Memoirs of a Mobwife

OT 4 The Reason- EPOV

Chapter song : The Reason by Hoobastank

"Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change your life forever." Keri Russell

The first thing I noticed about Atlanta when I got off the plane was the fucking heat. My God the humidity was stifling. How do they live like this. The city itself had a beautiful landscape, much like Chicago. I am sure like all cities, has its nightmares deep within the belly. I wasn't familiar with the ones here, unlike in Chicago where I am the boogieman.

The further away from Bella I got, the more the guilt about what I did ate away at me. I tried to be as quiet as possible when getting my things together. If she would've woken up, I wouldn't have been able to keep this from her and we would have more to deal with. Bella would have insisted that she come along. Then the question would've been if we could even get Charlie back to Chicago alive would be another worry. If I'd have to pick, I would rather deal with Charlie's wrath then Bella's. I packed lightly, not expecting to deal with this more then a few days.

"Hi, Welcome to the Hilton Hotel. How may I help you?" the girl at the front desk asked.

"Yeah, I have a reservation for Masen," I said. You didn't think I would going to use my real name did you?

She smiled and tapped on her computer. I ignored the fact she pushed her chest out a little further and batted those fake lashes at me. I had to quietly snort when I noticed her name was Candi, yes with an 'I'. The scraping of her extra long acrylic nails was as annoying as the sound of them scratching a chalkboard. Without close examination I swear they looked like they had small bits of a torn hundred dollar bills embedded in them. I was waiting on Snoop Dogg to come out and tell me I was on the set of Soul Plane. Don't hate on the movie, it had its funny parts.

The room was nice and spacious, I would've loved to have Bella here to make her feel pampered. I wasn't here on a social trip though, I had work to do. I changed into casual clothes and jumped into my black Mercedes rental and trekked the three miles to Charlie's apartment.

It was a nice place on the outside, but I was surprised to see that it wasn't gated. There was an unspoken rule in the family and all families like us, "Never drop your guard and never get too comfortable." Taking your safety for granted had dire consequences.

I parked off the far end of the complex and watched him leave. He seemed to have accustomed himself to life down here, Charlie never once looked around to observe his surroundings. This was going to be easy, I may have mentally questioned Carlisles decision to make him a ranked member. This is something that is ingrained in us very early on. Hell even Bella is instinctual about things like that.

I followed him as he went to the gym, grocery store, video store, you know all those mundane things that normal people do. Why the hell was he renting beauty and the beast? It made my heart twinge, Bella loved that movie, We watched it a few times at the cabin. I had to give it to Charlie though, he lived modestly for someone who collected fifty grand a month from Swan Marina, for the most part he stayed home. When he got home a young girl about fifteen opened the door, he gave her some money and she left. I assumed she cleaned the apartment for him or something. I wasn't going to speculate what the something could be.

Later that night, I ate at Six Feet Under a little place in the Grant Park area, I found the name catchy. I couldn't resist eating the appetizer they call Rat Toes; it wasn't as disgusting as it sounded. It was made of three baked jalapenos stuffed with shrimp and wrapped in bacon with a side of ranch dressing... heaven I tell ya. The south had some awesome food.

I cut my phone off earlier in the day because I knew it wouldn't be long before Bella was blowing it up. I was right by the time I turned it back on there were over twenty missed calls and sixty texts and eight voicemails. I turned it back off without checking. I was here to do a job, as much, and as it killed me I had to put Bella and her wrath on the back burner. My dad knew how and where to reach me, if it was important. After checking my phone and filling meal I went to right to sleep.

The next morning I woke up bright and early; around four am. I had to prepare for when I would approach Charlie. I didn't know if he would be armed but going by the previous day and his total lack of observation skills I gathered that he wouldn't be. Even though it was still very early in the morning the humidity in July is killer. Around eight am the same young girl showed up and Charlie was dressed for the gym again.

He was about to step into his car when I cleared my throat and spoke, "Charlie, we need to talk about your daughter." I said low and seriously.

He quickly turned around and stared at me wide eyed . "Edward?"

"Yeah," I replied

"What's going on with Bella, is she okay?"

"That depends on who you ask. There is a lot we have to discuss."

"I swear to almighty God that if The Famiglia bullshit has touched her, then boy we have a problem," he said in a threatening tone.

