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I own nothing…just playing in the sandbox!
BPOV
I can't believe the turns my life has taken. A short month ago, I was a penniless orphan, living out of my truck. The only food I had was what I could find in dumpsters. Today, I'm a multi-millionaire who's married, living in a fancy penthouse apartment, and an heiress to the largest organized crime family in the USA.
I pinched myself, nope not dreaming. Still, at times like this, when I'm by myself, I can't help but think it's just not real. Things like this just don't happen, especially to someone like me.
The door opening brought me out of my reflections. "Sweetheart, what are you doing still awake? It's after four in the morning."
"I was worried about you and wanted to stay awake, until I could see with my own eyes that you were ok."
"I'm perfectly fine. Let's get some sleep. We're meeting with your grandfather in a few hours."
"What happened? Is everyone ok?" I needed to make sure that my new family was safe.
"Everyone is fine, sweetheart. Let's lie down, and I'll tell you everything." And he did, from the Blacks men showing up with Jacob at the pier, Paul's capture, Lauren's advances at the club, and the two of Denali's men currently at the warehouse.
"Do you think the Blacks and Denalis are working together? I mean, why else would the Denalis give information on your shipment, to Black? That just doesn't make sense."
"They both have been looking for our supply bunkers for years. No one suspects that it's right here. They just know that we have more guns, drugs, and money than both of them combined. They want it plain and simple. I think that they formed a truce of sorts and are working together to find it. I'm sure it would be a bloodbath, if they ever found it. We do have a few places on the outskirts of Seattle, where we store other stuff, like fenced goods, TVs, stereos, stuff like that. They have hit those a few times. Each time they do, they start fighting over the shit," he says laughing, because they can't find the 'big' stuff. "It's kinda like watching the Keystone Cops. We usually know when they will hit one of those places, and we sit back and watch. It's hysterical! They never actually get away with anything."
"Edward, I'm worried about Tanya and her family. They are just so delusional. It doesn't sound like her or her family are going to give up on you marrying her. I just…I don't know. She's insane. I'm afraid she's going to try and find some way to separate us."
"Not going to happen, sweetheart. I love you. I married you. We're going to grow old together. She can try all she wants, but the fact is, she won't succeed." He kissed my lips gently. "You have four guards on you at all times, when you leave this building. No one will get anywhere near you. Just keep in mind that she is a liar. I'm telling you right now, I never had, nor ever will I ever have any type of relationship with her. We were never 'supposed' to be together. I honestly can't stand her. No one in my family can. Yes, my father was starting to 'put out feelers' for a wife for me, but she was never even considered."
"What do you mean, 'put out feelers for a wife'? Did they not want us together?" I was starting to panic. Maybe he was regretting marrying me.
"No, sweetheart. That was before I met you. I was given a time frame in which to find someone I wanted to be with, but I needed to get married. Being the 'Boss' makes it a requirement."
"So you only married me because 'it's required'?" I had tears streaming down my face.
"I married you because I love you! I want forever with you. But yes, I was given an ultimatum. Find a wife or enter into an arranged marriage. Fate brought you to me. Please, sweetheart, don't ever think that I was in any way forced to marry you. Even if I was a cook at McDonald's, I would have still fallen in love with you, and we would still be married. I knew the moment I saw you, ultimatum or not, that you were the only woman for me. I loved you instantly. Please stop crying." He used his thumbs to wipe the tears from my cheeks. He crashed his lips to mine and proceeded to show me just how much he loved me. We never did get any sleep.
The meeting was in the same conference room at The Westin. My grandfather was already sitting at the table when our group arrived. I went straight to him and kissed his cheek. "How are you feeling today, Grandfather?"
"I have been better, however, just seeing your beautiful face has brought me more happiness and joy than I ever thought possible."
"Aro, my old friend," Marcus began, "We have so much to discuss, and a few new developments. Bella, would you like me to explain to your grandfather the events surrounding your parent's deaths, and the subsequent circumstances to your life."
"Yes, please." I was glad that he was willing to tell the story. I know that I couldn't tell it again without breaking down.
"Now, I understand why Billy Black has been trying to contact me for the past two decades. He called many of my associates, claiming that he was a member of my family. He also claimed to have had ties to an immediate member of my family and needed to discuss a merger. They, of course, were ignorant of the situation and had no clue as to whom he was referring. He even went as far as using my name to try and procure new allegiances."
"I want you to know that we didn't call you here to discuss a merger," Edward was quick to explain.
"I know that. Anyone who sees the two of you together would have to be blind not to see the love radiating from you two. I never once thought it was to discuss a merger. Three years ago, that may have been a possibility. However, with my failing health, I have been slowly stepping away from our world. I have made very few ventures. That's what has Caius so desperate. He knows that when I pass, he will have nothing." Aro shocked us with this admission. He handed me a rather large, expandable file and continued. "My dear, I realize that this must come as a shock to you, but I would like to leave you with this file. It contains all the details that you will need to access my holdings; places, account numbers, combinations, as well as the locations of each of my storage facilities. Everything that you will need is in there."
