Author's note: Hi friends! Sorry for the delay on the post but here is chapter 24! I hope you all enjoy it!

Disclaimer: Unedited.

…

"Living at the speed of light, it's hard to follow

I could be dead by tomorrow

Tryna face it

So I ain't got time to wait it out

I've been down and out for too long"

Too Fast - Sonder

…

Two Years Ago

I stare at the cards in my hand, thinking and focusing. As always, I am surrounded by people who have placed bets waging that I will win. The air smells like sweat and alcohol in the large basement. I am sitting at a table in the middle of the room, my chair on one end of the table while my opponent sits on the other and the card dealer stands in the middle.

My opponent is young and smart but he's overly confident and makes mistakes. He's a part of the Latin gang that sits at a table across from Aro. Their leader invited us here tonight to play a couple of games as many do as a peace offering or trade opportunity.

Aro and his brothers, Caius and Marcus, sit at a table that overlooks the game. They look pleased so far with how I am doing so far but one mistake can fuck everything up.

In my hand, I have an ace of hearts and eight spades. I am going back and forth if I want to hold or not. I can stand at eighteen or ask for another card and pray it totals twenty one.

I look around at all the unfamiliar faces. They don't know anything about me but somehow my next choice will influence whether they have a good end to their night with more money than they need.

Moments like this, before I decide my next play, I wish Bella were here. She would give me a small smile or nod, something discreet, before I make my choice. A small glance from her boosted my confidence and made me feel like I can handle the pressure I brought on myself in the name of money.

She would be disappointed that I am here, still playing, even though it is what ruined our relationship. I owed it to her not to ever play again but I was not strong enough to say no to Aro. Bella was already gone and I had nothing else to lose.

It's been over two years without her and I am still drowning in self pity of losing her. Being back in Forks has only set fire to that feeling.

Since Aro and his family along with some reliable members have moved to an estate in Italy, I made my way back to Forks since New York wasn't really my ideal place of living.

I've finally made enough money to open my tattoo shop and hire other artists. I've built up a clientele to start seeing actual profit and after a couple of more unground games, I can be done with Aro and blackjack.

"Edward." All eyes are on me as the dealer speaks to me.

I have only a few seconds before the decision to hold is made for me.

The smug look on my opponent's face, who chose to hold, ignites the adrenaline that got me into gambling in the first place.

I was eighteen and didn't want Edward Sr supporting me anymore. One visit to the casino is all it took for me to be hooked. I was good at the majority of the games, beginner's luck they said but blackjack became my calling. I won over and over then Bella came into the picture.

Bringing her in was probably a mistake, hell, it's the reason I am here wishing she was nearby right this second.

"Hit me," I say, not really giving a shit what the outcome is.

I want to be done with this, tonight.

The room is silent as the dealer takes her time to hand me the card.

I hold my demeanor as I look at the card, waiting for her to tell us when we can lay them down.

She countdown from five, slowly, and when she's finally gets to one I lay my cards on the table.

I smile conceitedly as I stare at the ace of hearts, eight of spades and newest card, three of diamonds in front of me.

The room cheers while Aro and his brothers smile impressively.

"He's a fucking cheater!" My opponent yells. "You've been counting these cards all night." He stands from the table, pointing his finger at me.

The crowd backs away as members from his gang make their way to the floor.

I've been accused of card counting before, but never in front of Aro and the rest of the gang. If they even thought I was cheating my way through, they would have killed me off.

Reactions like this in an underground game are nothing but trouble so I do my best to ignore him and move through the crowd to get back to Aro and his brothers.

As I make my way through, the man's yelling isn't too far behind me.

"Watch out!" Someone from the crowd yells in time for me to turn around and dodge a fist to the back of my head.

I don't have time to move for his second blow at me and his fist connects with my right cheek. Chaos erupts and there's more screaming as I grab the asshole, punching him in the stomach twice before headbutting him. He sways back and I continue my assault by throwing punches, hitting his face. He doesn't even have time to block my hits as blood begins to pour from his nose.

