The is beta'd by the lovely Ninkita, except the last few hundred words.


For the rest of the week, I go to the club and try to keep my eyes away from Bella, but no matter how fucking hard I try, the task seems impossible. On the first night after our fuck, I was simply walking to the VIP platform when I spotted her.

My traitorous feet stopped their movement, and my eyes scanned her form as she swayed to a beat I couldn't even hear. When she spun, though, horror flitted through me. Across the top of her back, the ultraviolet light highlighted an area of blue skin that was covered in scrapes. Wounds consistent with a good brick-wall fucking. Guilt gnawed at me, which only pissed me the fuck off.

She's infiltrated my life. Both at the club and when it comes to the Outfit. Because they're intertwined when it comes to her. Even if she isn't working for her dad, she knows who he is, and she knows who I am. Whatever game she's playing, it's a dangerous one.

Six days after Operation Nail the Swan begins, Emmett and Jasper are waiting at the penthouse when I get home after an invigorating stalking session. Well, not stalking per se, but I was caught up in her performance.

"Jasper, good to see you," I say as I take off my suit jacket and pour a drink. "I was surprised when you weren't here last week."

He chuckles. "You know Alice would have my hide if left her at two in the morning, unless it was an emergency."

I take a sip of my whiskey, savoring the warmth as it travels down my throat. "How is she?" I ask.

Jasper is my father's Consigliere. They grew up together, and he's been at my father's side since he took over the Outfit. He's like an uncle to me, and in fact, Emmett still refers to him as such. His wife, Alice, was right there beside them their whole fucking lives, until she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

He sighs. "She has her good days and her bad ones," he says solemnly before his pain-filled eyes meet mine. "She's honestly just ready to stop hurting."

"Tell her I'll be by there soon," I reply, hating the thought of the feisty Alice I've always known in pain, but it's been that way for a long time now.

He nods. "Will do."

I take a seat on the sofa and place my drink on the coffee table. "Now let's get to business so Jasper can get back home. What ya got for me?" My eyes flick between the two of them.

Emmett clears his throat and pulls a laptop from beside him. Pushing his glasses into "serious business" position, his hands fly over the keys as I stay silent, mostly in awe at his technological skills.

When he's done, he flicks on the TV and hits a key on the laptop. A video appears on my sixty-inch screen. It's Bella and she's in the park, settled on a bench, reading a book. If it wasn't for my fetish when it comes to spying on her, I'd be bitching that he's bothering me with such inane bullshit, but for some fucked up reason, I can't get enough.

For eight fucking minutes I'm entranced as she occasionally crosses and uncrosses her legs while slowly flipping the pages of her book. In fact, I even get a little irritated when Emmett takes the initiative and fast forwards an extra five minutes.

"What the fuck you do that for?" I snap when he interferes with my ogling.

Emmett leans his head down and looks at me over the large, square rim of his black glasses. "Sorry, bro. It was just more of the same."

Jasper lets out an unexpected chuckle and my eyes snap to him. He shrugs. "What? You got a hard on for this broad or something?"

I huff. "This girl might be trying to take us down! It's my job to know her every goddamn move!"

Instead of agreeing, Jasper's eyes narrow as they scrutinize me. I hold his stare, intent on covering my ass. With a chuckle he slaps my shoulder and says, "Me thinks the boy doth protest too much." His tone is playful, but I still worry what he might share with my father.

"Play the goddamn video, Emmett," I snap, crossing my arms in a huff.

Emmett lets out a little squeak, but with a flick of his fingers, Bella's back on the screen. This time, though, I can already see the old, mustached fucker approaching. Special Agent Charlie Fucking Swan.

He sits, and she moves over to put a foot between them. I chuckle, ignoring the looks the two motherfuckers around me are giving each other. A sound crackles from the TV, and suddenly I can hear them speaking.

"Bella," Agent Swan says, his tone soft. "I know you're mad, honey, but you're being stupid."

