As always, none of this is mine. This belongs to Stephenie Meyer. I just like to dabble in the playground she created.

I'm unsure if you'd heard, but one of our beloved fandom family members passed away recently. Dee Creston, lovingly known as FangirlinGrandmaDee, died peacefully and surrounded by family. This chapter is dedicated to one of the kindest, warmest and friendliest members of our TwiFamily. Her love of fic and her encouraging words will be missed, tremendously.

From me to you, Dee, GIANT TUFANO HUGS AND SMOOCHES … always and forever.

So, Renee has flown the coop. We're going to stay with Edward at the beginning of the next chapter. There's more you're going to hear. We'll also hear from Bella … where is she being held? What will happen to her?

Chapter Twenty

Edward

Arriving at the condo, I called my parents, Emmett, Jasper and the rest of my inner circle, including Anthony, Nina and my new allies in New York City. Anthony and Sean would be on the next flight to Chicago. Everyone else was on their way to formulate a plan of attack.

I changed Charlie and tried to feed him something, but my hands were shaking and he couldn't stop crying. I wanted to cry along with him. I wanted to rage against Renee. I wanted to call Felipe and rip him a new asshole for double crossing the Consortium.

They would pay for their treachery.

Though, he seemed like a man with integrity. He apologized for what his nephew did that day and we did the honorable thing of extending our condolences for his loss after his own father gunned him down.

I shook my head angrily, feeling the panic build inside of me. I could feel my heart race. I was losing it. Quickly.

"Take a breath, Edward," Claire said, approaching me slowly. "In and out."

She took exaggerated breaths and I followed her movements, calming down with her help. "Thanks, Claire. Have you heard from Seth?" I asked. "How's Leah?"

"She's rattled, obviously. He brought her to Alice and Jasper's old place. Alice is bringing a sedative," Claire answered. She took the baby food from my hands and pushed me away. "You need to relax. You're still shaky, Boss."

"My wife was taken by her incubator with the help of someone who I thought was an ally," I hissed, stomping to the window and watching as it rained heavily, splattering onto the windows. Lightning splintered across the darkening sky, followed by a loud echoing boom of thunder that made my windows rattle. Claire had managed to feed my son. He was blinking sleepily. I walked over to the kitchen, taking him from his highchair. As I did that, Jake, Nessie, Felix, and Liam all walked into the condo. The latter two were soaked to the skin, caught in the rain while riding the motorcycles back to the Consortium. Nessie looked completely spooked, shaking next to Jake. "I'm putting my son down. Felix, Liam, there should be dry clothes downstairs in the Fortress."

Claire hopped up and slid her arm around Nessie. "Why don't you sit down, sweetie?"

"What's going on?" Nessie asked as she sat down on the couch with Claire. "Why does Jake have a gun? Why was Bella taken? Why?"

I blew out a breath, walking to the nursery and settling Charlie into his crib. He was antsy, but the emotions of the day had hit him hard, along with the weather unsettling him. I rubbed his belly until he fell into a fitful sleep. I flipped on his nightlight and made sure that the blackout curtains were tight, keeping the lightning storm at bay. Back in the living room, Claire had gotten Nessie some water and was sitting next to her. She was trying to soothe my nanny, but it was to no avail. Nessie looked petrified. I sat down across from her, removing my own weapon and putting it onto the table. Not helping, Cullen. Nessie blanched with her eyes wide with terror.

Clearing my throat and trying to stay calm, I said, "Nessie, what is heard in here cannot leave these four walls. I need you to promise me that you'll keep a secret."

"Are you going to kill me?" she squeaked. "I don't want to die."

"No, Nessie. However, we are involved in some very dangerous business that means that we have to use weaponry," I explained, keeping my voice even, low and comforting. "On paper, I'm Edward Cullen, CEO of Cullen Consortium, Investment and Venture Capitalist Firm and one of the richest men in the country. Off the books, I'm the head of an organized crime syndicate of the same name. Our main dealings are in weaponry, technology, gambling, mercenaries and protection. We are removing ourselves from the drug trade since I've become the leader of the family and while my father was in charge, we got out of prostitution."

Nessie looked at me with wide eyes, pale as a sheet. "Did those people take Bella because of what you do?" Her tone was almost accusatory. "And was Jake with us because of that threat? Felix, too?"

