Hello everyone,

So glad to have you all back. This story just keeps getting deeper and deeper. I am glad everyone seems to be enjoying it.

I won't bore you with a lot of talk. Thanks, Sassy for reading all of this to make sure it makes sense, lol. And thanks to CoppertopJ for beta'ing. Love talking to ya, and you are sooo appreciated.

Thanks for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following.

Please review ...

Edward walked into the barn to find Charlie sitting in the same chair he'd been sitting in the day this all started. It looked like the Sheriff had seen better days, dark circles lined his eyes and he looked as if he'd aged ten years in a matter of a few weeks.

Obviously, Edward wasn't the same man he'd been at the beginning of this journey—he'd evolved so much since Bella Swan had stumbled into his backyard, and he could honestly feel it in his bones. He was not the same man, but he was far from weak.

Quietly, Edward stared at Charlie. If Bella had fallen into the wrong hands, her situation could've been so much different. That thought alone was enough to bring the anger he'd stored for five long years alive—yet, it was a different type of rage. That man from before was enraged at the world for loss; the one standing in his place had an entirely different reason to be pissed. He felt protective in a way he hadn't expected.

"What do you want, Cullen? I was going to call in the morning with your loot. I just handed the funds over to the mayor, he said he'd be in contact with you."

Charlie's wide gaze followed the lethal predator as he paced a few feet away from him. It was right there—right there on the tip of his tongue to beg this man to protect Bella. The only thing preventing him from doing so was the threat Winthrop held over his head.

Even while Charlie swam in his own doubts and fears; he didn't miss the look of satisfaction on Edward's face.

Suddenly, he was very curious to know what the cause was. What if Edward had come to end him tonight? His entire body went cold. If Edward was here to end his life there would be no stopping him. The Missouri King wasn't known for his empathy. He supposed if Cullen was here to end his life at least he would finally be free from the control that windbag held over him. Still, if a bullet was going into his skull, what would it hurt to plead his case?

There was a tremble in Charlie's voice when he spoke. "I-If you are here to end me, Cullen. I-I would just ask …"

"You are in no position to request anything from me. Just the prospect of you trading that woman for money makes me want to rip out your jugular. I would—I really would if I wouldn't have that scuzz of a government official breathing down my throat. Fuck … I should just kill you both," Edward told Charlie glancing over his shoulder at Laurent, James, and Emmett standing at the ready.

Seeing Emmett's stance had a sliver of respect filling him. Despite their differences, Emmett always had his back. He supposed he always would. "My men are feeling hungry. How long has it been since we've flayed someone?"

"At least a month," Emmett supplied, counting his fingers as if he were trying to remember exactly when they'd last strung someone up. "Yep—yep, a month."

Charlie shifted nervously as the eldest Cullen bared his teeth in a toothy grin. That smile wasn't one born of pleasure, the man looked positively hungry—hungry for the violence that dictated their lives. "I-If that's what you want to do … I-I can't stop you, but I would just ask … ask that you l-look out f-for Bella."

That was not what Edward had expected to hear. The mention of the woman he'd just claimed as his wife froze his heart. His heartbeat pattered skipping a few beats. His eyebrows lifted in surprise. "What? What did you just say?"

Charlie should've expected the anger that chiseled Edward's face. The real fear was born, however, as those dark eyes popped with fury. "Bella … s-she needs someone to look out for her."

Edward's nose burned with acid filling his gut. This fucking weasel was preaching to him about his daughter's safety? His head whipped around to Emmett. "Do you fucking hear this? The man who was going to sell his daughter to pay off his debt is now asking me to take care of the daughter he was going to sell like a fucking cow?"

"I say slit the motherfuckers throat." Emmett prompted, withdrawing a knife from his pocket.

"I-I … please … I never wanted that to happen," Charlie pleaded. "I didn't have a choice. Winthrop …"

"You didn't have a choice? Are you shitting me?" Edward paced. "Any choice is better than selling your fucking kid to a sick perverse animal."

"I didn't have a choice. I swear. The bodyguards you killed were there to look after Bella. Of course, I couldn't tell her what was going on, but I-I always tried to keep her safe. As safe as I could. Then Winthrop made this demand …"

"And so to protect your own ass you decided to turn Bella over to that ratchet cock? When she showed up at my house, she'd been beaten--. Did you do that? Did you jerk her around in order to get her to marrying Winthrop?"

Charlie shivered with a slight nod. "I had to—I had to—she wouldn't listen."

Edward moved so fast he knew he was a blur. Without blinking an eye, he lifted his hand and cold-cocked Charlie across the face. The bloodthirsty animal reared its head when he watched burgundy liquid spit from his mouth. Bending low, his nostrils flared. "there is no excuse for selling a person—your own fucking daughter to fulfill a debt. And then—then you have the fucking balls to ask me to take care of her?"

"I really don't give a shit what you do to me anymore. Hell, put me out of my misery. Just—just look after her or send her somewhere that bastard can't get to her," Charlie pleaded, noticing Edward's undivided attention was on him. No matter their problems, Edward Cullen was actually listening. "Please, none of this is her fault."

