Rated M

Disclaimer – Not mine, I just make them do bad, bad things.
Much love and thanks to my beta-love, Carrie ZM
and to my pre-readers, Planetblue and Robsmyyummy Cabanaboy
for all the time and energy they've put into this fic.
Also, massive thanks to LaMomo for all the Italian translations.

Thursday, March 15, 1956
12:14 AM

Dropping a picture of Elezear on the table, Glasses stands and circles the table. "Let's talk about the second attempt on your uncle's life."

I cross my arms over my chest. "You guys got any leads?"

"No." He scratches his brow. "But we have some theories."

I smirk. "Last time I checked, theories don't lead to convictions."

"Yeah, well last time I checked, most employees at Chicago and Northwest Railroad don't have multiple attempts made on their lives either." He rests his palms on the table, leaning over me. "Now, what do you know about the night your uncle got shot?"

I know it nearly cost me the love of my life. "Other than him being shot in front of the Black Orchid, I don't know anything."

September 1955

"How do you want to handle this?" Aro asks, stepping to my side as we watch Philly and his wife wait for the elevator.

My jaw clenches when that smug prick smirks and wraps his arms around Carmen from behind. To anyone else, this seems like a loving gesture, but there's nothing loving about it. That fucking coward is using her as a goddamn bullet sponge.

What kind of man does that to his wife? Even the thought of Bitsy mixed up in this makes my chest ache.

"Tail him." I slip my hands in my pockets and rock back on my heels, grateful that my voice comes out even and I don't sound as rattled as I feel. "Don't you dare let that slippery fucker out of your sight."

"You got it." Aro nods and places his hat on his head before taking off in the direction of the stairs.

Philly presses a kiss to his wife's cheek as the elevator arrives then has the balls to jerk his chin at me. It's like he's goading me to make a move, which he knows I won't here in broad daylight with so many witnesses.

The second he's gone, I head over to the payphone kitty-corner from my uncle's room. Some teeny-bopper is on it, twirling the cord and bitching about having to visit her grandma in the hospital.

"I need the phone, kid."

"Hold on, mister." Scowling, she turns her back on me and slides a hand in her poodle skirt pocket while she continues her yakking.

"I said," I press on the switch to end the call, "I need the phone."

"HEY!"

"It's an emergency." I yank the receiver from her hand and give her a look. "Now scram."

Her eyes go big as I glare at her and she steps back, nodding her head. I take a second to gather myself before I dial the operator, needing to sound calm and casual, not scared out of my mind that my wife's gonna get brought into this mess. Normally, wives and children are off-limits. Even gangsters have an honor code.

But Philly isn't honorable and I just can't take that chance with Bits.

I adjust my hat and blow out a breath while they connect the call. The phone barely is through its first ring when she picks up and accepts the charges. "Hello."

"Hey Bits."

"How is he?"

"Same."

"Is that good or bad?"

"It's a little of both." I shove a hand in my pocket and stare up at the ceiling tiles. "So listen, I think I'm gonna be stayin' up here awhile to help out the family and stuff."

"All right, do you want me to bring up some clothes and food?"

"Uh, no. Actually, I was hoping you'd go stay at your folks' house until things calm down a bit."

There's a long pause on her end.

"Bella?"

"What do you mean until things calm down? What's going on?"

"Nothing, I just don't want you home alone all the time while I'm here."

"I'm a big girl, Edward. I'm sure I'll be fine."

My hand tightens into a fist in my pocket. "This isn't up for discussion, Bits."

More silence from her end.

"You there?"

"I'm here," she snaps. "I'm just waiting on you to tell me what's going on."

"You already know what's goin' on," I shoot back a little louder and sharper than intended, so I lower my voice. "You know why I'm here and it's not for nothin' good. Forgive me if I'd like a little peace of mind that my wife isn't alone while I'm away."

I cover my ear as an announcement blares from the P.A. speaker nearby. Not that I'm missing much since she's gone quiet again.

"Bitsy?"

"Fine."

"Fine?"