"I'm not sure of their motives," I answered, scratching my cheek and sugar coating the reality of the situation to Nessie. The motives of my wife's abductors were money-hungry assholes, leading with her incubator. "The woman who took her was Bella's mother. The man works for another gang that we had an alliance with at this point in time, but if they are truly behind this …"

Felix and Liam came into the condo, dressed in black clothes and dry from their ride back from the Consortium building. I nodded at them before turning back to Nessie.

"Anyway, Jake has a gun because he's one of my bodyguards. Specifically, he was assigned to work with Bella. He's her bodyguard, specifically," I answered, blinking to Jake who was staring at Nessie. Seeing him stare at her with stars in his eyes gave me a thought and it made my blood pressure spike. With a growl, I said, "Why he didn't go to the bathroom with her …" I turned back to Nessie.

Nessie's eyes fell to the floor, her pale skin becoming bright red and I heard Jake shift uncomfortably behind me. He cleared his throat and began to ramble, "Boss, I …"

"I don't want to hear it, Jacob. If I hear that you were too busy flirting to worry about the woman who is in your charge, then I may kill you," I seethed, blinking to him. Felix took Jake's arm and led him out of the condo. The shameful look on Nessie's face explained that I had been correct in my assessment. "In light of what happened, we'll need you to stay here until we can figure out what our next steps are. You know too much, but your hold over one of my men is troublesome."

"What's going to happen now?" Nessie asked, her face blanching and her hands wringing nervously in her lap.

"I don't know," I answered honestly, my anger still simmering. "Nessie, I know that you're involved with Jacob. It was that relationship that hindered his ability to protect my wife and son. You've been an invaluable member of our family as Charlie's nanny …" I scrubbed my face and leaned forward.

"I won't say anything," she whispered. "I love Charlie and Bella is one of the best people I've ever known. You, well, you kind of scare me, but I can see how much you adore your family."

"Why don't we have Nessie stay in the condo with Seth and Leah?" Liam suggested.

I nodded and Liam gave her a warm smile. She looked at me. I could still see the fear there. She followed Liam, leaving the condo. As they were leaving, my parents, Jasper, Emmett and Felix walked inside.

My mother ran to me, enfolding me into a tight embrace. I clung to her, allowing my walls to crack for a brief moment. "We'll find her, Edward. I know it," she whispered.

"I hope so," I whispered back and pulled back. "Can you stay with Charlie while we …?"

"Of course, sweetheart," Mom nodded, cupping my face.

"Thank you," I said. Blinking to the small army of men and one lone woman aside from my mother in my living room, I hardened my stare, turning into a finely-honed killing monster. Renee was going to pay for her transgressions. With her life. "Fortress. Now."

We left the condo, walking down to the Fortress. In the two-bedroom condo, we had weaponry, technology and everything we needed for a war council, a strategic planning session to bring back my wife and end the nightmare plaguing us for nearly a year. The only positive thing to come out of this situation … Maas had been taken down.

Thank goodness for small victories.

I sat down at the large table in the living room. Emmett sat next to me, with Jasper on my other side. Felix leaned casually against the door and he frowned. "Talk to me, Felix."

"Bella said that she felt like someone was following us just prior to entering Nordstrom," Felix muttered. "We called in Liam and we were patrolling the floors, looking for anything out of the ordinary. Jake was with Bella, but, he was more interested in being with Nessie."

"We'll deal with that once we have Bella back," I snapped. "Where is he?"

"Confined to the bedroom," Felix barked, an angry smirk spreading over his face.

"Did you see anything?" I pressed. "Anything out of the ordinary?"

"We didn't, but it was a large store. We should have done more, Boss. I'm sorry," Felix sighed. "We'll do everything to get her back, safe and sound. I vow it with my life."

"Me, too," Liam nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. The rest of the men in the room, along with Claire, reiterated Felix's sentiment and I felt like we had a fighting chance.

Stay strong, cara. We're coming. I love you.

"What do we know?" Dad asked.

Claire stood up and she used a tablet, sending a screen to the main display. "Leah, Bella and Charlie entered the bathroom at 1:37pm. As they were entering the woman's lounge, a man who appeared to be an employee was pushing a cart of clothes into back storage area. Four minutes later, Renee and this same man entered the lounge."

