A/N:

Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the plot.

Thank you to Skyebella98 for all the help. ;)

I'm trying to update as fast as I can...so bear with me, please.

For everyone still reading this story...I'm sending my appreciation and love to you guys. MUAHZ!

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Terms:

Capo: the Family member who leads a crew

Crank: crystal meth.

Family: an organized crime clan

Fence: one who trades in stolen goods.

Fix: A situation in which law enforcement has been paid to allow criminal activity.

Hit: to murder

Juice: the interest paid to a loan shark for the loan

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

BPOV

The bright light coming through the window was blinding me, so I covered my face with a pillow to block out the sun. The strong smell of Edward assaulted me, and I snuggled more into the fluffy pillow.

Lingering in bed as long as I could, I closed my eyes and willed myself to go back to sleep. However, my mind and body were already wide-awake and didn't seem to want the additional rest. I rolled over and extended my arm to reach for Edward's side of the bed. Although I knew he was no longer there beside me, I still needed to check and confirm that he really wasn't. It was an involuntary reaction. As I laid my hand on the cold smooth silk, I felt something. Slowly raising my head to check, I couldn't help the grin that spread on my face.

My husband had left me a single white-stemmed rose.

Reaching for the flower, I raised it to my nose and took a sniff. My insides melted and my smile widened. My handsome, sweet mobster. He was so adorable. I laid on my back again as I placed the rose beside me on the bed. Thinking it would make him happy that I would call, I fumbled to look for my phone on the bedside table. It wasn't there.

Hmmm. Where did I put it? I tried to remember where I had placed it yesterday. I wanted so badly to thank Edward for the sweet gesture.

We had just arrived from our holiday vacation last night. What a glorious time we had on that island. We had spent Christmas eve wrapped around each other, and had exchanged gifts the following day along with Alice and Jasper. He had bought the parcel of land as his Christmas gift to me. Of course being Edward, he didn't stop there. I now own a new Mercedes and a new set of diamond earrings.

The two weeks we had spent on the island was like a dream. Edward was less guarded and had seemed to enjoy the freedom he had from all his responsibilities. Emmett and Rosalie were supposed to celebrate New Year's Eve with us on the beach, but something came up and they weren't able to leave Seattle in time to welcome the New Year. The fireworks display Alice had paid to be set up was amazing…breathtakingly so, that I was left speechless. I was sure a couple of tens of thousands of dollars was spent. I had relished every minute with him, maybe because it was our first time to celebrate the holidays as a married couple. It was heaven. The most amazing thing about the whole vacation was my intimate time with Edward. We barely left the bedroom. He worked me so good and enjoyed my body like he was a deprived addict.

It was only now I could feel the exhaustion of all the fucking that we did. Every part of my body was sore… but it was a good kind of sore.

Wrapping the sheets around my naked form, I slowly made my way towards the other side of the room where the couch was. I had placed my handbag there last night and started rummaging through it for my phone. It wasn't there either. Damn.

Deciding to search for it after I took a long and leisurely bath, I entered the posh bathroom. Shedding off my clothes, I stepped inside the large cubicle where the water from the six jets installed would no doubt soothe my aching muscles.

Another hour and I was dressed and rejuvenated from my hot shower.

Remembering I needed to find my phone, I started to scour the whole bedroom. Where the hell is it? My phone was my extension to the world. Aside from needing to talk to Edward, I also wanted to call Emmett. After several minutes of scouring through all the nooks of our room, there was still no sign of my phone and I had almost given up. That was when I thought of Edward's office.

He had gone inside his private office a couple of minutes after we had arrived. Maybe he could've mistakenly brought it with him and unconsciously left it there.

As I pushed the thick door of the room he had converted into his office, I wasn't surprised of the orderliness I found there. It smelt of pine and wood, and it felt somewhat comforting. This whole room was immaculate. Nothing was out of place and all his things were well organized. My husband had slight OCD.

As I scanned the room, I saw leather seats and wood tables. Judging from the intricate deign patterns, I knew these were expensive furniture. Surprisingly, it was my first time to come inside here. Nobody aside from him and Jasper were allowed here.

Lifting papers and files on his table, I slowly rummaged through it, making sure not to make a mess. A few more minutes of searching, I was left more frustrated and irritated that my phone was missing. I sighed and decided to just get another one.