"Fine," she repeats, but she doesn't sound fine. "I'll go to my parents."

"Good. I'll call you there this afternoon." I glance towards the elevator and see Emmett and Aunt Es heading in my direction. "Shit."

"What?"

"Sorry, I gotta go."

"Edward—"

"Talk soon, Bits. Love you."

I hang up and meet them just before they hit my uncle's door.

Em clears his throat. "How is he?"

"Same." I glance at my aunt who looks a little worse for wear with her eyes swollen from crying. "No change."

Her lip trembles as she nods and steps into his room. Em goes to follow, but I place a hand on his shoulder.

"We've got a problem."

His eyes move from my hand to meet my gaze and his expression hardens. "A bigger problem than my old man unconscious in the hospital?"

I lean forward. "I've got the person responsible for your old man's condition."

He steps closer. "Who?"

"Let's go somewhere without ears."

"Are you fu—" The word stops short as Em glances at the crucifix on the chapel's altar. "Are you kiddin' me?"

I almost laugh. He can cut a man's tongue out, no problem. Curse in front of a wooden Christ on a cross, out of the fucking question.

"I wish I were."

Standing, he paces the length of the pew, punching his hand into the crown of his hat. He looks fucking murderous, gritting his teeth and cracking his neck. Every moment of silence is another second closer to him exploding.

"So let me get this straight. You're tellin' me that Philly's behind it all?"

I nod.

"All the hits we thought were the Russians?"

"Probably."

"Sally?"

"More than likely"

"Each time they were after my father?"

"It all fits." I cross my arms over my chest. "Apart from the time that he murdered mine."

Dropping his head, he looks at his feet and mutters something that I don't catch.

"What was that?"

"I said I want them dead," he practically snarls as he takes a slow step towards me. "Every last one of them. Philly." Another step. "Mikey." He jabs a finger in my chest. "Every single piece of garbage from McKinley Park."

"They're all fuckin' dead," I promise, meaning every word.

Two knocks sound from the chapel door and we turn to see Paulie peek his head in.

"Es sent us down to get youse two. The doc's gonna be comin' in a few." Pushing the door open, Paulie steps inside with Felix and Aro right behind him.

My eyes go wide at the sight of Aro. "You're supposed to be tailin' him!"

Brow furrowed, Felix widens his arms. "Who're we supposed to be tailin'?"

"He had a car waitin' for him at the entrance." Aro shuts the door behind them and slips both hands in his pockets. "They pulled away as soon as I got outside."

"Godda—" Em stops mid curse, looking at that crucifix again and kicking a pew.

Paulie steps forward. "What's goin'—"

"I called Lou," Aro speaks over Paulie. "He's on his way over to Philly's to keep tabs on him."

"Philly?" Paulie's eyes narrow and he jerks his chin at Emmett. "What's goin' on, boss?"

Pressing his palms into his eyes, Em goes back to pacing. Faster and faster. I can't tell if he's trying to calm himself down or wind himself up.

"Give us a minute, will ya' fellas?" Nodding, they all file out of the room. "Stay close, I'll catch you up a minute." I turn back to my cousin. "Your old man needs you right now."

He shakes his head. "I gotta handle this."

"No." I clasp my hands in front of me. "What you gotta do is go upstairs and be there for your mother and father. That's all you gotta do right now."

"What about—"

"I'll take care of it." I place a hand on my chest. "I'll make sure we find him."

"Grab his rat-faced kid, too."

"I'll hand deliver them both to you."

Mulling over my words, he bites the inside of his cheek and stares at the stained glass window scene of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. "Ed, I don't know …"

"Lemme do this, Em. Lemme worry about this so you can focus on your old man."

After several seconds of silence, he exhales through his nose and nods his head in agreement. "Fine."

He points a finger at me. "But I want them alive, you understand me?"

"I understand."

And with that, he storms out, letting the fellas know to come back in for instruction.

As expected, Paulie and Felix go wild at the news like my cousin did. But unlike Em, Paulie's got no problem cursing in a chapel.