"Stupid!" she yells, causing the people with kids in the background to cast her wary glances. She looks around and seems mortified, so she leans closer. "I'll tell you what's stupid. Stupid is leaving your family to chase someone else's. Stupid is thinking two cards a year will replace being a father. So trust me, my stupidity didn't fall far from the tree."

Agent Swan sighs, and I almost feel sorry for him, being on the other end of her wrath. "But, Bella, you're playing with your life. Edward Cullen is no good. What do you think working at his club is going to accomplish?"

"First," she says, holding up her fingers to tick off her points. "It's not his club. Second, it's the highest paying job in the city for a dancer. And third, at least Edward Cullen never pretended to be something he's not."

Charlie's mustache twitches, and his face turns red. "How would you know anything about him?"

She actually smirks at the motherfucker, and I cringe, afraid of what might come out of her mouth. "Oh, I know all about Edward Cullen. He did more for me in ten minutes than you have my whole life."

He grabs her arm, and I tense. "You call allowing you to work in that filthy club doing something?"

She snatches her arm away and stands with a snort. "Oh, he worked me over all right."

"Now you listen to me, Isabella," Charlie yells, standing and shaking his finger, his whole head beet red. "You'll stay the fuck away from him, or I'll send you back to Phoenix."

She smiles and tilts her head like she pities him. "In case you missed it, Charlie, I'm a grown woman who can live where I please." With that she shoves her book in her bag and struts away.

The screen goes dark, and I just stare at it for several minutes, replaying the scene over and over in my mind. Not only did she stand up to him, but she even complimented me to spite him. This girl never fails to surprise me.

If I'm being honest, I haven't been able to get her out of my mind since I first saw her dance. Add in the fuck in the alley, and I'm way past gone. Suddenly, I have an urge to see her, speak with her, to learn what makes her fucking tick.

I grab my jacket and start for the elevator. "Whoa," Jasper calls, halting me. "Where's the fire?"

I scrub my hand through my hair in frustration, pausing only to say, "I need to see Bella."

"I think the Boss gave you an order," Jasper says tersely, and the insinuation is clear, causing me to spin and face him.

"This surveillance nullifies that fucking order. Now, see yourselves out," I snap, my gaze cold and uncaring as I stare him down.

He holds up his hands, and with one final glare, I enter the elevator.

After checking the club and realizing she's already gone, I hurry out to the sidewalk and start down the path she takes on her walk home. I figure I'll at least run into James, but I don't. Not even when I turn down the alley and see three figures at the other end.

I start running. An unusual feeling crashes through me, something unfamiliar. But soon, I realize what it is. Fear. I'm afraid something will happen before I can reach her. Half-way down the alley, I pull out my gun and pause to take aim, hoping I can scare them, if nothing else.

Just as I'm ready to pull the trigger, the small figure huddled against the wall strikes. Her leg kicks out, kneeing one of the shadows in the balls. The other shadow grabs her, but she sends her head flying back to smack him in the nose. I'm both impressed and irate.

I start running again.

When I finally reach her, she's standing over the guy holding his balls, kicking him over and over with her spiked heels. The second guy is nowhere to be found. Though watching her give him a beat down is making my cock swell, I'd rather get her away from here.

I reach my arm around her waist, pulling her back against my body. She leans down, ready to head-butt me, but I whisper, "Shh, Bella, it's me. I've got you."

"Edward?" Her body relaxes against me.

"Hey, hey. Turn around. Let me look at you," I soothe, checking her over. "Are you all right?"

Her eyes flick to the guy on the ground before coming back to me. "I think so. Knowing self-defense and using it are two different things."

I brush her hair from her eyes. "I get it. You're okay now. I'm here." I glance to the guy and rage builds inside. "Do you want me to clip him?"

She giggles this cute little giggle, like I'm joking, but I'm not. "I'm dead serious, Bella."

Her face sobers instantly. "No, Edward, please don't. Not on my account."

Hearing my name from her lips sends chills racing over my skin. "What about on the account that he'll probably do this again, and the next girl might not be as badass as you?"

Her brows pucker. "Do you really think he will?"

"Not a doubt in my mind," I say with a definitive nod.