"Charlie , you don't get to threaten me. This Famiglia has loved and cared for her since you ran. Now Dad sent me here to tell you what is going on. Where can we talk?"

He sighed and said to follow him to a park, it was spacious and for the most part private this time of day. We sat on a bench watching a few kids feed the ducks. I could tell he was genuinely worried about what I'd had to say.

"You're gonna have to come back to Chicago with me," I ordered. There was no way I was going to let him get away with not doing so.

"Carlisle said I wouldn't..." he started to say, but i cut him off.

"I don't give a shit what he said seven years ago. The point is things have changed and that option isn't available to you any more," I continued irritated.

"Why... why now?"

"Dad had Bella come to Chicago almost a year ago with mom and point is now she knows about this thing and it's gotten out of hand. She was almost killed several months ago. She was shot and suffered temporary paralysis," I explained looking over to him. I could see that he tried to fight the unshed tears that were forming. "Bella has worked real hard to get better. Dad says she reminds him of your father Antonio everyday. She is smart, beautiful and got the reflexes of a damn lioness."

"Why was she shot? Your father swore Bella would never be hurt because of this. I had to lose Renee and your telling me this bullshit almost took my Izzy," Charlie said infuriated.

"I know you're upset but we have done everything we could to keep our eye on Bella. There was a group of people who didn't want to return some of the Swan businesses once they were made aware that Bella was heir. She was working at a restaurant when these guys came in. They demanded she sign everything over and as if on instinct, killed one of them. Bella was shot in the back running out the back exit, thankfully she has fully recovered."

"But why is it so imperative that I come back now? Does she know I'm alive?"

"No. She doesn't know anything, at least not yet. I had a problem with the cops some time ago, dad was trying to get a meeting cancelled that we had for that day and somehow the it never did, so she went in my place..."

"and vowed in, now she is ranked," Charlie whispered, finishing my sentence.

"Yes, exactly. Bella is now Dad's second."

"Shit! This can't be fucking happening. How does that taste in Marcus's mouth?" Charlie asked.

"He wasn't the one who said anything, he knew the rules, but Marcella acted like someone pissed in her corn flakes. I know this isn't what you wanted and it's not something I want either. I love her, and it scares me to death to think something could happen to her because of her new position in The Famiglia."

"You Love her?" Charlie raised his brow in question.

"Yes, I love Bella very much Charlie, and I know that by me coming here and bringing you back into her life I could potentially ruin my future with her, but I will do anything to keep her safe."

"You've given me a lot to think about. Come by the house about noon tomorrow and we will work on preparations to go back to Chicago," he said with a heavy sigh.

"You're not gonna fight me on this?"

"No, kid. Despite how it looks, I love my Izzy. She carries a piece of my heart,, like only a first born can. I loved Renee with everything I had in me. I can see you do too by the way your eyes widen at the mention of her name or the hint of a smile when I've spoken about her. I know what it feels like to lose my soul mate and I never want you or Izzy to have to feel that kind of pain; even though her shooting probably gave you a taste of it."

"I died a thousand deaths that night. I can never lose her," I whispered.

~*~

I hadn't slept well the whole time I was down there. There is a pretty huge aquarium down there that I knew Bella would love to visit .Overall the city is pretty cool, but I'd still prefer Vegas.

Knocking on Charlie's door the next day, I was greeted by him and someone who could pass as a mini Bella. I palmed my face because I knew the situation had just gotten a hundred times harder. He didn't have to say shit, but I needed him to anyway.

He waved me in and I sat looking at the various boxes already packed. The little girl came over and sat beside me and tapping me on the leg.

"Hey," she said.

"Hi," I replied not really knowing where this was going.

"I'm Brooke, what's your name?"

"Edward"

"Daddy says we're getting on a big bird and go to where you live. Where do you live?" she asked curiously.

"I live in Chicago," I answered looking at Charlie.

"Do you get snow there, like a lot of snow?"

"Yes, we get a lot of snow"

"I can't wait. I'm so ready to see snow," she said excitedly.

"Charlie?" I said, seriously questioning him.

"Brooke , honey why don't you go pack up your barbies while Mr. Edward and I talk"

"This will destroy her Charlie." I warned. I didn't have to explain what I was referencing, he knew exactly what I was talking about.

"You have to understand, I had to have a piece of them with me. Brooke knows all about her sister and where she came from."

