Author Note: Thanks for all the support and wonderful reviews! I had a couple people confused about why the Volturi could kill the wives' previous children since it was against the code to kill children. I PMd those people but I figured I would explain in the author note as well incase anyone else was confused. So yes, it is against the code to kill children. In a previous chapter when Esme is explaining things to Bella , Esme talked about how there is jealousy and favoritism between children, mainly between the children the mother had before and the children she has with the mafia husband. They then had a rule that the Mafia husbands could kill the children of before but it had to be within the first week of the wives being taken. So think of it as, not killing children as the rule, and getting to kill the previous children but only the first week as the exception. Also not all families practice that rule, just the evil ones like the Volturi. I wanted the Volturi to be portrayed as evil as possible!

CHAPTER 16

EPOV

I stood absolutely still. BANG! BANG! BANG!

I wasn't the one shooting though. BANG! BANG! BANG!

I carefully watched Bella continue to shoot. We had been coming to the underground shooting range that was in our building for the past four days. We started coming here after I revealed the information about Vladimir and Bella positively identified him. Bella wanted me to teach her how to shoot a gun since she never got to take her gun class. I agreed, especially since the threat of Demetri and Vladimir was very strong. The wedding was less then a week away which made the introductions less then two weeks away. If shit hit the fan I wanted Bella to be prepared. Also it was just good if she knew how to protect herself. Yeah Bella had guards with her, but it's better to take every measure possible.

It was also a little scary how good Bella was with a gun. She had an amazing aim. She had been practicing with non-moving targets, but soon I would move her up to moving targets. We had a special room where targets popped up and it was a mix between the targets you wanted to hit and innocents. It was similar to what the police used to train their people. It came in handy when training and sharpening to skills; you really don't want to accidently shoot a comrade or innocent bystander.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

I think coming to the shooting range was just helping Bella in general. I think it helped to ease the tension and exert frustration. After the incidence with Rosalie and the news of Vladimir, Bella was shaken up that day. By nighttime though she assured me we would get through it. Yep she was assuring me. The next day she seemed stronger. Bella had been through a lot. After the incidence in the club those years ago, Bella had to learn to survive and always watch her back. She built up walls and didn't let anyone in. The past few weeks she had opened up and it had made her emotionally vulnerable. Then we find out all this shit about Demetri and Vladimir and her possibly having to face them again and it was a lot to emotionally handle. My bitch of a sister-in-law didn't help the situation either. But the past few days were better. Bella was stronger. She accepted how things were and decided to not let them hold her back. She was a fighter.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Bella then eased her stance, clicked on the safety of the gun, and took off her eye and ear guards. I should be wearing eye protection and ear plugs too, but hey why not live a little. The target reeled forward and we inspected it.

"It's a little scary how good you are with gun. Are you sure you never took a class?" I asked.

Bella gave me a look and then said, "No, I think I would remember."

I laughed. "Well then I guess it was fate then that you ended up being a mafia wife."

Bella smirked and was probably thinking of a comeback when the door opened.

Stephan and Ian walked in. They were hired by the family to do various things within in the mafia business. They help take down enemies, assist at the warehouses. They are also emergency guards. They even helped with…. And then it hits me. I glance over at Bella and she has a face of shock.

Stephen and Ian were part of the team that helped to extradite Bella and Liam. And shit Bella remembers them. I swear I see her itching towards the gun she left on the counter. I carefully get the gun so Bella doesn't do something rash after all these guys are on our side.

"Stephen, Ian." I greet.

"Sorry boss, we didn't realize you guys were down in here." Stephen replies.

"It's fine. We were just finishing up." I knew it would be best to get Bella out of here. "Bella." I turn and she is staring directly at Stephen.

"I know them." Bella says flatly.

Before I could respond, Stephen has the bright idea to speak. "Bella, we haven't been probably introduced. The last time we meet wasn't under the best circumstances. I'm Stephen." He reaches at his hand and that is when Bella and I both notice the scar on his forearm. The fucking scar Bella gave him when she cut him with her knife.

Bella continued to stare at his forearm.

"Admiring your handiwork?" He asked lightly.

I noticed that Bella's eyes shot up to meet his.

"I…." Bella struggled to get out whatever she was trying to say.

"If you're trying to apologize don't. Things like this come with job, and I was actually impressed you were able to leave a mark." Stephan said.

He was complimenting my fiancé on cutting him. Great. She was either going to let it all go or rip him a new one.

Bella smirked and then said, "Well if you're not holding that against me then I guess I won't hold what you did against you." Well damn Bella was handling this better this expected.

"He was following orders after all." I stated. Hey I wanted to put my two cents in also.

Ian then spoke up. "So how are you with a gun Bella?"

"I'm okay." She replied.

"Okay? HELL you're great and haven't been shooting a week." I looked at Stephen and Ian, "She's a natural to the point it's a little scary. I wouldn't want to get on her bad side." I said with a sly smile.

Bella just rolled her eyes at me. Did she not realize how good she was? Normal people don't shoot that well after just few days of practice. Not to mention it was a turn on seeing her shoot.

"I assume you have had self-defense and knife training?" Stephen asked.

"Yeah." Bella said blushing. Why was she blushing? Oh, she did slice the guy's arm with a knife…..

"Do you plan to take anymore more training?" Stephen asked.

"I would like to, but I'm not sure who could train me. Edward wouldn't be a good choice because I would afraid of accidently hurting him."

"Psshh, you know it's just because we would end up making out the entire time and getting hot and heavy." I said.

Bella blushed while punching my arm. Haha OUCH that hurt. She may be little but fuck she has an arm. I try to hide the fact that she caused a reaction, but her eyes tell me she knows it hurt.

Stephen smirks while Ian laughs. I feel like punching the daylights out of Ian. Or better yet have Bella punch him. Let him see how funny it is then.

"Well I could help train you Bella." Stephen says. Wait what?

"Really?" Bella askes surprised but she also seems excited.

"Yeah as long as it's cool with the boss." Stephen says then glances over at me.

It's not my favorite thing in the world, but it would mean Bella would be better protected since she would know how to protect herself better. Plus I trusted Stephen and he was great at what he does.

"It's up to you Bella." I said looking at her.

"I would appreciate you helping train me Stephen." Bella declares.

"Great. We'll set up a time to start tomorrow."