Hope this chapter finds you all well, it has been a hectic day here, but things have finally calmed down. I'm dedicating this chapter to Fangirlin Granma Dee. She was a reviewer that many loved to hear from because she was a constant cheerleader. She reviewed both of my entries for the Picture is Worth 1000 Words contest, and I'm sad she won't get to see Wounded Hearts complete. But her passing brought something to the surface for me. As readers, we get excited when we see a chapter update or a new story from a favorite author, but I don't think many of you know that authors have the same reaction to seeing familiar names pop up in our inbox. Some of you review every chapter, some once in a while, others will wait until the end and leave an epic review at the end. They all mean the world to me! It reminds me of a line from one of my favorite songs, "Arianne." It is a list of things that evoke the feeling of loving someone completely, and one line, "And what writers have to feel like, when they suddenly discover they've been read." On a story like this where chapter one received 52 reviews, 143 faves, and 289 follows, it seemed this was the best place to share this love in remembrance of a woman who signed her reviews "Giant Granma Hugs and Smooches." Thank you for the love and support, for taking the time to choose my words to fill your days. It will never be taken for granted.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

AN: Not 100% sure about the state of I-80 at this time, but let's say there is some semblance of a series of paved roads for this drive, even if the drive takes them longer.

Chapter 2

I wanted to just drop Jasper off at home, but I knew that if I didn't make an appearance, Maria would throw a fit for the next week about the trip. She enjoyed the perks of being Jasper's wife, but she wanted a husband that was home at five-thirty every night, and that wasn't our life. And it wasn't like she'd been naive getting into this. The Morettis used to be elbow deep in The Organization, but when Maria's grandfather snitched on Aro's father, Afton, who had been the boss at the time, they lost all of their standing.

Caius Volturi had almost destroyed everything in the aftermath of Afton's arrest and murder in prison. He wasn't even the head of our Organization, he was running the Cazo outfit after his father-in-law, Vincenzo Cazo's death. He killed Moretti, and then caught a bullet for a hit he'd done without permission on one of our rival's men and Aro stepped in and salvaged what his older brother had nearly ruined. Now, thirty years later, Caius's son, Marus, was running the family and things were going well.

Aro hadn't been happy when he heard that Jasper had knocked Maria up, but he'd sanctioned the marriage and told Jasper to keep his wife on a tight leash.

As soon as the door was open she was hollering, but the threat died on her tongue when she saw me step in behind him. "Edward, it's a little late for a social call."

"There's nothing social about this. Jasper has something for me in his office. I need to give it to Aro when I meet him tomorrow, so you can go on to bed and I'll be out of your hair in a few minutes."

Maria knew better than to argue with me, so she left without another word.

"She's getting worse," Jasper muttered as we headed to his office.

"Want me to put someone on her?" I asked.

"No, I'll handle this myself. Now, what did you need?"

"Nothing, but did you want her going on about us coming in at all hours?"

"Thanks, Edward."

I walked back out to my car and headed home. I opened the trunk and saw the picture frame I'd used to identify Isabella sitting next to my suitcase. Without thinking, I popped open my suitcase and stuffed it in, closing it and removing it from the trunk. Carrying my bag inside, I saw Esme asleep on the couch. I approached her, kissing her cheek. "Ma, go to bed."

"Did something go wrong? You should have been home earlier," she said as she yawned.

"Nah, just an accident on the way to Jasper's, and then I had to make an appearance so Maria wouldn't keep him up all night bitching about how late we got in."

"At least you're smart. Waiting on a nice girl who will understand this life. Marrying the granddaughter of a snitch is only causing that boy problems."

"Well, I offered to put a tail on her, but he wants to try and rein her in on his own."

"Go to bed, Edward, you're dead on your feet. Aro will expect to see you before noon."

"Night, Ma."

I climbed the stairs with my suitcase, happy to be back in my own bed. I changed and climbed under the covers, thinking about Isabella. Besides her trembling and the prayer, she'd shown no fear at the stranger in her motel room or the gun I'd pulled on her. It made me wonder if we had any connections to families out west. I didn't know where exactly that flight had come into Chicago from, but I had a few ways I could figure it out.

Though she never got a look at me, I'd seen not only the picture used to track her down, but her profile as I knelt beside the bed. She was beautiful, and though I'd played it off with my brother, I wanted her to use that matchbook. I wanted her to seek me out and I already had a plan working in my head for how to keep her safe. In the morning I would be making quite a few phone calls.

