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Their meeting place was a vacant church on a street filled with dilapidated buildings which had long since met their condemnation. Bella's heels clicked as she walked, the sound echoing throughout the hallowed ground. Several Cullen lieutenants hid in the rafters, ensuring none of the Santiago men could pull off a surprise attack. As she reached the spot where the pulpit once stood, Bella slowed to glance around. Mounted on the far wall, high above her head, was an ancient cross. Christ hung in crucifixion, years of neglect showing in the dull, chipped wood.

If not for the knowledge that her protectors watched over her, she would have quivered at the hollow emptiness of the drafty building. Instead, she stiffened her spine and awaited the brothers' arrival.

"Coming in now," the voice in her ear said. Edward insisted the only way she could go in alone was with a weapon on her side, an earpiece for communication, and cameras everywhere.

The heavy front doors were thrown open, a large group of men erupting into the church and filling the sanctuary at her back. Bella remained unmoving, staring up at the body of Jesus. Once the commotion ended, she turned slowly, clasping her hands in front of her to hide their shaking.

"Riley Santiago," she said, her voice ringing strongly into the void.

"Bella Cullen," the man said in return.

Standing immediately in front of her were Riley and Raoul, brothers in blood and violence. Though Raoul was the eldest, he didn't have the backing of their father to take over the business. Idly, Bella wondered if the move to promote his younger brother had stung, or if it was a relief not to be saddled with such monumental responsibility.

Riley's dirty blond hair shone red and blue in the weak light streaming through broken stained-glass windows. "Where is your husband?"

"Around." Bella smiled serenely. "We need to discuss the territories up for renegotiation, and I am willing to offer an alliance between our Families."

"Why would I want an alliance?" Riley derided, narrowing his eyes. "I'm not interested in making friends, only in making money."

One dark brow rose. "You don't believe partnerships can grow empires exponentially?"

He leaned forward, and Bella had to force herself to meet his penetrating gaze. "No."

"Keep him talking, Bella," said the voice in her ear.

"Well, then, why did you agree to come here?"

Gesturing to the surrounding pews, Riley said, "Call it curiosity."

She could only be grateful he smelled of nothing more than the leather of his jacket since he moved to stand inappropriately close. Expletives exploded in her ear as Riley stopped within inches of her, but she ignored them. "You enjoy wasting everyone's time?"

At Riley's evil grin, she couldn't quite suppress a shiver. "It wasn't a complete waste. After all, I got the chance to meet you."

Dry as the desert, she replied, "Congratulations, you've met me. If there's nothing more to discuss, I'll be on my way."

Bella whirled, making a move toward the rear exits into the bowels of the church, when Raoul spoke. "Don't forget, Mrs. Cullen, we're still looking for the perpetrator who killed the entire Volturi Family. It hasn't gone unnoticed that it was also a bomb that took out Laurent Young. Apparently, you have a penchant for repeating your methods of destruction."

Bella gazed over her shoulder. "Such as setting up traps so you can take down your enemies without putting in any real effort?"

Raoul's face reddened, but Riley clamped a hand on his shoulder. When the former spoke again, he barely sounded calm. "We officially stake our claim to the Volturi territory. We won't give it up."

"Then the Young territory is officially claimed by the Cullens."

Just as she was about to make her escape, Edward's frantic shout rang in her ear. "Behind you!"

Bella froze when Riley spoke from directly behind her. "You know the rule about wives and children being untouchable?"

Closing her eyes, Bella tried not to show alarm at the heavy breath ruffling her hair. Approximately fifteen men would be more than happy to put a bullet between his eyes with their sniper rifles if he touched her. Still, she couldn't let her guard down for a second.

"I don't believe in it."

Ignoring his parting comment, she made her way through the door and hurried to the spot where the others waited for her.

Edward paced the length of the media room when she walked in but stopped immediately to grab her. Crushing her to his chest, he muttered into her ear, "For the record, I hated this idea."

As though he hadn't voiced his dissenting opinion multiple times while they were in the planning stage. "Why did they agree to this if they weren't actually going to meet with any of you?"

Emmett spoke up from his spot in front of the monitors. "To threaten us."

"I knew he wasn't just saying those things to frighten me."

"No, they were sincere." Jasper directed his attention to the radio in his hand as they all heard a disembodied voice.

"They've exited the building, but they're standing around on the sidewalk."