I was about to turn around when a white folder nestled between some books at the corner of the room caught my eye. Something made me go and take a look. Maybe it was the bold silver lettering or the way it was standing out conspicuously amongst the pile of books. All I knew was, I had to give in to the curiosity and take a peek at what was inside.

Opening the thick folder, I was shocked and enraged at what I saw. Never in my wildest dream did I expect what was inside. It contained documents and other papers about me. Information dating from three years ago up to the week before I had seen Edward again. There were also pictures of me in different locations. This meant they had me followed.

My heart was pounding so loudly in my chest I thought it would burst. What the hell is this? My mind was refusing to believe he could actually do this, but the proof was already in my hands. I was seething and my body was numb.

Not trusting I could hold my legs up any longer, I turned and sat on his chair. I scanned the documents and what I read made me fist my hand so hard, my nails digging into my palm. Fucking asshole! He really made surveillance of me the whole time we were apart. How dare him! He left me and he had the audacity to want to know what I had been doing and what I had made myself into.

Not satisfied, I searched his office again. The anger I felt when I saw the file about me was nothing compared to the rage that consumed me when I saw another document of another person. Emmett.

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EPOV

Rubbing my neck with my hand, I tried to relieve my tired muscles. I had left the penthouse so early this morning to go check on the cars that were carrying the crank and was ready for loading on the docks. It would be shipped to Italy where our fence would be responsible for its disposal. I had paid a goddamn shit load of money so that people like Pete, the chief of NYPD we had on our payroll, would allow us some fucking fix. Some people in the customs were also bribed in order this shipment would happen.

Jasper had only arrived a day before me and he needed to settle some dispute between some capos over some juice so it was left for me to oversee the loading of the cars without a hitch. This transaction was worth millions, and I couldn't allow something to fuck it up. I had left Eleazar to ensure the container vans with the goods would be properly packed on the ship.

My day had been long, and I was exhausted. I was ready to lie down and just cuddle with my babygirl.

Entering the elevator of my building with Garrett and Marcus hot on my trail, I loosened my tie and ran my hand through my messy hair. I was so fucking tired but it wouldn't hold me back from having some loving time with my wife. That thought made me grin. This was the first time in two weeks that we had been apart for more than three hours, and I missed her. It was like I was having a withdrawal symptom from a drug. I had been trying to get hold of her the entire day but my calls just went directly to her voice mail.

Stepping out, I quickly walked towards my penthouse, ignoring the guard who was posted there. I couldn't wait to see my wife. I was like a fucking schoolboy giddy with excitement for his crush.

Calling Bella's name, I expected her to respond with that sweet voice of hers, but I didn't get an answer. Checking to see if I had the time right, I glanced to check my watch again and saw that it was really almost eleven in the evening. She should be back by now from wherever she had been.

I was about to call Seth and check on him about Bella when I saw a couple of suitcases sitting outside our bedroom door. All bags seemed full and packed. Confused as to why Bella didn't mention she would be going somewhere, I called to her again.

I was making my way towards our bedroom when a small figure, sitting in the shadows in our living room, caught my eye. She was clearly drinking, and it confused me more why she was doing it in the dark.

"Baby, what are you doing here?" I asked softly as I went to the far end of the wall where the switch of the living room lights was.

Turning it on, the lights illuminated her. She just sat there immobile and catatonic. I slowly walked towards her and when she turned to face me, I could see her eyes were blotchy and her nose was red. She was fucking crying. What the hell? I quickened my steps and kneeled in front of her and raised her chin towards me.

"Why the fuck are you crying, babygirl? Did something happen?" I asked, worried something really horrible happened to make her cry. I didn't want to see her tears.

She was holding a glass of what I guessed was whiskey, and downed it with one giant gulp before slamming it on the table beside the couch.

"You fucking wanna know, Mase?" her tone was dangerously low, and the anger laced in her words suddenly alarmed me. My heart started racing because she wouldn't be talking to me like this if I weren't the cause of it.

She stood up so suddenly and it made me stagger backwards from where I was kneeling. She picked up something from the table and threw it at me. It hit my chest and it fell down the rug. I already knew what I would find even before I lowered down my gaze to the floor.

