Chapter 36

I pull Bella to me kissing her hard. "Edward, we need to get dressed or we'll be late," Bella says as she tries to get away from me.

"It's not really my thing, honey," I tell her before I kiss her again.

"But, you said we'd go, so let's get ready."

I pout at her as she walks over to my wardrobe, but grin as she starts to get ready in front of me. She has me entranced, as I watch her reapply her makeup. I stare until she stops and gives me a look to say move it.

I get up and start to put on my tuxedo.

"Since I went to your family's home for Thanksgiving, I'd like to invite you and your family to mine for Christmas dinner," Bella says with her voice wavering a little.

"To Charlie's?" I ask and she nods.

"Yes, it will be him, Jasper, Bill, Jake, and my grandfather. My dad's been talking to him about you and Alice. He's looking forward to meeting the woman that captured Jasper's heart and then the man who stole mine."

I nod at her, not realizing her grandfather was alive. "What's his name, your grandfather I mean?"

"Edgaro."

I tilt my head and she shakes her hand at me.

"It's an old family name from way back when. I just hope we don't have a boy, or he might expect us to name him that, too." Bella looks at me with shock showing clear on her face; no doubt she's slowly replaying what she just said.

"I would love to have a thousand babies with you."

Bella looks at me—her eyes again are filled with pain—and she looks down.

"Who from your family is all going?" she asks.

I know right away she's changing the subject. Since tonight's not the night to get down to the nitty-gritty of this conversation, I leave it alone.

"It'll be just us."

Bella looks at me with some panic in her eyes. "I thought this was a family thing?"

I shake my head at her making her turn her back to me so I can zip her dress.

"Come on, the sooner we get there the sooner we can leave," I say as I pull her out of my bedroom. I smile when I hear her chuckling behind me.

I help her to sit in the passenger seat of my Jaguar. As I move to my side, I look to make sure James, Riley and two other of my men are ready to go, too.

Driving down the road, Bella's cellphone buzzes and I look at her from the corner of my eye.

"Jake?" I ask and she smiles nodding at me as she reads the message.

"He's still upset you didn't ask him to come along," Bella says while grinning wildly at me.

"Tell the princess that she can come to the Chicago Winter Ball in February. That one's always a lot bigger than this little one."

Bella nods as she looks down at her cell tapping on the screen.

"Does that invite include me?"

I look her way and nod. "Of course it does," I answer right away. "I usually go alone, and then have to put up with some other family associates trying to palm some bimbo off on me," I say as my mind fills up with all that happened last year.

I swallow as my mind reminds me that Bella's still unaware of who I really am.

"Are you okay?" I hear Bella ask softly as she takes hold of my hand as I park in the lot.

"Yeah ..." I say letting out a big breath. Bringing our now joined hands up I kiss hers. "There's something I need to tell you about me, about my family. I really should've done it before now ... before allowing you to fall in love with me ... Please promise me you'll hear me out before running from me?" I beg.

Bella looks at me confused, but nods at me. "I have a secret, too, and I know mine will be much bigger than yours. Mine comes with a time limit that seems to get shorter despite anything I can do to change it."

I feel my heart beating faster. I may have less time than I thought with her, but fuck… I will fight whatever this is she has; I will fight. Aro knows all the best doctors around the world. Knowing I will owe him big, and may even have to agree to his request to marry into his family. I'll do whatever I have to, as long as Bella will be alive.

"Let's not think about it right now – just enjoy tonight and we'll talk about it all tomorrow?" Bella suggests in a quiet tone.

"I will help you. I swear I will. I ... I love you," I say feeling choked up.

Getting out of the car and moving to Bella's side, I help her out. After assisting her in straightening her gown, we head for the entrance.

We walk into the ballroom and Bella's face pales. "This looks amazing; Jake's gonna be really pissed at you." I smile against her neck, before kissing her softly.

"Come on, let's find our table," I say as I look around for the table I'm usually placed at.

Bella and I talk, eat dinner and are now dancing where we've been for the past hour and half.

"Bella, can I have this dance?"

I frown when I hear the shaky voice of a young man.

"No, Mike, I'm dancing with my boyfriend."

I hold back the growl and turn to look at Mike, who turns white and seems to just look at me.

"Bella, it's important, please," Mike pleads at Bella as he looks at me.

"Mike, leave," I hiss out.

"No, I can't. Bella, he's dangerous, he kidnapped me, beat and stole from me," Mike's voice waivers as he talks to Bella.

I feel my heart race, she cannot find out like this.

"What are you talking about, Mike? He owns a gym," Bella sighs a little and when I look at her she mouths that she's "sorry," to me, but she frowns at me.

"Bella, let's go," I say knowing my face is showing clear signs of panic. Bella and I start to move off.

"Bella, wait … I was in the hospital for a week because of what he did. Well … him and his other men did; I was out numbered," Mike carries on.

As soon as I have our stuff, I head to the exit giving James a look to say for him to remove the twat that is still following us.

"Bella, he's in the Mafia; his last name's not even Cullen… it's Masen," Mike says grabbing Bella's arm.

"Masen?" Bella says looking at me with hurt in her eyes.

"Let me explain, Bella, please," I plead with her.

"Fuck, that's one of his guys," Mike says hiding behind Bella as James appears.

"What ... you're a Masen?" Bella asks sounding angry this time.

"Get in the car," I say in a tight tone.

"No, Bella, come with me," Mike says again, and she looks at Mike as a car screeches into the parking lot.

Just as I see the gun pointing out the window, I grab Bella pushing her down as they start to open fire.

"Get in the fucking car, Bella," I yell taking my own gun out as six men jump out of the car.

The six men surround me and James. I can hear my men's voices on the radio, as we start shooting.

"Bella ... protect Bella," I scream out as three of the men grab me pushing me into a van. I keep fighting them as it moves off.

One of the men tries to tie a rope around my neck, but I quickly remove myself so I can get the upper hand putting it around his. Another one barges into me and we hit the driver. As the van flips on its side, I get a hold of a gun and shoot the guy who hit me. Shooting the driver and the other guy, I climb out the broken window, after the van comes to a stop. I see the first guy is hanging awkwardly from the side of the van with the rope around his neck. Seeing some of my men running toward me, I move toward them.

"Clean that up," I yell at the first ones, as I take one of their radios.

"James, where's Bella?" I ask as panic starts to overtake me.

"She's out for the count in your car."

I hear Mike's voice as he shouts something at James.

"What's he want?" I ask as I pick up my pace running back to where my car is.

"He wants to take Bella to the hospital."

I shake my head as they come into view.

"She's hurt and it could be bad; I need to get her to the hospital," I hear Mike shout out.

"NO," I say pushing him away from my car, "I'll take her myself."

"I'm calling her dad; he'll arrest you," Mike says pulling out his cell.

"Go ahead," I yell getting in the car. I slide Bella onto my lap holding her close to my chest as James gets in.

"Get me to my parents' house now," I yell as I touch her head softly, seeing she has a cut and blood there.

A/N: So who do you think is behind this situation?