Chapter 27: No rest for the wicked!
Maggie,
I know that I've been a major Dick…
*Ugh…. No, no, delete.*
Maggie,
I know you may never forgive me…
*Nope… erase that.*
Shit.
What a terrible time to have writers block, I thought while rubbing my hand over my face in defeat. I have only been sitting in front of the computer for an hour now. I still have no idea what I should say to Maggie. Nothing I write seems to be good enough to send to her.
I leaned back in my chair and stared blankly at the monitor in front of me.
"Hey Liam."
I must of jumped five feet in the air at the sound of the feminine voice behind me.
I turned around to see Victoria smirking at me. Her eyes were dancing with amusement.
"Fuck! What is wrong with you? Can't you make some noise when you enter a room?"
"Okay scaredy cat. Aren't you supposed to be some kind of badass mafia leader?"
I glared at her in response.
James walked in behind her and glanced at my computer screen.
"You're messaging Maggie?" he asked.
I cut the screen off and scowled at him.
"It's none of your business. You need to worry about your own lady. Chick needs to wear a bell or something." I said muttering the last part.
Victoria just giggled in response which was unusual for her.
"Daaymmn, Jamie got you good. You look like shit." She said leaning down to look at my face.
And there it is….
"It's lovely to see you today as well Vicky. You too JAMIE." I snickered.
She just winked at me while James gave me an eat shit look.
"How did you get Maggie's email address? And I thought she told you to leave her alone?" Victoria said jumping in defensive mode to protect her friend.
"Maggie gave it to Tris to give to me. Apparently they talk. I don't know... but if your going to butt into my business maybe you could help me with what I should write her."
"No way buddy. You dug your hole. Besides, I'm not really the person to ask anyway… you should ask Bella or Rose."
"I doubt Bella wants to help me. She's probably still pissed at me for the strippers."
"Probably, but Bella has a superpower… and that is forgiveness. The woman is a bleeding heart. I'm sure a heartfelt apology would melt her frosty exterior." Victoria said smiling at me.
Victoria was known so well for being a hard ass you almost forgot she could be kind and gentle.
The moment ended abruptly when we heard James yelling from in the living room.
"I don't care get it done. I won't hesitate to gut you. You worthless piece of shit." James said throwing get the phone against the wall. It shockingly stayed in one piece.
Jesus, what kind of phone was that?
Victoria was careful when she approached him. She handed him a glass of MY whiskey. He plopped down on MY couch like he owned it, loosening his tie.
Fucker.
"That was Joey." James said drinking about 3 shots worth of whiskey in one gulp. "The feds are closing in on the cow house… warrant in hand."
Oh shit… this was not good.
The cow house was where we took the money from the sell of drug, and gun shipments along with the money from stolen imported cars and goods. At the cow house the money was counted and sorted. After counting, Peter and I took the money and started the laundering process through all of our personal businesses, restaurants, clubs, bars, etc.
Money laundering could be a very tricky business. It's all about hiding the money. Say we bring in a million dollars. Through a program we use we are able to ghost people's computers and mobile devices. Long story short the program hacks into a random persons phone, tablet, computer, or gaming console, and use their names to make it appear that they spent a random amount of money in one of our establishments even though they didn't. These people never realize their names have been used. Nothing is ever taken from their pocket. Slowly that million is broken up between 40,000 people and it makes it look nice and pretty on paper when the government tries to audit us.
"Liam?"
"Yeah?" I answered, looking at James.
"Do you know roughly how much is in there right now?" James sighed.
"Roughly, 6 mill." I whispered.
My stomach sank, someone was going to die tonight. Six million was a lot of dough.
"Vicky, love." James said snaking his arm around Victoria's waist. "We have business to tend too. Don't wait up. Keep your guard with you at all times. Go straight home and don't leave the house." James planted a kiss on Victoria's lips and gave me a 'get ready' look.
"Just be careful. I mean it Jamie, you better come home to me." I looked away from the couples embrace. I tried to ignore the bitterness I felt of having no one care if I made it home.
I felt a light punch in my shoulder. "You better make it home too. I will be expecting you both at breakfast in the morning."
I nodded my head at Victoria gratefully.
"We're invincible love. No one can touch us. Don't worry, we'll be at breakfast. I promise." James said smiling.
