DISCLAIMER: Stephanie Meyer owns everything; We just have an overly active imaginations. (apparently angsty and disturbed one's, or at least that's what we are told)
ATTENTION: This story's theme is rape.
A/N (danna0724): okay peeps! A little bit of angst and a little bit of lovin' and a WHOLE lot of plot! As promised lemon from EPOV… yup that's right… sweet! As per the usual… if you aren't old enough to buy cig's/porn or vote, please do NOT go any further! ALSO… this story is the sole property of Jessi's and Danna's, stealing is a crime, and you don't really wanna be a 'ganker' anyway do ya?
JessiBel… w/o you holding my hand… where would I be? I love you BB!
See POST A/N for PSA as well as explanation for the long delay.
Tortured Soul: Chapter 15
Edward's POV
"You make a sound argument Mr. Cullen. This court will let you pursue this avenue of questioning." Judge Eleazar banged down his gavel. I had been grateful he was assigned to my case; he was down to earth, and wasn't deceived by all the smoke and mirrors bullshit we lawyers were so apt at putting up. With him we had to roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty. "Court is adjourned. We will reconvene in one week from today at nine AM."
We all stood and began filing out. One week was generous; I didn't have to look at the shocked expression on my opposing counsel's face to know that was true. Still I would have to work my tail off if I had any hope of seeing my wife this week. That's why I immediately started barking orders to my second chair before we were even out the doors.
"Maggie! Good to see you. How was court this afternoon?" Maggie O'Casey was the prosecuting counsel in the case against James, the case involving Caius Volturi, the very case that was proving to be an impasse between James and I.
I figured just because he wouldn't be on speaking terms with her, didn't mean I couldn't be. After all I was always endeavoring to get her to come over to Cullen & Campbell Law. However, she was most loyal to her father, the DA. Liam O'Casey was true to his namesake, vigilant in war (or rather courtroom) and watchful, and he passed down a certain something to Maggie, where she just KNEW when she was being lied to.
"Quite well, actually," she said as I stepped into the elevator. "However you might want to consider a leash for your partner. He'll have you begging for clients alongside the homeless in no time," she stated coldly without turning to look at me just staring into the glossy elevator doors.
"I see." I wasn't sure what she meant exactly, but I sure as hell was going to inquire about it as soon as I could get back to the office. "I'll keep that in mind."
She smirked, not buying my calm exterior for a minute. She was perceptive, I had to giver her that, if I could ever pry her away from her father I would. She was an excellent lawyer, a lawyer whom I could count on not to take on clients like the Volturi Brothers. I'd been opposite her before, and it was down right one of the most excruciating experiences of my life. I'd take a plea bargain to escape her any day.
When the elevator dinged we nodded to each other before going our separate ways. I, apparently, had an out of control law partner to deal with.
Everyone knew James Campbell was unpredictable in court, but that was one thing that made him a great lawyer. The opposing counsel had to be prepared for anything because he didn't have any pattern. The angles and avenues he would use during one case were usually completely different from the ones he would use on another case.
Storming onto our office's floor I barged into James' office not caring if I might walk in on him and Victoria fucking on top of his desk again.
"James, what did you do in court today that would warrant Maggie O'Casey warning me about you?" I seethed at him. "It wouldn't have anything to do with your client would it? Or is this just about you?" This had been happening more often than my patience could handle.
"Nothing, I'm just trying to keep my client out of some jail time." He had that smirk that only served to infuriate me. 'Some jail time' try a life sentence for murder, I thought to myself.
"'Nothing' wouldn't have been deserving of her warning. You may not care about your job, but you better believe I do!" I had put up with his bullshit for far too long.
"Oh, yes, you have to keep Bella dearest in designer clothes don't you. What? Aren't you satisfying her needs anymore? Did she decide that the pretty little rich boy wasn't all he talked himself up to be? Did she find out the truth about art? Hmm… it may be nice to look at, but it really is good for nothing. Did she-"
"Don't you fucking say another word about my wife!" With each word the anger had built inside of me. All I could see now was red. Closing the small gap between us I lunged at him, a guttural scream erupting from me.
We spat insults at each other all the time, but he would never say anything about Bella. He knew very well that was where I drew the line.
"Oh my God!" The voice was feminine, but I was too much engulfed in rage to tell who it was. My only thoughts were where I was going to land my next punch or evade one of James'. "Someone call security! Quick!"
There was blood running down my face into my mouth, and I felt like I had been run over by a MAC truck, and it was all worth it.
"You're not stronger than anyone else rich brat! You're not stronger than me!"
"I'm strong enough to take you down!"
There were no more words only the echoing of fists slamming into flesh and grunts mixed with pained groans.
All too soon I was being hauled away from him, most likely by the security guards who were called. Another man was keeping James where he was as I was escorted down the hall to my office.
"Don't leave until we clear you. We have to know exactly what happened… in case you two decide you want to sue each other or something."