"Let my crew handle those McKinley Park fucks." He winds a finger. "I'll set every one of those fuckers on fire."

Felix tilts his head back and forth at the suggestion before offering one of his own. "What about that rock quarry up on First Avenue and Ogden? I've always wanted to toss someone into that."

"Maybe set 'em on fire first, then toss 'em," Paulie adds with a smile.

These two are sick.

"I don't give a shit about McKinley Park, but I want Philly and Mikey delivered alive." I straighten my stance. "Paulie, you reassume Mikey's territory. We'll split the difference once things settle, but for now I want you to have eyes and ears over there." I wave a hand. "Hit up the whores, see what they know. Broads always love to flap their gums."

"Got it."

I turn to Felix. "I want you to focus on finding the Neris. Call that fat fuck at the Flags Club, what's his name?" I snap my fingers trying to jog my memory.

"Joey Beefs or Fat Jackie?"

"Joey Beefs. You tell him to put the Canaryville and Bridgeport boys on alert. They see either one of the Neris, they call us."

"Got it."

"Talk to the 42nd Street boys and those fellas in Joliet and Cicero, tell them to keep their eyes peeled. Get someone on Philly's pizza joint too."

"All right." He pulls out his cigarettes. "You want me to post someone at Midway and the train station in case they try to get out of the city?"

"Yeah, and let's put someone at the bus terminal on Randolph too."

"Good call." Felix strikes his match and lights up, inhaling deep before blowing the smoke out the side of his mouth. "You got anything else we can handle?"

I rub my jaw. "Not yet. Just make sure that your crews know that it's business as usual though. Tribute's kicked up on Wednesdays, except I think The Orchid is too hot. Capos can bring it to Paulie's barbershop."

"What do we do when we find them?" Aro pipes up from where he's serving as lookout by the doors.

"Incapacitate them any way you want, then bring them to the stockyard." I rock back on my heels. "Just make sure they're still breathing."

Two nights later, I'm freshly showered and shaved and desperate to see my wife. Although the hour is late, Charlie begrudgingly lets me in.

"It's ten after ten," my father-in-law grunts as he shuts the door behind me.

"Well hello to you too."

"I don't think she even wants to see you."

Slipping my hat off my head, I give him a look. "And why's that?"

"My baby girl is wising up." He smiles. "I've got a feeling she's starting to see you for the man you are." Dropping his voice, he leans in. "And we both know that you need her more than she needs you."

I bite the inside of my cheek, feeling the ache in my chest burn and the knots in my stomach tighten at the truth of his words. He's not wrong. If she really knew what I'm capable of or the things I've done, she'd walk away and never look back.

"How's Bree?" I ask a little louder than necessary.

"Sssshhh!" He puts a finger over his mouth looking both furious and terrified.

"That's what I thought." I take a step closer and smirk. "It's been nice bullshittin' with you, Chuck. Now which way is it to your baby girl's room?"

He looks away. "Top of the stairs, second door on the right."

I pat him on the back. "Thanks, Pops."

As I climb the stairs to Bitsy's bedroom, I grin at him like the prick that I am. Once I reach the second door on the right, I knock softly and peek inside to find her at her vanity staring back at me from the reflection in the mirror. Her brow rises at the sight of me, but other than that she doesn't acknowledge my presence.

"Bits?"

No response as she continues to stare into her mirror.

I shut the door behind me. "Are you still sore at me?"

Her brow arches higher, but she says nothing.

I step forward until I'm standing right behind her. "I've missed you."

She scoffs.

I rub her shoulder with my hand. "Couldn't go another minute without seein' you." Bending down, I drop a soft kiss on her neck. "Did you miss me?"

"Of course."

My lips move to her jaw and I see her close her eyes in the reflection. "Happy to see me?"

"Yes." The word comes out in a breathy whisper.

"You still love me, Bits?"

She opens her eyes and brings her hand to my cheek. "Always."

Wrapping my arms around her shoulders, I squeeze her tight and bury my face in her hair. "I hate bein' away from you."