He holds his hands up for me to stop but all I see is red.

My heart is pounding and my vision is centered on him. The sounds around me are muffled and I can hear people calling my name but it doesn't stop me from continuing to push the man to the ground.

I pull out of multiple holds around me and position myself on top of the guy. I pull my fist back and connect with as many body parts as I can. It's like I am releasing an energy that's been built up inside of me.

Anger fumes out of my body with each hit.

It's like the years of loss, hurt and anguish are finally hitting me and the only way I know how to deal with it is to continue to hit this man who gave up seconds ago. I know I don't have to hit him but all I can see is myself, hurting Bella and letting her leave.

She signed the divorce papers after I told her I was sure.

I fucking lied to her.

"Edward, you're going to kill him." I hear Bella's voice.

I know she is not here but it is enough to snap me out of the rage that has overcome me. My hands are around the guy's neck and I am pressing hard. I feel myself releasing him slightly but it's enough for him to overpower me. I try to grab him. He grabs my right wrist and hand, twisting until there's a loud pop.

I drop to my knees from the pain with one last push at the fucker. "You broke my fucking wrist!"

"You almost killed me!" He clutches his neck.

"Now, now," Aro says, stepping forward with his hands in the air. "It seems like this was all a misunderstanding." Caius and Marcus are on his flanks, smiling wickedly like they want in on a fight. The rest of the men huddle around us, waiting for a word to use their weapons.

The leader of the other gang and his men step down from where they were sitting.

But to fight in the underground can stir up a lot of shit. Even though he started it, the fact that I continued to kick his ass and grip his throat like my life depended when he gave up makes me a dirty fighter.

He did come at me from behind so he deserved what he got.

Aro continues to talk to the leader of the gang my opponent belongs to. Luckily he is just another player to them and this is easily brushed off with an agreement to split wages. Money lost from both sides but it makes them even and prevents a war, for now.

The chaos has finally settled down as the leaders say their final agreements and goodbyes.

Aro is trying to look pleased but I can tell he is pissed that he is walking away with the same amount of money that he came in with, and it's my fault.

I let my temper get the best of me, something I haven't done in so long.

We wait until the other gang leaves before moving. When I turn around, I can't even look Aro in the eye. I walk forward but he and his flanks stop me from getting by.

Aro laughs maniacally. "Let's get you to our doctor." His eyes wide as he moves his hands to cradle my wrist. I try to pull my wrist closer to me but he quickly cups his hands around it and squeezes hard.

"He should be killed," Caius says, smirking with a wild look in his eyes. His blonde hair and pale skin make him look menacing and dangerous. He is the more sadistic of the brothers, always ready for a fight or to kill someone. He would rather make people suffer than kill them straight away. He's a loose cannon and fighting him is out of the question.

"He's the best player we've ever had." Marcus thankfully defends me.

He's been more of a peacekeeper since he lost his wife. He doesn't want any unnecessary violence.

"He cost us money." Caius is looking for anything to have his way. They have more money than they need but agreeing to give their money up to avoid a war makes them look weak.

There hasn't been a war in decades and if the Volturi family was going to start a war, it was going to be for something more than an angry opponent getting his ass kicked.

"He will repay that debt when I see fit." Aro smiles.

And with those words, a deal has been made. I have a debt owed to the Volturi family.

"Save his life after preventing a war." Caius snarls, rolling his eyes.

"Precisely." Aro knows that someday there will be a game bigger and better that he will need me for. While this game was just a small game for the new gang to make themselves known, I play games to settle their trade debts in drug trafficking amongst other illegal business matters.

I don't have a choice in this.

From now on, it is Aro's decision when I can get out of the Volturi gang.

...

Present

It takes us thirty minutes to arrive at a warehouse that houses multiple small airplanes. There's acres of land for a runway and bright lights.