It seemed like hours I was kept quarantined. After I called Bella to let her know I'd be home later than I thought, and played a few games of computer solitaire, I couldn't take it anymore.
I paced my office yanking mercilessly at my hair. I knew I had to do something, I just didn't know what. James is going to get our firm into some deep shit if I let this go on any longer. Him representing the Volturi Brothers will be our undoing if I don't do something now. That's when an idea sprang to mind.
"Rose? Hey, it's Edward. I need a favor."
"Not much on small talk today? What can I do for you my dear brother-in-law?"
"I need the number for Jenks."
The phone was dead quiet for too long and I was beginning to worry she hung up on me.
"Rose? This is important. I need something looked into without the world knowing I'm looking into it." I figured clarifying things might help make her a little more forthcoming.
"Sure, I'll send you all his contact information," she stated cautiously before continuing, "You be careful Edward. If you get into something and Bella gets hurt I swear-"
"I know, I know; I'll be lying in a hospital bed missing every single body appendage. What did you think I want this guy's number for? I know you trust him so he must be good."
"Just as long as you know." She didn't need to say anymore; her full meaning was loud and crystal clear. We made small talk until my e-mail dinged with a new message alert, after which she promptly hung up.
Rose and I were never that close or particularly friendly. I know our parents hoped we would be, but being friends just never was in the cards for us. I'm sure the fact that I was calling her at all was ample reason to let her know I was serious.
"Jenks here."
I was startled when he picked up on the first ring. I had sort of been hoping to get his secretary or better yet been able to just leave a message.
"Uh, yes, this is Edward Cullen, I-"
"Yes, Rosalie just called and said I'd be hearing from you. What can I do for you Mr. Cullen?
"I need a man looked into?"
He chuckled before answering in a clipped tone. "What? The people on your payroll already are on holiday? I know you're a lawyer, Edward Cullen. What do you need my particular set of skills for?"
I hadn't really thought about how I was going to explain all this. How do I tell this man I don't trust my law partner, but won't even consider firing my best friend?
"Umm, well… What do you know about Caius Volturi?" If I couldn't say what I needed to say then I had to start somewhere. This seemed like a logical beginning without beating around the bush.
"Alleged mafia connection, most outspoken and brash of the three Volturi Brothers, currently on trial for murder, his trial centering around a cute little college girl named Bree, I've read in the papers, with a Mr. Campbell as the Volturi's legal representation, who, by the way, is apparently not doing so well this time in the court room. How does that sound for you Mr. Cullen?"
If that had been a test he would have passed with flying colors.
"Yes, it's the current case I'm concerned about. I need you to dig up whatever you can find about Caius and Bree. There's something that isn't right. Something that James is hiding, and Maggie knows it. He's practically in bed with this trio; I want to know what I am dealing with. James is good, but I need someone better. That's where you come in."
There was a long, pregnant pause. This just seemed to be my day for those.
"I see. I'll see what I can find." If I hadn't have been so exhausted I would have fist pumped into the air. Victory! It's not going to be smooth sailing from here, but at least this weight could be lifted from my shoulders. "You even want evidence that would be damaging to the defense, yes?" It wasn't a question for which I had to give him credit. We'd been on the phone for less than five minutes and he knew me that much.
"I do. I want everything you can find, sir." I heard papers shuffling and the faint sound of hurried scribbling.
"Rosalie told me you were a good man, honestly, I didn't know what to make of her vague statement, but I think now I am getting to know how true that really is. There aren't many of you lawyers who care about something other than your paycheck." His voice became lighter as he continued, "Of course, in true Rosalie fashion, she then went on to tell me you would become a royal pain in my ass." We both had a laugh at that. "You'll be getting my bill when we're done."
And just like that there was the click letting me know he'd hung up. All I could do know was resume my pacing until I was released from my prison.
I didn't even have the energy to use my time to prepare for court. When I was tired of pacing, and feared I'd have to replace my rug, I settled into the couch in my office, which was admittedly, not very comfortable. I'd have to look into getting a new one.
"Mr. Cullen? Wake up." I was gently being shaken awake.
"Bella?" She didn't sound right. It must be time for dinner; I'm starved.
"Uh, no, it's Irina, you can go home now." What? Where the hell am I, and why do I have this God awful crick in my neck?
"What? Already?" My mind quickly reminded my body why I felt like I'd been run over.
"Well, yes, but you may want to go to the hospital or something, but we had the security system installed, audio only remember? So no one saw what happened, but we know what was said which gave us everything we needed to know about what happened."
I blankly nodded starting to get up. My body revolted, but I didn't stop. I just wanted to be home in bed with Bella. Grabbing my jacket and briefcase I said good-bye to the office ladies on my way out the door. I still felt like shit, but thankfully there was no sign of James.
I couldn't have said anything about my drive home. Like what color were all the lights I drove under without stopping. I figured there were no horns blown at me, and they'd mail me the tickets if I did run a red light or something.