She knows. Oh, my fucking God! I scrambled to my feet and moved towards her, wanting to pull her to me. But as I stepped forward, she moved a couple of steps away from me.

"Fucking stay away from me!" she hissed, her hand held up for a second to make a point. I stopped moving, afraid she would bolt from the room. "Explain why you have all those fucking pictures of Emmett!" She was so angry that her nose was flaring and her eyes were wild.

"Bella, oh God…please…please…" I stammered, really not anticipating this would happen so soon. I should have told her about this after she had told me she loved me, but we just got reunited and our relationship was so new I was afraid she wouldn't understand.

She stood there looking at me but scrambled towards the door like a scared cat when I involuntarily took a couple of steps towards her.

"Please, fucking stop doing that!" I muttered, on the verge of panicking that she would go and leave me before I had the chance to explain. Her suitcases were ready after all.

I ran my hand through my hair, pulling on the strands in agitation. Her hands crossed against the heavy rise and fall of her chest as she stared at me murderously, clearly waiting on an explanation. Shifting my gaze from her to the main entrance, I calculated how fast it would take to catch her if she decided she hated my guts and ran. I wouldn't allow her to leave me, even if I had to tie her down.

Returning my eyes to hers, I saw that she was still pissed. But something in her expression said she would stay enough to hear me out.

I took a step towards the couch but she again moved. My irritation was peaking but I reeled it in and just held my hand to stop her. "Don't." All I wanted at the moment was to just sit on the chair so I could rest and collect myself before I started explaining. Luckily, she stayed where she was standing so I took it as a sign she wouldn't go anywhere. Yet.

Plopping on the couch, I put my elbows on my knees as I ran my hands through my hair.

"Where you the one who pulled the trigger, Mase? He almost died three years ago!" Her voice cut through the silence of the room.

My head snapped towards her and I could see her eyes tearing up.

"No, no, Bella. It was not me, I swear!" I stood up again and unconsciously took a step towards her again. She then again moved and I almost stomped my feet in frustration. "Please, sit down and I will explain…please, baby."

She seemed so confused and I was itching to pull her to me and comfort her. But the likelihood she would allow me to do that now was zero to none, so I just clenched and unclenched my fists. "I promise, I'll not touch you," I told her, my eyes pleading for her to just sit down and listen.

She stood there for a few minutes contemplating on what to do before she finally walked slowly on the opposite couch from me.

Releasing the breath I was unconsciously holding, I waited until she was all settled on the big fluffy couch. She licked her lips before pulling the lower one in between her teeth. It was an involuntary reaction when she was agitated, not to mention she was wringing her hands together in anxiousness.

Staring and not breaking my gaze from her, I pointed to the pictures on the rug in front of us. "See…that was some of the shi-….things I had planned on doing…and did when I started as the Big Boss."

Bella didn't say anything but she was now frowning, and confusion etched on her face.

"Remember when we broke up, I didn't know you were in the mob," I informed her, holding her gaze. She nodded as she continued to bite her lip and I was afraid she would break skin.

"It was a month or two after I broke up with you that I saw Emmett," I said seriously. "He came into my radar because he was always in the city. I knew back then who he was, and I was fucking angry to see him in New York. I thought at the time he and your father were planning on expanding your Family's business to the big apple. I was fucking livid," I told her. My eyes were pleading with her the whole time for her to understand. "I was interested in New York and I didn't want his fucking ass there. He was a threat to my plans..." I left that hanging for a while, really scared now of what she would think of me "…so I planned to take him down."

She gasped when I said that, almost leaping from her chair. I was ready to pounce after her, but she eventually sat down again and she clutched the arm of the couch tightly.

"Why the hell would you do that?" she asked seething. "He was just visiting me. Making sure I was okay after that incident with the coke!"

"How could I have known about that?" I thought to myself sarcastically. The guilt I had always felt every time the over dose incident was mentioned didn't come, and I felt somewhat irritated by her bringing it up. Arguing was so tempting but I knew better than to add fuel to fire. So I stayed quiet and held my tongue. No need to aggravate the situation by telling her that. Her anger was already peaking, and I could see it in the dangerous glint in her eyes.

She stood up to pace and turned to face me. "So did you call a hit on him, is that it?"

The tension was radiating from her and so I did what I felt I needed to do. I grabbed her hands and held it between mine, even as she tried to pull them away several times.