"I came here to tell you neither you or that disgusting prick are getting Bella back. You are a sorry excuse for a father," Edward accused, realizing how similar he and Charlie actually were for the first time. He'd lost Irene and neglected his daughter, his sweet little girl. Charlie had lost his wife and exiled Bella to a life of loneliness. His stomach heaved at the thought of winding up a sniveling coward. "I won't let her go. So, you can take your money and shove it."

Taken aback by Edward's declaration, he stuttered, "what—what do you mean?"

Edward's shoulders went straight as he murderously studied Charlie Swan. "Neither one of you will ever touch her again. If you so much as blink in her direction I will rip out your eyes and feed them to you.

Charlie gulped in surprise. "Winthrop—."

"Winthrop isn't going to do shit. If he mentions my wife's name I will kill everyone—everyone in this fucking town. Do you fucking understand me?" Edward looked like a proud peacock as he straightened in front of Charlie, daring the bastard to say one word.

The shock was apparent on Charlie's face. "W-what did you say?"

Edward laughed, the shock value of informing Charlie he'd married Bella was priceless—no amount of money could compare. Arrogantly, Edward tipped his chin as he relished his expression. "I married her not more than two hours ago. Neither of you will ever get close to Bella Cullen again."

Charlie squirmed before Edward's lethal glare. You don't understand. Winthrop, h-he … fuck. I guess all that matters is Bella is safe, right? You're not mistreating her?"

The mere suggestion had Edward raising his hand and planting his knuckles in Charlie's mouth. "I would never beat, rape, or abuse woman—especially one carrying my name. I might be beyond salvation but I do have morals."

Charlie's head snapped back with the impact of the blow. Unable to hold his head up, drooled down the front of his shirt. "T-that's good. S-she will be taken care of."

Charlie's statement made Edward pause. His words didn't coincide with a man who'd wanted to sell his daughter. Shaking the pain out of his knuckles, he crouched in front of Charlie's chair. "What the fuck is going?" Even as Edward asked, his mind worked in overdrive to process what could motivate a man to sell his flesh and blood. Then a thought occurred to him. "What is Winthrop holding over your head?"

Through a swelling black eye, Charlie's blurred gaze focused on Edward. "Y-years ago, Winthrop and my wife were having an affair—."

"Did you kill your wife?" Edward wanted to know. Now it was his turn to try and swallow his shock. Nothing could've prepared him from Charlie's confession. Bella's mother's sudden disappearance making a whole lot of sense.

"N-no," Charlie whispered, his head coming up. "When I found out about their affair I confronted my wife. She swore it wouldn't ever happen again. S-she went to him to break it off … I never saw her again."

Edward's head cocked to the side as he repeated the story in his mind trying to make sense of it all. "Did she run off?"

"For a while, I thought so. Then Winthrop called a meeting with me a few weeks later." Tears slipped from the corner of his eye. "He showed me pictures of Renee bound and gagged. Said he killed her. He said he still had her bones and he'd make sure I went down for her murder. Then he started having me run shipments, bringing him the loot. I-I didn't know he was watching Bella that whole time, plotting and planning. I did everything he asked, I couldn't go to prison—who would've looked after Bella? She would've been all alone."

"She said she has family somewhere. She asked me to locate them. Why didn't you send her—."

"Do you really think there is anywhere on this earth Winthrop can't reach? He's friends with the damn president. No one would've even investigated Renee's death. Then Bella would've been vulnerable to that scum-wad years ago."

Edward mulled over Charlie's statement. If Winthrop could reach the President there wasn't anyone he couldn't touch. This shone a whole new light on the entire situation. With all of this new information, Edward contemplated his options. "So, you and Winthrop aren't scheming together? You never actually wanted to sell, Isabella?"

"N-no," Charlie started with a heavy sigh. "I'm not that fucking stupid."

Edward turned to his men. "Take him back to town. Charlie, I will be in touch in a few days. Don't make me come looking for you."

Edward replayed the conversation with Charlie all the way home. Even Emmett seemed lost in his own thoughts. All the way through the darkened house, up the stairs, and to the hallway leading to his room, Edward contemplated his next move.

He paused, staring at Bella's open door. It sat ajar and he was tempted to head in that direction. Instead, he forced himself to respect her decision. Breather. She wanted a breather.

He wasn't dense. Bella's body was addicted to his touch, he'd noticed in her shivers of pleasure. If he wanted to, he could change her mind in seconds. Chewing on the inside of his cheek, he almost gave in to the pull toward his new bride.

His bride.

He had a fucking bride and was about to go to bed alone. Fuck, he cursed as he stripped off his clothes and slid under his olive green sheets. Too wound up for sleep, his gaze roamed his bedroom. He pulled his phone out and sent Bobby a message.

With Isabella forever on his mind, he decided it was time to find out about her mother's disappearance and how the mayor was connected. Bobby was head of his investigation team and if anyone could find out, he could.

Please review ... The next 4-5 chapters are what you all have been waiting for.

Please come join the JM Gaff group on FB for more stories and other fun.