"Oh, you're home! I was just… you look like hell. You weren't kidding about a tussle. Can I get you anything?"
I just looked at her. After the day I'd had, that was all I really had the energy to do.
"I'll get you a tray of dinner and bring it up to you. Go up to bed; I'll be up in a minute." God I loved this woman.
Just as I slid under the covers there she was with a steaming plate of her amazing lasagna.
"Do I need I make an appointment with your doctor or something? You said you got into it with James, but I wasn't expecting this," she said as she gently skirted her fingers around an open wound just above my eye which was probably really black and blue.
However, no matter how nice it was to be cared for by nurse Bella, right now all I wanted was my wife.
"I'm fine, just lay here with me. I missed you today." I would probably never admit it, but James' words affected me more than I was comfortable with. Deep down I knew Bella loved me, but… he still said it.
She lay next to me while I wolfed down my dinner. I realized in the chaos I had skipped lunch. Setting the tray on the floor next to me I pulled Bella flush against me. I need her close to me tonight.
"So what happened today? Did something happen in court? Why did you and James get into a slug match?"
I didn't really want to talk about James and me. I never did with Bella; she disliked him too much to be objective.
"The prosecution said something to me after court that got me worried. When I tried to ask him about it things escalated and we traded a few punches." I finally settled on my wording attempting to avoid any further talk on the subject.
"Why would you need to be worried about James' case? Did he do something? I swear that man has caused you more trouble. I know you need a criminal lawyer, but God!"
Here I was afraid she would ask me what James said to me in order to piss me off, and she wants to know about the case. So very Bella, but this I could handle.
"I don't know what happened in court today. All I know is that his case isn't going very well. All I can say is that is what happens when you insist on defending the Mafioso."
"He actually took on those slimy buggers! I knew it! I saw the headlines today. I didn't even have the courage to read the article; I just knew he had his hands in there."
Sighing deeply I responded the only way I knew how. "Yeah things could be better."
We laid there in silence for a while. I thought she had fallen asleep until I went to turn out the bedside lamp, and she spoke again.
"Why are you still partners with him?" She asked in a small timid voice. She knew this was a sore spot between us. I just couldn't get her to see that I could no sooner part company with James than she could with Rose or Alice.
"He's my best friend. We've known each other since college." I tried to come off calm, but wasn't sure if I succeeded.
She thought a moment while analyzing my face for… something.
"Being a good friend doesn't necessarily equate into being a good business partner," She stated before reaching over to turn off the lamp herself and snuggling down into my side to sleep. "Just think about it, baby."
I lay awake staring at her for a long time. I'd never though about it like that. I mulled her words over so many times.
James had been a thorn in my side since… well, since college if I was being truthful. We were great friends outside of work but we constantly butted heads in the office.
James was the one who was quickly gaining the reputation of being a good lawyer, but on the flip side, being too much of a loose cannon to be reliable. More and more of our clients had left us and chosen other, especially after it was made public record that he was defending the Voultri Brothers when he filed an entry of appearance on their behalf.
I had known, as everyone else, how chilling they could be, but I had never seen it first hand. Not until James and I sat down with them to discuss bringing them on as regular clients. James and I had already fought long and hard over this, obviously he was the one who won. The only way I agreed to the whole thing was that he would be their exclusive lawyer. I would never represent them in court.
(Several Months Ago…)
"It is so good to see you Mr. Cullen, Mr. Campbell. How lovely to see you both in person this morning. If we may inquire who will be representing us if the need so arises?"
"I will," James spoke up readily. He was practically salivating being so close to a signed contract.
Aro looked troubled at the news, however. Of the group, he was the one who gave away emotions. His voice made your skin crawl, but if he wanted it to be, his face was readable. Caius just looked constantly annoyed like he had other, more important, places to be than looking into who was going to be battling his cases in the courtroom. Marcus, the eldest of the three, looked utterly bored the entire time.
"Edward will not be?"
"No, I will not." I decided to answer before James could in a cold clipped voice. I didn't want to be here anyway.
"No? That is most unfortunate. We would be more comfortable working with you, Mr. Cullen."
"I'm sorry, sirs, but I am not taking any new clients. Besides, James is more apt at dealing with criminal cases." James looked like he could take my head off with his eyes the way he was glaring at me for speaking to them the way I was.
"Oh? And what has brought this on?" Aro, apparently their spokesperson inquired looking all to inquisitive for my liking. I didn't want to answer him, but I didn't see any real harm in telling him the truth.
"My wife and I are talking about having a baby. I'm trying to lighten my work load so I will be able to spend more time at home with them."