"Thanks, Phil." Jasper toggled the screen in front of him to zoom in on the three men standing in front of the church. One of them was fiddling with a tablet and shaking his head.

Edward said, "I think they wanted to test us, to see how prepared we would be."

"Pass or fail, I'm glad you claimed the Young territory," Emmett said without looking up. "Since they're just going to claim the other like that's how this works."

"What if it's not okay with the Denalis?" Bella asked.

Edward shrugged; he still hadn't let her go. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there."

"You make it sound so simple."

"Not necessarily, but there's no need to worry about something that might not happen."

Bella saw a strange expression pass over his features. "What aren't you telling me?"

"It's nothing to do with this."

Jasper said, "I maintain it was the wisest decision to have Bella represent us."

"While I agree, I don't want to do that again anytime soon."

"I second that," Edward said.

"Boss." Emmett pointed to the screen.

Riley and the unfamiliar man climbed into a limousine with extremely dark tint, but Raoul stayed on the street with the tablet in his hands.

"Phil, high alert," Jasper barked into the radio.

"We've had men here since we picked this place, right?" Bella asked as everyone seemed to tense up.

"Yes." Edward finally released her to move closer to the monitor. "What do you have up your sleeve?" he murmured, watching Raoul.

"Time to make a hasty exit, guys," came someone else's voice through the radio.

"Copy that, Mike. Exit strategy three."

At Edward's command, the four of them hustled down the back hallway to the cars waiting behind the building. Pete stood watch over them, but still checked them for bombs before Jasper got in the driver's seat of one vehicle and Emmett the other. The rest of the men would wait until they saw Raoul leave before extricating themselves.

"Is Raoul planning to do something?" Bella asked.

"There's no way to know for certain," Edward answered.

Jasper pulled out onto the street. "Better safe than sorry."

"That's an ironic motto for a mafia Family," Bella commented.

Edward chuckled and pulled her close to his side. They made it back to the house without incident, but then Edward practically dragged her up the stairs.

"Take off your clothes."

Bella barely made it inside the bedroom when he gave the order. "Blunt, are we?"

He smirked but held a forefinger up to his lips. "Do it."

With a frown, she did as he asked. When she was naked in the middle of the room, he picked up her blouse. She had to clamp a hand over her mouth to hold in her gasp when he plucked a small round disk off the collar.

Edward took it into the bathroom and dropped it on the floor, smashing it on the tile with the heel of his shoe. Bella was already checking over every other piece of clothing she'd just worn. Edward brought a robe to her, and she slipped it on while they searched together.

"It didn't occur to me until we were most of the way here," he finally said when they'd finish checking. "Riley got close to you so we wouldn't see it on the cameras."

"Was it a tracking device?"

"Unlikely. Our house isn't a secret. It was a listening device."

Bella tried to think back over their conversation at the church. "What did they hear? Did we say anything they can use against us?"

Edward shook his head. "No, we didn't really say anything incriminating."

"Thank God."

She watched him, wondering what he was thinking. He'd been clingy since the incident with Diego, making love to her with a fervor that tinged on desperation. Not that she would complain about having passionate sex with her husband, but his actions unnerved her.

"Did we gain anything today?"

Pacing the length of the bedroom, Edward ran his hands over his jaw. "Not especially. I had a feeling they suspected us of the bombing, and I didn't think they wanted an alliance as much as they hoped to ambush us."

"So we were smart to set up the church ahead of time."

"Yes."

"Why are you so agitated?"

He stopped walking. "I'm not."

"Yes, you are, and you have been for some time."

He didn't exactly meet her gaze. "I'm just on edge."

"Anyone could see that. But why?"

"Riley made it clear he won't abide by the rules set forth about innocents. I worry for you."

Moving closer to him, she settled her hands on his shoulders. "Edward, if our disastrous dinner date proved nothing, then I can't force you to realize you don't need to worry about me."

His gaze remained locked on the wall behind her head. "Logically, maybe."

"Logically, I can handle a firearm, I'm taking self-defense classes with my kickboxing, and I'm in the best shape of my life. Why do you still have that crease between your eyebrows?"

"Logic has nothing to do with reality." Finally, he set his gaze on her, and she trembled at the fire in his eyes.

It was obvious he cared for her, at least as much as he was able. "Edward, I understand it would upset you if my well-being was on the line. I feel the same when I think about anything happening to you. But, I have to remember you're as well equipped as you can be, and not let the stress consume me."