She runs her fingers along my temple, softly scratching my scalp. "So don't."

I meet her eyes in the mirror. "I wish I didn't have to."

"Why do you have to?" The question is innocent enough, but something about the way she says it makes me think it's not innocent at all.

I give her a smooch and deflect. "How've things been going around here?"

Pausing a beat, she looks away and reaches for her brush. "You mean apart from my father offering to look into an annulment and my mother subtly suggesting ways for me to please my husband?" She rolls her eyes. "Other than that it's been great."

Tread lightly, Cullen. "They think we're havin' problems?"

She turns to look at me. "What else would they think, Edward? I showed up with a suitcase like I'd been tossed out of my home."

"But you know it's not like that."

"But that's how it looks." Her eyes move back to the mirror and she roughly drags the brush through her ends. "It's a little fishy. Rose is still staying at her house. Why can't I?"

"That's Emmett's choice. I don't want you alone." She opens her mouth to speak, but I don't let her. "Period. End of discussion."

My hypocrisy doesn't escape my notice. Earlier today, watching Philly use his wife's ignorance as leverage while I stand here and knowingly leave my wife in the dark. I tell myself it's for her own good. For her safety. But deep down, I know I'm a fuckin' liar and a coward who's too scared to take the chance that she might wise up and hit the bricks when she figures out that I'm no good for her.

It's just not a chance I'm willing to take.

"I don't want to fight, Bits." I press a soft kiss to her cheek. "And I'm not here to argue." Skimming my nose along her jaw, I bring my lips to her ear. "Don't be sore at me, all right?"

Her eyelids lower when I softly swipe her earlobe with my tongue. "All right."

One more smooch and I stand, letting her finish brushing her hair like she does every night before bed. I toss my hat on the desk and take a look around. This is the first time I've been in her room, but it's exactly what I expected. Soft pinks and pastels color the walls while first place ribbons and pom-poms and hodge-podge stacked paperbacks line her bookshelves. Picking up a picture frame, I run a finger over a younger version of a smiling Bits dressed in white gown surrounded a few of her debutante friends. She's gorgeous as always, sitting there looking all demure and innocent. As a matter of fact, she looks like the very picture of purity as a sinful thought crosses my mind.

"Hey Bits." I place the picture back on the shelf and take three slow steps until I'm once again behind her. "Tell me somethin'." My hands grip the top of her shoulders for a moment before moving down her arms. "You ever had a guy in this room with you?"

She shakes her head and I let one of my hands go lower, slipping it inside her robe. "No."

My thumb barely grazes her nipple and she sucks in a breath. "So you never fooled around in here with anyone before?"

"No one." Wetting her lips, her eyes find mine in the mirror. "Just you."

Goddamn right, just me.

The words are barely out of her mouth before I pick her up off the vanity stool. She wraps those legs around me as I carry her to her bed, pulling that robe off of her body while she winds her tongue around mine.

The bed squeaks when her back hits that mattress. I stand over her, loosening my tie and unbuttoning my shirt, watching her pull her nightgown up and running a fingertip over her lace-trimmed underwear.

I swallow at the sight. "Take 'em off."

She complies with a smile, making a show of tugging and sliding the fabric down her legs.

"Fuckin' gorgeous," I whisper as I grab my piece and set it on the nightstand with a thud.

Just as I go to drop my drawers, I hear a few footsteps on the staircase and I'm reminded that someone needs to be taught a lesson about making my girl question my love for her. So I leave on my pants and climb between my wife's legs, putting my mouth on the sweet little spot that makes her thighs clench and my name fall from her lips in a whimper. I suck and lick and tease her pussy until her daddy hears nothing but dirty girl moans coming from my good girl's mouth.

"Please," she pants, fisting her fingers in my hair while her thighs tremble against my ears. "Edward, please."

She toes the waistband of my slacks and squirms higher on the mattress. My tongue circles her once more then I sit up on my knees, making quick work of my pants. Licking my lips and stroking myself, I take a second to admire my wife splayed out before me, all pink-cheeked and panting.