Victoria POV
I watched James and Liam walk out of the door. My guard Seamus was waiting outside of Liam's penthouse apartment to escort me to the penthouse across the street which I called home.
I looked down at my outfit and sighed. We were only supposed to swing by to check on Liam before heading out to dinner. I spent nearly two hours getting ready for a date that got cancelled. Now I would be going home, doing Netflix and chill while I made my way through a tub of mint chocolate chip.
I felt really bummed out.
Tonight was supposed to be the night I told James that we were expecting a baby.
No one else knew.
I put my hand down on my still flat stomach and smiled thinking about the life that I was creating at that very second.
I already had three pinterest boards full of things. All pertaining to the child in my womb. I had gender reveal party ideas and nursery room ideas. I had tips and tricks for a newborn pinned down and as they got older I had games and fun little science experiments to do together.
I was so determined to be a super mom. You know? That mom on Facebook who is always involved… making cookies from scratch, using clothe diapers, always has a spotless house and overall makes you feel like a shit parent for not doing as much?
Yeah I wanted that for my child. I definitely didn't want my kid to have the parents I was given. Well really the father I was given.
I was two when my father started drinking. I remember one night he came home from the bar and stepped on a toy I had accidently left out.
He cussed up a storm and made me watch as he beat my mother.
I cried out for him to stop hurting my mommy.
He just laughed and told me he would stop when I remembered to pick my toys up.
After that incidence he sobered up for a while. He was always the best daddy when he was sober. He brought my mom flowers regularly and always showered us with affection. I still remained cautious though and always kept my toys put away.
I was four when he came home late one night. The sound of the front door crashing open startled me awake. I ran into my mother's room and found her kneeling down beside the bed praying.
I walked over to her, she pulled me down beside her and told me to pray.
We prayed until we heard the angry footsteps of my father making his way up the stairs. I remember my mother yanking me up off the floor and stuffing me into her closet.
"Baby whatever happens don't say a word. Don't yell, don't scream, don't cry, and pray. Pray he doesn't find you. I love you baby."
That was the last time I ever saw my mother alive.
I watched through the crack of the closet door as my father hit and strangled my mother to death. He then continued to rape her even after the light had left her eyes. Once my father realized that he had murdered my mother, he cried.
The neighbor had called the police. My father had been arrested and the police found me in the closet, praying. I suppose my prayers were answered. I was at the orphanage only 3 days before the Hunter's came and gave me a permanent loving home.
The Hunter's carted me back and forth from therapy after therapy. After one session the therapist suggested a change of scenery. We packed up all our belongings and moved to a little quiet community in the town of Blairsville, GA.
The day we were moving in was the day I met Bella Swan and Rosalie Hale.
"We bakeded you some brownies to welcome you to our community." Little five year old Bella said handing me four brownies on a pink plastic play plate.
I remember the brownies they gave me. They had been baked in their easy bake ovens. The center of the brownies were still uncooked and runny. But none of that mattered… Because for the first time ever I had friends.
No one else knew about my past or treated me like I was defective. Although what had happened had already changed me. The death of my mother had left me hardened. Over time… with the unwavering support of my new dad, my mistrust of men faded. My heart was open. James cut through my icy facade expertly. We argued a lot but he never approached me in anger. And he never left the house angry at me. And don't he was thankfully a very goofy, playful drunk when he did drink. He was in many ways perfect for me.
I just think knew he was going to make an amazing father.
I was knee deep in the first season of stranger things when Seamus got the call.
"Mrs. Cullen? Are you decent?" Seamus asked knocking on my bedroom door.
"Ugh… yes hold on." I said hitting the pause. "Come in Seamus."
"Mrs. Cullen your father in law called and he asked that you answer your phone when he calls." He said before exiting he room.
I grabbed my phone off my side table and saw thirteen missed calls. I had a gut wrenching feeling take ahold of my stomach.
I saw Caius' name pop up on my screen.
"Hello? Caius?" I answered.
"Finally you answer the phone you insolent girl. I need you to come down to the station. James has been arrested."
"Arrested Again!?"
"Yes except this time it's serious. He been arrested for drug trafficking."
"Oh my god. I'm on my way."