"Oh, how wonderful!" Aro exclaimed clapping his hands together once and holding them like that. The action was oddly unnerving. "Children are a wonderful blessing. Children seem not to be in the cards for any of us. Marcus and his wife, Didyme, have been trying for a long time with no results. We try to support our brother, but the situation is wearing on him." He did seem deeply troubled by the fact. Perhaps he wasn't as sinister as he led you to believe, but that didn't mean I trusted him anymore. "I am sure you and your bride will have wonderful success and have a beautiful baby when the time comes."
James still looked on edge. They hadn't confirmed or denied anything so far. He could care less about family things, and children, and the like.
"What about your representation?" James asked. He was stressed and struggling to keep calm through this whole thing. I could tell- the veins in his neck were straining against his shirt collar.
"I suppose we can settle for you Mr. Campbell seeing as Mr. Cullen does have a special circumstance we would never argue with."
I would have laughed seeing James' face when they said they were 'settling' for him if the hairs on the back of my neck hadn't stood on end at their odd request I work with them. I didn't get it, James and I were both good lawyers who got the job done. It shouldn't matter who represented them.
"Send us all the paperwork when you have it collected, Mr. Campbell. Good day gentlemen." Then in a practiced flourish they all stood to leave. Just as Aro was exiting the door behind his brothers he stopped and turned to the two of us sitting at the conference table. "And Mr. Cullen, you give your wife our best, and tell her we wish you both happiness as parents," he practically beamed at me before letting the door softly close behind him leaving James and I wondering what just happened.
"Well, and least we got three new clients." James was grinning from ear to ear. "Why do you think they were so insistent on you?" Ha, I just knew that ego of his was hurt a little.
"Because I scored three point higher than you on my Bar Exam than you," I deadpanned as I picked up my portfolio and headed straight to my office.
I didn't want to think about the Volturi Brothers anymore at the moment. I didn't want to think about how odd they were or how just being in the same room as gave me a feeling of uneasiness.
(Today)
Beep. Beep. Beep…
I slapped around on the bedside table until the damn alarm clock finally shut up. I felt even worse than I had yesterday.
"You should really reconsider going into work today. I think you'll scare your clients away," Bella giggled sleepily beside me.
"I'm not. I can't work on what I'm going to work on while at work." She looked at me puzzled waiting for me to elaborate. "I can't even think about dissolving a partnership down the hall from the man, honey."
"Then I better start the coffee!" She squealed in delight, damn near falling out of bed in her haste to get up, giving me a hard kiss before running downstairs to the kitchen.
I took my time heading to get dressed. I even washed my face, well, scrubbed all the skin cells off of it would be more like it. I didn't want to have to do what I was doing, but I knew I had to. I had worked too hard and too long to build this firm for one man, no matter how close he was to me, to tear it all down.
We all knew Caius was guilty; James didn't have enough evidence to support his innocence for anyone to ever believe it. The only problem was that Maggie didn't have enough evidence to support his guilt either.
Stepping into the kitchen there was Bella standing over the stove whipping up the bacon and eggs I smelled from up stairs.
"Smells fantastic, Baby… I should engage in illegal activities more often." All she did was bat my hand away with the plastic turner in her hand as I tried to snatch a strip of bacon from the pan.
"Any more and you'd end up thrown in jail, and then were would I be? No, you'll have to find some other way to entice me from heavenly sleep to make breakfast for you."
The rest of breakfast was spent in silence; reading the paper and eating, neither one of us wanting to confront anymore than we already had about what was going on at work.
I dropped a kiss to the top of her head before heading upstairs to help steal my resolve. If nothing else I was doing this for her.
"What do you have for me, Jenks? Please tell me you have something." I heard his chuckle on the other end of the line, and papers shuffling, so I knew he had succeeded.
"Well, you have no idea what I had to do to get this, and you probably won't ever truly understand. I was going to go about this how I normally do, however," his voice was something akin to grave; I didn't like it one bit, "once I spoke with Maggie over dinner I started the coffee, and have been working ever since. Edward, you sure can pick 'em. In all honesty I have been itching to get my hands on these Volturi characters, so to say I was excited would have been an understatement. There is so much interesting 'erased' video footage that has been most entertaining."
"Jenks…" I tried to keep the irritation out of my voice. This was my career I was tampering with here.
"Calm down, my boy, I'm getting to it. Now… the video footage recovered from Miss Tanner's apartment building had been nothing but snow, correct?"
"Yes, there had been some malfunction. No one knew what caused it, but they had been having technical problems for a while so it wasn't perused. What is you point?"
"My point is that if your price is high enough, and your sources are deep enough, you can find out anything you want, like the fact that the security footage was working just fine."
"Are you saying that the Volturi paid someone to destroy the tapes?"
"That is exactly what I'm saying."
"Jenks! You have no idea… I-I"
"Hold it! I'm not done. You have got to love the young people today. They are the most greedy and back-stabbing, lying bunch of misfits ever."
"Jenks, I will be sending you my hospital bill when I am admitted for my blood pressure spiking. Just tell me what the hell you have found!"