"Christ, Bits," I groan, parting those thighs and bringing those ankles to rest on my shoulders. The tip of my cock slip-slides against where she's wet and waiting for me to take her. But before I do, I grab the corners of the mattress on either side of her head, kiss her lips and tell her that I love her.

Then I slam inside and make sure the bed creaks loud enough so her dad can hear just how much I love his baby girl.

Uncle C wakes up the next day. He's groggy and disoriented, but very much alive. Em decides to keep him in the dark for the time being. Last thing we need is for him to have a heart attack when he hears about Philly.

The next couple of weeks are shitty all-around. Between security details at the hospital, no leads on Philly and Mikey's whereabouts, and Bitsy's frosty attitude towards me as of late, I'm taking heat from all sides. Em's up my ass for answers, I'm breathing down the necks of the capos and soldiers, and Bits … well there's a good chance she hates me.

Maybe it's because I've only seen her a few times since our little tryst in her childhood bedroom. Maybe it's because I dodge her questions every time we're on the phone when she asks what's going on. Maybe it's because I blew a gasket when I called over to her parents last week only to find out she went back home to stay. Or maybe it's because I said things I didn't mean out of anger.

Maybe it's all of it.

Memories of our fight last night flash through my mind. I can still see the set of her jaw and the fuckin' fire in her eyes when I told her to make me dinner. And her words. Fuck. Her words.

"Eat shit!" my wife practically growls through clenched teeth as she pours a can of pork and beans onto a plate in front of me.

After the day I've had, I spoon them into my mouth and smirk up at my seething wife. "Best meal you ever made, Bits."

She looks stunned, like I slapped her in the face. My girl's eyes water and she balls her hands into fists before stomping off into the bedroom and slamming the door.

I toss my spoon on the plate and follow her into the bedroom. Opening the door, I find her face down on our bed. "I'm sorry."

She doesn't look up or acknowledge me in any way. So I head back to the hospital and send her flowers in the morning.

"Good news, gentlemen!" Em bounds into the room with a spring in his step and a smile on his face, jarring me from my memories of last night. "They're cuttin' my old man loose today."

Paulie, Felix, and I stand, all happier than hell that he's being discharged. No more bullshit hospital food and sleeping upright in a chair.

"They'll spring him in a few hours."

"That's great!" I clap him on the shoulder. "He's probably thrilled."

"He is. He is." Em jerks his chin at me. "How's the search goin'?"

I shake my head, fucking disgusted. "Eh. I'm meeting up with a possible lead this afternoon, but I don't know if it'll pan out. I've got Jenks on it now too, lookin' at properties that they own. I don't know, maybe they're layin' low somewhere else."

He nods, but I don't miss the disappointment on his face.

Paulie, Felix and I head over to the horse track to celebrate my uncle getting sprung from the hospital and to meet up with the guy who claims he's got a lead on the Neris. I call Bits a few times, hoping she's forgiven me for my mouth. She finally picks up the fourth time I call.

"Bits?"

Silence.

"You get my flowers?"

More silence from her end.

I cover my ear when the race starts. "Bits? You there?"

"I'm here."

"My uncle went home today."

"That's wonderful," she says sincerely, sounding relieved. "Will you be home tonight?"

"Of course," I answer offhand, perusing through the racetrack program for today's races.

Paulie waves me over to place my bet, yellin' at me to hurry, so I only catch the tail end of Bella's response. Something about dinner tonight.

"Sounds good."

"Six-thirty?"

Paulie widens his arms. "Come on!"

"Yep, listen, I gotta go."

"But—"

"Talk soon, Bits."

The day goes fast. I win a little cheddar off the races, have a few drinks and some laughs with the capos and a couple other fellas. The guy who supposedly has info on Philly and Mikey turns out to be a dud like I suspected. Some two-bit hustler trying to bullshit a couple of bullshitters. Paulie doesn't take too kindly to him wasting our time, so he brings him around back, knocks a few of his teeth out and rubs his face in a pile of horseshit.

