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CMF

CULLEN-MASEN FAMILY

Chapter 31

Ghost - Edward's

The more I think about this, about things I know I may have screwed up not telling Edward everything, but I felt that if I had he would have went and donesomething to have jeopardized it all. I need to fix things so that I get her out of there, and home safe. But, I also need to either bring Scott over to our side, baiting Caius into a trap, or I stick around to bring them both in myself. That may prove to be impossible if I try to do it on my own, as Scott knows pretty much everything I do about detaining people.

The way he is acting right now tells me he is not so sure about his decision of taking her for Caius. Otherwise, why has he not called him, and had him over to this cabin. I wasn't totally sure Scott would use this place, but it makes a lot of sense as being out of town away from any witnesses. Also very hard to reach without someone knowing ahead.

I think I'm going to wait to see if he goes into town for more supplies, and if I can get her out without his knowing. I need to get her back to Edward, no doubt about it. Edward is contemplating an all out war, and god help a lot of people if he does. I don't think he'll stop, and think about destroying anyone. Who so every crosses his path is bound to end up dead. No questions asked.

I can't believe he was able to get through the men he had guarding her at the warehouse, but the way I understand it they were injected with something to knock them out. They almost gave too much to Ant, and about killed him. Well, everyone is alright now, and getting everything ready to go against the Calabrese Family.

Wait, what is he doing? It looks as if he's leaving. I need to keep an eye on him for a short distance to make sure he is leaving. I can't have him come back, and discover me trying to get her out of there.

I follow him for a bit, and he cuts onto the main highway heading into the small town. I figure for some more supplies. Alright, let's see if I can get inside to her, and possibly get her out before he comes back. I approach the back of the cabin, and it's not to hard to obtain entry. I walk down the hall looking into each room I pass. I don't see her anywhere. I walk into the living room/kitchen area, and she is sitting on the couch.

She looks up, and gasp. I hold a finger to my lips wanting her to remain quiet in case he has any kind of surveillance, or audio equipment monitoring us. I make like she is walking back towards the back, maybe into her bedroom. I need to get her more clothing to go outside. I motion for her a jacket, which she reaches into the closet to get. She also gets her some boots. Once she is dressed, I motion for her to follow me out the back door.

Once outside I grab her hand, and we take off as fast as possible through a wooded section. I have an all-terrain vehicle available. I get her seated inside, and down as low as possible for cover. I take off towards town, and pull out my phone.

"Hello? Randall?"

"Head towards your apartment as fast as you can. Gather Ant, Felix, Tom, her dogs, Sean, and meet me there as quickly as possible."

"What's going on, Randall?"

"No time for questions. Just go. Do what I said, and hurry," hanging up the phone. We're on highway ninety nine heading towards highway five into Seattle. I've got to hurry, and get her to Edward, and then I'm coming back to get ahold of Scott if possible. I've got to try to turn this war in our favor.

Finally on highway five, and almost to west Seattle. I doubt I'll make it back before Scott returns, but I may catch him before he leaves. Please be waiting Edward. I pull down the road heading towards the warehouses, and touch Bella's back telling her to sit up. I fly into the garage of Edward's warehouse, and men are everywhere waiting for us.

Edward steps out of his car looking at my vehicle, and steps towards us. I nod at him, and he comes flying throwing open the door to her, pulling her out. I look at him trying to express my need to go. I just tell him to be patient, and I will hopefully call him with some more information. To guard her with all their lives, as I feel if Caius has any idea Scott had her, he will be after her again with a vengeance.

I take off heading back to the cabin. As I pull up to where I hid it before, I don't notice anything, or anyone around. I get out pulling my gun, and head towards the cabin. Just as I come up to the back door it opens, and there stands Scott. He looks at me, taking a deep breath, his head falling forward in defeat. I motion for him to head inside, and not to try my patience.

We go into the living room, and I motion for him to sit down. "Well Scott, I believe you've gotten yourself in quite a mess. Now, I'll let you know I've delivered Bella back to her husband safe, and sound. This is going to go one of two ways...you either work with us, the Cullen-Masen Family to get ahold of Caius, and end this before all out war commences. Or, I can just kill you right here, and be the end of this part of it. You know I have no qualms about killing you. I trained you, I know what your capable of, so don't even think about trying anything. Now, that being said, I got one question...why have you not turned her over to Caius? That is why you took her originally. Care to explain?" as I sit back waiting on a reply. I've not taken my gun off him...I'm not stupid.