"Dammit, Bella…look at me," I pleaded. "Look at me!"

She reluctantly stopped pulling and raised her brown orbs to mine; her eyes were still wet with tears. I sighed in frustration. "Yes, I did call a hit." Her eyes narrowedand before I could react to it, she kneed me in the balls.

"You, asshole! Why did you do that? You almost killed him! My brother!" she yelled, cursing me.

My knees had buckled from the excruciating pain in my groin. I was down on the floor, holding my balls while I groaned and moaned, trying to catch my breath. Fuck! It hurts like hell!

She allowed me some time to gather myself, and was looking smug at what she had done. The fire in my crotch lessened and I was able to get up from the floor. "Shit, Bella. That hurt!"

"Good," she retorted in a satisfied tone, but she was still looking at me with that murderous scowl of hers.

"Jesus, woman…you got to fucking relax!" I yelled, my patience was really thinning and I was seconds from tying her to my bed while I talked. She made an attempt to kick me again but I sidestepped her. "Okay, okay…Jesus!"

"Now, explain," she hissed.

Huffing, I tried to reach for her hands again but she brushed me away. "As I've said, I hired someone to kill Emmett," I said, exasperated. "But someone got to him first, Bella."

Her eyes watered and the tears started to fall. I pulled her to me as she sobbed, rubbing her back and shushing her. She was mumbling 'why did you do that?' over and over again and I held her tight to me. Her head rested on my chest as she gripped the front of my shirt for dear life.

"Baby, someone got to him first," I rambled as I rubbed my hands on her back, nuzzling my face in her hair.

"W-what?" she asked so suddenly, registration was now clear on her face. I just stared at her tear-filled eyes and she sniffled. "Masen, what did you say?"

It was evident she understood what I had been saying but just needed to hear me say it again. I raised my hand to wipe away the tears.

"It wasn't us who shot him. I was there," I informed her, looking at her straight in the eyes so she would believe I was telling her the truth. "It was not our bullet."

She pushed away from me and I allowed her some distance. "If it wasn't you, then who the hell did?"

I shrugged. "I don't fucking know. But believe me when I say, it wasn't us."

The one responsible for shooting Emmett intrigued me then, and I had planned to investigate. But Bella coming into the picture had made me forget about finding the one responsible for her brother's attempted murder. Maybe Charlie and Emmett even knew who was responsible but didn't see the need to inform their daughter about it. Now was a good time to do some reinvestigation on that matter. I made a mental note to look into this as soon as possible.

"I was shocked myself that someone also wanted your brother dead," I told her. "To say I was happy when he was shot was a fucking understatement." I could still remember how I felt when I thought he was dead. "When we saw he was still alive, we went to the hospital where he was rushed to. It was then that I saw you with Charlie."

She frowned as if she was trying to remember. I could still see her clear as the day she stepped out of the limo, holding her father's hands in hers. The distraught look on her face would forever haunt me.

I closed my eyes again, trying to shake off that mental image. "It was then I realized you were Emmett's sister. I really don't know why I didn't make the connection before that."

"Because I didn't tell you."

"Yeah, you didn't," I responded petulantly. "But I should've known you were one of the Swan Family since you came from Washington. That should have tipped me off… but it didn't."

She licked her lips and furrowed her brows, making me unsure whether or not she was still angry. "After seeing you with Charlie in that hospital, I decided to let one of my guards trail you."

She closed her eyes and sighed. "Shit, Masen…you're such a motherfucking asshole! I can't believe you did that!"

I pulled her to me again. This time there was no resistance from her. "I'm sorry." I tilted her chin and leaned in to give her a kiss. She allowed me that one kiss.

"I still can't get it over my head that you called a hit on my fucking brother," she said, still in denial. "Just you fucking wait and see until he learns about this."

"I don't fucking care, Bella." I looked at her seriously. "As long as you still love me after this…that's what's important to me."

She smiled and the relief I felt was instantaneous. As I hugged her close to me, I couldn't help but think about Emmett. It would be good for everybody's sake if he could let this go easily as she did. I crossed my fingers as I kissed her forehead, wishing it would be that simple. There was a good chance Emmett wouldn't take this lightly…and that was where complications would arise. Fuck!

Thanks for reading! ;D