown out of his head. He heard of a target and I had to warn her.

"I have connections with a lot of desirables, Alexei," I polished it off, trying to keep the anger out of my voice. "I can find you something nice to play with."

"But your bitch would be perfect for him," Aro urged. "She's got quite the mouth on her. Damn. Those pouty lips. How do they feel, Jasper?"

Alexei smirked. He loved the idea of Bella. He was going to find her as soon as we left here and I had no choice. I would have to take him to the club. It was my job to open talks and ensure everything ran smoothly.

This was not going the way I wanted.

"I want to meet your girl," Alexei said. I could see the lust in his eyes.

Well, damn. I would have to kill the son of a bitch.