Hello everyone,

The moment we have all been waiting for is upon us. As you all know this journey will be ending pretty soon. I believe I'm looking at another 5-6 postings for this story.

I am so thrilled you all have been here for the ride. It has been my pleasure to write every word. Thank you for loving this Edward and Bella. They have touched a spot in my heart.

Thanks, Denise for your help, and for pushing me when I get stuck. Also thanks Sassy for reading and keeping me on track and pointing out areas for improvement.

Thanks for all of your support, reviews, favoriting, and following.

Please review….

Jane stumbled into the study, her wide blue eyes landing on Emmett. The eldest Cullen, while normally jovial in spirit, looked as if he were ready to detonate. She'd seen him angry on numerous occasions, and his stony features were drawn tight, and she could barely see his eyes as he glared at her.

Awareness slipped down her spine, and sweat pricked her skin. She fleetingly thought about the bag of herbs she'd poured into their soup.

Was it possible they knew? How? She made sure the staff was otherwise occupied before delivering her special seasonings.

Blowing a deep breath, she attempted to play it off, her demeanor changing from a frightened mouse to the confident woman she was. Lifting her chin, she looked between the brothers, noticing the change in Edward's expression. Her stomach constricted with nerves as she studied him closely.

His features were harder than usual, his nostrils flaring as if he were fighting to control himself. Edward's stance was rigid and brought her up short. His piercing gaze never wavered, and she struggled to appear unaffected. As angry as he seemed, Jane smiled, loving the sense of danger swirling in the air.

Ignoring the hard glint in his gaze, she pressed forward, taking a few steps closer to Edward. "If this is some sort of three-way with your brother—it's odd—but I will give it a go if that's what you want."

Edward's lashes dropped a fraction as his gaze narrowed on the bold little bitch. When her hand would've cupped his jaw, he caught it in midair, a thrill shooting through him as he squeezed her fingers in his hard grasp. Her gasp of pain as he heard her bones crack was music to his dark soul. "If you even think about touching me, I will peel the skin from your disgusting fingers." Edward's lip curled, as surprise registered on her face, her skin dropping several shades in color. Flinging her hand away from him, he pointed to the chair in front of his desk. "Sit!"

Jane's lips trembled as she whimpered. Holding her hand, she attempted to stifle the pain in her knuckles. "W-what—what happened? I thought you said you wanted to—to …"

"Sit the fuck down! Now!" Edward had never known a rage as strong as the one consuming him now. Hours. In hours—his whole damn family would've been dead. When Jane's wide eyes jogged between him and Emmett, Edward grabbed her by the shoulder and directed her to the chair.

Making sure his hold held an extra bite, he forcibly pushed her into the seat. His fingertips turned white with his hard grip, and honestly, he wanted to smash her reddening face. He wanted her blood all over the fucking place—at this particular moment, he wanted to fucking taste it.

When she cried out, he grinned. "Fun, huh? I promised you fun, Jane. Didn't say who it would be fun for." Staring her in the eye, he reached for the remote on his desk as he slipped into the chair next to her. "Emmett, our maid is a naughty little slut. She was all about a threesome moments ago, so why don't you get on her other side so we start the show."

Emmett pushed away from the window he'd been standing against, and went to Jane's far side, dropping his hand on her opposite shoulder. Mimicking his brother's hold, his fingers dug into the ball of her shoulder. Leaning in close, he whispered, "We have a little foreplay for you before we get started. I think you will love it."

Jane's lashes fluttered when Emmett blew a hot breath in her ear. Beads of perspiration dotted her brow and her stomach rolled as panic set in. Her chin wobbled when Edward directed her attention to the TV. She cringed when he leaned in as close as Emmett on her opposite side, saying, "Watch closely, this is my favorite part."

Tears trickled from the corners of her eyes as she watched the images on the screen. The pot was cooking on the stove as a hand reached in and removed the lid. The camera zoomed out just in time to see herself digging through her bag and pulling the sack out. With a quick look around she dumped the contents into the pot and stirred until it all blended.

Edward's finger caressed the hair above her temple, and Jane's breath caught in her chest. "What was in the bag, Jane?"

His growl vibrated in her ear, her lashes fluttering as she tried to remain calm. Her fists balled against her thighs and wiggled under the intensity of his stare. The danger she'd been imagining moments ago was not what was happening now. Her jaw quivered as she parted her lips, her voice shuddering into the quiet study.

"I-it w-was j-j-just some herbs I collected," Jane whispered, frantically starting to scoot to the edge of her seat. "T-they j-just enhance the flavor. I-I … p-please, Edward …"

Hearing his name trip off her lips with such a familiarity spoke to a demon buried deep. The demon that enjoyed these moments of torture, one he'd hidden from himself, his family, the world. Grabbing a fistful of her hair, he yanked her around to face him. His face went cherry red as anger smoldered, pressing his nose against hers, he yelled, "What the fuck was in the bag?"

Jane cried out as he jerked her head around, her hair pulling hard against her scalp. "P-please. It was stupid. I swear, I just … you fell for that bitch like …"

"You know, you are forcing me to do things to a woman I have never done—never thought to do. You are talking about my wife," Edward shouted, leaping from his chair, he yanked her up. "I really, really want you to eat my fist right now. What the fuck is in the bag?"