For the first time in what seems like ages, I'm enjoying myself. The drinks are flowing and the next thing I know, I'm up a few hundred in a card game. By the time I walk away to count my money, I see it's past nine.

"Shit!" I stuff the bills in my pockets and tap Paulie on the shoulder. "I gotta get home."

He smirks. "Late for curfew?"

"Shut up. Come on, take me home."

Every light in the house is on when we pull up and I mumble a curse under my breath.

"She gonna lay into you?"

"Probably." I open the car door and slip out. "Thanks for the ride, man."

"Hey Eddie?"

I dip down to look at him.

"Ask her if you can bring your balls to work tomorrow."

I smack the top of his car and shut the door. "Get outta here!"

As he pulls away, I give a wave up the block to Liam, one of the fellas from the 42nd Street gang who's been keeping an eye on Bits in my absence. Flashing his headlights to let me know he saw me, he starts up his car and drives away slowly. Now that I'm home, he's off duty.

Taking a deep breath, I head up my walk to face the music. When I open the door, I see her sitting in her seat at the dining room table with a glass of wine in her hand and a look on her face that makes me think she has murder on her mind.

Dinner's still on the table. A half-eaten roast, several sides and a couple empty bottles of wine are scattered around the middle of the table between my place setting and my wife's, as well as the dishes from the two guests who apparently dined with her tonight.

"Hey Bits."

Narrowing her eyes, she takes a slow sip from her glass.

"I'm, uh, sorry." I rub the back of my neck. "I got caught up …"

She arches her brow. "At work?"

"Yeah." Not technically a lie. "Time just got away from me."

"Bullshit," she spits, roughly setting her glass on the table.

"Watch your mouth!"

She slams her hands down on the wood. "I won't!" Her chair scrapes along the floor as she stands. "Where were you?"

"Workin' like I said!"

"Don't lie!" She pounds on the table again and steps towards me. "Aro called down to the club. He called your office. He even called over to your uncle's place." She gets in my face and I see her eyes water. "Where were you?"

"Bits …"

Placing her palms on my chest, she shoves me hard. "WHERE?"

"HEY!" I grab her wrists. "Watch your hands!"

"Answer me!"

"I told you," I bring her hands to her sides, "I was workin', out makin' a livin'."

"Liar—"

I reach for her necklace. "Out there earnin' money for your fancy pearls and furs and all the shit you want so you can look down your nose at the rest of the broads at the Junior League."

"You're a real bastard!" She goes to shove me again, but I catch her wrists.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm a real bastard, aren't I?" I push her off me and head down the hallway. "Poor you! Ya' got it so rough, don't ya?"

"You don't even care!" She follows me back to my office. "You don't even care that you've humiliated me in front of your mother and Aro."

I toss my hat on my desk and loosen my tie. "I'll call my mother and apologize in the morning."

Stopping dead in her tracks, she stares me down. "You'll call your mother?" Her words come out slow. "To … apologize."

"Yeah. It'll be fine." I flick the empty bottle on my drink cart. "We got any more scotch?"

Covering her eyes, her shoulders slump and she lets out a loud sob. Bits ain't a cryer. I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen her cry. I feel fucking sick.

"Come on, Bella, don't—"

"Don't what?" She drops her hands so I can see what I've done. "Don't cry over the fact that my husband has all but ignored me for the past three weeks?"

"Bel—"

"Don't cry because he doesn't give a shit—"

"Language—"

"—that he's humiliated me?"

"Enough."

"Don't cry because he'd rather be anywhere than with his wife?"

"I SAID ENOUGH!" I take two steps and I've got my finger in her face. "You think I like bein' away, huh? That I like sittin' in a hospital room, watchin' my uncle getting' poked and prodded? Watchin' some homely nurse givin' him a sponge-bath, soapin' his privates?" Leaning down, I drop my voice. "You've got no idea what I'm dealin' with right now, Bits. None. So do me a favor. Cut the theatrics and get me a scotch without the waterworks."