I threw the covers off, ran to the closet and threw on some jeans. I grabbed my moto jacket and touched up my red lipstick before hauling ass out the room. The precinct holding James's was thankfully a block down from our apartment.
I walked through the doors of the precinct and was immediately met by Liam.
"What the hell happened Liam?"
"We were on our way back from the cow house when we got pulled over. James was pulled out of the car and arrested on the spot for drug trafficking. It's bad Vicky. They somehow have proof. We have a rat in our house."
"What does this mean? He's going good away for good?" I asked panicking.
"We're going to do what we can, pay off who we can to ensure he doesn't stay in prison long. But he will be going to prison more than likely. These are unfortunately the drawbacks to being with a man on the wrong side of the law. But our whole family is about to be picked apart under a microscope. The media will have a field day. As his wife you will have it worse than most." I paled and immediately thought of my past. Surely they wouldn't bring that up.
"James, ugh… he had your past erased when the two of you got engaged. He um… he never wanted you to have to relieve that if the media found out." Tears started building up behind my eyes.
"Do all of you know what happened?" I asked. My voice came out squeaky, and thick with emotion.
"Caius knows, and Demetri. I'm the one that hacked into your medical file and police report and erased it. That's the only reason I know about it. I swear."
"Thank you Liam for doing that. I always suspected that James knew about what had happened."
"He loves you. Everything is going to be fine. But I will be here with you through everything. I made a promise to James on your wedding day. He made me promise to take care of you if something happened to him. And I will make good on that promise."
I gave him a sad smile and just nodded my head.
Caius came around the corner and walked toward us. "There you are! Took your sweet time getting here didn't you?" Caius sneered at me before he saw my face. His features softened and he held his arms out and took me into them.
I let the tears fall and Caius rubbed my back, letting me cry on him.
"Child I need you to dry those tears. I have new information on the case." Caius said ushering us to love seat.
"Victoria, James is going to be booked and transferred tonight. They will permit you to speak to him before he goes. His mother and I have already spoken to him. So if there is anything you need to tell him. You need to do it now."
I was led into a small interrogation room. An officer escorted me inside where James sat handcuffed to the metal table in front of him.
"Jamie." I whispered rushing over to him. His head snapped up once he heard my voice.
"I didn't think you would come. I thought you would be pissed at me for not making it to breakfast."
"Yeah." I said rolling my eyes. "I only came in here to tell you not to make promises you can't keep." I grabbed his hand across the table.
"No touching the prisoner." The intercom shouted. I looked over at the two way mirror and waved.
"I'm worried about you babes."
"I'll be fine." He said smiling. I looked over at the two way mirror again and scowled. I wanted to tell him that he was going to be a father but I didn't want an audience.
"I love you James."
"I love you too Vicky."
"No. I really do love you. I want to thank you. Liam told me you 'threw away' some of my unwanted past. I mean trash." I said cutting my eyes to the mirror. I knew they were listening to everything I said. "I have never loved anyone that way I love you. I will be waiting for you the second you are out." I told him before diving across the table and kissing him soundly. I moaned at the contact and kissed him until an officer came in and pulled me off.
"Times up Ma'am." The officer said escorting me out of the room.
"I love you baby." I shouted loudly.
I could hear James telling me he loved me too. I would have to wait until another time to tell him he was going to become a father. Maybe during a conjugal visit I thought smirking. One thing I knew for sure was that we were going to be just fine.
Month 1:
"Mrs. Cullen do you have any comment on your husbands upcoming trial?" A reporter asked as soon as I stepped foot out of my apartment buillding.
I ignored him and kept walking with Seamus close by in case they crowded me to much. It's been almost a month since James was taken into custody.
"Mrs. Cullen is it true that the Cullen's are solely responsible for the amount of drugs being brought into this city? Which has amounted to numerous deaths from overdoses."
Ugh… why couldn't my husband have just been an average business man? I rolled my eyes and continued toward where my car was parked waiting to take me to see James.
"Mrs. Cullen do you have any comment on the fact that your husband is said to be facing thirty years to life in prison?"
I made it to my car and turned back to face the reporters.
"I have no comment at this time."
Month 2:
"Good Afternoon! Mrs. Cullen. Are you ready to see your baby?" The sonogram technician asked with a bright smile.
