I don't own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.

Cheryl, Noles, and Gabby, thank you for pre-reading, and April, thank you for editing. Any mistakes left are my own.

Warning: Some violence ahead in this chapter.

Ch 5

Bella wasn't the first to say bí curamach to me. My aunt had said it many times over the years. Yet hearing it from Bella felt different. I shrugged it off, I couldn't afford having feelings for her.

I was pissed my father had called me away. I was hoping for a quick fuck before I went and eliminated Newton. I stepped off the elevator in a foul mood and passed by a door that was partly open. However, what I heard made me stop in my tracks.

"Naw, man, the apartment isn't going to be open. Yeah, I know I said it would be, but the chick is staying, because she was dumped at the altar. I raised her rent twenty percent since she was desperate." The guy chuckled. "Probably not, she's only a schoolteacher. In fact, I'm counting on her not being able to pay. When she can't, I'll let her sweat a little then I'll offer a beneficial arrangement if you know what I mean." He laughed darkly.

I growled; I knew what he meant. It wasn't hard to put the missing pieces of the conversation together. He wanted sexual favors in replacement for rent. It took everything in me not to charge into his apartment and bust his gut—but time wasn't on my side. Whether Bella liked it or not her living arrangements were going to change. I passed my car and walked to one several cars away. I pounded on the window and Riley lowered it.

"Yeah, boss?" he responded diligently.

"Keep a close eye tonight. I don't trust her superintendent. If he even steps onto her floor, I want to know about it," I demanded.

"Yes, sir." He nodded in understanding.

I gave him a curt nod then went on to my car, casting a quick glance at her apartment.

NA

It took me twenty minutes to get across town and to one of our clubs. It was doing well for a Monday night. The place was filled with people lined down the street. I gave the bouncer a nod as I walked past the line and straight inside. The smell of sweat, sex, and alcohol filled the air. I skirted around the dance floor to avoid the crowd and straight up the stairs to the VIP section.

My father was sitting in a booth with a scantily clad woman on his lap. Peter, his advisor and Jasper's father, was at his side. Jasper was also there waiting for me with a joint in his hand.

"Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence." Father gave me a pointed look. He pushed the girl from his lap and smacked her on the ass.

She giggled and sauntered toward me, her tits bouncing in an unnatural way. "Hey, Edward." She reached out to touch me.

I sided stepped her easily. "It's Mr. Cullen to you."

She pouted. "Can I get you a drink?"

"No thank you, I won't be here long." I took my seat and ignored the joint Jasper held out to me.

"Are you suddenly too good for here?" Father asked.

"No, sir. I have business to attend to later and I want to do it with a clear head," I answered him.

"What business is this?" He waved his hand to elaborate.

"A rat named Mickey, who needs to be exterminated." I laughed at my own joke.

Jasper joined in with me, but my father and Peter frowned.

"Maybe I can get more from you?" Father glared at Jasper.

Jasper snubbed out his bud. "Michael Newton. He works for us; he's been embezzling from the family and thought he could get away with it."

"Are you sure it doesn't have anything to do with you now being married to his former fiancée?" Father asked.

I glanced at Jasper sharply. He shrugged and looked to his father. Peter rolled his eyes and tossed back his drink.

"Did you really think something like that would go unnoticed by me? I've been watching over this family even before you were conceived." Peter looked offended.

I sat up straighter. "You told me to get married so I did. I don't see the problem."

"Enough of your insolence," Father snapped.

"My marrying Isabella has nothing to do with Newton. He not only stole from us, but he created an embarrassing scene that would've affected my business. I won't take it lightly. He will be punished."

"Then we'll get rid of him, but extermination is your brother's job. Where is he anyways?" Father searched the club.

"Watching to make sure the rat doesn't escape," I answered.

Father sighed and looked impatient. "Fine. Now for more pressing matters, did you even do any research? She's the daughter of a cop."

"Of course, Jasper looked into her. Her father was a chief and he's dead. Her mother disappeared years ago and is somewhere in Florida. Isabella has no other family."

"Isabella is Italian isn't it?" Father asked with distaste.

"Her father's side is Irish and English," I stated.

"And her mother?" he demanded.

"Her mother is nothing, she abandoned her." I snorted.

"Her mother is German and English," Jasper spoke up.

Father grumbled. "You're supposed to take over for me. You need a wife with good connections to make our family stronger."