"As I said, young people… absolutely no patience for the art of anticipation. That college kid they paid off figured he could get twice the price for the tape if they thought it had been destroyed…"
"You didn't!"
"I did. Now I don't have much else in this short amount of time. What you do with this information is up to you. You just have to know I had nothing to do with this legally and we are good."
"And what am I suppose to tell them as to how I came to be in possession of this tape?"
"Easy, that same college boy is going to swear on a stack of Bibles that the famous Chicago lawyer, Edward A. Cullen, himself was the one to start digging around. He was even blabbing about how he was only doing it so as to impress Miss O'Casey to join his firm, since everyone knows his partnership with Mr. Campbell is on shaky ground." I could hear the smirk in the old bastard's voice. I had to hand it to him he was good. He was very good.
"Jenks, has anyone told you recently you are a genius? They should. Keep looking to see what else you can find; I want to bury this for good."
"Will do," and with that he hung up without another word.
I was abuzz with something like excitement as I sat at my desk dumbfounded as to what just happened. Jenks had just solved the case overnight. This was what Mags had been looking for and unable to find. She knew something was out there. Jenks just had friends in low enough places to find it.
I knew I had to do something. I had to go to the authorities with this; I had to go to someone with this. I kissed Bella good-bye before getting in my car and picking up the files from Jenks office. I must have sat in my car for an hour outside my office before I had the courage to go in.
I didn't know what would await me once I got in there. Just yesterday I had gotten into a slug match with my partner. There was blood on the carpet, for Christ's sake! That wasn't something that didn't have any repercussions.
"Good morning Vicki, Irina," I said walking out of the elevator and past their desks, albeit a little shakily. I didn't really know what I was doing here.
"Miss O'Casey's office please," I said into the phone. "No, I don't have an appointment. Tell her Edward Cullen is on the phone." I hated dealing with secretaries, but it was unavoidable- we all had them.
I waited several minutes for the desk prick to go and tell her I was waiting. Good secretaries were so very hard to find these days.
"Good afternoon, Edward. Sorry to keep you waiting my new assistant is still getting acclimated to how things run around here. To what do I owe this call?" One thing I loved about Mags was that she didn't beat around the bush or sugar coat anything.
"I have some evidence that I believe you would be most interested in taking a look at in regard to the State of Illinois vs. Caius Volturi case."
"Oh, really? And why, may I ask, would you ever want to share evidence with me? Anything that I would be interested in would put your client behind bars, Mr. Cullen?" She only called me Mr. Cullen when she was getting pissed.
"Caius Volturi is not my client, and I want justice to be served. If justice lands him in a prison cell, then so be it. When do you have time for me to drop by?" There wasn't a response right away.
"I'm free in an hour. I would have you come right over, but I happen to have a meeting in five minutes. I'll tell my assistant to let you in lest she send you to wait out by the curb. If I didn't know better I'd say you wronged her in another life. She hasn't been so brusque with anyone since she's worked for me."
I chuckled to myself. I had that effect on a lot of people. "What is your assistant's name?"
"Tanya Greene." I damn near dropped the phone.
"Oh, umm, okay, yeah, uhh…" Dear Lord even after all these years I still get all clammed up just hearing her name.
"Are you alright Edward? Do you know her? I can come by your office if I'm going to have World War Three on my hands." That was such a Maggie thing to say. Only she could make concern for me sound like it was my fault.
"No, no I'll be fine, I knew her in high school, things didn't end well. Anyway, I'll be over to your office in an hour. See you then."
I didn't need the added pressure of seeing Tanya to my day. I sorted through things on my desk, and opened the folders Jenks had given me. I decided to take a look at the video footage.
Sure enough it was the concrete evidence that had been eluding the prosecution. Maggie would owe me big for this. I needed to make sure we got this to the authorities as well. This wasn't something anyone fooled around with.
"Mr. Cullen, your wife is here to take you to lunch," Irina said from my door. I had no idea how Bella knew where I was or how she happened to know I was starving, but I wouldn't even be complaining. I needed a mind break right now before I went and faced Miss O'Casey.
Bella and I went to this little deli just down the block since I was on a timeline. We chatted about a few things, never once even getting near what I was doing at work. That normally wasn't hard, but I could just see Bella chomping at the bit to ask how this particular day had gone. I'd have to talk more with her once we were home this evening.
"Did your doctor's appointment go okay this morning? Where they able to run all the tests and things they wanted to?" Bella hadn't been feeling one hundred percent, and I was worried about her. I had always thought morning sickness was just a metaphorical thing women talked about at lunch parties.
"Yes, everything went okay. Dr. Randall said everything is progressing beautifully so far. I'm still so early on that anything could happen, but it's all normal." Bella's smile was radiant. I don't think she had stopped smiling since she found out she was pregnant.
"That's good. Did you ask him about the morning sickness?" I asked while getting up and getting ready to walk us out the door.