The video played out and it showed my wife walking willingly out of the lounge. She looked a little out of it, drugged. But, she was moving under own steam and it didn't appear that she was being held at gunpoint or knifepoint.

"Why isn't she struggling?" I asked.

"There was a syringe found in the bathroom. Leah pointed it out," Claire said, showing a photo of a discarded syringe in the garbage. "CSU did a rush evaluation of its contents and found it to be scopalimine."

"What's that?" Jasper asked.

"It's a drug, similar to GHB or rohypnol. It makes the victim malleable, but awake, even if their mind doesn't want to cooperate," Claire explained. "Do you see how Bella is trying not to step. That hesitation is her need to flee, but the drug is forcing her to leave with Renee and this man."

"Who is he?" Emmett growled.

"He is a member of Los Muertos. His name is Ricardo Vallejo," Claire said. "He's got a long rap sheet, including to several rape charges, but they never stuck because the victim either recanted or was found dead." She handed me her tablet, with Ricardo's record displayed.

The man made me look like a fucking kitten. He was the monster. He hated women and he took out his brutality on their bodies, damaging them beyond all recognition with his hands, body and other implements of torture … namely knives and chains. The photos were gruesome and made my stomach turn. Would he do this to my wife? My sweet wife? "And this man is working with Renee?"

"Yes," Claire murmured.

I held up my hand, reaching for my cell phone. I dialed Felipe. He answered gruffly. "We had an alliance, asshole," I interrupted, by way of greeting. "One of your hombres abducted my wife. And from what I know … an animal with little regard for women."

"I don't know what the fuck you are talking about, Cullen," he spat.

"Ricardo Vallejo," I sneered. "He took my wife, with the help of my wife's biological mother, from a store. They kidnapped her, demanding ransom."

Felipe cursed in Spanish. "Ricardo … he's insane, man. Completely loco. He was one of Roberto's closest friends and his lieutenant. A faction of Los Muertos, after Roberto was killed, broke away and Ricardo is in charge. They've aligned themselves with the Latin Kings and a group from Joliet, the Spanish Gangster Disciples."

"Where are they based?" I asked. "My wife was … she's gone."

"You need to find her. Quickly," Felipe said, his voice softening. "Look, I may be a criminal and have killed more men than I can care to admit, but I never fucking harmed a woman. I was loyal to my wife until she passed, rest her soul. Ricardo? He gets off on the torture. The blood. The pain."

"Fuck," I spat at his admission. It verified the information in his file that Claire had given me.

"Cullen, we do have an alliance. I am a man of my word. When you make a living as we do, it's the only thing worth anything," Felipe said ardently. "Unfortunately, Ricardo is a man of influence. He's persuaded a number of my soldiers to his cause and they have left the organization to join him …"

"You still didn't tell me where they're based? Are they local? Chicago? Joliet?" I pressed.

"I don't know, but as a man of my word, I'll find out for you. As soon as I know, you'll know," Felipe said. "We'll also be on the lookout."

"One more thing, do you know if Ricardo had relations with a prostitute?" Claire asked.

"Is that a cop?!" Felipe growled.

"Before you go off on her, she is, but she's an ally, just like you," I argued. "I'd be a fool if I didn't have some influence with the local police department, right?" Felipe was quiet, mulling over my statement. "Answer the question, man."

"He was fucking an older broad. Before Roberto's untimely demise, he said that the bitch had a loose pussy and was worthless, but let him do whatever the fuck he wanted to her," Felipe muttered.

"Name?" I asked impatiently.

"Something with a bird's name in it … Goose, Hawk …"

"Swan?" Emmett offered, arching a brow at me.

"That's it! Renee Swan. She was hooking in some fleabag motel off the Dan Ryan in Chinatown," Felipe replied. He was quiet for a moment. "I'll be in touch, Cullen. They say the blood is thicker than water. Right now, you are mi familia. We look out for our own. Ricardo … he crossed us one too many times."

Without waiting for a response, he hung up. Looking up, Claire was already pulling up information on Ricardo's faction of Los Muertos, the Latin Kings and Spanish Gangster Disciples. My brother and Jasper were working on tracking the van that was used to take Bella from the store with Renee and Ricardo. My father walked over to me, squeezing my shoulder. "What's the plan, Boss?" he asked.

"We take this guy and that bitch out before they can hurt my wife," I said, glaring at my wife's dazed face on Claire's tablet. "I claim rite of vengeance. They will not know what hit them."

