Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the plot.

My sweet Skyebella98 is kinda busy these days because of the holidays, so she was not able to check this. I apologize for any/all mistakes you encounter.

I kinda promised a chap. before Christmas, so here it is. Enjoy!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE! HOPE YOU HAVE FUN WITH YOUR LOVED ONES! =D

xxxxxxxxxx

Term:

Swag: stolen goods.

Underboss: Second in command of a borgata. The underboss is often selected because he represents a powerful minority wing in the family.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

EPOV

"So what the fuck should we do now?"

Even though there was a gun pointed at my head, Jasper's bored tone amused me. It was his ability to take it all in stride that amazed me. He was one cool motherfucker…that I could attest to. If laughing wouldn't trigger the gun pressing at my temple, I would have done it already. I wasn't that stupid; I knew what the boundaries were.

Aro was staring at me calculatingly. It was clear he didn't find anything funny in Jasper's words; there was no trace of amusement in his eyes. He didn't seem fazed, but the way he was drumming his fingers on the table told me otherwise.

Truth be told, I was kind of worried about the gun pressed to my head, even though I had learned a long time ago that these things come with the job. I wasn't too cocky to know I wasn't invincible. A gun was still a fucking gun. It could easily kill, especially now it was just millimeters away from my brain. At any moment, incidents like this could end fucking badly for anyone…or everyone.

I thought about Bella, and I got pissed. She couldn't be a widow yet, not at this stage of our life…not this young. I had promised her so many things, and I fucking planned to deliver. My goal was to live as long as I could, or simply put…for a very long time.

"I thought you called for some kind of fucking truce, Aro. Not this," I hissed at him, pressing my gun a little harder against his crotch to make a point. He did something that was rare to him – he flinched. Though it was a very small movement, I was still able to catch it, alerting me to the possibility he might actually be scared of me, or my gun – same fucking shit. I grinned sardonically at him when he tried to pass off the flinch like it was nothing. He even returned to chewing his cigar, moving his hand from the table to his mouth as if there was no gun pointed at any part of his anatomy.

I smirked, knowing he was putting on a show for his men. Oh, what good liars we all were!

At least, I get to blow his fucking balls off before I die.

"Are we just going to fucking stand here all day like this?" I heard Vicky say. There was a few seconds of tense silence before I saw Aro's lips slowly turn into a smile. He then waved his hand in the air, twirling his fingers in some kind of signal.

At first I thought James hadn't heard him since he still had his gun pointed at Jasper, his face full of determined hatred.

"James," Aro warned. His tone was not one to argue with. It was just then that the fucking asshole reluctantly lowered his gun. At the same time, the gun that was pointed at my temple was suddenly removed.

I wanted to know the asshole that had the nerve to press a weapon on my head. He would only get one chance to ever do that, and I would make sure to pay him the same respect in the near future. But I didn't get the chance to turn my head around because Aro spoke.

"Edward?" he asked. I knew exactly what he was pertaining to, and it was the gun on his crotch. I grinned before pulling my hand slightly away from between his thighs. There was no longer an imminent danger to my entourage and me, so I released my hand on the knife, leaving it still embedded on the table. It stood there like a sore thumb against the shiny wooden top – a reminder that I could easily grab it and plunge it in Aro's heart if I wanted to.

Aro had done his job, and so I needed to do mine. I turned to Jasper and nodded for him to lower down his weapon. It took him another second or two before he followed. He slumped back on the chair beside me, chuckling as he did, as if he found something funny. He was really fucking weird!

I shook my head at him. It was then I realized Felix had returned to his previous position behind Aro. I was fucking sure he was the one who had his gun pointed at me. I didn't need to turn around to know Marcus and Vicky were behind me. There was no doubt Felix had his share of guns pointed at him.

Aro cleared his throat. He had his eyebrow raised as he said, "The gun, Edward."

I chuckled, just because I could. Removing my hand under the table, I placed my Glock on top with a loud 'thud'.

It was the thing he was waiting for. He grinned, and leaned forward on the table; his hands clasped together.

"I see that you've come prepared, Edward," he observed lazily. "As always."

I shrugged. I wasn't naïve to believe he didn't do his research before setting up this meeting. He was right though – I was always prepared. He should never ever undermine me, but I was sure he knew that already.

"Well, by now you should know better than to underestimate me, Aro."

"Oh, I didn't underestimate you, Edward. Not at all," he said, his eyes on me. I didn't falter from his gaze. He had one artificial eye. The whiteness of the fake eyeball in contrast to the other creeped me out. It made him more menacing in my opinion.

"I actually know your father personally, and you're so much like him," he continued. I wasn't sure if he noticed me staring at his eye. If he did, he ignored it. "You're young but you got the potential to make your borgata the best. Even I could admit that."

Coming from Aro Volturi, it was a great compliment. "I try my best, Aro. I learned from the best, so it's only fucking fair that I'll be the best."

"You're one cocky son of a bitch, aren't you?" He laughed. "I like it."

"So why the fuck did you have to call us here in France?"

"I have so many reasons, but I'll just give you the three most important, Edward." If it was even possible, I could say he leaned another inch closer since he seemed to be in my face now. "First, I wanted to talk about Jacob."

"Black…hmm," I drawled. I really didn't want to talk about that son of a bitch, but if Aro wanted to, I could indulge him. "What the fuck about him?"