"I don't know what to say. I just found you, and I don't want to lose you!" Tears were racing down my cheeks.
"I have been hoping for this day for many years. You have grown into a beautiful woman. I am honored to have had the chance to meet you." Aro started coughing.
"Sir, I must insist that you return to your room to rest now." Jane, Aro's nurse stated.
I went over to him and hugged him as hard as I dared. "I'm proud to call you my grandfather. You are a good man, and I pray we have years to get to know each other better," I told him as his entourage led him from the room.
"Let's head back home. I know that you girls don't normally go into the conference room, but the table in there will be perfect to go through the contents of this file. I think we'll all need to work on this, so I'll have Tiny put access on your key cards when we get back." I was so glad to have Edward to help me through this.
"Mom, would you, Alice, and Rose help Bella go through the properties? Em, Jazz, would you go through the inventory lists and warehouse locations? Grandfather, I think you would be the best person to look at businesses as you already know quite a few of them. Dad, you and I need to make heads or tails out of these accounts and investment portfolios." Edward was in 'Boss' mode. It was a good look on him, sexy and in charge.
"Is this a castle in Italy?" Rose exclaimed. She had already commented on a chateau in Southern France, homes in Russia, Switzerland, and Australia. Not to mention the enormous mansion outside of Phoenix, Arizona. "I just can't believe how many properties there are. Aro has places all over the globe. It's almost as if he buys a new property every time he goes on vacation."
"Yeah, babe, it's not for vacation though. Every place that you've mentioned has a secure bunker listed to go with it. Ed, man, you've got to see some of this shit. He has enough fire arms to supply the US Marines…through a few campaigns. There's Uzis, AKs, M4s, RPGs, not to mention the hand guns and explosives. They are all either underground like ours, or built into the sides of mountains. It's massive," Emmett whistled.
"Not to mention both the legal and illegal businesses in each of those regions. I didn't even know of a quarter of these," Marcus added.
I started hyperventilating. "Edward, it's too much. I can't think of this anymore today. My brain is getting fried!" I cried, "I don't want any of this. I just want to be able to get to know my grandfather. Why did my Dad keep all of this from me? I don't mean the 'things'. I mean why did he lead me to believe that I had no family? I don't understand any of this."
"Let's leave everything here until tomorrow. Why don't we all go out for dinner, and maybe go to the club for a while? Get our minds off of all this for the time being," Edward suggested.
An hour later, we were all seated around a large table at Rover's. It was a restaurant that added a French flare to its take on local cuisine. There was a laidback atmosphere, with mouthwatering entrees. We were on our sixth bottle of wine, amongst the eleven of us, when I heard a loud screech.
"Eddie, what are you doing here?" Tanya, the blond bimbo, who thought she had a claim to my Edward, pushed me to the side, trying to latch onto Edward. "I've missed you so much. We have so much to get settled. I've booked a hall for our reception…"
"Excuse me! Our what?" Flabbergasted didn't even come close to the look on Edward's face.
"Oh, Eddie, you know as well as I do that it's only a matter of time. You need a wife, and I accept. Now, tomorrow we'll get started on looking for a ring. It will take time to find the perfect one. It must be at least a five carat flawless diamond. Nothing else…"
"Tanya, I don't need a wife. And even if I did, it would never be you." I thought that he made his point perfectly clear, but…
"But, but... it's required of you," the bimbo sneered.
"I guess I didn't make it quite clear enough. I don't need a wife, because I already have one," Edward explained, lifting my hand and placing a gentle kiss on it.
As soon as she saw the rings on my left hand, she flew at me, slapping me across the face.
"YOU STOLE MY MAN. YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF TRASH!" She screamed in my face.
Edward grabbed her hand and pulled her arms behind her back, none too gently. "You will never lay another finger on my wife. You are on your last thread, with my patience. I never want to see your face again. If I do, I will not hesitate to put a bullet between your eyes. Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear?" I have never seen such a cold, deadly stare as the one that Edward was giving her. She cowered under his glare for a moment, before regaining her composure.
"You will regret this. You don't know who you're messing with," she said smugly.
"No, I know exactly who you are. You're a whore who has gotten into bed with the Blacks. Pun definitely intended. I know that your family has formed a truce with them. I'm much better informed than you could ever hope to be. What you don't know is who you're going up against. May I introduce my wife? Mrs. Isabella Cullen, formerly Swan, but we, the family that is, are all now aware that her real maiden name is Volturi.
Her face turned deathly pale as she stuttered out, "No, it can't be." She ran from the table as the entire family roared with laughter, clearly amused.
"I swear to God, Edward. The next bimbo that comes up to you, I'M putting a bullet between her eyes." I was completely sincere in that statement.