Hello everyone,

I won't bore you with a bunch of notes this time. Thanks for being a part of this particular journey. The next several chapters will be extremely important.

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Edward was minding his ps and qs, sharing a drink with Jasper when the throaty wail started. "Do you hear that?" Cocking his head, Edward tried to determine the source of the sound.

Jasper's brow wrinkled as he contemplated Edward's question. "That wailing?"

Edward listened to the low cry again. "Where is it coming from?"

In his effort to locate the sound, Edward slipped off the stool and wandered toward the hallway. Just as he would've exited the room, Alice rounded the corner, eyes locking with Jasper's. "Alice, did you hear that sound?"

"Edward, the only sound I hear is the buzz of alcohol in my ears. Bella's downstairs. You should go say hi."

The reference to Isabella piqued Edward's interest as the noise came again. He would've asked Alice if she'd heard it that time, but the wench had already waltzed around him to Jasper.

Shaking his head, he slipped down the hallway following the sound. When it came again, it led him to the stairwell leading into the basement. Jogging down the stairs, he came up short when he spotted Emmett way too close to Isabella for comfort.

"Do you wanna dance?"

A sense of possession he'd never thought to feel welled in his chest. His teeth ground together and the words echoed in his ears as he said, "No, she doesn't wanna dance."

Bella's jaw came unhinged as Edward stepped further into the room. Fury darkened his expression and he shot Emmett the angriest look Bella had ever seen. Her thoughts turned fuzzy, and she wanted to say something in Emmett's defense but the words died on her tongue.

"Go upstairs, Emmett," Edward ordered, "what did I tell you about keeping your distance from Isabella."

"Nothing," Emmett snapped back. "You haven't told me anything about keeping my distance from anyone. Actually, a few weeks ago you told me to keep tabs on her, remember?"

"I'm telling you now," Edward growled, his entire stance stiffened as he inched closer.

Bella was at a total loss as to what was happening but suddenly she felt bad for being at the center of it. "Edward—."

"I have had it with being told what to do by you. One of these days, Edward, I won't be here to be your puppet. Then what?" Emmett's shoulders squared as he prepared to face off with his brother.

Bella's eyes went wide as she watched the altercation unfold. If she didn't do something, they would be brawling on the floor. When Edward's jaw locked, she stumbled forward and inserted herself in between. Pushing against Edward's abdomen, she sought to capture his attention. "Edward—don't do this. Nothing happened. Nothing was gonna happen."

The muscle in Edward's jaw ticked as he contemplated pushing past the woman before him. He was stalled, however, when she wavered and nearly tipped sideways. Finally, he managed to rip his gaze from Emmett, catching Isabella around the waist.

This was the first time he'd seen her since she'd had her hair done. Heat flamed in his loins as he studied the dark purple locks. "You alright?" Edward stared down at Isabella, barely noticing when Emmett slammed out of the room. "Had a little too much tequila, huh?"

"Mmhmm," she whispered, his scent drawing her towards him. The alcohol she'd consumed hit her like a ton of bricks, her lashes fluttered as she tried to bring him into focus. Burying her nose in his chest, she moaned, "You smell so good."

Edward's head tilted, giving her better access to his throat when she kissed a path along his jaw. "Isabella, look at me."

Bella's thoughts were fogged as she pulled back to study him. She squinted up at him as she tried to focus. "How come there are three of you?"

Edward chuckled as her eyes darted back and forth. "Because you are drunk. We should probably get you up to bed."

"Uh-uh. W-we partying," Bella informed him.

"If you keep partying, princess, you will wind up flat on your back. Let's get you upstairs to bed." Edward stated, trying to grab her fingers. When she neatly evaded his hand, his brow lifted. "Come on, let's go upstairs."

"Um-no," she teased, shaking her head. "I'm not ready."

"Isabella …"

"Why do you call me that?" She wondered, leaning into his chest. "My friends call me Bella."

