Crosshairs
Chapter Sixteen—Cartel
Phoenix closed her eyes for a moment, waiting to hear the order that would mean the deaths of so many. All heirs over the age of eighteen, allowed to take over Aro's organization would be eliminated, as per rules of the Seven Families Cartel, a.k.a. the investors of The Center. The surviving children would be watched over carefully for the rest of their lives.
Usually.
The consequences could also mean things would change significantly. The Center Organization functioned well because seven families from all around the world deliberated and worked together. If they eliminated of The Rossi Organization would mean there would only be six families, and it would leave them ripe for war; fights would undoubtedly break out with the remaining families with no way to break any ties in issues needing a vote.
Together, The Cullen Family and The O'Sullivan Family had founded and funded The Center and its branch, The Island, all under the guidance of a well-known doctor, Laurent's grandfather. When the demand for such care grew, they added three more families into the organization. Soon, every organization wanted a piece of it; in the end, the heads agreed seven families was enough.
Investors, the term they used for the organization that handled The Center and The Island.
Phoenix called it how she saw it, a Cartel.
Those who "invested" in The Center were relativity safe from each other. They often made deals benefiting everyone, and though small disagreements occurred, they rarely made it the table. When it did happen, each feuding family presented their grievances, and if they could not reach a mutual agreement, it came to a vote between all the investors. The need for an odd number of families became evident from the beginning.
The elimination of The Rossi Family meant tense negotiations with other organizations all clamoring for a chance to become an investor. The only way a position within the seven families opened was when one of the family heads violated the rules of The Center and The Island. Off those properties, any family was fair game for takeover, unless addressed by the Cartel. It became an unspoken agreement to stay out of each other's business, and it maintained peace for decades.
The Rossi Family had been the last family inducted into the Cartel, and a mistake. They had been trouble since day one, and Bella and her father had recently made a contingency plan, in case they'd become a nuisance. The king they needed to protect all the investors from, and an opportunity presented itself months earlier.
Every investor knew of the plan except Aro. They had agreed to it when that opportunity had provided them with the missing puzzle pieces.
"Now wait a minute; I have the right to present evidence that Carlisle Cullen had my son murdered."
"He wasn't on Center or Island grounds, Mr. Rossi." Phoenix shook her head, sighing deeply. "It is stated in Clause 187, Section B that grievances off the properties known as The Center and The Island are of no consequence to the seven families. If you believed The Cullen Family were out to kill your son, it should've been brought to the table for discussion or a vote. If you had done that, any move by The Cullens would've been met with dire consequences."
A few of the other investors nodded in agreement, several of them pounding their fists on a surface.
Spittle decorated Aro's screen, his words vicious. "They killed my beautiful boy!"
"Which, again, means nothing to the investors since it was off sanctuary grounds." Her voice deceptively calm, yet the murderous look in her eyes would make anyone cringe. "You had been warned, asked numerous times to bring your son into The Center for treatment for his schizophrenia, yet, you denied us. The Cullen Family asked for counsel with the investors when the evidence of your son's treachery threatened not only your organization but also the Cullens and the O'Sullivans. Almost half of the investors."
"Why wasn't I told this meeting?" Realization dawned on him. "You allowed the hit!" Aro's gnarled hand curled to point an accusing finger at her. "You all allowed it! You will all pay for this!"
"A decision was reached that it was of no consequence to the families!" Carlisle reasoned, shaking his head. "You decided to come after my family after the death of your first-born son Marco, which we had nothing to do with and had proven with clear evidence that a leak in your own organization brought the police to your warehouse, a raid that killed him. You then allowed Alec to cause havoc and threatened our family with the practice of human trafficking that pointed the finger at our family. We all agreed never to be a part of such a practice the day we all signed to join this Cartel…"
"Finally!" Phoenix threw her hands in the air. She rolled her eyes when they all stared at her and the slight chuckle from her husband to be. "I apologize, but the clock is ticking. We know why Aro and his closest must be eliminated. The evidence speaks for itself. Make the decision before his plane disembarks."
Aro's eyes widened in shock. "Plane, I am not on a plane."
Phoenix ignored him and looked at the other screens, the votes coming in as Aro continued his tirade and insistence that he was home. With a unanimous decision reached, she sent the word to those integral to their contingency plan. They also had a plan C in place in case of failure, but she knew it wouldn't be needed.
Phoenix straightened her spine and squared her shoulders, a sinister smile on her lips. "Aro Rossi, a decision has been made. Your life is now forfeit; all your assets will be divided, as per contract—fifty percent to the Cartel, the other half divided evenly between the wife and children of your family members. Or that's customarily the protocol."
Aro started to giggle, the sound at first seemed girlish, a nervous tone. However, the pitch and rise in volume increased as he threw his head back to laugh. Several soft huffs could be heard in the background from the other investors, not impressed by Aro's strange display. "You'll never find me, before you send out your lethal crew Phoenix, my family and I will be in the air."