"I have thought of the advantages. There are other things to consider than another wealthy family and social standing. Isabella is a kindergarten teacher. If I decide to run for office, I want someone like her by my side. The people will love her, and it will overshadow any doubts they have of me being a criminal."

Father seemed to ponder my statement. "You may have something there. I suppose the feds would also be thrown off by you marrying a cop's daughter. I will allow it for now. But you know there has to be an official wedding."

I frowned, and I had a feeling Bella might be resistant to the idea. "I'm aware. In the meantime, hopefully, we keep our marriage under wraps."

"From your mother?" Father raised an eyebrow.

"Since when do you care about hiding things from mother." I scoffed, alluding to all his extramarital affairs.

"Watch it. She won't be pleased." Father frowned.

"Isabella is shy. She's also a bit embarrassed by how fast we got married. She thinks people will talk. She may have a point, so I don't see an issue with keeping it quiet until we have a public wedding. You know how bad Mother can be, I don't want to make my wife's adjustment harder than it needs to be," I explained.

"Does she know anything?" Peter asked.

I shook my head. "No, she's clueless."

"Fine. But if your mother finds out, I knew nothing," Father finally agreed. "You will bring her this weekend."

"I already planned on it," I promised.

Father nodded then raised his hand and beckoned over lap girl to him. She giggled and bounced on him, pushing her chest into his face. She then slipped on to her knees in front of him and tugged at his zipper. I turned away in disgust.

"And on that note, let's get outta here," I told Jasper.

He looked away from his own call girl, who was rubbing his shoulders. "Now?"

"Yes," I said firmly, standing.

"Sorry, sweetheart," Jasper apologized to her as he stood.

As I made my way to the stairs, a red headed waitress, who seemed familiar, stepped into my path.

"Hi, Mr. Cullen, is there anything I can do for you this evening?" she purred, clinging to my sleeve.

I removed her claws. "No, thank you."

"But your daddy liked my services—I'm sure you will too." She bit her lips and batted her eyes.

"Then change that no thank you"—she started to perk up—"to a hell no." She glared at me.

I continued out of the club without looking behind me. I knew Jasper was following in my footsteps.

"She looked like you told her Christmas was cancelled." He snickered.

"Would you stick your dick someplace where your father's been?" I said in disgust.

"Fuck no. But we both know my dad is monogamous. So that would mean my mother." Jasper shuddered.

I led the way to my car and gestured for him to join me. Once we were inside, I knew what I said would be private.

"I have another research project for you," I told him.

"Already done. The owner of the building is Laurent Biers, and the super is Tyler Crowley." He seemed proud to be ahead of me.

"I gave Emmett that job. Did he ask you to do it?" I asked.

Jasper rolled his eyes. "I walked in on him trying to use Google Search and took over."

"What an eejit." I groaned. "Thanks, but that wasn't the job. There's a kid in Bella's class. His name is Shane but I don't have a last name for you. I want you to find out who the kid's mother is."

"Do you think he's yours or your father's?" Jasper asked with arched eyebrows.

I shook my head and took a deep breath. "I think he's Emmett's. He looked like a miniature blond Emmett."

The humor dropped from Jasper's face, and he looked as upset as I felt. "Five…five and half years ago…fuck, you think Rosalie ran off and had his baby."

I nodded. "We both know that my mother paid her off. Keep this silent from everyone, including your father. If Emmett gets wind of this before we know for sure…."

"It will send him spiraling again." Jasper nodded in agreement.

Five and half years ago, Jasper and I were picking Emmett up off of the ground from literally pools of his own vomit. He was constantly either high or drunk, or even sometimes both. All the result of a leggy, busty blonde, who had been money hungry and tore his heart out. Between her and my own father was why I didn't believe in love. I would never put myself in the position to be so vulnerable.

"I hope you're wrong and it is just a coincidence," Jasper said after a moment. I knew he was as concerned about Emmett as I was.

"I hope I'm wrong too," I agreed. "Back to the building. I want it bought this week and I want this Tyler gone. I want the building security updated immediately. Her apartment gets the works. If she's going to insist on living there, she needs to be safe."

Jasper smirked. "This girl has you wrapped around her finger."

I scowled. "No, she doesn't. She is my wife, and as a future boss' wife, she deserves the best protection—especially if she's carrying my baby. That's it."

"If you say so." Jasper shrugged.

"How's Maria?" I asked pointedly.