"Are we friends?" Edward was taken aback by the announcement. He hadn't had a friend in-in years. All the time he'd spent with this woman flashed through his mind. Throughout her stay, they had shared many things-things he didn't share with anyone else.

"Aren't we?" She lifted a hand to caress the frown on his face. "You don't have to look so sour about it."

"I'm not sour about it. I hardly think it's the time or place to have this discussion, however."

"You are such a party pooper," she slurred, glaring up at him. "I will go to bed for a kiss."

Edward chuckled as he shook his head. "You are impossible, woman." Before she knew what he was doing, Edward swooped her up in his arms. "How about I take you to bed, and then maybe a kiss."

Edward hoped to avoid everyone in the house on his while carrying Bella to bed. Luck was clearly on his side when he crossed her threshold and deposited her on the bed, no one in the house the wiser. He expected her to melt into the mattress and swiftly pass out, yet she grabbed him around the neck and pulled.

Off-balance, he teetered, attempting to keep from squashing her. "Bella—."

"You promised me a kiss, mafia man," she hummed close to his lips.

"Bella, you're drunk …"

"No, I'm not," she whispered, placing a peck on the corner of his lips.

Edward wanted to cave and ravish this woman. His body begged him to give in. With a great amount of force, he kissed her lips quickly. "I'm not taking advantage of you while you're drunk, Bella."

"Please," she asked, sticking her bottom lip out in a pout.

"One," he whispered, kissing her full on the lips. Tasting the liquor on her tongue, Edward groaned as he pulled back. "Okay, go to bed."

She caught him by the nape when he would've withdrawn. "Just one more."

This time when he tried to place a simple kiss on her lips, the saucy minx opened her mouth, enticing him to deepen his possession. Nipping her lips, he pulled back, cursing his own moral code. If he were a lesser man he'd take everything she was offering without batting his eyelashes. Instead, he hopped to his feet and strode to the door. "We will talk more tomorrow."

"You promised me a proper kiss," Bella teased with a glare. "That was barely a peck. Just one more, pleeeeease."

Edward laughed with a shake of his head as he stepped into the hall. "Go to sleep, woman."

He stared at the door for a long moment. Isabella, Bella, she'd burrowed straight under his skin and there was no plucking her out. He grunted with the knowledge. Judging by the scene he'd walked into in the basement, he wasn't the only one captivated by their prisoner.

Irritation roared to life. Where the fuck was Emmett? After searching the house, he found his irresponsible brother lounging near the fireplace. "I am only going to tell you one more time to stop sniffing around Ms. Swan."

"Is that because you are sniffing around her yourself?" Emmett challenged with a glare. "You can't tell me what to do. In case you've forgotten, I am older than you, Edward. You don't make my decisions for me."

Edward stalked forward, ready to take his unruly brother in hand. "It would've been nice if you'd remembered that fact when dad died. Instead, you were gallivanting all over the damn state slipping in and out of beds. You won't be sampling Ms. Swan. She is a captive and off-limits."

"Off-limits, huh?" Emmett came to his feet and closed the distance between them. "Seems like you have forgotten your own rule. I do have access to the surveillance footage. What exactly was going on in that half bathroom?"

Edward's temple pulsed with annoyance. "That's none of your business."

Emmett rolled his eyes as he turned from the room. His hands balled into fists with the desire to punch the fucking wall. Before he exited the room completely he turned to face Edward. "If you hurt her, I will forget that you're my younger brother. You better get shit squared away with Irene, Edward."

Edward's lip curled at the mention of Irene. Honestly, until Emmett said her name, he hadn't thought about her all day. Obviously, Emmett was trying to distract him from the woman upstairs. "Shut the fuck up before I make you eat your teeth."

"Fuck off."

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A/N: I am so thankful to see people enjoying this story. As I have said, it will be a long one and while there hasn't been an incredible amount of action up to this point, I assure you it is one the way.

Anyway, I hope you are enjoying the direction of this fic.