Jane tried to crumble away from the rage marring Edward's handsome face. "I was stupid. I j-just loved you and you fell for that—that girl like we had nothing between us."

Emmett perked up as the words fell from Jane's lips. Looking between Edward and the maid, he lifted a brow as he met his brother's gaze. "You slept with the maid? Does your wife know? You prattle on and on about me fucking bitches all over the place, but you were sleeping with a woman beneath your wife's nose."

"That shit happened way before Isabella stumbled into the yard, and has nothing to do with anything." Edward thundered, pinning Emmett with a hard stare. "Jane caught me in a moment of weakness, that's all."

Emmett shook his head in disbelief, mumbling something about hypocrites under his breath. "Well, if it's so unimportant then why doesn't Bella know, huh?"

Edward ran a hand through his hair as his aggravation mounted, throwing a look toward Jane, he snarled, "I think this bitch trying to kill our entire family surpasses me fucking her once or twice, don't you, Emmett?"

"Whatever the fuck you say, your majesty," Emmett ground out. Turning his attention back to Jane, he continued, "This isn't over."

Edward stilled momentarily as his full attention went to Emmett. Their relationship had always been strained but lately, it was out of control. Soon. Soon he would have to deal with Emmett's constant disobedience. "We will deal with this shit later. First, Jane." Dropping Emmett's steely gaze, his attention landed on his former head maid. Clearing his throat, he stepped forward and braced both hands on the arms of her chair. "What is in my soup?"

His eyes dropped to her throat, watching her swallow nervously. "W-wa-water h-h-hemlock. J-just en-enough to make people sick. T-that's it."

"That's it. That's it, Emmett. She put the most poisonous plant in North America in our soup, but just enough … just enough to make us all sick." Grabbing her by the front of her blouse, he yanked her out of her chair, his face an inch from hers. "What about my fucking daughter? Would it have been just enough to make her sick as well—or were you planning on killing her?"

Edward didn't give Jane a chance to answer. Pulling her by the scruff of her shirt, he yanked the door open and stomped toward the kitchen, leaving her jogging to keep up. Once he came to the kitchenette, he shoved her down into a chair. "Stay!"

Emmett walked into the kitchen just in time to see Jane's face twist, her cheeks turning bright red, and tears running in rivers. Edward was crossing the tile to the stove to grab the pot still bubbling on the burner. With a lot less finesse than Edward typically displayed, he slammed the pot on the table next to Jane, causing her to start.

Following Edward's lead, Emmett headed to the cabinet and grabbed a bowl and spoon from the drawer. Marching in their direction, Emmett slammed the bowl on the table. "Eat!"

"Please, I-I …" She shook her head adamantly in denial. "I-I can't … I'm allergic to …"

"You will eat every last drop!" Edward's hand shook as rage consumed him. Collecting the ladle from the stove, he stalked toward her. As if he were spooning the meal out for his mother, he spooned her out a large helping. "If you don't eat it on your own, I will break your jaw and pour it down your damn throat."

Helplessly, Jane faced the bowl before her sobs became uncontrollable. The pitiful sound echoing through the quiet kitchen. She could practically hear her heart pounding as panic consumed her. "Can't you j-just send me somewhere? I swear, I will never come back. P-please."

Her hand shook as she picked up the spoon. When she merely stared at the soup, Edward's hand came down hard on the table causing the bowl to jump and the table to rattle. Appeased when the bitch leapt in shock, her sobs grew louder as she faced the consequences of her actions. "Eat the fucking shit!"

Jane squealed with fright, the spoon faltering close to her lips. When it paused before her mouth, Edward bent over her. "I have never beaten a woman before, but you are testing my patience. I will tell you what I would like to do to you. Do you want to hear it?"

"If making you eat the soup you intended to poison my whole family with wasn't so poetic, I would slit the bottom of your feet and dump you in the furthest part of the desert where there is no chance of anyone ever finding you." When she shuddered, he whispered, "Now eat the fucking soup before you are food for the vultures and coyotes."

Satisfaction flooded him as she finally opened her mouth and the spoon disappeared inside her mouth. Edward dropped into the chair next to her, pushing far enough out of reach to watch every bite she took. When her skin turned grayer with every bite, another wave of justice filled him. Just to plunge the knife deeper, he sat forward. "How does it feel to know you won't be walking away from this table? Either that soup kills you, or I do."

She gurgled on the next bite, but she boldly met Edward's eyes. She was going to die here and now, and she didn't have anything else to lose. Nausea rolled in her belly, and she blinked rapidly to bring him into focus. Wiping the tears and snot from her face, she said, "I-I did this because I loved you. I hope … I hope that bitch dies a horrible death and you have to watch it." Taking another bite, she fought to swallow the soup even as her stomach rejected the contents. "I hope it is as bad or worse than Irene. I hope you never recover."

Edward's control snapped at her thoughtless declaration, and he envisioned slamming her face into that bowl. His nostrils flared, and his anger got the better of him as his hand wrapped in her hair and slammed her face into the table. A roar left his lips and his face turned red. He might have taken it even further if Jane's eyes hadn't rolled into the back of her head.