She rolled her eyes at me, "Yes, and he said exactly what I said, morning sickness is normal. Only if it gets unbearable, which he said is probably wouldn't, would I need to be concerned."
She walked with me back to my building before kissing me good-bye. She was going baby shopping with Rosalie, since she couldn't take Alice another day.
"Hey, Irina. Where's Victoria?" Those two were always inspirable.
"She went to run something over to James. I don't know what is was, but whatever she had couldn't wait. It might have been something he needed, but I don't know? How was lunch? Is Bella okay? Do you need anything, sir?" Dear God did this woman ever take a breath? I swear her and Alice must be cut from the same cloth.
"Bella is doing great, I don't need anything right now, I'll just be in my office. Thanks Irina."
Sitting down at my desk I busied myself checking my e-mail and playing one round of solitaire before leafing through the papers scattered across my desk. That was when I noticed something missing- rather an entire folder missing.
"Irina who has been in my office?"
"No one, oh wait, Victoria went in to drop off a few messages or something before she went to find James. That's it, besides the mail guy. Why?"
"Nothing, uhh, did Tori leave my office with anything? A folder perhaps."
"No, not that I noticed. Is something wrong? I could-"
"No, no I'm sure I just misplaced it. Don't worry about anything."
If only that were true, there most certainly was something for me to worry about. I don't know how Victoria could have even have found out I had those files from Jenks.
"Jenks I need another copy of the files I picked up from you this morning. I can come and pick them up. I'm already on my way I have a meeting with the prosecutor in just a few minutes." There was a long pause that I did not like the sound of.
"I gave you the original copy. I keep nothing that could tie me to anything, Mr. Cullen. I'm sorry you had the sole copy. I can't help you."
"WHAT? I just… That was…" I couldn't even form a coherent sentence. The only evidence I was going to find to prove that bastard's guilt just had help in walking out of my office.
"I'm sorry, sir. I will keep digging for more information. Now, if you will excuse me I have another client waiting for me." As per usual I didn't even get a good-bye just a dial tone.
"Maggie? Hi, Edward. Look I had something come up, and I'm not going to be able to meet you today."
"What happened? You reconsider throwing your partner under the bus?"
"Not remotely. I no longer am in possession of the evidence," I managed to grit out between my teeth.
"My dear that is what they make safes for." I couldn't imagine how she was not seething as well unless by some act of God she managed to find more evidence or another angle or something to do well in court today. Or the gravity of the situation hadn't hit home yet. I was hoping for the first, but knew the latter was probably the most likely.
"You get this straightened out Cullen, and call me when you are ready to have this meeting," she said before she hung up.
I slumped forward in my seat resting my head against the smooth wood of my desk. I didn't know what I was going to do at the moment. The offices had no video footage, just audio footage. If whoever took those files hadn't made any noise I had no way of proving who it was.
Walking back out onto our floor from my office I glared at the etched window that read Campbell & Cullen Law Associates. I now hated that window. I was so fucking proud of it when it had been installed, now I wanted to knock it out with my fists. I was back at square one, and there wasn't a thing I could do about it.
"Edward, I need to speak with you in my office," James said as I passed by his open door. I paused briefly taking a deep breath. I was still sporting cuts and bruises from our last 'talk' in his office, and I thought Tor went to 'find him'? Nothing was making sense!
"What do you want?" I couldn't have kept the edge out of my voice even if I did have the desire to.
"What are these?" He asked with a sickening blasé demeanor. When I glanced to his hand holding up a very familiar file folder I knew why.
"How did you get those?" I knew better than to add to the explosion that was going to happen any second now by being the first to bring Tori into this conversation.
"Victoria was kind enough to procure them for me. Thoughtful wasn't it? For her to think I might want evidence pertaining to the case I am trying to win, don't you think?"
"James that would only aid the prosecution. You'd know that if you'd even opened the damn thing."
"Oh, how silly of you? Did you think I was going to actually turn this in as evidence? Why in hell would I ever want to do that? This is going to be destroyed as it should have been long ago." I hated it when he spoke to me like this, almost as much as I hated that god-awful smirk of his.
"James, you can't be serious! You can't do that. You can't just destroy evidence. That's not how this whole things works. I can't let you do this!"
"On the contrary, brother, you can and you will. You are not stopping me with this," he said as he held up the files again. "I also happen to know you can't do a thing about it. Don't even try to say you have another copy of these- I know you don't. Tori looked for me, and found nothing. So, you are going to march right out of here, and back into your office to work on your own case. Leave me and my clients alone." The false humor had all left from his voice; in its place was pure ice.
"James…"
"Get out unless you want a repeat of yesterday," he sneered as he pointed toward the door where I could see Victoria hovering outside.
Knowing he was fully serious I let him know I was just as serious before heading back to my office. This had just gotten so much worse than it had been originally, and that was saying a lot. That was why I didn't feel one ounce of regret as I picked up the phone.