Three hard knocks on my bedroom door had me clutching my head. I looked at the time and saw that it was ten-thirty. My first stop after getting showered and dressed for my day was the local travel agent. I needed to know where my plane had come in from last night. It might not be a foolproof answer, but it gave me somewhere to start.

The bell rang above the door, causing Gianna to pop out of her seat. "Edward, how have you been? Was your trip good?"

Gianna booked almost all the travel for The Organization and she was great at keeping things secret and the itinerary never implicated us if something went sideways out of town.

"It was, but I have a question. Can you tell me where our plane came in from?"

"Sure, just give me a few minutes to do my magic and I'll have an answer."

I pulled the pack of cigarettes from my jacket pocket and lit up. I needed to know how I was going to approach this with Aro, because I had to be careful of how I brought her into the conversation.

"Edward, the plane came in from Seattle and was a direct flight to Chicago before you and Jasper boarded it there. Anything else I can do?"

"No. Thanks, G, you're the best."

So, if she got off when the plane landed and then reboarded with us, she was coming out of Seattle, so I needed to talk to Aro. I left her office and walked down the street, entering the bar just before noon.

"There you are, I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show yourself today," Aro said, motioning to the office.

I followed him to the back and reached into my briefcase. Once he had the money in hand, he turned his stare on me. "Did Stefan get the message?"

"Loud and clear. I think the fact that he knows what happened to Marcus's cousin let's him know he was getting off easy."

Aro nodded. "Good, now, why did you pay Gianna a visit before me this morning?"

Shit. "Because her answer to my question affected what I want to discuss with you."

"Go on," he said.

"I met a woman last night. She was on our flight home and I felt a spark. But she's running from something and I wanted to know where the plane had departed from so I had more information."

Aro sat up. "What did Gianna say?"

"She may have come from Seattle," I told him.

"If it is just a bad relationship or a broken home, you need to be careful how you introduce her to our world. If she's aware of this lifestyle from Seattle, we may have a problem."

"Why would you say that?"

"The Carlucci family runs Seattle but they're not like us. Women are disposable to them. They make their money selling sex: selling women, and if they found out she had attached herself to another Organization, they might seek vengeance. Where did you leave it with her?"

"I think I frightened her, though she did a great job hiding it. I gave her a matchbook from here and told her that if she wanted to see me again, this is where she could find me."

"What did you do to frighten her?"

This would be a fine line to walk, I needed to be truthful, but not put Isabella in danger. "We had the same luggage and she almost managed to get away with mine. I was a little too forceful at first but was able to straighten everything out and left it on better terms."

"Good, I would hate to hear you'd gone all the way to Chicago for my money only to lose it at the airport. She might suspect something but since you're sure she never got the case open, she'll never know for sure. There is one question I have for you. Is she Italian?"

"Yes, and she speaks the language enough to pray in it," I admitted.

"Finally, you've found someone who's caught your eye. Colpo di fulmine, wonderful."

Colpo di fulmine. The Italian version of love at first sight. It definitely felt like I had been struck by lightning. Now I just needed to keep myself from returning to the Flushing Motel.

"I have one more favor to ask. Can I have the keys to one of the apartments?"

"Planning to play house already?" Aro joked.

"Not quite yet, but I was thinking of inviting Alice out to New York and if Isabella should come to see me and need a place to stay…"

"Always plotting. You get my great-niece out here and you can have your pick of apartments. But warn your brother so he isn't shocked to see her, and so he can make sure Maria doesn't have any weapons around."

"Will do, but first I have to get her to agree. I'm going to make a few phone calls."

Aro left me alone and I pulled out the matchbook I'd taken from Famiglia when we'd been there the other day. Dialing the number, Mrs. Brando answered. I explained that I was a friend of Alice's and needed to speak to her. She put the phone down to fetch Alice and a moment or two later, I heard her chipper voice.

"Jasper?"

"Wrong Masen brother," I chuckled.

"Edward, what a pleasant surprise. How can I help you?"

"I have a favor to ask, but if you help me with this, I'll make it worth the trouble."

"What do you need?"

"I have an acquaintance, a young woman who is starting over in New York, and I want to help her, but I don't think she would let me pay for her."