She looks back at him with scorn. "Can we just go?"

"Sure," I reply, taking out my silenced Glock.

"Wai—"

She's too late. I aim and pull the trigger, hitting him in his side, making sure to miss all vital organs. She jumps, shrieking a little as her hands cover her mouth, her eyes wide on the ailing man. Slowly, they come back to me. I hold my breath and wait for her reaction, but she just steps closer to my side.

"Relax, Bella. He'll live," I assure her, holstering my gun. "I just don't want him to get away before they find him."

"Shooting someone is a crime," she retaliates, giving me the bitch brow.

I smirk. "I think we both know he'd be dead if I wasn't being considerate of your feelings," I say as I put my phone to my ear. Aro answers on the first ring. "Get the cops to the alley beside Bella's building."

"What we talking," he asks.

"Stalker with a gunshot wound," I say, then bark, "Inoltre, dire a James che sarà lui a rispondere a me presto," to let him know that James will answer to me for his fuck up tonight.

Pocketing my phone, I put my arm around Bella and start leading her away. "Um, Edward? I live back there." She tries to turn around, but I keep prodding her forward.

"We're going to my penthouse, if that's okay?" I say and wait for her to stop walking, but she doesn't.

She actually ducks her head like she's all shy and shit. "Sure."

I smirk to myself and keep on walking. By the time we've made it to my building, the silence between us is fucking with my head. Instead of feeling comfortable, it's anticipatory. It doesn't help that every time I remember who's with me and where we're going, my Armanis get a little fucking tighter.

Once we enter the elevator, I scan my fingerprint and key in the code for my garage. When we start moving down, Bella eyes me speculatively. I hold my palms up. "Just need to drop something off."

Her eyes narrow, but her lips tighten, saying nothing. By the time the doors open again, the atmosphere has shifted. The small steel box is overflowing with tension. Sexual tension. I'm actually relieved when I see Demetri waiting for me.

I step out and give him the Glock, but he leans over to look past me, at Bella, who's still in the elevator. Returning his eyes to mine, a spark of mirth shines in them. I brush my hand through my hair and shake my head.

"Don't," I say.

He tightens his lips to hold in whatever the fuck he's thinking, and takes the Glock, stepping back with the closest thing to a smirk I've ever seen from him. My eyes narrow before I step into the elevator and scan my print, this time going up.

All the way up.

Bella's leaning against the back wall, her body tense, her goddamn legs stretched out long and fucking enticing. "I don't know why you were in the alley, but thank you for being there."

As much as I'd like to be the good guy, I'm not. In one move, I'm standing before her, my hands settled on her waist. "I was looking for you," I say, and my voice sounds all strained and desperate. I clear my throat and try again. "I am sorry for shooting that guy in front of you, though."

Her hands land on my forearms and slide against my skin, causing my heart to thump in my goddamn chest. "Edward," she says, all breathy and shit, and my cock throbs. "I think we both know you're not the superhero."

And that's fucking it. That's all I can take. My hands run up her sides, skimming her tits and landing on the wall to box her in as my lips descend. What's so fucking insane, though, is she's just as desperate. Her hands fist my hair as we meet in a clash of lips and skin.

Shit gets out of hand real fucking quick.

Before I know it, she's pinned against the wall, her fucking glorious legs wrapped around my waist, and the buttons of her shirt are scattered across the elevator floor. I snatch my lips away, hoping to slow things down, but those goddamn tits are on full display and I can't resist. When my lips close over her covered nipple and blow, her head thumps back against the wall with a whimper.

The haze of lust that's exploded between us lifts slightly when the elevator dings, signaling we've arrived at the penthouse. I can't decide if that's a good thing or not. But all too soon, it becomes glaringly clear.

The staccato of a slow clap sounds from behind me, and Bella's eyes widen while my head falls to her shoulder. "Qualcuno sta per morire," I grit through clenched teeth, threatening the life of whoever is stupid enough to be in the penthouse.

I lift my head and meet her eyes. "Mi dispiace, la mia Bella." I assist her in regaining her footing.

