Author Note: Thanks everyone for all the support! I wanted to let all of you, my readers, know that there is about 7-10 chapters of this story left. So after this week there will be about two more weeks worth of updates. I know it's sad thinking this story will come to a close. But the good news is that I will be starting up another new story right after! About 100 of you guys have added me on your author alert list so for the rest of you….add me if you think you will like additional stories by me. I will put a summary and/or teaser of my new story at the end of this story once it is completed.

Now on with the story….

Chapter 27

EPOV

Married life has been great thus far. Bella has been the energizer bunny of sex, but I'm not complaining! The love fest was broken up when I got a call concerning the club. Some idiot who didn't work for me was trying to sell drugs at the club. To further his stupidity he got caught by an undercover cop. So I had to clean up the mess and make sure I wasn't implicated since I was the owner of the club. Yes, some of my guys did sell drugs at the club, but they were my guys! They were smart and didn't get caught. Anyways I handled it and then when the guy got bailed out, some generous person paid his bail *wink, wink* and then I had him taken to the warehouse where he was dealt with properly. Let's just say he will be missing his court date.

I hated having to run out on Bella. She was home sooner then I thought, so Esme was over to watch Liam. Bella acted like she didn't want me to go although she didn't voice it. I told myself I would talk to her when I got home, but I didn't realize that would 4:30 in the morning. I had woken up not to long ago. Bella was at training and Liam was at Alice's, since I did remember to take care of child care. So I am alone at the apartment, well I was alone until I heard the main door open.

"Bella?" She was home really early. I then got a good look at her. She looked upset and shaken up.

"Bella, what's wrong?" she looked at me with frantic eyes and then broke down crying. I picked her up and carried her to the couch.

"Bella, tell me what's wrong." What the hell happened?

She sniffled a few times. "You're going to be mad at me?" She said brokenly.

"Why would I be mad? Tell me what has you so upset." I said while tilting her chin up so our eyes meet.

"Edward, I should have told you yesterday, but you had to go to the club. So I put it off and then you came home late and your were asleep when he showed up."

"Who showed up?" Was it the Volturi? Did they get through?

"Stephan." She said bitterly. What they hell happened?

Bella then dove into the whole story. How Stephan got upset when he realized we had sex. For fuck's sake we are married! How she was going to tell me once she got to the apartment but I was leaving. Shit I felt horrible. I knew something was wrong, but thought she just wanted me to stay just to for the sake of staying. I didn't think one of my men would say and act like that towards her. Bella then told me how she was going to tell Alice training was cancelled but then Stephan showed up at the door. That mother fucker was really starting to piss me off. She then told me about there last conversation, and I was proud that Bella stood up for herself.

"So how mad are you at me?" Bella asked while avoiding eye contact.

"Bella, I'm not mad you. I am mad at myself though."

"Why?" she asked looking confused.

"Stephan was one of my men and you trusted him because I trusted him. I also then set up Alice to watch Liam when you actually didn't want to train because-."

"Edward, you couldn't have known I didn't want to train today. You didn't know what had happened"

"But I still should have come home sooner so I would have known. I should have realized something happened yesterday."

"Don't go all guilt-ridden Edward." Bella said giving me a look.

"But I feel guilty, Bella, and I should."

"What is going to happen to Stephan?" She asked quietly changing the direction of the conversation.

"He is going to regret even thinking those things about you." The anger brewed up in me.

"Just don't kill him."

I raised an eyebrow. Bella clearly understood how angry I was. I honestly did contemplate putting a bullet in Stephan's brain.

"I won't kill me." I said firmly. "But I do need to speak with Emmett and Jasper about this. They will make sure I don't do anything rash while at the same time making sure I'm not being too lenient." But I don't think I will be too lenient in this case,

"Okay, I need to go get Liam from Alice anyways." Bella said while standing up.

"Would you stay with Alice for awhile? Since Stephan is one of ours he still has access. And until I decide what action I will take, I don't want to tell the guards anything yet."

"Yeah, I actually like that idea." She said.

I escorted Bella to Alice's apartment and then went to meet Jasper and Emmett. I filled them in and they were surprised with Stephan.

"He is oddly protective of her…" Jasper stated,

"Protective?" I scoffed.

"Yes, that is why he reacted like that, though not justified."

"Well he needs to be gone." I said flatly.

"That is going to be hard to do." Emmett stated. "The introduction to the families is in two days. Stephan is a key guard and for Bella specifically. With the threat of the Volturi and Victoria MIA not knowing who's side she is on, we need all hands on deck."

"You expect me to let that mother fucker around Bella? For him to be in charge of protecting her?" I practically yelled.

"He is loyal and protective of her and that will be an advantage." Jasper said calmly. "After the introductions you can reassign him or dispose of him.

"FUCK!" I yelled.

"Think of Bella's safety. We need him to ensure that things go smoothly at the introductions. Being one man short could detrimentally affect us if things go south." Emmett stated.

And he was right. Fuck he was right. I had to think of Bella's safety.

"Okay, but I need to talk to him today and make it clear of his job. He will not speak to Bella unless absolutely necessary and he will treat her with respect. He will not cross the line again or so help me God I will end him on the spot."

"If you don't, I will." Emmett said with a smirk.

I then left to deal with the mother fucker that is Stephan