There's a pilot and some crew men running around while Aro stands at the top of the stairs outside of the airplane door. He's wearing an all black suit and his long black hair is slicked back into a low ponytail.

"Welcome Mr. Cullen… or is it back to Mason?" He smirks.

"Just Edward is fine," I call to him sternly.

I used to change my last name in the underground after my uncle and Jasper's stepdad, Carlisle Cullen. It was something different but could easily be tied to me if something bad happened to me or Bella.

"Let's get this going shall we?" Felix says running up the stairs cutting through the tense air. Aro steps to the side to let him in the craft.

I pull my shoulders back as I walk up the stairs to meet Aro face to face once again. I knew this day would come and even after he called it didn't feel real until this moment.

This will be the end.

"It is good to see you again, Edward." Aro says but I am not sure how to feel about it so I just nod at him and continue into the entrance.

The interior of the plane is decorated all white with leather chairs and expensive carpet. There's two doors that lead to a massive bedroom and bathroom.

I go into the bedroom and lock myself in there. I don't want to make small talk with Aro and Felix right now or ever.

I sit on the bed thinking about Bella and how she must be freaking out by now. I am sure she has found Jasper and is ripping him a new one for answers about where I am. He doesn't know though and I am keeping it that way unless I absolutely have to tell him.

The take off is smooth and after forty five minutes we land at another small warehouse housing airplanes and helicopters.

We gather in a decent sized helicopter. Thankfully, it's loud so I can continue to avoid small talk. I turn the headset that is used for the pilot to communicate with us down and continue into my thoughts of my girl.

I can't tell if it's my nerves or the helicopter swaying that is making me feel nauseous but within fifteen minutes we land on a helipad next to a million dollar estate that sits right on the river.

I have arrived like this to many underground games before and in a way it made me comfortable to know that not much has changed. Landing in the middle of nowhere at someone rich business man's estate was and is still the routine almost two years later.

I step off the helicopter and give my headset to the pilot. I thank him for his safe flying then follow Felix and Aro up the stairs.

It looks like a normal million dollar party on the river.

Lights outline the large backyard patio area. There's a pool and multiple seating areas. It's decorated to the max and there's an open bar. Waitresses walk around pouring wine cups and offering hors d'oeuvres. People mingle and talk amongst themselves, people watching and judging. They're dressed in high end brands but I don't feel out of place in my jeans and leather jacket.

We continue to make our way through the small crowd and into the house. There's more people inside and an actual bar sitting in the middle of what looks like it would be the living room. Aro spots his brothers and walks away from us to say hello.

There's a few people seated in front of the multiple bartenders serving drinks and that's when I spot her.

I feel my body heat up and anger flare.

"I'm going to get a drink." I tell Felix.

He nods. "Be down in the basement in ten minutes."

I try to keep myself calm as I walk quickly to the bar where she is sitting.

I take a seat next to her but don't

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I say between my teeth, loud enough for her to hear but not make a scene at the bar.

"You shouldn't be here alone," Tanya says, sipping her drink.

"You shouldn't be here at all." My nose flares. "How did you even get in here?"

"I kept in touch with some people."

I am fucking irritated and wish I could drag her out of this house.

I didn't ask for her to come here. She's never been to the underground and these people are dangerous.

If they know I know Tanya, they will think I am trying to plan something behind their back. She could ruin me finally ending this shit with the Volturi family.

"I am here because Jasper was afraid Bella would show up if no one was here," she says, her face becoming serious.

If there's anything that could ruin tonight, it would be Bella showing up here. Aro knows about her and he would know immediately how much she means to me. He would use her against me. Hell, he could even hurt her and I can't live through that again.

"You don't deserve her, you know?"

"Now is not the time." I snap at her under my breath. "You will stay out here and out of my way. Do not go into the basement."

I don't wait for her answer as I chug my whisky feeling the burn down my throat and walk away searching for the basement.

...

Author's note: How do you think this is going to go? Can Edward get out without any trouble? Let me know what you think in a review! See you all next chapter!