The lights flickered and there was a loud crash of thunder. I walked away from my father, staring out into the storm. I'm coming, dolce. I'm going to save you. Just hold out for me, please.

xx MOTM:FFF xx

Bella

I don't remember falling asleep, but when I woke up, handcuffed to a table, my arms stretched above me and my legs were cuffed apart on the corners of the table. My stomach was heaving and my head was throbbing, seemingly from whatever they'd injected me with in the store. I groaned, trying not throw up all over myself. I blinked, trying to make sense of my surroundings. It was dark, nearly black and frigidly cold. The air conditioning was blasting and I shivered on the table, wishing I'd had a blanket. I shifted on the table. I was still in my clothes, thankfully and the only pain I felt was in my head and hands, indicating that I hadn't been …. I had faint memories of the man wanting to fuck every hole I had, but …

That cannot happen. I'd rather die than have my choice taken away.

"You're awake," sneered my mother. She flipped on the light and I was blinded, temporarily by the brightness. She strode over to me. "God, you are such a disappointment."

Blinking up and clearing up my vision, I snorted at her pinched face. Bitch, you're the fucking disappointment. "Right, Renee. I'm college educated and I have a successful husband. I think my marriage lasted longer than all of yours. Combined. You're the disappointment. Been tested lately? Your pussy must be swarming with STDs because of all of the whoring out you did to yourself."

She slapped me, twisting my head unnaturally. My temple was slammed against the table, causing me to see stars. She began punching my stomach and I bit my lip so I wouldn't make a sound. I refused to let her know that she was hurting me. Her punches moved up to my face and I could feel every blow. "How is it that you get everything you ever wanted and I'm stuck with the fucking dregs?"

I spit out some blood, glaring at her. "Because you're a loser. Because you fucked dregs," I answered. "You're not going to get … anything. My husband will not bow to your will, bitch. He will bring you down. You will be a footnote, at best."

My mother screamed, hopping onto the table and straddling my hips. She lost all control, hitting and scratching me. I was powerless to her sporadic assault. She may not have been strong, but she had long nails and they were scratching my skin, causing me to bleed. I closed my eyes, protecting my vision from her acrylic talons. Her body weight was removed and I heard some harsh words in Spanish. I opened my eyes, seeing the man from before dragging Renee away. He opened a door and her voice was dulled when he slammed it shut.

He walked over to me, holding a white towel. I shivered as he moved closer to me. "My apologies, Mrs. Cullen," he said, wiping the blood and sweat from my face. "Renee … she's a wildcat in more ways than one. Has quite the temper, hmmmm?"

I didn't respond as he licked his lips, his fingers moving down my face and toward my breasts. I tried to move away, but my handcuffs made it difficult. He stopped, his hand hovering over my chest.

"She did promise me a chance to play with you," he purred, stepping back. "I wanted to while you were incapacitated, to feel your pussy around my cock. Then, I realized … I wanted to hear you scream as I fucked you. I bet your husband won't love you as much when you're broken, torn and ripped to shreds." He looked at my chest, smirking. "Are they real?"

"Fuck you," I snapped. "You aren't touching me. No one will touch me. I'd rather die first."

He gave me a glower, backhanding me and coming in closely. He squeezed my neck, snarling, "That can be arranged, puta." My vision darkened as he tightened his hold around my neck with one hand while he twisted his other hand on my breast. He slammed my head against the table and my vision swirled completely to black.

Capo, please …

xx MOTM:FFF xx

Edward

I rubbed my chest as we drove to a meeting with Felipe and Esteban. They'd gathered more information about Ricardo and his connections with his new allies in Joliet. I was dressed all in black, armed to the teeth and prepared for battle. I was ready to go to war to find my wife, taking her from Renee and bringing her home.

Safely.

Intact.

Protected.

Loved.

I will make sure she would get so much love.

I'll walk away from all of this, dolce. Just to ensure your safety.

In the SUV, Jasper, Emmett, Felix and Liam rode with me. My father, Anthony, Sean and Seth were waiting for confirmation for Bella's location and to go in guns blazing. Jacob was on the sidelines because he had not used his brain while out with my wife, thinking with his dick and trying to get into Nessie's pants. He was still confined to the bedroom in the Fortress and would be until this was all contained.