He sits looking at me, finally, "I...I just couldn't do it. I couldn't expose her to him. I was just trying to come up with a way of getting her back home without ending up dead before ending Caius." He looks up at me, "He has to be stopped, Randall. There is no other choice. That man is pure evil, and only god knows what he would have done to her. I just couldn't do it. Please tell him once I had her I would never have harmed her. I would never have let anyone harm her. She is an innocent."

We sit looking at each other for a few minutes. I nod at him that I understand. "Alright Scott, did he have any idea you had her?"

"No, no idea. Once I had her here it about made me sick to think of telling him. So, no...no idea."

"Got any coffee worth a damn in this place?"

A slight smile on his face, "Sure, let me make us some. What are you going to do Randall?"

"Well, I think I'm going to make some calls, and see if we can turn this around hopefully in our favor...in your favor. Otherwise, you do know your dead, right?"

"Yeah, I kind of figured that the second I had her in my hands," as he turns to make us some coffee. I continue watching everything he does. Again, I'm not stupid. I did train him.

As I sit there continuing to watch him, I pull out my phone calling Sean. I know he is right there with them all in Edward's apartment.

"Yeah, Randall."

"Put me on speaker," as I hear him setting things up for us on speaker. "Now, I need you to listen to everything I say. Try not to interrupt, and at the end I'll...we will try to answer all your questions."

"Where are you, Randall?" Edward ask.

"That's really not important at the moment. Now, the man who took Bella is named Scott. He is Caius' ghost, as I am yours. I trained him many years ago. Now, Scott was being blackmailed to do Caius' bidding. Either that, or a few of his remaining family would die. One of them is a step-sister Caius planned to sale. I honestly don't blame him, but he decided once he had Bella there was no way he could expose her to Caius, and his sick plans."

"I never hurt her, Sir. I tried to take care of her, and anything she needed," Scott tried to explain.

"Edward, he was very courteous, and caring of my needs. He even bought me a set of arm braces. He never hurt me. Please, Edward, give him a chance. Please," Bella kept saying desperately to Edward.

"Continue Randall. What is the point to this phone call continuing?"

"He wants to help us end Caius. Help end his ideas of utter terror...and he does have some awful plans other than just the human trafficking."

"Continue," Edward says finality.

"Alright, Edward. I've already told Scott if he helps us that I will consider him joining me, working for you...for Cullen-Masen Family. If he had not decided to help, I would have just killed him. He knows all this. Now, I need something from you, before this goes any further," I say as I wait for a reply from Edward. "If you need some time to decide, then I can call you back in an hour. Understood?"

I'm greeted by silence. I know Edward wants to personally kill Scott, but if he helps us end Caius, I will offer him a position working with me for Edward. If he doesn't answer this favorably I will send Scott away before I go back on my word. But Scott said he will help me obtain Caius...just the two of us.

I continue to wait it out for a few minutes, and finally. "I understand, Edward. I'll be in touch in a few days..."

"Wait Randall," as I hear him take a deep breath. "Alright, alright. I'll give him a chance to prove himself. But, only one damn chance. If he fails there will be no place on this earth he can hide I won't find him, understand?"

I look at Scott, and he nods in agreement. "I understand Mr. Cullen. I won't let you down."

"I pray not for your sake. Now, Randall what is the plan? What do you need in the way of weapons, men? Name it, I'll get it to you."

Another extended period of silence. "How about I call you back...say in an hour. Let me talk to Scott to see how he feels would be the best way to approach Caius. I mean he has had more to do with him than we have."

"Alright. One hour. I'll be waiting."

After everyone hangs up, I turn to Scott. "Alright Scott, now it begins. I do believe between the two of us, we can get the job done. What do you think? " as I sit drinking my coffee waiting for his reply.

He continues to look at me, "Randall, I do believe for me to come out of this alive, it just being the two of us sounds like the best idea. What did you have in mind?"

I grin at him, and know Caius is as good as dead.