It was no surprise that he crushed her body to his, that he slanted his mouth to cover hers and poured his frustration out in the kiss. She'd almost grown accustomed to the way he used sex to distract himself from all they had going on in their lives.

Finally, he pulled back. "We should see to Quinn."

Nodding, Bella stepped into their closet to find some clothes, her head swarming with possibilities. They had yet to cross the line Bella saw as the final one; the one where they said they loved each other. Sometimes, she thought he might feel that way, but he said nothing to show feelings other than protection and possession. In return, Bella was extremely careful not to let her emotions get the best of her.

Together, they went to the nursery to find Quinn. Rose was sitting in the armchair by the window, typing on her laptop.

She looked up when they entered. "Hi. I was finishing up some classwork while he napped."

Bella smiled down at the sleeping baby. "How long has he been down?" she whispered.

Rose checked her watch. "About an hour."

"Oh, he has a while then."

The three of them left the room.

"How did it go?" Rose asked once they were in the hall.

"It went well, except Riley planted a listening device on me."

"Shit." Rose looked between them. "But you found it, obviously."

"Yes, before we said anything terrible." Edward let them walk in front of him down the stairs. "I have to tell the others what I found." He turned down the hall to his office, but Bella and Rose went to the living room. After Rose got her hands on it, the room was much more comfortable and inviting.

"So." Rose sat on the couch. "Were you scared?"

Bella thought about how it felt to be in that church, ostensibly alone. "I was a bit scared, but I knew how many men were in the balconies keeping an eye on me. It doesn't appear they're interested in a truce or keeping any peace, though."

"You've grown stronger."

"I was just telling Edward that. He's concerned the Santiagos will attack me in particular because they said they won't honor the law stating wives are untouchable."

Rose's forehead creased. "I'll be a wife soon."

"Yeah." Bella nodded, running her fingers over her eyes. "I know we can't dismiss the danger, but I also know we're prepared."

"I still think I should start carrying a gun. I would lock it up somewhere when I was here; give it to Garrett or something."

"It's not a terrible idea, Rose. You could be a target at any time."

"Emmett has brought up that fact more than once. He likes to spar with me to ensure I can take what Liam is teaching us and apply it to a man of his stature."

"Smart." Bella grinned. "And what does that sparring morph into?"

Rose smacked her knee. "Brat."

Laughing, Bella was about to reply when Edward walked into the room. Quickly sobering, she inhaled a careful breath at his countenance.

"They blew up the church. We lost a man, but the rest made it out safely."

Her heart was in her throat as she stood. "They hoped to get to us before we left."

"Yes."

"That was part of the crack about how we like to use bombs."

"I believe so." He glanced at Rose and then back at Bella.

"At least it was a crappy, rundown church no one will miss."

Edward studied her face, and she wondered what he was trying to find. "Right."

"You seem more upset about an abandoned building than I expect you to be."

"We're fucking weak."

Bella huffed out a breath. "Excuse me?"

Rose left the room, and Edward took up his pacing once more. "We've weakened ourselves to the point where the other Families laugh at us."

"Edward, that's preposterous."

"Is it?" He spun, staring her down. "The Youngs, Diego Molina, the Santiagos. They all think we're a fucking joke."

"What are you talking about? There's no indication that's true. They tried to take advantage of us after the Volturi bombing, but that's it. Clearly, the Santiagos have never wanted peace since they haven't allied with anyone."

"I was too damn distracted when Aro attempted to take me out, and I almost lost my life because of it. Laurent was angry because I married you, and Diego said the same. The Santiagos fucking laughed in our faces today by bugging you and sending you back to me and then hoping to blow us to kingdom come."

Eyes narrowed, she did her best to figure him out. "Are you picking a fight with me on purpose? If you feel the need to hash this out, we should all be in your office. I'm not letting you attack me personally for events outside my control. We vote and agree on every move we make before we take the first step."

"Bella—"

"And you have final say. What's truly going on here?"

"I don't know!" he shouted, spinning to face her. "I don't enjoy being a step behind our enemies all the time!"

"Clearly, none of us do, but that doesn't make us weak. Our plan for the meeting was solid, hence the two of us standing here and not splattered all over the church walls! If they didn't feel threatened by us, they wouldn't have bothered to bug me, hoping to learn intel on the chance the bomb didn't get to us first."

His chest heaving, Edward left the room without another word. Astounded, Bella hurried after him before he got too far out of her sight, entering his office seconds after him and catching the door he tried to slam. "Edward!"