Yes, I was pissed at him. Beyond pissed. He'd been a valued member of my team and he betrayed me. Betrayed Bella, and she was paying the goddamned price.

Claire was working with the police, getting information from Maas and working the legal end of Bella's abduction. She promised that she would contact us with more information, namely Renee's phone number so we could track her.

"Boss, we're here," Jasper said, checking his weapon. "Do you think it's okay to …?"

"Felipe said that this man, Ricardo, is a complete and total asshole, taking from women what he wants," I sneered. "I do not want my sweet Bella to suffer at his hands … I'm terrified that I'll lose her completely if that happens …"

Jasper's eyes darkened and his lips flattened to an angry line. "Motherfucker is not going to live to see the morning," he sneered.

Alice had been sexually assaulted while dealing with the whole situation with Royce and Stephan two years ago. A man tried to force her to give him a blow job and she bit down. As a result, Alice had a really rough time, losing weight and not being able sleep. After her attack, Alice and Jasper stayed with us and Bella helped her with her recovery. Even now, Alice could not even think of having oral sex with Jasper without having flashbacks and panic attacks. He never wanted to see that fear in his wife's eyes. Ever.

I couldn't imagine it either. I remembered her fear after her attack just prior to our first date. Bella was so terrified, so shattered.

Shaking my head, I blew out a harsh breath. "If I had my choice, neither of them would live to see morning," I growled. I pulled out Bella's wedding ring that Claire had pilfered from evidence. They had checked it for fingerprints and only found Bella's. So, Claire took it from the cops, delivering it to me. I put it onto a necklace, wearing it around my neck. I tucked it back into my shirt, clambering out of the SUV.

We did not even hide the fact that we were carrying. We walked across the courtyard, owning it and not afraid of any retaliation. Out of the shadows, Esteban scuttled in front of the door. He crossed his arms over his narrow chest. He looked down his nose, rubbing beneath it and scowling. "Ricardo was my son's number ass-kisser. He's a fucking animal. I may not like you, and I sure as fuck do not trust you, but I will help you." He held out his hand.

I shook it, nodding at him. "Thank you for support and I am sorry about your son, Roberto."

"He chose his own path," Esteban sneered. "Roberto … he was more like Ricardo than I cared to admit. I'd had to clean up a lot of his messes, especially when it came to whores and drugs. Come on, Felipe has information for you."

We walked into another decrepit, decaying apartment. The walls were a dingy brown and the carpeting was stained with bodily fluids and food stains. It smelled like something was rotting. When we pushed into another room, it was pristine, filled with computers, flat screens, and surveillance footage. Felipe was standing, looking at a screen with a map of the south suburbs. In another screen, there was a blinking dot, making its way through Texas. He turned, his deep brow furrowed and his lips pursed. "Cullen," he said, holding out his hand.

"Felipe," I responded, shaking his extended hand. "Do you have some news?"

"We talked to several of Ricardo's associates who were still here, working with us," Felipe snorted.

"How many are still alive?" I asked.

"How many do you think?" he retorted. "From what we were told, Ricardo and his partner, the whore, they followed your wife's car from your city condo. While it was parked, we were told that a GPS transponder was placed underneath the rear bumper. In a baby store, the whore bumped into the girl who doesn't talk very clearly."

"Leah …" I breathed.

With a few keystrokes, I saw Leah on one of the screens looking at some clothes for Charlie when a blonde woman bumped into her, apologizing and squeezing her shoulder. Felipe froze the frame when her hand was removed and he zoomed in. Just underneath her collar, there was a blinking red light. "Another GPS transponder," I whispered.

"It was how Bella and Leah were tracked to the bathroom," Felipe said.

"Did you notice Leah being bumped?" I asked Felix.

"To be honest, no," Felix answered. "Bella was working with a salesperson, finding clothes for Sophie. I was watching the door. Jake was with Nessie, Leah and Charlie. You'd have to ask him." I pursed my lips. "Do you want me to call him?"

"No," I said gruffly. I scrubbed my face.

"We have an idea of where Ricardo brought Renee and your wife. He's been staying with his new friends in Joliet, in some abandoned warehouses near the train tracks. The problem with the warehouse is that there's a scattering field. One of my guys is a master hacker and he's trying to gain access to satellite footage. With all of the ground to cover, we'd be looking for days. We need to find body heat, infrared."