She cups my cheek, her dark eyes soft. "I'm not sure what you're saying, but don't ever stop."

I can't help it. I lean down and press my lips to hers one more time before straightening and pulling her shirt closed. "I said I'm sorry." I nod toward the penthouse. "This fucker obviously has no decorum."

Her fingers walk up my chest and she leans closer, speaking quietly. "Let's just go see what they want so they'll hurry up and leave."

My brows rise, her words heading straight to my still-bulging cock. "Fuck, yeah."

I drape my jacket over her shoulders before taking her hand and turning to step out of the elevator. But we're only a few paces into the penthouse when we both freeze. I reach for my Glock, but then I remember I gave it to Demetri.

Two rigid men sit on my couch.

The Boss of the Chicago Outfit has a salacious smirk as his eyes pass over Bella, while Special Agent Swan levels me with a heated glare.

I tense and pull her close to my side.

"Sit down, kids. We need to talk."

When the Boss uses that tone of voice, I know to shut the fuck up and listen, but apparently, Bella has no goddamn idea the kind of danger she's in.

She props her hand on her hip and narrows her eyes at her own father. "What the fuck is going on here?"

"Sit down, Isabella, and I may be inclined to answer your questions. Otherwise, you can get the fuck out," Carlisle says, his voice slicing through the air with an icy chill.

My father can have fun with the best of them, but when it comes to family business, he's just that. All fucking business. And while I have no clue how Bella and I fucking has anything to do with family business, this goddamn impromptu meeting tells me it does.

Agent Swan starts to stand, but Carlisle grabs his arm, keeping him on the sofa. "She's a grown woman, Charlie, you have to quit coddling her." Though he's speaking to Charlie,his eyes are pinned on Bella, challenging her.

She doesn't fucking disappoint either. "Charlie?" she repeats sarcastically, her eyes scorching her father where he sits. She scoffs. "This ought to be fun." Without further prompting, she struts forward and sits on the large square ottoman that matches my sofa.

I'm left in the doorway fucking stunned at her balls—or maybe it's stupidity—but either way, it affects me in ways that it shouldn't. I shake my head and chuckle under my breath as I start across the room to join the unlikely threesome.

The Boss catches my eye, and I lift a daring brow. Not only did his little meeting put a stop to a fuck hot make-out session that was sure to lead to sex, but he's sitting in my penthouse with a fucking Fed.

"Che cosa è con il cazzo di Fed?" I ask, for clarification, as I take a seat on the other section of the sofa, closer to where Bella is perched.

Her eyes slide surreptitiously to mine, and the small quirk at the corner of her lips as she focuses back on the two intruders reminds me how much she likes it when I speak Italian. I separate that glorious fact into its own secluded memory and file it away in a special part of my brain.

"Non si può nascondere le tue parole," Agent Swan responds in perfect fucking Italian, punctuating it with a glare to let me know that I can't hide my words.

Instead of letting him get to me, I smirk and swap to French to ask the asshole if he can understand me now. "Non? Qu'en est-il à présent, connard?"

I don't miss Bella's breathy exhale or the way her already crossed thighs clench, and I fucking smirk even more, while keeping my stare on Agent Swan. His eyes narrow and flit to his daughter before coming back to me as a deep shade of red travels up his neck and covers his face.

My pops chuckles and leans forward, placing his scotch on the coffee table, rather roughly, in an attempt to break the current stare-down. When that obviously doesn't work, he clears his throat. "Edward," he says in a stern voice. "Charlie is a visitor in your home."

I snort because it not like I let the motherfucker in, and cut my eyes to him. "Just get to the fucking point," I growl, sick of whatever game my father is trying to play.

Instead of a rebuke, like I expect, he just throws his head back and laughs. "I'm sorry, son, did we interrupt something?"

I keep it cool, giving him a casual shrug. "So what if you did?"

He smirks at me before cutting his eyes to Bella and running them slowly up her body. I grip the edge of the sofa, ready to rip out chunks and throw them at his head. By the time he focuses back on me, every muscle in my body is tensed and ready to fucking pounce. But when I see his satisfied smirk, I realize he's intentionally goading me. My muscles relax but only slightly.