"We didn't know he was fucking with us…us, meaning you and I. If I did, I would have killed him myself."

I wasn't sure whether to believe him or not, but I only nodded. Aro had been in this business for as long as I could remember, and he was one stealth son of a bitch himself. He couldn't be trusted, so I wouldn't even start.

"Well, I really hope that the only reason you helped Black was because you thought Swan was trying to steal your swag and not because of something else." The sudden look of surprise on his face was quickly masked by a fake smile.

"Of course it is, Edward," he answered. His voice was tense, and I cocked an eyebrow.

"Well, you fucking better," Jasper snapped. Aro turned his attention to my underboss.

"I wouldn't do anything to start a war with the Cullen Family. You must know that by now, Jasper."

Jasper snorted. That made Aro frowned. There was a moment of tense silence before someone spoke again.

"So what are the other reasons?" Jasper asked impatiently. Aro seemed to perk up; his earlier foul mood completely forgotten. He was actually even sporting a wicked grin.

"Well, to be honest. I just wanted to meet you personally, Edward."

That statement surprised me. This wasn't what I had expected for him to say, so I just shrugged. Maybe I should say I was honored or some shit like that, but I wasn't. It even pissed me a little to know that small detail.

"Oh, well…here I am, Aro," I answered sarcastically. I could feel the heat of James' furious gaze, and I was tempted to reach out and smash his head on the fucking table.

"Yes, here you are, Edward…" Aro reached for his cigar again "…and it has been a pleasure to actually meet the famous Edward Cullen. I didn't really know what to expect when I saw you face to face, but so far it has been…interesting."

"Mr. Volturi, he isn't as scary as he would like us to think," James said grittily. I saw Aro reach out to pat his hand…like a fucking dog, trying to pacify his anger someway.

"Now, now, James. We are here because nobody wants any trouble," Aro told him calmly. "Are we clear here?" His voice was serious, a direct contrast to his smiling face. James threw another murderous glare my way, before he looked back at his boss and reluctantly nodded in agreement.

"Good…good. So that's settled then."

It took another thirty minutes to discuss details on why we should help each other out, why we should become comrades instead of enemies. The meeting ended with the decision of letting bygones be bygones; to forget Black even existed. This was the only way to ensure a war between the opposing Families wouldn't happen.

Aro's actions seemed suspicious, but I had nothing on him so I reluctantly agreed on the truce. Emmett would no doubt be fucking furious when I got back; he wanted revenge for Rosalie – it was the V's bomb that caused her to be in the hospital after all. I could sympathize with Emmett, but something told me to just agree with Aro at the moment. I had always trusted my instinct, and I sensed that going to war with the V's right now wasn't the right choice.

Aro reached out his hand to shake mine, and I accepted it. "You have a nice time here in France, Edward."

"You too, Aro."

I was halfway out the door of the restaurant, when he spoke. What he said stopped me in my tracks.

"Say hi to Bella for me, Edward."

It was the way he said Bella's name that gave me the chills. I turned to face him, but his expression didn't give out anything, although there was a dangerous twinkle in his eyes. I almost went back to fucking punch him in the face for even mentioning Bella's name, but Jasper's hand on my arm stopped me.

I saw the smirk on Aro's face before I turned around to leave the restaurant.

"We have to get outta here, Edward," Jasper muttered softly. He still looked the ever-composed friend I knew, but his frown alerted me he was concerned about our safety. There was no doubt it wasn't safe to be here, so we quickly made our way to the awaiting SUVs.

The ride back to the hotel was so fucking quiet. Nobody was talking; I wasn't sure if it was because we all sensed some kind of danger. I was staring intently at the blinking light on the small monitor in my hands. It was the signal from Bella's microchip that allowed me to know her whereabouts. She was still at the hotel where I instructed her to be, and I was relieved.

Now that I was sure she was safe, I reluctantly went over what had happened in the past hour. It was then that it dawned on me.

"Fuck!"

"What? Are you alright, Edward?" Jasper asked concerned. I turned to him, my eyebrows squished in a frown.

"Aro never told us the third reason why he had called for a meeting," I revealed quietly.

Jasper's jaw tensed, and he need not say anything more. The car was suddenly quieter than before, even Vicky who always had something to say about everything miraculously remained silent. It was just as well since I needed to fucking think!

The car halted to a stop at an intersection. I was gazing out the window when another car pulled alongside us. I was familiar with it, and suddenly my heart started racing. This was Aro's car…I was fucking sure of that. The window of the black tainted limo rolled down, and I gripped the handle of the door in anticipation of an attack. I even had my hand on my gun. My finger was ready to pull the trigger, knowing for sure the bullet would go through the metal door easily.

Aro's face was finally revealed when the window was fully rolled down, shocking me by giving us a wave and a fucking grin. He couldn't see us but he knew we were there. I didn't give him the courtesy of showing my face because I was pissed. I didn't understand this game he was playing, but I wasn't amused nor was I interested. How I would love to put a bullet through that fake eye of his!

"Now that I had met him, I fucking hate that man more!" I hissed to no one in particular.

"Yeah. He kinda gives me the creeps too," Jasper answered.

"Marky, I need you to fucking floor this car," I hissed at him. "I wanna get outta this place as soon as we can."

"Whatever you say, boss."

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