Author Note: I know, I know this chapter is a day late. Life this week has been crazy! Things next week should settle down!

Previously…..

"Why did you come home so early?" I asked.

Edward`s jaw tightened, that wasn't good.

"Edward?" I asked cautiously.

"Bella, you have had an emotional day and I don't want to add to it."

"Edward, please just tell me if not I'm just going to assume the worst."

"Bella, I think we know who raped you."

CHAPTER 16

Holy shit Edward may have figured it out. I may finally get answers. The bastard who raped me will finally get his due. I tried to remember to breath. I had to stay calm. If I broke down again then Edward wouldn't be able to tell me because he would be too busy taking care of me in my broken state.

"Edward, who is it?" I asked.

"Bella, are you sure okay?" He asked in a worried tone.

"Damn it Edward tell me who he is!" I almost shouted. I regretted raising my voice. I had no reason to be angry with Edward, and I didn't want Liam and Esme hearing us arguing.

"He's name is Vladimir." Vladimir…. My mind clung to the name in hopes in finding some rhyme or reason.

"We are not 100 percent positive, but Jasper is working on getting a file together. Once that is done, you will need to identify his picture to confirm." Edward said cautiously, gauging my reaction. He wasn't sure if I would break down when seeing the picture like I did with Demetri.

As if on cue, Edward's phone rang.

"Yes." He answered.

There was a silence for a few seconds as he listened to other person.

"Bring it here." He responded and then ended the call.

"Jasper?" I asked. I hoped my suspicion was right.

"Yes." He answered.

I was right and I didn't know whether to be happy or not. What if the picture wasn't of the man who raped me? But what if it was? Edward was hesitant about the situation, and I don't think it was just because of my possible emotional reaction.

Soon Jasper was at the apartment giving the file to Edward. Esme was tending to Liam; Alice and her kids were still here probably so Liam could play with her kids or maybe so she wouldn't go kick Rosalie's ass.

Edward lead me to his office and he opened the file. My heart was pounding and I tried to control my breathing. He set down a photo. Vladimir. As soon I saw the face I knew he was one, the son of a bitch who raped me. I stared at the photo for a few moments. I didn't break down. I had prepared myself for this and let the anger take ahold of me so my fear wouldn't. I glanced up to meet Edward's anxious eyes.

"It's him." I said firmly. The anger was still fueling me

"Okay" Edward said calmly while putting the photo away. "Bella. Are you okay? What are you feeling right now?"

"I'm okay for the most part. I feel…. angry and vengeful. I'm not a violent or naturally aggressive person, but the anger I fell toward him and Demetri make me want them dead. Not only did they do those things that night, but they came after me and Liam. I could feel someone always watching and after me. They would have kidnapped me and Liam both and who knows what would have happen then."

There was silence for a few moments, but then Edward spoke.

"I think we need another visit to the punching bag and then we talk about this some more."

I looked up to meet his eyes. I knew there was more.

After beating the shit out of the punching for half an hour, we went back up the apartment. Liam was still having fun with Alice's kids. I showered and when I got out Esme had ordered food to be delivered. We all ate and the after Esme, Alice and her kids said their good-byes, Liam had a bath and then soon was asleep. The continued conversation with Edward had been post-boned but I was going to bring it up if he didn't. I found Edward in the living room and I could tell he was waiting for me.

"Ready to finish our early conversation?" he asked in a solemn tone.

"It's like you can read my mind." I replied.

"The issue of Vladimir makes it more complicated because of his involvement with the Volturi."

"But we already knew he was one of their guards." I stated.

"Yes, but it is a little more complicated then that." He said.

I raised an eyebrow indicating he need to explain.

He got the message. "Bella, I'm going to have to explain some of the Volturi history and some of the other's mafia family's history for this all to make sense."

"Okay, we got all night." I said while trying to force a weak smile.

Edward searched my eyes for what, I don't know.

"As Esme explained the other week, the families have certain rules about mafia wives and the importance of having children and continuing the families. Well in my own family, Carlisle was an only child which is rare. His mother lost her firstborn before meeting Carlisle's father. Carlisle's mother then died giving birth to Carlisle. Carlisle's father was distraught. He really did love Carlisle's mother and refused to remarry. He was also worried that if he were to remarry that his second wife would have the same fate. He felt losing his wife was punishment from God for his dealings in the mafia. He then raised Carlisle to value life and live to higher standards then other families like Volturi."

