Well lets see what Aro has to say for himself, shall we?

Chapter 38

"Now Cara," Aro says in a playful tone, as my inner voice is still yelling what!

"No, don't you dare start that sweet-talking shit with me. You lied to me!"

Aro rolls his eyes. "You said and I quote 'I don't want to hear anything more about your men's group until I'm twenty-one' unquote," Aro says still in a playful tone.

He sighs moving toward Bella, and I pull her close to me, still unsure of what the hell's going on.

"Cara—'' Aro sighs but Bella cuts him off.

"Don't Cara me, and that's bullshit and you know it. I had to deal with finding out who you were, and what you did. Yes, I asked you to allow me until I was twenty-one, but you asked me to allow you to investigate anyone I wanted as a friend or more. I did that, but you still kept from me that he was a part of the family, which means he's not forbidden to me."

I look around the room seeing my family is all as shocked as I am.

My eyes land back on Aro, who's now looking at Jake.

"This isn't on me; I told you and Jasper not to keep this from her. But no, you didn't want to listen to Jake, so don't look at me to help you now. Just so we're clear, this is my told-you-so," he snaps with a lavish move and puts his hand on his hip.

Fucking Jasper knew – fucking smug bastard.

"Bella!" My eyes pop open when I hear her father yell her name, and it sounds as if he's in my house.

"Thank God you're okay. Mike called me," he says pulling Bella out of my arms and into his after glaring at Aro.

"This is the guy you want her to marry?" He says pointing his hand at me as he lets her go.

"Edward's better suited for her than Jake," Aro says. He stops and looks at Jake. "As much as I love Jake and see him as family, he is gay!" Aro rolls his eyes at the end.

"Yeah, well better for her to be with a gay guy who is her best friend, then with a guy that will get her killed because he's in the Mafia," Charlie points out as he crosses his arms.

"She's going to be running the Mafia in less than two years. She'll need someone strong to stand next to her," Aro counters.

Tilting my head as I look at Bella, wait—my sweet Bella's going to run the Mafia?

"I still think this is a bad idea; she's not cut out for this life, you know it, too," Charlie says.

Just as Aro goes to the counter there's a loud whistle that makes me cover my ears.

"Thanks, Jake ... Now you two, opposite corners," Bella says looking at her dad and then Aro. "Where's Mike?" she carries on as they both look at her.

"Not sure; I told him not to say anything or talk to anyone else, just to go home; why?" Charlie states.

Bella grins largely and scratches her head. "Well, I think, and this is just a hunch, but I think Mike may be," Bella paused for a second, "Dwelling's grandson, that you've been looking for," she says the last part quickly.

"What information do the police have about the shootout?" I ask as I replay those fast words and I feel my anger starting to rise.

"WAIT, HE'S WHAT?" Aro yells beating me to saying it by a second or two.

"I think Mike is Dwelling's grandson."

"Why do you think that?" Aro asks looking at her seemingly calmer than he was seconds ago.

"Well, you said that Dwelling was infatuated with grandma; he acted like a love sick puppy, following her around all the time. You put a stop to it or least you thought you did, until Mom and his son went to school and it all started again. Knowing they killed him, because he didn't choose them over her, it seems to fit the story. Mike's sort of like that to me; maybe it's something in their blood. Onwards, Mike really only started being creepy after he went to his family reunion just before prom. Then, well, we all know what went down with the prom and all. Tonight he was very eager for me to go with him, and to get away from Edward. The last fact, he took down a guy that Felix would've had problems taking down," Bella stops talking and turns her head to Felix. "No offense, Felix, you know I love you."

He chuckles shaking his head at her.

"Mike, the crier, took someone down?"

Bella nods and hums. "Yeah, it all seemed very odd to me."

Aro hums a little as he ponders what Bella said.

"I have to agree with Bella," Jasper says walking in looking pissed off. "Our apartment was trashed," he says moving to Bella and rubs her arm. "So was our restaurant."

Bella closes her eyes as I frown. Bella has a restaurant?

"I'm on it. I will get him, but I have to say I think this was an attempted kidnapping of Bella. The whole thing with Edward was just to get him out of the way, and maybe make you blame him."

"You're staying with me," I yell as both Charlie and Aro yell. "Housebound!"

"Eh, NO!" Bella says and we all look at her, but she holds up her hand. "I have Jasper, Jake, my guards, your guys, and apparently, Edward has a guard on me, too. I'll be fine."

We all go to interrupt her again, but she just holds up her hand.

"But I think maybe Jake, Jasper and I should move in with Edward." I nod in agreement. Hell, I'll take her whole family in if that's what it takes.

"We may have an additional problem, though," Bella again says, biting her lip.

I know right away whatever she says, I'm not going to be happy about it.

"I think the Kings, who are also a part of the family—or so I've been told—may be working with the Dwelling family," Bella states.

I fucking knew it! If they are, then fucking Royce King is all mine.

"Reasons?" Aro demands tight-lipped.

"Royce was there tonight watching," she says.

Aro looks surprised and then angry.

"On it," Jasper says pulling out a laptop from his bag.

A/N: And the plot thickens ... dun, dun, dun...