Chapter 7

"I'm going to take you to my mother's house" Edward told me.

"Ok. But I want answers first. What the hell happened to the room and all my stuff? Who the hell is this 'Black' guy and what is his real name? What did he mean by telling me he could get very close to you?" I questioned while looking around the room at my tattered things.

My clothes were destroyed. I have no clue what my clothing did to anyone but I didn't think it was that offensive. My toiletries bag was ripped apart like I had been hiding drugs in it and an addict was looking for a stash. The entire room was in disarray and I knew I would need to cover the charges and get it completely fixed. Which was going to suck. All the furniture was unsalvageable anything glass, but the windows, was broken in some way. The television was destroyed. They even killed the poor fishes in the tank.

"This was a message to me Bella. And don't worry about the room, I will pay for any damages and all your belongings will be replaced." He told me while holding my hand. And honestly I didn't pull away.

I was terrified. I was heartbroken. All the pictures I had left of my parents were in shreds at my feet. A single tear ran down my cheek and I knew Jasper saw. His face turned dark and I knew I hadn't hidden it well enough. Rubbing my free hand through my hair and wiping my face I stood up.

"Is there anything left?" I asked

Both men shook their heads and Edward pulled my hand to have me face him.

"Black's first name is Jacob. He is the head of the Quileute family. He got close to you knowing it would make me come after him. He is betting on me being an idiot or something because I'm not stupid. I know his game." It was then I noticed all the cops seemed to have vacated the premises and were standing in the hall.

"Should we be talking here?" I asked and deliberately looked at the cops still within hearing range.

"Smart girl. But no we will not speak here. And for the record, what I just told you is public knowledge." He stood and kissed my cheek chuckling.

Jasper stood as well and both men led me outside.

"We will meet at dads, plan, and then head over to the office to start weeding out people." Edward told Jasper as he helped me into his car.

I was so tired. The day had started off amazingly. I found a new home, bought a building for my new store. Was $700,000 less rich. Then it went to shit. I was accosted by a man named Jacob. My room was destroyed. All of my belongings trashed or ruined. Now I am going to the mother's house of a mafia king. Oh I could write a book on my life.

Edward had been driving for a good 10 minutes before I must have fallen asleep because I awoke with a start and we were just stopping in a long driveway.

"Sleepy love?" He asked

"Don't call me that. I am not your love. But yes if you must know I am exhausted. It seems I lead the most boring and mundane lifestyle and then I meet you. Well sorry, I see you, and my life goes to shit and I am in danger. I'm sorry if I'm a little tired. But I have a RIGHT to be tired. Hell I am even PISSED THE FUCK OFF!" I had started by talking to him but I was screaming by the time I was done. I was going to break.

This was not funny but he seemed to chuckle like I was cute or a toddler throwing a tantrum over ice cream.

I got out of the car slamming it on the way out and stormed up the front steps toward a robe clad Esme and a suit wearing Carlisle.

"Please excuse my intrusion but could I please borrow a bathroom and a place to sleep. I have a lot of shopping to do tomorrow to make sure my home is furnished and now that I have no belongings I have no need to pack up the hotel. I'll be out of your hair in 2 days tops." I told Esme with the fakest smile I could muster.

"You are welcome here anytime for as long as you need Bella. Of course I will find you something more comfortable to sleep in." Esme walked me into the living room and left me to sit on the couch while Carlisle took the chair across from me.

"The man who ruined your room tonight and the man who took you to the park are brothers. Jacob and Jared Black. They are twins but Jacob runs the family. He is ruthless and the fact that he left you alive after talking with you today shows he will more than likely come back. I am not going to stop you from moving into your new home or starting your business but I will warn you I will have detail on you. No questions, no buts. Detail will be round the clock. Get used to seeing them. We are going to be weeding out tonight starting with our top men and women. They are the ones who protect our wives and handle the electronic side of things. Emmett our computer whiz usually handles everything to do with electronics but we have a few others just in case. I have an idea of who it is behind all this but I want you to know, we won't leave you to die out there. If you are uncomfortable staying by yourself or even so far away you are welcome to stay here or even at one of my children's homes that are on this same street." He informed me.

"Why are you telling all of this to me? Aren't you afraid I am going to squeal or something?" I looked at him.

"Because you won't will you Isabella" He told me with a dark look covering his face and I shook my head no.

"For reasons you don't need to know right now, Edward has taken over for the time being. He is the head of this family. He would have been the one to tell you all of this had it not been for the fact that you probably would have tried to hurt him had he tried to demand anything. Well that and the fact that he is getting our most trusted together." Carlisle sat back in his chair.

"I thought he had to get married to take over?" I asked

"He does. But like it or not Isabella he does seem to be quite fond of you. When there isn't all of this going on he is a normal guy with normal feelings. Would you have felt different about him if he had a different job? Let me tell you this. Not everyone who has an 'upstanding' job is truly an upstanding citizen behind closed doors. There are more crooked people out there than you know and I bet you have met some yourself along the way haven't you." I nodded and looked down "Think on that for the night. If you had met him on a college campus in class or even walking at the park you wouldn't think twice would you? You would have given him a chance. But you can't seem to get past the gun on his hip. Maybe you are the wrong girl for him." And with that Carlisle left the living room towards what looked to be the kitchen. "Goodnight Isabella" He called over his shoulder.