EPOV

To have her back in my arms was beyond anything. I can not believe Randall calling, an just pulling in with her. Now, what he's doing I have no idea, but I trust him. He brought my Bella back to me, and that above anything else he has done for me carries more weight above it all. I have a feeling that him, and this Scott is going to bring me Caius. I guess I need to set things up to be ready for that delivery. But, for right this minute I want to spend some time just holding my Bella.

She doesn't appear to be hurt in any way, but I want to know what all she went through. How he really treated her. She said he took very good care of her, and even made sure she had arm braces to get around. That he provided her with everything she could need. He should thank god for her vouching for him.

She will not be leaving my sight from now on until this thing with Caius is settled. I might as well make it known to her now. She can give me all the hell she wants for my actions, but surely she will understand my motives.

I walk into the bedroom just as she heads into the bathroom with clean clothes, as I'm assuming she wants to wash the ordeal off. As well she is going to need time to work this through her head. Her first thoughts were for everyone else before herself. She was so happy to see Ant, Felix, and Tom were alright. She said she saw them receiving a shot of something, and them hitting the floor. Then poor ole' Cane was loved on heavily, and he was equally worried about his master. The vet had assured us he would be fine. Like us, he would suffer a slight headache, but otherwise he was good to go.

As for me, she was attached at first like a limpet, and I had no qualms about keeping her right there. I was so shocked to see her, I couldn't do much else but hold her tight.

I follow her into the bathroom, start the shower, and proceed to remove both of our clothes. I lead her into the shower, and pull her close. I'm thankful for the water so she can not see my tears, but yet again she seems to know, and pulls me down to kiss me. She tells me she is right here, and will always be with me until our last breath.

I do love my wife, and I proceed to show her. I lather up her hair, and follow the suds down her body washing every inch of her. I fail to see one bruise, one scratch, one anything to take out on that man. He should be thankful she is not hurt in the least.

I'm not pushing her for more than to hold her close, and take care of her. She is all that truly matters to me in this world. I wash her body from the top of her head, to the bottom of her feet. I then push her under the water to rinse off all the suds. I also take a quick shower, and then reach out for towels for us. I give her one for her hair, and take the other to dry her off. I then grab a towel for myself, which I use brusquely, and quickly. I then sit on the toilet watching her apply lotion to her body, and then her pajamas.

She picks up her brush, and comb heading for the bedroom. I follow her making a quick side trip to grab some sleep pants, and I go sit behind her taking the comb. I start working it through her hair from the bottom, and working the tangles out of it as I go. I finally finish, and it feels so soft. I lay the implements on the side table, and pull her close to me.

I lay us both down side by side looking into her face, running my fingers down her cheek. I tell her I'm so glad she's back with me, but she needs to know she will not be leaving my sight until this with Caius is finished. I can not go through losing her again. That I know she wants to work, but I can't just right now. That unless there is an immediate showing that can't be put off, I can't let her go across to do any work.

She lays looking at me, silent, looking, and seeing the panic, the love, knowing she will not win this one. But, she is willing to concede to him, to relieve his angst. So, with a nod from her, he pulls her close, and they drift off to sleep.

Tomorrow is another day, and a lot is going to come to a head.

Meanwhile, across town

Randall - Scott

The two of us sat down to discuss what we can do to bring Caius down. To fix it so he is brought to 'our' brand of justice. He needs to be dealt with, without a doubt. We both know he made a severe move threatening the women of the Cullen-Masen family, but when he put it out to capture Bella, it was such a stupid, dangerous move on his part.

So, now the plan we think will work is for Scott to call him telling him he has Bella, and arrange for him to come to see her. The catch is he will have to come by himself, and no guards. If Caius insist on guards, then we'll have to rely on Edward's help with backup. I'm hoping the two of us can pull this off without dragging more people into it.

The first thing we have to handle is the man Caius has watching his step sister. He will have to be dealt with before we can set the rest of the plan into play. I assure Scott he will be dealt with, and no harm will come to her. She is practically the only family he has left, and she's trying to go to school to further her career.

First off, we watch her for a couple days, trying to pick up this man following her every move. We've caught him a time, or two, but can not seem to get close enough to catch him. He mainly stays hidden in a car or truck, and not far from her. He's a young man able to mix into the campus crowd without being seen.

It only takes us a few days to finally catch him at his own game. Just as she heads home, she has a problem with her car...a flat tire. She pulls of to the side of the road, and gets out trying to change it. The man starts to approach her, having pulled up ahead of her. We pull right up beside her, Scott getting out coming around the front of her car stopping him from approaching her. Scott tells her to get in the car locking all the doors, and he will see to fixing her car.