"You're under the impression that you're leaving the runway, Father." The click on the gun fitted with a silencer seemed loud, even to Phoenix. "Surprise, Daddy. The Cartel agreed to allow me to take over for you, all thanks to Carlisle Cullen's assistance once I informed him that my big brother was molesting me." She bent down enough to stage whisper in his ear. "I'm the one who called in the raid that led to Marco's death."
"Jane!" Before Aro could utter another sound, his head flew back, blood and brain matter splattered across the screen. Everyone witnessed as his daughter, the beautiful and deceptively innocent looking Jane Rossi, pushed her father off the chair. She flicked her long, platinum blonde hair over her shoulders and shimmied into the seat, her tiny button nose scrunching in disgust as she wiped off the screen and camera. "Now, is there any more Cartel business we should discuss?"
"Have those loyal to Aro been eliminated?" Phoenix did not need to ask, as Jane's bodyguard dragged a body behind her.
"Yes, thank you for sending some of your crew to help." Jane tossed her platinum blonde hair behind her shoulders, a small smile on her lips. "Now, considering that you've all ordered the elimination of my father, his remaining brothers, and my cousins, I'm currently sending the information of the safe houses where they are located as per our family's protocol."
Carlisle and the others welcomed her, but he had a few things that needed to be addressed. "Are there any members of your family that are loyal to you?"
Edward watched from a safe distance as Phoenix tapped her fingers on the table, a habit of boredom for her. She wanted to be out there to deliver justice, but being on semi-retirement required her presence for such a meeting. He understood how she felt; after having witnessed the perfect execution of Aro Rossi, it felt unfinished, almost anti-climactic. If he'd been the one to pull the trigger, justice would feel so much sweeter.
It would take weeks to eliminate those loyal to Aro Rossi; maybe she'd allow him to join the hunt.
.
.
.
Edward led Phoenix into a bedroom after the video conference ended, locking the door behind them. Fascinated that she'd become his Isabella again, he could only watch as she undressed.
She removed the pin-straight, long, brown wig from the top her head, shaking out her own hair. The mask she kept over half of her face lay forgotten on the top of a dresser. The form-fitting leather jacket, leggings, and vest under it disappeared into a closet. She kicked off her shoes as she sat at the edge of the bed in only a thin tank top and panties.
Her dark eyes roamed over each inch of him, a smirk teasing him of what was to come. Namely him and most definitely her.
"What time is our flight?" She watched as he started to strip out of his suit. Her knees spread as he stepped between them.
"We need to leave in about ninety minutes." His hands swept her hair into a rein, his intention to ride her in mutual oblivion. "What could we possibly do with so much time?"
"I could teach you to shoot straighter, for one thing." She only teased him; his shot of Ramon, The Center's head of security, was perfect. Her hand stroked over his covered erection, tightening when his grip in her hair tugged her mouth to his, hard.
"I'll show you how fucking straight I shoot later. Right now, I want to feast on every inch of you."
She moaned, licking her lips with desire in her eyes. "Who's stopping you?"
The challenge in her voice sounded crystal clear. One he planned to meet over and over again.
"Remove my clothes, Isabella." He stood back and waited, his anticipation sending every nerve in his body into overdrive. It happened whenever she touched him, but it was ten times more potent in moments like this. Would she let him have control? He could only imagine how difficult it was for her to give someone else control.
She rose to her feet, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. Any uncertainty in her lasted only a second, desire and her love for him taking over. Her nimble fingers worked the buttons of his shirt free, pulling it from his pants. The twitch of his cock made her smile, something he couldn't resist tasting.
They had a lot to talk about, but it could wait until they faced her father and his family together.
Moans and soft whimpers whispered between them. His tongue explored the length of her neck, the tips of his fingers teasing the straps of the undergarment she'd worn beneath her costume. A costume for Phoenix, but in that moment, in his arms, and as a slave to his touch, she was his Isabella.
The anger from the turbulent aftermath of his brother's near-kidnapping and his being shot would remain with her for a while, that much he realized. The memory of those men pulling her toward a car as she fought them, or how the way the getaway car rolled later, certainly would haunt him. It didn't matter if she had come through the incident fine, she still could've been killed.
"Hey," she whispered, capturing his face with both hands. Her warmth missing from his cock pulled him from the memories. "I'm here, love. See, hear, and feel me. I'm right here."
He thought they had released all of their fears and worries at the bottom of their shower earlier, slid down the drain. They only had been pushed aside for a while, only to return at a vulnerable moment. "Stay with me, Bella."
She seemed to grasp what he needed from her, lying back on the bed without another word, but his name whispered from her lovely mouth.
A deep, rumbling groan spilled from his lips, a solid twitch of his cock sprung him into action. His usual finesse disappeared. In its place, a need to take her filled him; his clothes lay as ragged victims at his feet. His knees soon straddled her able body, careful of her wound along her side. Some part of him still insisted on protecting her.
Her clothes tossed behind him soon after. She started to moan as his hands cupped her breasts, spreading a wealth of kisses, licks, and sucking bites to her warm, fragrant skin. A hint of sweetness clung to her, the taste of it, addictive. Her fingers spread through his hair, pulling her closer to her chest, her knees bending to push her hips closer to his body.
"I love the way you move under me."
