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CULLEN-MASEN FAMILY

Chapter 27

BPOV

Well, it's been a few weeks since the fires at the warehouses, and they were able to determine someone set them with a cheap timer. They piled an excellerant around the timer, and when it went off it caused the spark to start the fire. The place was awash in some kind of fuel to help in the excellerated burning of the places. Edward said they were a total loss, but they didn't hold anything of value. The fire marshall was contributing it to homeless people starting fires to get warm. No bodies were discovered, so he was happy for that fact.

Edward wasn't planning doing anything until the coming spring, when he would have the place bulldozed, and possibly building more warehouses. At the present he was not worried about it. He did know who was the cause, and it was just more to pay him back for.

In the meantime, we made arrangements to get our marriage license, and in three days time we went to the courthouse having a private simple ceremony. He then took us for a weekend to a family owned home in Bainbridge. Actually, it was two houses, but we were staying at the bigger we arrived I fell in love with it. The location, the house, the grounds, everything about it. I wouldn't mind living here. It has everything, and is very nice.

We spent a week an a half there, but Edward was getting itchy, and had things to settle. I also had to finish getting the paintings finished for the gallery showing. Edward did promise once everything settled down he would bring us out here for a couple weeks, or a month if I wanted too. I was all for it.

We had a good time, and it gave us both a break from things. I think Cal's uneasiness had a lot to do with it. He was on constant alert, and Cane was no better. Since Cane got a bit older, and Edward had sent him for a two week course in defense he has been acting more like a real guard dog. He still has his fun moments with Peaches, but I feel more secure with him guarding me now.

We were looking into combining the two warehouses, possibly making a bridge between the two, or looking for a house. I didn't care as long as I had a big enough area for my art studio, and Edward would need his space to store things, and meeting area.

I was working on an idea, but I'd wait until this showing was over. Then I would draw up some ideas.

Edward was working on the storage area they had finally finished on the first floor. They still had some minor things to work on, but they were moving a lot of office furniture, guns, wine, and some merchandise I had no idea what it was.

I exiled myself into my studio, and was down to my last four paintings for the showing. Angela was spending more time with Sean, and I think they may be looking to move on to the next step.

Gianna was here with me a lot, and I had Felix, Ant, and either James, or Tom. they came in handy when I had to move, or hang a lot of canvases. I walked over to our lounge area, and asked Gianna to put us some coffee on. I went to the bathroom, and came out to her pouring us some coffee. The smell was a good jump starter. I felt as if I was lagging. I could not afford that right now. My Peaches was lounging on the couch right in a small patch of sun. Cane was laying at my feet. He was stuck to me like a second skin. He was making me edgy.

I just needed to shake everything off, and get this done so I could relax.

EPOV

I was sitting in my office in my apartment, while Bella was across from me working in her studio. This was not the way for newlyweds to be. Bella and I should be some where held up in a bedroom, with nothing but the thoughts of lots, and lots of sex. She really did like our vacation house. I might look into trying to buy some of the surrounding properties, and making it a compound. It wouldn't take much...fencing, surveillance, and the house down below could be for all the security. It's something to think about.

I talked to Sean, Jasper, Emmett, Cal, Felix, Paul, and some of my other men. They have heard a few things, but nothing really since the fires at the warehouses. A little bit of a stir about a new drug, but that was snuffed out quickly. We were just sitting around waiting for something to happen. I didn't think for one minute that Caius had given up...hardly. I figured he was just biding his time. Giving me a false sense of security. Not likely.

I was very armed, and ready. It was just a matter of the time. I was impatient for it to just come into play. Bring it on...now!

We had a big shipment of guns coming in from our plant in Japan, and parts of it was going to be sent to China, and Russia. They had something going on, and were in desperate need of arms. They were still working on a few things in the underground tunnels, but my storage areas were ready. I had wine coming in from France, Italy, Spain, and Greece. China was sending me some to sample, and they held quite a margin of the market. I would give it a gander. I had a very huge wine cellar in the basement, and a small one in my apartment. I had four cases coming in of the wine Bella liked.

We almost had all my weapons moved to the storage area below, and the furniture was finally here. I was very impressed with the table in the conference room. It was some of this shou-sugi-ban wood made in Japan. I also found a most unusual desk for my office. It cost ten thousand dollars, but it is very unusual. I had them replace the glass top to plexy glass has I had a tendency to lose my temper, and pound on things. I couldn't wait for Sean to see it. He will have a fit.

Anyway, it's time to go see my wife, and sit down to dinner. I have missed her immensely. I hope she is through with her work. If not, I will persuade her.

I call down for Cal that I'm ready to go see Bella, and he comes flying up the stairs. He throws my vest at me, and then my coat. We both make sure our guns are at the ready, and we go down in the elevator. I mention us walking over, but he holds me back shaking his head. He says he has a bad feeling, and to just get in the car.

I trusted Cal with my life, so I got inside the car, and he sat in the driver's seat punching in a number calling ahead for reinforcements if needed. We sat for a few minutes, and suddenly Cal floored the car out of the garage straight across to Bella's building. We didn't make it far when gunshots rung out. We were hit with a barrage of bullets, but nothing could pierce the car. It was a version of the Guardian. It could take a lot of shots, and even a bomb. It would take more than this to stop us.