"Yes. I'm very excited. I brought my friend Bella with me today." Bella waved at the technician awkwardly.
"Nice to meet you Bella. I'm glad you are here to support Miss Victoria today."
The technician measured my stomach and squeezed some cool gel on my stomach.
"Here if you look at the screen is your baby. The arms and legs."
I was in awe. I was roughly 12 weeks along. It was so exciting. Last time I had a sonogram it had only looked like a tiny peanut. Now my little baby had arms and legs. The technician took the wand off my belly and stood up.
"Dr. Padma Patil will be in to see you and your little one in a moment. But the heartbeat is strong and all the measurements are right on track for where the baby should be, so that's good!"
"Oh my god! Your baby is so cute. Thank you for letting me come with you, I'm so happy for you." Bella said practically bouncing as she placed a hand on my belly.
I was very happy to see my baby but my heart went out to James. He was missing everything.
Month 3:
"After reviewing over the evidence and hearing the character witnesses for Mr. Cullen. I have come to a verdict. I find, the accused, Mr. Cullen, innocent of the drug trafficking charge. Due to insufficient substantial evidence."
I gasped grabbing Tanya's hand. I felt like I could breathe again.
"However, I do not tolerate violence against police officers. Mr. Cullen is to stay in prison for the next three months, followed by a six month probation, and a fine of five thousand dollars." He slammed the gavel down with force.
I saw James being cuffed by an officer, who was preparing him for his journey back to prison.
Tanya squeezed my hand in support, she watched with me as an officer escorted James away.
"It takes a strong woman to stand behind a Cullen man." Tanya told me while pushing some of my curly hair behind my ear. "I'm so happy James has such a strong wife." Tanya smiled at me affectionately.
I was thankful to have her as my mother-in-law.
Month 4:
"Guess what!" Bella screamed into the phone.
"Ugh… stop screaming. What is it? I'm not in the mood for guessing games." I said feeling agitated.
"I just left Liam's with Edward and Liam told me that Maggie is coming home!" She squealed.
I could hear Edward chuckling in the background at his wife's enthusiasm.
"Finally! She's been gone too long." I said while scouring my fridge of food. Ugh… I need to get some groceries.
"Yeah. Liam said she's 34 weeks now so she should be ready to pop soon. She can't fly so she is having Liam come to get her. I was thinking about joining him for the ride to pick her up and didn't know if you wanted to tag along."
"Bella don't go with him. They need all the time alone that they can get to talk things out." I snapped rubbing my tiny baby bump.
"Oh I didn't think about that, I just wanted to see Maggie."
"I know. I know. Hey why don't you and Ed meet me somewhere for dinner? I'm starved!"
I could hear Bella in the background talking to Edward about dinner.
"He said that's fine. We will come get you, so be ready. Oh, and he said don't call him Ed again."
"Yay! Okay bye Bella, bye Eddiekins, see you soon." I snickered hanging up the phone to get ready for dinner.
Month 5:
"Look how big your stomach has gotten. You look quite sexy carrying my child." James said rubbing my belly. I was at the prison to meet him for our monthly conjugal visit. The baby started to kick at the contact and James stared in amazement.
I couldn't wait until James was out of this forsaken place.
"I have a surprise for you. I went to my doctor and she asked me if I wanted to know the gender of the baby." I said. James eyes were alight and happy.
"So which is it? A boy or a girl?"
"Well that's the surprise. I know you are feeling bummed out about missing so much. I had the doc write down the gender and put it in an envelope so that we could find out the gender together." I said pulling out the tan envelope from my purse and placing it in James hands.
"You're an amazing wife. I hope you know that." James said kissing me on the lips.
I could feel a blush starting to heat my face.
"Well thank you. But enough of that, let's find out what we are having because the suspense is killing me. I've had that envelope for three days now."
James smirked at me and set the envelope down beside him.
"You know, I think we should wait. Find out the gender when you give birth."
"Jameson Asa Cullen!" I seethed.
"Alright Jeez… you didn't have to full name me."
He opened the envelope slowly and pulled out a white sheet of paper. I was looking over his shoulder to see the results.