"So, you thought if you had a young woman who was a friend of the family and was living alone as well she'd be more willing to take the help?" Alice correctly guessed.

"Yes. And I want you to know, I didn't mention this to Jasper in case you turned me down. But if you say yes, I will warn him."

"This girl means a lot to you?" she asked.

"She could, but I don't want to spook her," I admitted.

"I'll do it, Edward, but I'm doing it for this girl, not just for you. It sounds like she needs a friend."

"That is fair. When should I have someone drive out with a truck for your belongings?"

"I can be ready by the weekend since most of my belongings are boxed up in my parents' basement. Will my place be ready by then?"

"It will be."

"Oh, and make sure there's a place for me to park my baby," she added.

"Of course. When should I expect you by?"

"Have the truck here on Saturday and we can leave Sunday morning. I should be in Queens by Wednesday or Thursday," Alice assured.

"Thank you, Alice."

She laughed into the receiver, "It is nice to see that one of the Masen boys has some manners."

"Jasper will never live that down, will he?"

"No, probably not. Warn him before I show up at a family dinner." It was said as a joke, but with Esme it would only be a matter of time before Aro's great-niece got an invitation to dinner.

"I will take care of everything. Goodbye, Alice."

"See you next week, Edward."

The line disconnected and I smiled. I was going to make this work. I left the office and Aro was sitting at a table in the back talking to some of the old timers. He tilted his head in a silent question and I nodded. Aro returned to the conversation around him with no further discussion.

I got into my car and drove to Jasper's house. His twenty-first birthday was tomorrow and I was sure he was going to love my present.

The screaming could be heard from outside, and when the curtain fluttered a minute before the door was opened by my nephew, I knew it was going to be a bad visit.

"Uncie Edwar, you here!" Peter cheered and I scooped him up.

I followed the noise into the kitchen where Maria was waving her arms around wildly. "You never let me do anything special for you. I don't understand why you're making such a big deal about this birthday party."

I set Peter down and whispered for him to go play in his room. As soon as he cleared the hallway I moved into the doorway of the kitchen.

"Because I didn't want a party! It is more about you trying to piss on my leg and act like we're happy than it is about me. I even told Ma I didn't want a party."

"Esme isn't your mother, she's just the whore who couldn't wait to warm your father's bed."

My gun was drawn and pointed at Maria before she even knew I was there. I was done putting up with the Moretti's, and I would be damned if I let her speak about Esme that way, even if she was a woman. "Never disrespect our mother again. You're nothing more than the granddaughter of a traitor."

"Edward, how did you get in here?" she asked, not fazed by the gun a few inches from her temple.

"Peter let me in. Now, if my brother doesn't want a party then make him a nice dinner at home tomorrow and let that be the end of it."

Maria turned to me and I saw the crazed and glassy look in her eyes. "Put the gun away, Edward. We both know you aren't going to shoot me in my kitchen."

I replaced the gun in my waistband and motioned to Jasper. "Outside, now!"

We got into my car and I turned to him. "What is she on?"

"On? She's been drinking since noon," he fired back.

"You're naive or a fucking idiot if you believe that. Talk to Aro, find out who we have in our pocket and divorce her and get my nephew away from her."

"Did Aro make you boss and no one thought to tell me?" Jasper spat.

"No, but I didn't get shot full of holes for you to fuck up your life like this. I came to tell you something important and I don't even know if I can trust you to protect Peter let alone help me with this."

"Edward?" Jasper looked truly shocked by my words.

"Get back in there and make sure she cancels that party."

Jasper climbed out of my car and I drove off. I didn't like feeling out of control, but at the moment that was exactly how I felt. Instead of going home, I drove a little further to the house I was working to fix up for myself. I didn't get to go there as often as I liked, but on days like today when I felt like I was spiraling out of control, I needed the distraction.

In the last three years I had gutted what was once a rundown house and redone everything. I'd used the crews from our construction connections to do the major stuff, but it felt good to do the minor and cosmetic work myself. The last thing I'd had a crew come in and do was finish the kitchen. There wasn't much to do beyond painting and finishing up some of the lighting fixtures.

Some of the guys gave me shit, but Aro said it was noble that I was taking the time to work on the house where I would raise my family some day. And now that I had met a woman I wanted to start that family with, I had a reason to finish it. Now I just needed her to come and find me.