"Hey, Siobhan! … Yeah, it's been a while. … Yeah, I'm doing just fine. … Yes, I have been keeping up with your daughter's court case. … Ha, yeah, I'm still trying to get her to come over to my law firm. … Bella is doing great. … That is good to hear that Liam is doing great in semi-retirement." One thing that Maggie definitely did not get from her mother was her chattiness. Siobhan O'Casey was a fantastic lawyer, but it felt like twenty questions before I finally could get to the reason for my call.
"So what can I do for you? I take it its not to talk about Bella's pregnancy. That was so wonderful to hear. You two are a terrific couple, and will be fantastic parents. Do you know what the baby is yet? That's always so exciting!" How she knew Bella was pregnant was beyond me, but this was Siobhan I was talking about.
"Siobhan, the reason I called was to discuss the partnership between James and I. I'm looking to dissolve it immediately."
There was a slight pause before she fired into action. "I have your contracts and agreements pulled up right here. Now… it looks as though there is a clause here that allows one partner to begin the separation of partnership and assets if the other is not in full cooperation with the original agreements stated in the partnership. …Is this the case?"
"Yes."
"I'll need to make note of that."
"I don't agree with his business practices. I believe him to be putting our law firm at unnecessary risks by taking on risky clientele."
"I assume you are referring to the Volturi Brothers, are you not?"
"Yes."
"I see. Well, I will begin drafting everything up, and will be back with you shortly. This should go pretty smoothly, everything is already in place. You should be able to sign the dotted line by the end of today."
"Thank you, I really appreciate this."
"I'm glad you are finally doing this. I have never liked that boy from the very beginning."
"You and Bella both, she'll be ecstatic."
"You should listen to the wisdom of your wife. You could have avoided this whole thing all together."
"Love you too, Siobhan, you never miss an opportunity to tell me 'I told you so'."
"What kind of woman would I be if I didn't? I will be in touch with you later."
After hanging up with our firm's lawyer I felt drained. I wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed, and wake up when this whole thing was over. However, that wasn't going to be happening. I still have a case on the docket for 5 days from now. So grabbing all my things pertaining to that case I decided to head home. I didn't want to be around when James got the phone call from Siobhan.
"Oh, you're home early?" Bella had a smile on her face like she knew what was going on. I wouldn't be surprised if she did, Siobhan loved Bella like a daughter even though they had only met a handful of times. She always said there was just something about her. I'd be willing to bet she couldn't wait to tell her the news.
"Yeah, I'm going to work from home the rest of the day. I still have my case to get together for next week."
"I hope everything works out for Alex. He's such a good man. He didn't deserve that whole thing to happen to him." I smiled involuntarily at my wife. She was always so concerned about every one of my clients, always reading about them in the papers and sending them cookies and shit, even though she never knew any details of my cases from me.
I just nodded and continued up the stairs. I didn't have long before I had James on the phone screaming at me or worse yet beating down my door screaming at me. Either way I only had a few more hours of peace to get some work done.
After going through about twenty pages of documentation my phone rang.
"Cullen."
"Always so professional. I have everything in order. I left a message on James' work phone and faxed over everything. I figured you could use a good nights sleep before you faced what's surely coming to you." I let out a grateful breath. I loved this woman, she thought of everything.
"Thank you so much, Siobhan. You have no idea how much this means to me."
"You should be getting a fax yourself. Sign everything and make it official and I'll see you bright and early tomorrow."
"Thank you again. See you tomorrow. Goodnight."
Feeling much better I went to find Bella who was in our room getting ready for bed.
"You look exhausted."
"That's because I am. I dissolved a partnership today… well, mostly dissolved it. I signed the papers, now all that's left is James' signature and it will officially be Cullen Law."
I don't know what I was expecting from Bella, but it was definitely less than what I got. I knew she detested the man, but I didn't know she detested him that much.
Running into me she threw her arms around my neck and kissed me good and hard.
"I see you are pleased, Mrs. Cullen." I couldn't help the smile that spread across my lips.
"Very."
I was too exhausted to do anything as I collapsed into bed, Bella knew it too, so she didn't let me try and convince her otherwise.
I woke up the next morning feeling like total shit. The combination of stress, a beaten body, and the knowledge of what I was going to face this morning, not making for an appealing cocktail. I didn't even pay attention to what I put on my body, as I got dressed. I just hoped I matched, and look halfway respectable.
Bella shoved a to-go mug of coffee in my hand along with my keys. Evidently Siobhan had already called and deemed me late- the one day James could have slept in, but no he had to be early. I had been hoping for a few minutes to calm down and collect my thoughts. It didn't look as though I'd be getting that this morning.
I shouldn't have been driving. I was too deep in thought to pay attention to the traffic around me. As always Chicago rush hour was horrendous, and by the time I made it up to our floor, I was a wreck.