"Living it up with her lover Nettie in Paris still. I hope she stays," Jasper stated.

"Maria is gay?" I asked in surprise. "Why am I just finding this out?"

"You really never noticed?" Jasper seemed surprised. "We all know my marriage to her was never about love. It's why neither of us cares if the other cheats. We've even shared the same woman, Lucy, once."

"I didn't need to know that." I wrinkled my nose in disgust.

"Since when are you a prude?" Jasper asked.

"I'm not a prude. I just didn't need to know I slept with the same woman as you…or Maria," I commented, shuddering.

"I didn't know you fucked Lucy. You've been a monk recently," Jasper said.

"Well after Emmett's mess I've decided to be more careful where I stick my dick," I told him. "You should be smarter too."

NA

We pulled into the lot at an abandoned tuna canning plant. We both surveyed the area and made sure we covered each other's back while walking inside. Our footsteps echoed through the warehouse as we headed to the freezer area. Jasper yanked open the door, and I stepped through. The air was stale and smelled like piss. A god-awful sound was omitting from somewhere.

"What the hell is that noise?" Jasper complained.

"Whale music, I wanted him to feel at home. And it's about fucking time. It's freezing in here," Emmett grumbled, turning off the noise.

"Dear old Father needed a word with me," I told him unapologetically. "Where is he?"

I looked around the room. The only other person there was some small looking weenie tied to a chair in the middle of the room blindfolded and ball-gagged. His blond hair was matted, and his pants were stained. Surely this couldn't be Michael Newton.

"You're looking at him." Emmett shrugged.

"You've got to be kidding me," I scoffed, circling him. What did Bella ever see in this loser? I slipped on a pair of gloves then picked up a knife that Emmett had laid out then slit it along the gag straps, not caring I cut his cheek. Then used the tip to remove the ball.

He sputtered and gasped for a second. "Listen you, fuckers. You have no idea who you're messing with. I'm Edward Masen's right-hand man. You're going to fucking pay for this. I'll have your heads."

I snorted. "Do ya hear the mouth on this eejit, boys? I dare say he's too big for his britches and doesn't know who he's dealing with," I said, my Irish accent coming out. I had trained hard not speak like my grandfather, so I wouldn't be connected to the Masen's. Boarding school also was on my and Jasper's back about it. But times like this I slipped.

I used the knife to cut the blindfold, being nice enough to give him a matching scar on the opposite side. Maybe a little lopsided but like it would fucking matter by the end of the night. I smirked as he blinked in the light, blood streaming down his face. He started to glare at me, but as soon as his eyes met mine, he paled.

"Do ya know who I am, eejit?" I demanded.

"Yes, sir." He lowered his eyes.

"Then ya know, I am my Father's right hand man," I hissed, stabbing him in the thigh and twisting the blade.

He screamed in pain like the wuss he was. "Yes."

"Yes, what?" I twisted it again.

"Yes, sir," he howled.

"Ya're a thorn in my side, eejit. Ya tried to make a mockery of my hotel and owe me a lot of money," I snapped.

"I was getting the money, but that joker stopped me." He gestured with his head to Emmett.

Emmett's face darkened and he stepped forward, punching Newton square in the face. Blood gushed out of his nose. "You decided to be a punk and steal from a girl to get the money. We don't do petty theft in this family, whale boy," Emmett growled.

"What difference does it make? The girl belongs to me, the boss gave her to me," Newton whined.

I paused for a fraction of a moment while my mind processed the words. I yanked the knife out and placed it under his chin and forced him to look up at me.

"I should cut your tongue for lying to me. The family has never sold women," I spat.

"It's true…I swear…ask him," he whimpered. "She was my reward after I carried out my first job for him. Your father ordered me to prove myself to the family by killing two people who betrayed him, and Chief Swan showed up, so I had to kill him too. I set it up as a murder-suicide. He told me I could have his daughter as my reward."

I was completely repulsed by him and my father. I had done some despicable things before, but this was a low even for me. Swiftly I flipped the handle in my hand before I drove the blade deep into his other thigh close to his dick. He hollered in pain, and I waited a moment before I pulled back out.

"Ya're a shitty piece of work, Newton. Ya're a fucking disgusting human being and should never have gotten on my bad side." I plunged the knife into his jugular.