"Wouldn't the trains block that?" Emmett asked. "They give off heat, too. You said that they're near train tracks."

"Jose, pull up this apartment," Felipe commanded. Jose did as he was asked and the apartment complex was projected on one of the screens. For the most part, the complex was empty, save for a few residents who belonged to Los Muertos. To the south, there was an el station. A few more keystrokes and the apartment complex was converted to an infrared image. "See how bright the el tracks are? Part of it is the electricity from the track, but there was a recent train that came through. In the apartment, it's not as bright, but still evident that there's heat here. We're looking for this."

"We're in," Jose said with a heavy accent.

"Pull it up," Felipe commanded.

A large train yard was on the screen and he was right that it would take us days to search each warehouse. Days that my wife didn't have. The infrared scans were interlaced over the satellite imagery. The train tracks were a hot spot while the warehouses were virtually dark without any warmth inside. They were truly abandoned.

"There," Felix said, pointing to a warehouse in the northwest corner. "There's some heart sources in this region. It also looks like there is a lot traffic going in and out of the warehouse."

"Agreed," Felipe nodded. He blinked to me. "Esteban will come with you along with some of my men."

"Not you?" I asked.

"My years as a soldier are over," Felipe said. "My vision is gone and …" he rolled up his pant leg, revealing a titanium leg. "I lost my leg because of diabetes. I make up for it with this." He gestured to the computer set up. "Technology has always been my forte."

"We leave now," I said. Felipe handed me a tablet with the surveillance photos on it. "Thank you for your help, Felipe."

"You helped us with the Triad and the fractured Bratva threat," Felipe said. "We would have lost thousands, if not millions of dollars with their interference … it's the least we could do, Cullen." He held out his hand. "Mi familia … mi hermano."

"Agreed," I said, shaking his hand. With a nod to Esteban, we left the dingy apartment and made our way to the SUV. Esteban had a contingent of his own men, following us to the warehouse in Joliet. Before we got on the road, Esteban exchanged numbers with Emmett so we could keep in contact.

When we got on the road, Jasper's cell phone rang. "Whitlock," he barked. "Okay, Alice. Here he is …" He handed me his phone. "Alice wants to talk to you."

"Hey, Ali," I responded. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, but, I'm worried about your wife," she said. "I know that I just gave birth a couple of weeks ago … Talk to me. Tell me about what's happening. Do you need a doctor?"

"We can use Dr. Moretti," I said.

"Do you think that Bella would want a male doctor if … if she's been hurt that way," Alice said. "Claire spoke to me and showed me Ricardo Vallejo's criminal record. It's highly likely that … she may need some special attention."

"I don't want to hear that," I spat. "She can't …"

"You may not want to hear it and Bella definitely won't want it, but Ricardo doesn't fucking care," Alice breathed. "Let Moretti know that I'm coming when Bella's recovered from wherever she's been taken. I want to take care of my friend, my best friend. I love her, Edward. She was there for me when I was in a difficult situation. Now, I want to return the favor. Hopefully, it'll be just injuries, which is not good, but it's not …"

"Rape," I whispered, closing my eyes and praying that we got to her in time. "My mother is at the condo with Charlie."

"I'll call Jasper's dad to come pick me up. I'm still not allowed to drive," Alice explained. "Get her, Edward. And put that cow out of her misery, god damn it. Renee is a total cunt and deserves everything she gets."

"You won't get any argument from me," I snorted. "Be safe, Alice."

"And Edward, I know you're pissed at Jake," she murmured.

"Oh, beyond pissed. He's not helping. He's confined to the Fortress until I can figure out what to do with him," I snarled. "If he had paid attention to Bella and Leah and not flirting with Nessie, we wouldn't be in this fucking mess. He's not involved and as far as I'm concerned, he's no longer a part of our organization." I ended the call and focused my attention on driving.

xx MOTM:FFF xx

Bella

Every part of my body ached. I was thirsty and the faint dripping water made it even worse. I opened my eyes and I was still strapped to the table. I looked up, noticing large bruises and cuts on my exposed skin. My right hand was so swollen and it was bent at an awkward angle. My head pounded with each heartbeat.

My head fell back against the metal table with a dull thud. "Help," I called weakly. "Please?"

"Why should anyone help you?" Renee asked. She had a large water bottle, sipping from it loudly. "You deserved this, Isabella."