"Let it go, Bella," he snapped.

"I will not. What the hell was that?"

"What's going on?" Emmett asked, stepping up behind Bella.

"Leave, Emmett."

Emmett took one look at Edward before crossing his arms over his chest. "Not gonna happen."

"You wanna ride my ass too? We fucked up today."

"No, the Santiagos fucked up by playing their hand too soon," Emmett countered. "Is this because of what we talked about the other day?"

Edward's head jerked up from the stack of paperwork he was perusing. "Shut the fuck up."

"Whoa, man, what the hell?"

"I mean it." Edward stalked around the desk and toward the two of them at the door. "Leave me the fuck alone."

Bella stared up at him, her mouth agape. He was seconds from physically shoving them out of his office, she could tell. "You know what? Fine. You take time to cool off, but I want an explanation tonight."

Blindly, Bella made her way around Emmett and out the side door to the garden. She walked until her vision cleared from the tears flowing unchecked and finally wiped her eyes. He was pushing her away, maybe even on purpose. Emmett knew things she didn't. She was so angry she could punch something. Deciding to do exactly that, she circled the house to go in the kitchen door and grab a bottle of water before going to her bedroom to retrieve the key to the basement. An hour or more of kicking the crap out of a punching bag might make her feel better.

When she'd sweated enough to make the muscles in her shoulders protest, she headed back up the stairs and pushed on the secret door. After ensuring it was closed properly, she went to her bedroom to shower.

By then, it was dinnertime, and she arrived in the dining room to see Rose, Quinn, Emmett, and Tyler.

"Bella, where the fuck have you been?" Rose demanded.

"I took a shower after walking around the garden." She sat in her chair, feeling their gazes pinned to her back.

Nobody said anything else before Edward came into the room, and they all took seats around the table. Without looking at her husband, Bella ate her dinner. When she finished, she took Quinn in her arms and kissed Rose on the cheek. Once in the nursery, she sat on the floor and let Quinn play with his toys.

It didn't surprise her when Edward came in a few minutes later. "Where were you?" His demand was quiet but forceful.

"In the gym. Don't you have a GPS chip embedded in my ass by now?"

"That's not funny, Isabella."

Since he never used her full name, she realized he was sincerely pissed. "I needed to work out my aggression."

"Without telling me you were disappearing?"

"I didn't disappear, for God's sake. I was in the same house as you."

"Don't be coy."

Laughter burst out of her. "I wouldn't know how to be coy if I tried."

Finally, he sat on the floor next to her. "Nobody knew where you'd gone."

Sighing, she tilted her head to look at him. "Are you kidding me? I gave you time alone to work through whatever's going on, and I took the same for me. You knew I didn't go anywhere since all the guards and vehicles were here."

Quinn made his way over and climbed in Edward's lap. For a moment, they were quiet while their son played with him. Eventually, Quinn moved on to something else.

"Do you understand . . . when I didn't know . . ."

"Edward." Bella put her hand on his knee when he trailed off.

Edward straightened his back. "The rule is you don't go down there without me."

"No, the rule was I couldn't go down there alone until you had the chance to teach me about firearms."

A muscle in his jaw clenched. "I'm very upset with you," he said in a calm voice.

"Too bad. I did nothing wrong."

When he turned his head in her direction, she saw fire of a different kind. Not anger. Lust. "Isabella."

"Edward."

Shaking his head, he leaned in to whisper in her ear. "You need to be punished."

She jerked back. "I do not!"

The tenor of his voice dropped. "You know you enjoy the very idea."

She couldn't believe the change in course they'd taken. "Our baby is right there."

He held her gaze. "So if I check right now, you're not wet?"

"You wouldn't!" She could see that he would, in fact, check her panties right then and there. "You're giving me whiplash."

There was a pause. "I couldn't find you."

Finally, Bella heard the pain behind his actions. "I apologize for not telling you where I went. I didn't realize it would be a problem."

"Don't do it again. I wouldn't be able to . . ."

Understanding, she picked up his hand. They played with Quinn until it was time for his bath, and Edward appeared to be at peace once again. Everything about the day confused her, and not just the meeting with the Santiagos. Edward ran hot and cold, angry and desperate. The only thing Bella knew for certain was that her husband was a complicated man.

Edward is quite complicated. Sometimes I have no idea where his thoughts are going.