"Edward." Another gasp from his sexy fiancée, elicited from the swipe of his tongue around her navel.
He climbed fully onto the bed, moving her body up to lay her among the mounds of pillows. A few she tossed aside, but he stopped her from throwing another. He folded the king size pillow in half and placed it under her back, holding her pussy to the perfect height for his perusal.
"Oh fuck, please, Edward." She shook her head, her hips undulating in his hands. Power surged through her thighs, and he knew she could buck him off if she wanted to. Knowing she could, made his cock thicken more and twitch against his stomach. His hands gripped her hips harder, stilling them.
Her eyes snapped open, her chest rising and falling as lust had taken over. "D-don't stop."
He didn't bother with teasing, going in for the kill. Moving back and bending slightly, his lips closed over her clit, and it made her scream something incoherent. Her fingers twisted both in his hair and in the sheets. He fucked her with his mouth and his fingers, taking her over the edge with a gentle scrape of his teeth. The taste of her pussy was as addicting at her skin, as she came on his fingers and tongue.
He couldn't stop. Several more times, he made her come until she was breathless and a beautiful writhing mess of slick skin and desire. His hands spread her thighs apart, and he thrust inside her hard and fast as she crested over the edge again; the ripples of her orgasm welcomed his cock. Her scream of pleasure and pain had him sitting up and fucking her with wild abandon. His hands roamed her body, painting her with the desire dripping down her thighs.
Fuck, his cock was coated in her; one look at the way he disappeared into her body made him tighten his hold on her, bending over her willing body and kissing her parted lips. She gasped and moaned with every shift of his body, which moved in perfect rhythm to their pounding hearts. The elevated height of her hips made the plunge inside her feel faster, harder as he pulled back up again. Embedded deep inside her body, he pulled out the pillow from beneath her, but kept her hips high within his hold. Her eyes rolled as he shifted onto one knee, the angle deepening the strength of his strokes. Only her head and shoulders remained on the bed, the rest of her arched to the perfect position to watch as he fucked her.
Hard.
She screamed, tears running down her face, but a shake of her head indicated she was fine when he tried to slow down.
Release. It was her way of releasing some of her fear.
Desperate to give them both the temporary relief they needed, the reaffirmation that they were alive and well, he fucked her until her screams were hoarse and her body trembled. He followed over the edge, head fucking first and not giving a fuck where he landed.
Done deal.
He'd kill anyone who threatened her ever again.
.
.
.
Soft fingers ran the length of a stinging scratch along his back, marks from his woman. Desire stirred under the current exhaustion that had taken over Edward's body shortly after fucking his fiancée once the meeting concluded with the investors.
"We need to go," his fiancée whispered.
He shifted onto his back, blurrily looking at her and frowning. "Why are you wearing clothes?" Why did she look so different? He shook his head.
Her chuckle had him squinting as she turned on a nearby light. "It seems we fucked the sense out of you."
"Ha, ha." He rolled to his sit, his hands roughly rubbing the lingering sleep from his eyes. His eyes widened when he finally got a good look at her.
Gone were her long, dark locks that used to reach to the middle of her back. Instead, a style that curled a bit off her shoulders, in gorgeous curls, framed her beautiful face. The molten chocolate waves were now streaked with reddish highlights to look quite natural.
"I needed to look as different from Phoenix when you introduce your fiancée to the world." She shrugged, holding her chin up high. Even if he were stupid enough to say he hated it, which he didn't, she wouldn't regret her decision.
Phoenix was always ten steps ahead of everybody.
Edward stood and cupped her face, his eyes and fingers tracing her shape of a curl that teased her forehead. "You're beautiful and fucking smart. I hadn't considered that your sudden introduction could arouse suspicion."
"All investors have tried to find out who Phoenix is, and no one knows that your father is aware of whom some of us are, and it needs to stay that way. Phoenix has as many enemies as you do."
"Including the monster that orchestrated my kidnapping and your mother's killer."
Her mother and another member had been seriously injured when their crew was sent to retrieve him so long ago. Their identities compromised, but the only one who knew them was the mastermind behind the kidnapping, but he had gotten away. Only for him to pursue Renee Swan and kill her in her home years later, shot and almost killed by a little girl.
The incident that changed Isabella Swan's life forever. Now, he was about to do it again.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" He had to ask, give her one last chance to walk away, even though he doubted he could stay away. He had to know where her heart truly lay.
"Giving up already, Cullen?" Her gaze turned murderous.
He smirked and shook his head. Yeah, that was a hell yes, in his book, and he'd take it. He wasn't going to give her up. Period. It was idiotic to think he could. He coaxed away her anger with a hard kiss before she reminded him they had to leave.
Time to be the formidable unit he knew they were to face their family, because they fucked with the wrong couple.
AN: I've been sick all week with a virus that kicked every member of my family's ass, and I still had to take care of everything. Somehow though, I managed to finally kick start my mojo for this fic! So yay? lol
Thanks to Midnight Cougar for her help with the chapter, any mistakes are mine as I tinkered after. Thanks to all those readers who have been patient, and the one that hasn't and has been quite rude, you know who you are, I hope you get my virus. Jk?