Pulling his fingers free from her hair, she slumped forward, her face falling into the bowl. He was tempted to pull her free, yet with rage curdling his blood, he quietly watched her. He could hear her breathing, bubbling in the soup with each inhale.

"Are you going to just let her drown in the soup?" Emmett wanted to know, hopping up on the countertop, preparing for the long wait.

Edward shrugged, muttering, "What's the difference?"

He was pulling his cellphone from his pocket when Jane's lithe form began shaking uncontrollably. He jumped a bit in shock as she jolted forward and slid from her seat, falling to the tile. He clenched his jaw as Jane seized, vomit pouring from her mouth, her eyes rolling.

After several minutes, Jane went still, her eyes parted ever so slightly, staring at nothingness. Emmett hopped from the counter. "Is she dead?"

Edward tapped her limp form with the toe of his boot. When there was no response, he nudged her harder. Crouching, he checked her pulse. "Her pulse is weak. Shouldn't be long."

"You really love her, huh?" Emmett wiped up Jane's vomit from the floor with a towel, casting questioning looks in Edward's direction. "Bella?"

"What the hell does that have to do with anything?" Weakness was not Edward's forte. Vulnerability left holes. Holes enemies used against you. Emmett wasn't his enemy, however, or was he? Deciding the man next to him was still his brother, he nodded, "Yeah, I really do love her."

Emmett didn't answer. Instead, he busied himself cleaning up the kitchen. Eventually, he turned to face Edward. "When this is all over—Winthrop—we need to talk about a few things, Ed."

The serious note in Emmett's voice had Edward agreeing with a simple nod. "I have a call to make. We were looking to plant something on Winthrop, and Jane just volunteered herself. Go find me something to wrap her in."

Once Emmett disappeared down the hallway, Edward punched Charlie's contact. When the sheriff answered, he wandered to the window. "Hey, meet me at our spot in thirty minutes. I have something for you."

Once they had Jane's body wrapped in a blanket, Edward grabbed the pot of soup as Emmett flung her over his shoulder. Together the brothers left the Cullen mansion through the garage. "Drive through the tunnels. I don't want anyone seeing us coming or going. Use the burner cell if you need to call anyone. Don't want them tracing our numbers anywhere close to this drop."

"Edward, can you stop talking to me like it's the first time I have done this? That's part of our problem and always has been. You act like I am an idiot."

Edward rolled his eyes. "Is this Dr. Phil now? I don't have time or the inclination to deal with all of your insecurities, Emmett. You take shit the way you take it. I don't talk to you any differently than anyone else."

"That is our biggest problem, brother. I am your fucking brother and you talk to me like some jackass off the street." Emmett threw Jane's body into the back of his truck. "I want some damn respect from you."

"Respect? You want me to respect you, lusting after my wife? Should I bow out and give you a go, huh? Would that make me a better brother?" Edward undid the cuffs of his shirt as he talked, rolling the sleeves up his forearms. "There's one problem with that, brother. She chose me. She came to my study every night. We bonded. Let that shit go."

"I'm not lusting after her. I actually cared about her, Edward. There is a difference." Backing out of the garage, Emmett found the trail in the woods and drove to the entrance of the tunnel.

"There it is. I'm surprised you know the difference between the two."

Emmett scoffed, throwing Edward a side-eye, saying, "There's just no point in trying to talk to you."

They drove the rest of the way in silence. When the hidden shack came into sight, they pulled along Charlie's car. Edward hopped out from the passenger seat. "I'm calling Winthrop as soon as I get back to the house. I will arrange everything for tomorrow morning. About ten in the morning you need to find whatever cops you can and search the mayor's house."

"So, tomorrow morning you will pretend to hand over Bella while I search his house," Charlie repeated, playing with the whiskers on his mustache. "What if I don't find …"

Edward waved off his concerns. Stomping around to the bed of the truck, he released the tailgate and pulled Jane's body toward him. "Strip this bitch and put her in his bed. Take the soup Emmett has and put it on Winthrop's stove or in his trash."

Emmett wiped the pot with baby wipes to erase any fingerprints. Slipping his gloves on, he nodded, "Put some gloves on, idiot. Don't want any DNA on this metal except for the old pisspot."

Charlie's eyes went wide as Edward dropped the body into his backseat. "What did she do?"

"She tried to poison my entire family. She ate her own plan." Edward dusted his hands off once they were free of Jane. Staring Charlie in the eye, his lips thinned. "I am giving you enough ammo to take Winthrop down. Don't fuck it up. And when you plant all this, there will be an investigation. Make sure there isn't any way this can be turned on you."

Charlie nodded his understanding. "What do I do about bloat? She will bloat as hot as it is."

"Not my problem," Edward stated, heading around Charlie's car as he offered him his hand. "You wanted my help and you have gotten it. You wanted me to protect Bella and I will." When Charlie's hand clasped his and shook it, he backed away. "Here's to the forbidden alliance that asshat never saw forming, and won't see coming."

Please review ... Once again thanks for being here for this ride. There will be another 5-6 postings:)