"Look," Bella breaks in, capturing the eyes of every male present. "I don't know what the fuck's going on here, but somebody needs to start explaining." Her gaze skims over each one of us before narrowing in on her father, but he looks to his lap, avoiding her stare.

"Allow me," Carlisle speaks up, leaning forward and grasping her hand. "My name is Carlisle Cullen, and you and my son have crossed an invisible line." He picks up his scotch and swirls the glass in his hand as he leans back and settles into the plush leather. "You see, Charlie and I have a unique relationship. So unique, in fact, that only he, Jasper and I know about it."

"The fuck are you talking about?" I demand, standing swiftly and motioning between the two traitorous men. "You don't have unique relationships that I'm unaware of."

"Sit the fuck down," Carlisle says, his voice deadly, and I comply because the alternative wouldn't be pretty. "On the contrary Edward, this particular relationship has been passed through three generations. You would've been brought into the fold"—his lip curls—"eventually."

Bella's eyes haven't moved from Agent Swan, but he's yet to meet her glare. She crosses her arms and lifts her chin, cocking her head at my father. "I'm not quite sure I understand where Edward and I fit into this equation, Mr. Cullen." She gives him a sweet smile—too goddamn sweet.

The Boss isn't a fucking fool, though. He has her pegged and returns her fake pleasantries with his own. "Miss Swan"—he gives her a wide, toothy grin—"let me be frank. You fucking my son brings the wrong kind of attention to that relationship I mentioned, since you're, ya know, our kids and all." He holds his phony smile and even bats his fucking eyes all innocently and shit.

Meanwhile, my mind replays his words. "Wait just a goddamn minute," I say, horrified by this obscure underworld connection that's suddenly an obstacle between me and my next chance to nail the Swan.

But I don't even get to say more because Bella pushes my jacket from her shoulders and stands, gripping the front of her shirt closed. "Oh, well why didn't you just say so? I have no interest in getting mixed up in any kind of business that includes the Cullens and my not-so-by-the-book father," she sneers, narrowing her eyes at Charlie.

My father barks a laugh, and while she's amusing him now, I'm not sure how long that'll fucking last. I grab her free hand to try and draw her attention to me, and it works. For just one goddamn second as our skin meets, her whole stance softens.

It doesn't last long, though. As soon as Pop's laughter fades, his eyes zero in on our hands. "Don't get attached, sweetheart. I said it's over."

"Or what?" I challenge without thinking the shit through very well.

In one smooth, elegant move, he's lifted his Ruger and has it pointed at Bella's head. "Do you really want to find out, son?"

Very carefully, so as not to startle him, I reach forward with my free hand to grab the barrel, aiming it at myself instead. "This is on me, Boss."

After several tense seconds, because goddamn, even I don't know what to expect, he gives a satisfactory smirk and lowers the weapon.

Bella immediately snatches her hand from mine and swiftly moves past me, pausing only to glance back and shrug. "We were just having a good time, but no fuck's worth my life"—she cuts her dark, seductive eyes to me—"no matter how good."

She turns, and I'm mesmerized by her ass in that skin-tight skirt as it sways across the room. By the time I realize where she's going, the elevator's already sounding with a ding. I jump up and run like hell to catch her, not even caring that my father could shoot me in the ass, but I'm too fucking late. The doors close slowly, concealing her form, inch by inch.

"Goddammit!" My hand smacks against the reinforced steel before clenching into a fist and pounding on it several times.

What started as confusion has now turned into anger, but misdirecting it could cost me more than a night with Bella. I take a few deep, even breaths to beat the monster back before turning and stalking toward the two men who owe me some goddamn answers.


This has been published (Monster Inside Me Volumes I-IV by Faye Byrd), and it's one of my most successful series, so I felt it was time to remove it from here. It's still available to DL in PDF format from the Twilight Fanfiction Finders group on FB. If you have issues finding it, you can always PM me. I've left this first part as most of it is also available on the We Love Mobward contest page.