"Do you expect her to be okay knowing that around the time her mother died, you grieved yourself into some whores twat? If I thought she would be angry with me over bringing you back. She will murder you because of this, then bringing you to help her will be in vain. Dammit, you're as good as dead if I bring you back."

"You have it all wrong; biologically Brooklyn is also Renee's daughter. We wanted another child, Bella was almost ten and it wasn't happening naturally. So, the specialist we were seeing suggested IVF. We completed the fertilization process, then things went to hell in a handbasket, I didn't think anything about it until after Renee's death. That's when I found a surrogate to carry our fertilized eggs, only two survived the thawing process and one of them became Brooklyn Renee. I would never betray my wife like that, not even in death." There was something that sounded a bit like pain and pride in his voice.

I knew that I was gonna have to call Jasper and Emmett to help me handle this. I had to prepared myself for World War III. It was inevitable that it was gonna take place as soon as we step foot back on Chi-town soil. I mentally wondered if Charlie and I had our life insurance premiums paid up-to-date. Oh what a tangled web we weave could not be a more appropriate saying right now, more then ever.

~*~

I was right.. the chaos in Carlisle office was one of epic proportions. Thankfully we all came out alive but, I can't say the same for the truck, that I saw engulfed in flames only a few feet from me. I looked at Charlie who stood there in utter shock.

"Consider yourself lucky," I told him.

"How can you say that? It was a disaster."

"At least she didn't shoot you."

"Rose, baby he was following orders, he didn't want to upset Bella, this was necessary." Emmett shouted as she stalked towards me, without a moments warning I was hit and bleeding profusely from where her wedding ring slashed through my flesh, leaving a bitter copper taste on my tongue.

I deserved it, though. The pain on my lip was no where near the pain I felt in my chest.

"I am so fucking tired of you fucking men thinking you know what's best for us. Better then what Bella, Alice and I know. We aren't all fragile creatures, we are equals and can take care of ourselves. I don't wanna hear anymore about how it 's for our protection... its about time you guys realized that we have your back but it 's a damn shame you don't have ours," she screamed at us and walked back into the house.

A few hours later I walk in and the living room is littered with what-nots and glass. My mother was on the couch sobbing. My dad had his arm around her trying in vain to comfort her.

"She is my child in every way that matters Carlisle. I don't care what you do, but you have to make it right. I need my daughter."

~*~

Weeks went by and she hadn't contacted any of us. Didn't she love me as much as I did her? I'd driven by the house a couple of times, I wished I knew how she was doing, but I had no clue what-so-ever. There were a lot of work vans there during the day, and I could see the massive security detail she had outside. I was proud of her for thinking of her safety but it hurt me that she also went this extreme to protect herself from us... from me.

The tension came to a head with Jasper, I'd vented my anger with him over tracking my phone. I knew he had no choice, just like he can't say no if Carlisle asked, but it didn't stop us from swinging at each other in the back yard. Exhausted emotionally and physically I wasn't my best. I did the bare minimum to get by so it didn't surprise me when his fist connected with my left eye instantly making it swell slightly.

"Are we good?" Jasper asks bending over hands on his legs looking down at me.

"Yeah."

"Good, go get a fucking shower, you stink."

I heard the phone ring and something told me I should answer it. I grabbed a towel wrapped it around me and sprinted to answer it.

"Hello?" I say, but no one replies. I know it is her, I can feel it. "I know this is you, Bella. Baby, please, talk to me," I start to cry.

I almost expected her to hang up but she doesn't. "Baby, I love you so much. I am miserable without you," I cry. "I am so sorry for hurting you. Please, let me come see you Bella. You are my heart baby." I start to whimper, trying to hold in my tears. "I just want to hold you and love you. Dad has refused to let us come see you and call you until you say it's okay. I need you. We are the same, your pain is my pain. I ache without you, I know you are hurting baby." I can hear her crying and it kills me to that I can't comfort her.

"Please, baby, let me come see you," I beg some more.

I don't know who I have to thank but she concedes to let me see her and talk to her. I'll take whatever connection she willingly gives me, cause I love and need her more then she will ever know.

AN: Thank you for reading and reviewing and for One of eddies girls being the best magic eraser ever! My awesome Ninjas in the group, who make writing this an absolute pure joy. My birthday is Tuesday (April 3rd) this is my gift to you…

Next chapter… " If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it"..Lmao