I interrupted. "I can definitely see that you all live differently. "

Edward smiled weakly and then continued. "The Volturi have always lived distastefully. I know you have heard me talk about the Volturi sons, but I have never mentioned the fathers. There are three living fathers: Aro, Caius, and Marcus. Their father passed away when I was little so I have no memories just stories. There father was ruthless. He abused his wife and had several mistress. He even killed his own daughter."

I gasped. How the hell does someone kill their own child?

Edward studied me for a moment.

"I'm fine. Continue." I said.

"When their father died that left Marcus the Don. Caius is the second oldest followed by Aro being the youngest. At the time of their father passing none of the sons had children, but they hadn't been married long. If their wives had any children still alive when they married the Volturi killed them."

Edward stopped for a moment to see how I responded. I already knew the Volturi did that, but it was still upsetting to hear it again. I tried to remain composed. I didn't want to appear that I couldn't handle hearing the histories.

"Caius and Aro's wives both had sons, but Marcus's wife still wasn't even pregnant yet. They didn't worry at first since she had already had a child. That is why they had they rules. But then Caius and Aro continued to have children and Marcus didn't. Caius at the point had Demetri as his oldest and Jane and Alec were twins. Aro had Felix as his oldest and then Chelsea. Marcus's wife Didyme still had no children and no record of even getting pregnant with Marcus's child. Didymne was found dead one day, she had killed herself. Many thought it was because she was unable to give Marcus a child. That become the story and almost everyone accepts it."

"Almost?" I asked.

"We came across some information awhile back. Aro and Caius had mistresses that was no secret, but Marcus never took one. In the mafia world, mistresses are acceptable after the wife has a son. The mistresses also can not bear children. To ensure that, the mistresses have to be sterilized . Marcus never took a mistresses. Well, we found out he was sleeping with a Russian mafia member's wife."

"Wait! He was having an affair with another mafia wife!" WHAT. THE. HELL.

"Yes, it goes against the code also. But the thing is, it was kept secret . The Russians didn't want it getting out as it would look bad that one of their wives was hoaring around and with a rival mafia family."

"The Volturi are rivals with the Russians?" I asked. I knew he basically just said that, but I wanted to be sure.

"Yes, the Russians wanted to dispose of the cheating wife but Marcus got involved. It was then discovered that the Russian wife was pregnant with Marcus's child."

"What?!" Talk about a scandal.

"But like I said it was all kept quiet. They couldn't kill the wife until the child was born, because it's against the code to hurt children, even unborn. During that time, Marcus put the Russian wife in hiding and Marcus ended killing the Russian leader. They would have been on a brink off a mafia war if so much evidence and documents hadn't been destroyed. We couldn't even find out the names of the mafia leader and wife. They couldn't kill Marcus according to code because of lack to proof to submit to the families and the whole thing had been kept quiet anyway. So Marcus and the Russians came into an agreement, Marcus could keep the child but never officially claim him. The child would be under the protection of both the Volturi and Russian family. He would also be given a Russian name."

My heart started to pound. "Let me guess they named him Vladimir." I asked.

"You are correct." He answered seriously.

"So the man who raped me is under the protection of not one, but two mafia families?" I asked

He let a deep breath. "Yes." He said with pain in eyes

"Well that is just fucking great!" I practically yelled while throwing my hands up in air.

"Wait, how did he end up a guard?" I asked now confused.

"From what we could gather, he was given a position in the guard that way he would still be apart of the mafia in a sense. He also needed to blend. Having some Russian guy just staying with the family would raise questions. As a child he attended various boarding schools, but would visit as a friend of the family. Once of age, he was trained to be guard that way he could live with the family permanently. We believe that Demetri knows Vladimir is Marcus's son. We're not sure if any of the other sons know or the daughters. But we believe Demetri found out what Vladimir did you to, but couldn't get rid of him for that or just for the fact he abandoned his post. He couldn't get rid of him we think because he knows Vladimir is Marcus's bastard son. He must also know that Marcus and the Russians have a deal to protect Vladimir. It makes the situation all the more complicated. Marcus never had a son to take over being a Don. He never claimed Vladimir either. So Demetri is next in line to be Don technically."

Holy shit that was a lot of information to process. What the hell had I gotten mixed up in?

"So to take down both Demetri and Vladimir…" Edward began.

"Is impossible." I finished.

"No" Edward got very serious, "I will take both of them down. I'm just going to have to be very careful how I do it. Jasper, Emmett, and I are meeting with Carlisle tomorrow to discuss plans and strategy. But unfortunately Demetri and Vladimir will most likely not be dead before the wedding or introduction to the families."

My heart sank. Even though I suspected at this point that would be case, it was still disappointing to hear. I took a deep breath and then looked at Edward and said, "We'll get it through it though, together."