"No one deserves this," I said. "And why are you doing this? For some money? For your loser boyfriend?"

"He's not my boyfriend," Renee snapped. "He's a business partner. We have mutual interests. I wanted money and he wanted to bring down your asshole husband by destroying you and destroying his livelihood. It's only a matter of time before he … makes you remember your place," Renee smiled and flipped out a knife. She used it to cut away my shirt. I wriggled and my movements caused the knife to slice into my skin along with my clothes.

"I can't believe you'd do this to me," I cried. "Why would you want a monster to take away my choice?"

"Because, I had my choice taken away from me. You should know what it feels like," Renee sneered. She stepped back, tossing the remnants of my clothes onto the floor. I was still in my bra and panties, but still very exposed. "Besides, Ricardo wants to see how many colors of the rainbow he can turn you before he fucks every whole you have, ripping you apart," She looked at her watch, smirking. "Well, it's time for a phone call to your husband. He needs to be reminded about his deadline."

"He's well aware of his deadline," I spat.

"Even so, he might want to know that you're okay," Renee said, pulling out an old burner phone. She took out a piece of paper, dialing Edward's cell phone number.

"Cullen," he barked.

"I take you got my little note from your kid," Renee cackled. "You better have my money or your bitch wife will be delivered to you in pieces, after Ricardo breaks her in."

"I have your money, Renee," Edward snarled. "I'm changing the terms of delivery. I want to see you. See Ricardo. Face-to-face. Meet me at the address I text you with my wife by dawn. I also want proof of life. For all I know, your psycho ass already had your fun with Ricardo and she's in pieces in the Chicago River."

"Talk, bitch," Renee sneered.

"Edward," I called out.

"Dolce," he breathed, his voice softening. "Are you okay?"

"For the most part," I said, trying not to cry but my voice cracked. "I'm sorry."

"Do not even apologize, Bella. Everything will be okay," he said. He sounded confident. "I love you more than words can describe."

"I love you, too," I croaked out, wanting nothing more than to have his strong arms around me.

"There's your proof of life, Edward," Renee sneered. "I'll let you know about your change in plans. Ricardo may not like the change." With an evil grin, she slammed the knife she'd used on my clothes into my upper arm. I screamed, bucking off the table. "Tick tock," she sang as she hung up. With an angry snarl, she pulled the knife from my bicep. My vision swirled. She laughed maniacally as she stabbed somewhere else, but a searing pain radiated through my whole body until it just gave out.

xx MOTM:FFF xx

Edward

"Don't even apologize, Bella. Everything will be okay. I love you more than words can describe," I said to my wife.

"I love you, too," she muttered. She sounded shattered, just exhausted.

"There's your proof of life, Edward. I'll let you know about your change in plans. Ricardo may not like the change." There was a pause and then a hard thump. There was a blood curdling scream that pierced through SUV. "Tick tock," Renee sang before ending the call.

I felt my stomach lurch. I looked over to Emmett, who was giving me a panicked look. "Where are we?" I asked, trying to keep my voice even. I couldn't let my emotions take over. "How close are we?"

"Ten minutes away," Jasper said from the back. "I just texted Esteban and Carlisle. They're approaching from the west and south. They said to go straight in, guns blazing."

"Do we know how many people there are?" I asked.

"About twenty-five people guarding the building," Jasper answered. "We're not sure about the number inside."

I shook my head. I hated all of the unknown variables. Regardless, the only thing I needed to focus on was getting to my wife, who was obviously in pain and being tortured by her mother. I pressed my foot down on the gas pedal, weaving through the streets of downtown Joliet. As we turned down the back alley to the train yard, the skies opened up and lightening streaked across horizon.

The weather seemed fitting. I was going to bring hell fire and thunder down onto Renee and her partner, Ricardo. The new alliance between Ricardo's faction of Los Muertos and the Spanish Gangster Disciples was going to be a short one. Parking the car, I pulled out my Desert Eagle, readying my weapon. "Lock and load," I snarled, stepping out into the rain.

A/N: Renee has a one-way ticket on the crazy train. I never liked her as a character in canon. She was too flighty and tried to be Bella's friend, when she should have been a mother. This Renee is just fucking evil, a conniving, back-stabbing, or arm-stabbing, bitch.

Up next will be … well, hold onto your butts.

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