She doesn't move, instead she squares her shoulders. "Who is she?"

"Get outta here with that."

"Who?"

"Goddamn it, Bella. Knock it off."

She gives me a sad smile. "She must be something else."

I walk back to my desk and sag into my chair. "I may be a real bastard, Bits. But I ain't a cheater. I'd never disrespect you like that." I hold a hand over my heart. "Swear on my old man's grave."

Crossing her arms over her chest, she shakes her head. "Don't sit there and pretend you respect me."

"You know what?" I'm out of my seat again. "I'm not doin' this with you. Quit bitchin', get me my scotch and go clean up that mess." I point to the kitchen. "Now!"

Turning on her heel, she stomps away. I hear the cabinet door opening and closing, dishes rattling and my wife's footsteps coming up the hall.

"Fuckin' finally," I mutter when she appears in the doorway.

"I won't let you do this to me!"

"Do what?" I widen my arms. "Provide your living?"

Her eyes go wide and next thing I know I'm dodging a bottle and hearing it smash against the wall behind me.

"What the fuck, Bits?"

"I hate you," she yells as tears stream down her cheeks.

"Clean this shit up!"

"Clean it yourself," she spits over her shoulder as I chase her to the guest room.

Slamming the door in my face, I hear the lock click. I knock a few times, but she ignores me so I tell her I want everything cleaned up by morning. My wife's sobs follow me all the way back to my office.

I wake the next morning in my office chair, surrounded by the stench of booze and broken glass on the floor. Scrubbing my hands over my face, I check my watch. It's nearly nine and Paulie should be by any minute.

The guest room door is still closed so I knock softly. "Bella?"

She doesn't answer. Hell, she doesn't even stir.

I shower and shave and iron a shirt for the first time in ages. It ain't pretty. By the time I get my tie on, Paulie's ringing the doorbell.

"Mornin', Eddie." He hands me my newspaper and steps inside. "Jesus!" His eyes go wide when he catches sight of the dinner table still set from last night. "What the hell happened here?"

"Don't ask."

"See," he points to the mess in the dining room, "this is why you don't marry a debutante. They look good on your arm, but can't keep house for shit."

"Shut up and get in the car." I push him out of the house and head back to the guest room. "I'm headin' out, Bits."

She doesn't respond, so I try again.

"I'm sorry about last night. I've just got a lot goin' on and I, uh … I don't know, said some stuff I didn't mean."

Still nothing.

"Listen, tonight I'm all yours. I'll take you out. Dinner and dancin' or whatever you want, all right?"

I slip my hat onto my head and hit the road. I'm pretty much useless for the rest of the day; unable to forget what a prick I was to her last night. I call her a good five or six times, but she doesn't pick up, so I send her a couple of bouquets and make reservations for us to eat at the Pump Room tonight.

Six o'clock rolls around and I pull up to our place only to find the two bouquets on either side of our evening paper on the porch. I motion to Liam to drive forward.

"How's your day goin', Mr. C?"

"I've had better." I thumb towards my house. "The missus didn't come to the door to get the flowers?"

"She didn't answer for either delivery."

Shit, she's still pissed. "All right. Thanks."

Sliding my hands in my pockets, I head up the walk to face the music. "Bella?" I call as I open the door and step inside, only to see dinner from last night still on the table, but my wife is nowhere to be found.

My fucking stomach drops and I reach for my piece. "Where you at, Bits?"

I hear nothing but silence.

The office still smells like booze and there's glass all over the floor, but the guest room door is open with the bed unmade. I run through every room in the house, including the garage where her car sits untouched. Everything is exactly where I left it this morning.

But Bits is gone.

A/N: Eeep … Bits.

Care and I are loving all the answers we get to our questions each week. As a matter of fact, we were super happy to see one of the fics that we were hoping for actually updated. So here's another question for you, pals – which fic has your fave Bella and why?

See you guys Thursday! Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, followed, fav'd, rec'd, or lurked this fic!