"A boy!" James shouted elated with this turn of events.
month 6:
Bella POV
"Oh my god. These kids are going to be the death of me." Maggie said pulling up her double stroller to the table. "How do I look? Because I feel like death warmed over. I swear I haven't slept in weeks and it's been like, four days since I bathed." She whispered.
And people ask me why I haven't started a family yet…
"Well I guess it's a good thing I'm babysitting tonight. I have toys and the pack n' play set up. Edward has signed up to help. I had to convince him by telling him we needed the practice." I chuckled.
"Well be forewarned, I really do think they might be part Satan! You may look at them and see two sweet, adorable babies but all I see is…" Maggie paused and looked at her children. "Oh my gosh! Where is my phone? I need a picture! They're holding hands! Is that not the sweetest thing ever?!" Maggie shrieked and cooed at her babies.
"Yeah, you got some real demons on you're hands." I said dryly.
Maggie looked up from her phone and gave me a 'what are you talking about' look.
I just smiled and took a sip of my gin martini.
"Oh Bella, your not going to drink tonight while you're watching the twins are you?"
"First of all… that was insulting." I said using my fingers to count. "Second of all… No I wasn't planning on it. I wouldn't want the alcohol to give me rose colored glasses about having mini satan's of my own."
"I thought your dream was to get married and have babies. What changed?"
"I grew up and married a child." I said giving her a smirk.
I hated when people asked me about children. Edward thinks what everyone else thinks; Which is that I'm on birth control and that I don't want to start trying to get pregnant just yet. The truth is that I've been trying since we got married. It's been a little over a year and nothing. But I've been to the doctor and it's been confirmed that the problem isn't with me... I just don't know how to approach my husband with this information.
"You sound like Victoria. I swear I feel like you and her switched personalities."
Ah... yes, Victoria is now close to seven months pregnant. I swear the day she found out she was going to be a mom, she was reborn. She's nice and happy. It's like her extra hormones have reversed her natural behavior.
"Well we have to have balance in our group or it won't work. So until further notice, I will handle the snark and sarcasm." I told her.
I peaked over at the babies. They did look terribly sweet holding each other's hands. I was excited to watch them tonight.
"So what time do I need to drop these kiddos off at your house?" Maggie asked while spearing some of her pasta.
"You can bring them after lunch if you want. I know you would probably like to bathe before your big date tonight." I grinned at her.
Her and Liam had been co-parenting these last few weeks and Maggie has agreed to give him another shot.
"Yeah I would. I'm kind of nervous about tonight. I mean It's weird. We have children together already. And everything is going so well with us parenting together. I don't want to ruin that. I just don't know how I should act around him." Maggie said sighing.
I nodded my head in understanding but I didn't really understand at all. It was an usual situation. I could definitely see how awkward it could be but since it had never happened to me personally… well I had no advice to give her.
Just wing it.
"It should be about getting to know each other again. Maybe you could do couples therapy. I mean not many couples go through what you went through and still want to work at being together."
There, hopefully that was comforting.
"I suppose that's true. Hey do you want to get together tomorrow and we can talk about the date." Maggie asked.
"I would love too but Victoria has me booked for tomorrow. We are going shopping for all things baby." I said sighing.
"How is she doing? I've been so caught up in the twins and haven't seen much of her. I know it's hard with James away."
Since James had been arrested, Victoria has been very lonely. We have all been taking turns keeping her occupied. Thankfully James would be out of prison soon. If everything went smoothly James might actually make it for the birth of his first child.
Caius was absolutely over the moon to be a grandfather. He doted on Victoria. Over the time span of her pregnancy she had become his favorite person. Victoria loved being on Caius' good side for once.
"She's been doing well, as well as she can, It's been hard for her with James in prison. Edward has been away a lot helping Demetri so her and I have banded together for the time being."
While James has been in prison Edward had stepped up and helped out on the docks with Demetri making sure each shipment had come in and was correct.
"Well at least the drug trafficking charge was dropped. I read in the paper that the evidence had disappeared the night before the trial."
I chuckled darkly. James might have rotted in prison If it hadn't been for Edward and Emmett breaking into the evidence room and destroying the files against James.
"What can I say Maggie? My husband is very talented."
I will be introducing Harry Potter soon. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. R&R
Until next time... and yes I purposely did not tell you the genders of Maggie's twins.