I pulled my guns out, and got ready. I could see some men coming out of Bella's warehouse garage trying to give us cover. Cal floored it again, and we went right through to the garage. He slid sideways, and fled out of the car pulling his guns grabbing my arm, and pushing me towards the elevator. He had already called ahead, and they had Bella pulled to a safe place inside. They were not taking any chances. I swung around popping the trunk of the car, and Cal commenced to help me pull guns, and ammunition out. Some more men came forward pulling guns, and running back towards the opening.

A few took off rounding the building trying to get to the people shooting at us. The elevator opened up, and Sean along with a few other men came tumbling out heading for the car, and me. They pulled a few more guns out, and we took up positions just inside. I could see a few flares as shots were made just to the side of the warehouse next to mine. I also saw a couple spots on the roof, and motioned for someone to take up positions on this roof.

Shots were still ringing out, but then I heard someone hit one of the snipers on the roof across from us. I also saw a couple men across at the side fall all of a sudden. I tried to look up, and was suddenly jerked back in cover by Paul just as a bullet went flying where my head had been. I turned looking at him, and he motioned for me to follow him.

We got to the back of Bella's building, and he continued on down a line going from one building to the next. We continued down three buildings, and then down the side. We were circling the buildings coming around, and across the way coming up behind them. We finally got to the back of the building looking down the alleyway. There were three men loaded with weapons watching across at our building. Paul and I walked very quietly, and slowly up behind them.

Paul reached behind his back pulling out a set of knives like he used the first night of interrogations. It seems he liked them very much. He came up behind one guy cutting his throat, while the other two turned, and I shot wounding one, and Paul had a knife at the other ones throat. I pulled my phone out, and a few minutes later some men came down to assist us. We managed to come out of this deal with two captives.

I looked at Paul grabbing his arm in a very firm hand shake letting him know I would not forget. We took off towards Bella's warehouse, and there were quite a few bodies laying around. We had lost two men, but there were about eight of theirs dead, and two captives.

I just wanted to go see Bella making sure she was alright. We entered the building, and walked back to her pantry where her and Ant were coming up in her elevator. She came flying out of the elevator at me. I nodded at Ant thanking him for protecting her, and I picked her up walking into the kitchen. Everyone was working their way inside, and Sean came up telling me they had taken the two captives to the new interrogation rooms across the way.

Bella walked up to Cal giving him a big hug thanking him for protecting me, and for being alright himself. She then walked up to Paul grabbing him in a big hug making sure he was alright, and thanking him, too. He just nodded at her with a bit of tears in his eyes...never to fall, but there just the same.

She was going around making sure everyone was not hurt, and if they were trying to help them the best she could. Angela went to work making coffee, and pulling things out to drink. Everyone was talking trying to hear what happened, as they happened. I asked Cal how he knew, and he just said it was a 'feeling'. That things had not felt right for a few hours, and he was just hyper alert when we went outside to the car.

He said he just floored the car, and when we exited the garage it was on. Shots ringing out everywhere. He just wanted to get to some kind of cover, and some help. He made a call, and people started pouring out of this building to cover us. I'm just thankful we had help. I couldn't see us driving off, and leaving this building without any idea if they would try to enter it. Everyone was giving their account of the events, and finally we were down to the stunt Paul, and I pulled off.

I let Paul tell his part, and I backed him up. We got down to his cutting the throat of one, me shooting another to wound them, and Paul with his knives at the other one's throat. We ended up with the two captives across the way. We were now making plans to go interrogate them, and see if there was any new information to be had.

I was leaving Ant, Felix, and Tom to guard Bella, and a few men down in the garage of both buildings. We made a sweep of every floor, making sure it was clear, and they got ready to lock things up. I stood there looking at Bella, knowing I wasn't comfortable leaving her. So, I picked her up, hollered at Angela to grab the dogs, and Ant to get her crutches. I was taking her to my apartment.

She just climbed in my arms, and pulled me close. I was making the right decision. I needed my wife close...safe...with me.

We got to the garage, climbing in my car without any argument, and Cal took us back across to my apartment. We sat in the car while quite a few men went through the whole building making sure it was secure. We had sat talking, and waiting for them to come back letting us know it was clear.

We finally saw Cal walking toward us, and we got out making it towards the elevator. Once there, and finally in the apartment, I got Bella situated. I told her we were going down stairs to interrogate those men, and I had no idea when we would be back. I told her to fix her something to eat, and go on to bed. I would wake her when we got done. I pulled her close brushing her hair back from her face, looking in each others eyes. I leaned down kissing her, telling her I love her, and I'd be back as soon as possible.

I turned heading for the elevator, looking at her, and motioning for my men to guard her with their lives. We headed down to the bottom floor, and to the rooms below. I was so getting tired of all this crap with Caius. It's getting down to the wire. Time to almost take the action to them...but, I'll wait. He will mess up, and when he does...

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Alright, another chapter, and I do believe it is coming down to the wire. It's just about time for things to 'explode wide open', and when it does Edward is so going to go ballistic. I can promise you it's not going to be pleasant.

Please let me know what ya'll think. I'd ask for reviews, but with the reception the last few chapters have received I'm kind of disappointed, and don't even see the point. I still intend to finish this, and soon at this pace.

Don't forget to go to group page for some pics.

Thanks muches...