"Here you go my dear. This should fit" Esme came in holding a pair of sweats and a baggy t-shirt. "Now the clothes might be a tad too large but who doesn't love sleeping in large comfy clothes after the day you have had hmm." She looked at me

"Are you alright dear?" She touched my cheek

"Yes just tired Esme. Thank you for the clothes." That was a lie, well partially, but I couldn't help but go over what Carlisle had just told me. I was being all over the place. I wasn't looking past his job. Had he had a normal job and I met him in a different way I wouldn't have thought twice. But what really had stuck out to me was the part about there being crooked people everywhere. That got me thinking. Was Charlie, my dad, as outstanding a person as they claimed he was when he was murdered? Or was there really something else going on?

Esme showed me to a guest room that had an attached bathroom. The entire time I showered, brushed my teeth, and got ready I couldn't stop thinking about it.

I could not remember a thing in the 10 years I knew them that added up. They always had plenty of money. For a kindergarten teacher and a cop you would think the way they lived they would always be broke. But when they died they had had $10,000 in savings. Not that I had seen any of it. The first foster home I had been sent to had cleaned my account out after they had me sign some stupid paper I hadn't even read. But that's beside the point. My mother had the best jewelry and car. My father bought her a nice house.

What the hell were my parents doing and did it have anything to do with the Cullen's?

It was with that question on my mind that I fell asleep.

"Mommy? Daddy? I'm home! I'm sorry I am late, I had to stay behind in class to finish a book report." A 10 year old me called.

I remember this. This was the day my life changed forever.

"Mom? Dad?" I called again. I had walked the whole house but couldn't find them.

Shrugging my shoulders, and mentally thanking my parents for calling for pizza last night, I heated up the pizza while sitting on the counter.

It had been too long. I know mom isn't still at the school, I called. Daddy left the station over 2 hours ago. Maybe they were on the way to get dinner? No they would have called.

Trying their cellphones again I got nothing but voicemail. It was 10 o'clock and they still weren't home. I was starting to panic.

Then the doorbell rang. When I answered it was Deputy Green.

I woke up.

I hated that dream, well that memory.

Deputy Green having to tell me my parents had been murdered in a drive-by shooting.

Shaking those thoughts from my head I got up and walked down the stairs.

"Hello dear" Esme met me at the bottom of the stairs. It looked like everyone was here sitting in the living room discussing last night.

I sat in the only available spot open, next to Edward of course.

"Did you find anything?" I asked

"6. There were 6 of them. We got all 6 of them but it is troubling that there were so many. They won't be coming back though so you don't have to worry." Carlisle informed me.

I looked at Edward who seemed to have tensed next to me and I felt like an even bigger ass.

"Edward can I talk to you in private please" I whispered.

He nodded but still hadn't loosened up any.

When we were in the kitchen I started before he could tell me he had changed his mind about me.

"I'm sorry. I am such an ass. I threw your kindness in your face. Please give me a second chance to ty this. I was so overwhelmed yesterday." I looked at him after apologizing.

He hugged me to him and all he said was "forgiven" in my hair. At that we both seemed to relax.

Walking back out into the living room we learned that it had been decided to go out to eat at the Café it was still really early, about 5am, and Esme said it would be closed to anyone but us till the café opened at 7. I decided to ride with Edward, Emmett, and Rose.

"Hello Emmett I haven't met you formally yet. How are you? And you Rose how are you?" I turned around in my seat to talk to them.

It was about a thirty minute drive to the café and we spent the entire time joking and clowning around. Just looking at Emmett you would never know that he was a big softy. By the time we got to the café I could see Emmett being like a big brother. Rose seemed to grow every time I saw her but the poor girl was carrying 2 in there. It must run in the family. That got me thinking about if Edward would have twins. Also if I was going to marry him would I have twins?

Oh that was a dangerous thought rode to go down.

"What were you thinking about love?" Edward asked.

Going for the truth, "If twins run in your family and if I will end up with twins." His face was priceless.

Before he could respond we heard the squeals of tires and then gun shots. I felt a sting on my arm and looked to see a bullet had grazed my arm. I also felt stinging on my head and felt a warm trickle of blood. It happened so quickly. Edward threw me to the ground and covered my body as he pulled out a gun from his back and started shooting.

Everyone else who had already been inside came running out, well the men did, and the women were calling out to me.

When the car disappeared around the corner we got up and went inside.

Carlisle started to asses my injuries and Edwards. I hadn't even realized he had been grazed by a bullet too. He had his arm and shoulder out of his shirt.

"Get off dad. Go tend to Bella. I'll be fine for a moment." He looked worriedly at me.

"Is this what life is going to be like every day?" I asked after Carlisle put a bandage on my forehead?

He chuckled. "No I promise. It is usually very boring" The men laughed trying to lighten the mood.

"This is something that will be taken care of and almost never happens. But trust me when I tell you, I will get them for this. For hurting you." Edward looked deadly.

As Carlisle fixed up Edwards shoulder I decided, "I think I will still open my store but I think I want to stay with you for a little while till all this dies down. I looked at Edward. He nodded.

"In the guest room of course. I don't want to be any trouble. If you think it is too much I could stay with your mother and fa" He cut me off.

"No you will stay with me. I will have my housekeeper fix up the spare room next to the master." And all talk of that was over.

The women converged around me talking about my store and the men sat in a circle discussing the previous event.

One question on my mind. "How was it they knew where we were going?" I asked out loud because everyone stopped and looked at me.

"When was the last time you did a sweep for bugs dad?" Emmett asked