He coughed and sputtered blood. The blood poured down his neck and out of his mouth staining his shirt. Emmett raised his gun, prepared to shoot him, but I stopped him with a shake of my head. I wanted Newton to suffer a slow death. The eejit paled and the life slowly drained from his eyes. He stopped sputtering and blankly stared.

"Now ya can shoot the prick." I tossed the soiled gloves on the prick then turned my back on the mess.

The gun went off while my back was turned, and I didn't even flinch.

"Good thing I used the good sheets." Emmett chuckled darkly, referring to the heavy-duty plastic on the floor.

"Clean it up and make chum out of whale boy." I didn't feel the relief I thought I would from ending Newton.

"Yes, boss." Emmett grinned as walked past me to his bag of goodies.

"That explains how they knew about you getting married. When I researched Isabella and her family, my father must have set it up, so he'd be notified if anyone looked into the case. My research showed a Harry and Sue Clearwater died, not a Victoria and James. They must have covered it up. I don't know if I can search up Victoria and James without tipping them off again," Jasper commented.

"That's an easy one. Victoria was Da's side piece, who told him she was preggo. Turned out it was all a lie and she was with James, another low man on the totem pole, and they were trying to extort money. So, Da had it taken care of." Emmett shrugged.

"How do you know this, and we don't?" I gestured between me and Jasper.

"You two were at college, I guess. It wouldn't be the first time Da would use some weasel like Newton for his dirty work. That way if he was caught, Da's hands would be clean," Emmett explained.

"True," I admitted, but this was the first I heard of him rewarding someone with a girl. However, Newton was a filthy liar this could be no different than when he claimed to be me. I turned to Jasper. "Do you think they'll find out Newton didn't embezzle?" I asked him.

"That wasn't a lie, I didn't get a chance to speak to you alone without prying ears to tell you first. All of the money was transferred back to where it should be as of this morning," Jasper informed us.

"Good." I nodded.

"I thought about the building situation, and may I suggest having Riley take over? He's already been the one to watch over Isabella the most. He would be less conspicuous if he lives in the building. Eventually, he's going to be noticed camping out in his car," Jasper suggested.

"Sounds like a plan. Now for her car." I turned back to my brother. "You're not using your Guardian, so I want it switched over into Isabella's name and traded out with her dilapidated truck. I'll buy you a new one if you really must have one."

"What do you want me to do with her truck? She seems like the type to be pissed if we do this behind her back." He hesitated.

"Trash…on second thought, keep it in your garage for now. See if you can fix it up," I ordered. Maybe once she loved the new car she'd forget about the truck.

"Is she already in danger?" Emmett frowned.

"At the moment, no. But I think father and Peter will be watching her closely. Not to mention we do have other enemies. She knows nothing of our world and won't be able to protect herself. Until I can convince her to move into my house this is what we will do."

"If you say so, boss man." Emmett nodded.

"And another thing. She must never find out our family is responsible for her father's death," I stated.

"If he was just another dead cop, why does it matter?" Jasper challenged.

I clenched my fist and he backed away, holding his hands up, smirking at me.

"Relax. I would never tell her. But I think you've got to admit, you've been lying to yourself. You care…"

"No." I stopped him. "She's just a pawn. And it would be in everyone's best interest that she's kept happy and in the dark. I'll say it again, we don't get love in our line of work."

"He's right, love doesn't lead to anything good," Emmett agreed with me.

Jasper sighed but said nothing more. "Can we call it a night…or morning at this point?"

"Yes. I want some sleep." I suddenly felt drained.

Jasper and I didn't speak during our drive. I dropped him off and headed home. I briefly thought about heading back to Bella's but then realized she had probably gone to bed long ago. I also chastised myself for my own weak will. I couldn't afford to be weak and let myself fall for Bella. I needed to keep my distance.

The rest of the week flew by. I answered a few of Bella's texts and turned down her dinner invitations and was never the one to reach out to her. The purchase of the building and vehicle switch-a-roo went off flawlessly without me having to do anything personally. Come Saturday, I showed up to her apartment, pleased to see the new security cameras and buzzer at the front entrance. I knocked on her door and waited.

Bella opened it and looked gorgeous in a blue gown that clung to her curves before flaring at the waist. Half of her hair was swept up while the rest hung in curls.

She crossed her arms and my hellcat glared at me. "Well, it's nice to see you didn't fall off the face of the earth, hubby."

A/N: Ding dong Michael is gone. Thoughts on Edward's discoveries this chapter?

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.