She gets inside, locking the doors, and Scott approaches the man from the front who addresses Scott, with a sickening wicked smirk. I walk in behind him sticking the barrel of my gun in his ribs motioning for him to back up, and get into the back of my vehicle. Just as he sits down I pop him in the back of his head knocking him out. I shove him on in the car taking ties to his hands behind him. Also ties around his ankles.

Scott is taking care of her tire, and assuring her everything is alright. I approach them, and tell her everything is alright, and to just go home making sure she is locked in tight. Check her windows, and all her doors being very vigilant for a few days. Scott tells her he will call her when everything is alright, and gives her a kiss on the temple.

We climb in the car making sure our passenger is still out, and Scott goes to handle his car. He ends up following me back to his house. From there we plan on fixing it to look like a major car accident, and the vehicle engulfed in flames. The man will be in the car, but mercifully dead before the fire.

Scott and I head down highway ninety nine to pick up highway five heading into Seattle, near a pretty busy intersection during the day, but not so bad when we plan on hitting it. Scott is driving his car with the man all ready to drag into the drivers seat. We've got it fixed to hit a concrete pillar pretty much wide open. The gas tank is filled, and excessive fuel poured throughout the car. It will burn, and possibly explode when it hits.

We pull up setting everything in motion. The man is already dead from a drug overdose he had in the glove purpose he was going to use it I don't know, and glad we stopped it. He's paying for his part in Caius' bull shit. We are just out of sight of any surveillance when Scott sets the car in motion. He comes sitting in the vehicle with me, and we watch as it hits the concrete pillar near the exit, and explodes. It goes up in flames, and steadily burning as we pull off.

No one can report us as our tag at present is covered in mud, along with splatters all over the vehicle as if we had been mudding. Now we head back to his cabin to do some more arranging, and I need to make some calls. I need to hold off long enough for Scott to call Caius, and see if he will come alone, or have an escort. I was so ready to end this...end Caius.

Scott makes us some coffee, and once brewed we both sit down at the kitchen bar as he pulls his phone out to make his call to Caius.

After going through a few people he finally comes to the phone, and commences to give Scott hell for not calling him right a way. He explains there were problems, and he had to change places, but finally got set up in a cabin in the woods. He asked Caius when he would want to come out, and Caius immediately tried to do his own arranging of having her transported to his home where he could do what he wanted.

Scott told him right up front that he would come out to the cabin they were at, and Scott would prefer he came by himself. Caius was not going to fall for this, and said he would be bringing a few of his people with him. He said he would be back in touch with Scott tomorrow evening to arrange to come out. Scott told him he would be waiting for his call.

I then pulled out my phone making my call to Edward. He was very eager to get his hands on Caius, but waited to hear everything about the arranged meeting tomorrow. I told him that Caius was bringing probably a bunch of men; more than he was telling Scott about. Edward said he would gather a bunch of people, and then call us back to arrange converging on the site.

I knew it was going to end up a blood bath before it was over. I was only thankul we were in such a secluded spot to carry this out.

An hour, or so later Edward calls me back asking for directions to the place. I tell him we will drive over, and lead them to some of the more desirable spots to set up waiting for Caius' arrival.

A short while later we arrive at Edward's garage taking the door into the first floor, and a meeting in his underground office. When we arrive the room is filled with a lot of people. Scott was able to pull up schematics of the property he owned, along with some aerial shots made by a drone many years ago. He told of a few differences in the terrain, but that really everything was pretty much the same.

He told of some places to station people to wait totally surrounding the cabin. He also made suggestions for Randall, and a couple of other men to be stationed in the loft overlooking the downstairs. There would also be someone keeping watch on the back stairs leading to them.

So, we were set. We began gathering guns, ammunition, preferably camouflage clothing to blend into the greenery, and to try to stay as close together as possible. We were heading into the cabin now, to await Caius' phone call.

Now for the waiting game.

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Alright everyone, we're coming down to a big battle between Caius, and Edward. It is so going to be interesting to read it to fruition. Lots of violence, blood, cussing, guts, and possibly some snakes.

Now, let me know what ya'll thought.

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

Thanks muches...