"Edward, do you have any idea what this is going to do to my clients reputation?" I didn't need James yelling at me so early even though I had been expecting it. Not even turning to acknowledge him yet, I swallowed down two Excedrin 'Extra Strengths'. This was going to be a long ass day.
"A partner break-up right in the middle of a murder trial! Edward, are you serious? I don't need this right now! Everyone already thinks my client is guilty as it is." All I could think of was that I had seen the evidence that his client was guilty I didn't need to think that hard about it.
"We are going to do this sooner or later, and I'd much rather it be sooner. Let's just get this over with," I said as I held up a pen for him. He glared at me then at the pen in my hand. "I think this will be a good move for both of us. Just sign the papers, James, and we can get this whole thing behind us."
For a moment I didn't think he was going to say anything to me, and instead storm out of the office. However, I couldn't say he hadn't ever surprised me before.
"You better be glad I was offered a position in Stephan and Vladimir's firm just last week." I think I did a pretty good job at not releasing a sigh of relief. His words were intended to be cutting, but they were just the ones I wanted to hear.
With an angry hand he scratched his name onto the lines of the documents on his desk and ordered us out so he could pack up his things.
I waited until I was out in the hallway to let the grin take over my face, and give Siobhan a sudden hug. I felt like I could do anything right now. I felt free for the first time in a long time. Already knowing I had everything that I needed to work on at home I bid everyone good-bye and headed home to Bella. I had some extremely exciting news to share with her.
As I inhaled deeply, I could have sworn I smelled Bella, her familiar fragrance of strawberry and freesia. Last night's dream was so vivid and realistic that my mind had a hard time separating reality from subconscious wishing. In my dream she had been warm, and inviting, and so open to me, unlike how she has been over the last year or so. With my mind playing further tricks on me, I could even feel warmth in the bed next to me. I lay there, squeezing my eyes shut, so I wouldn't wake from this parallel universe, a universe where I wanted to be, a universe where my wife had bedded me in love and passion.
And then I felt it. A soft and warm body rolled itself and tucked into my side. I think I must have jumped three feet vertically in the air. What the hell was going on? I stared down into chocolate orbs that held confusion and hesitation.
"Bella…" I stammered out.
She stared blankly at me. I blinked in succession, then rubbed at my eyes, willing the image of my wife in our bed NOT to go away. When I reopened them, there she was.
"Oh, God, Bella… I'm so sorry…" I started. I can only imagine how I assaulted her in my sleep with the dream that I had.
She quirked her head to the side in confusion, then as if something dawned on her, a look of panic reached her eyes.
"Edward, no… it was me, I shouldn't have assumed that you'd want me after all this time," she began as she started to make her way off the other side.
"Want you? What?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Of course I wanted her, I was having a difficult time conceiving that it was actually her in the bed with me.
And then with vivid clarity, images of the night before came rushing back to me. This dream, this parallel universe was REAL. My wife, my Bella, came to me and allowed me to touch her intimately and in return touched me. Every caress was still lingering on my skin, every kiss and taste still on my tongue. How could I ever believe it to be a dream; NO imagination could conjure up the perfection that is Bella.
"It's just… well I felt… ready," she mumbled as she continued her exit.
"Please… don't…" I pleaded, both verbally and with my eyes. She turned to look at me, and must have seen my desperation, because she hesitated.
That hesitation was all I needed, a perfect opening, a doorway if you will. I knelt down on the bed and reached a tentative hand towards her.
"Don't leave… it just felt too sublime to be real and I reacted poorly, please… just stay," I managed to articulate. My brain and my heart were having a confrontation, I wanted with all my heart to touch her and caress her, but my mind was wary of her state of mind. I don't want to push her too far, too fast.
"Okay…"
"It's just… well, I thought I had dreamt you Bella. I never thought in a million years that you would want me in that way; I mean, I hoped with all that I have in me that you would, but I can understand why you wouldn't and I just… shit… this isn't coming out right at all," it was like verbal diarrhea just pouring out of my mouth.
"It's okay Edward, I think I understand. I shocked myself with my actions and wants last night; I'm just so glad you we were receptive to me in the way that you were."
"Receptive? Wait… what?" I wasn't understanding her.
"Look, Edward, really I understand… I changed, things have changed, and I took advantage of you and assumed that you'd still want me in that way. It's okay that you don't… I pushed you away for a long ti-" I cut her off.
"Took advantage of me? Bella… You. Did. Not. Take. Advantage. Of. Me." I annunciated every word. "I want you, God do I want you; no fuck that, I NEED you… last night was surreal, it was everything I'd dared to hope for, for so long… can't you see that? I'd thought I'd gone delusional because it had come true!"
"So you don't regret touching me?"
"I could never regret the gift you gave me last night, not ever. You are wonderful, and beautiful and brave and strong, and… shit… I just missed you so much!" I said as I made my way towards her on the bed.
I lay down and pulled her to me, still unsure of where our boundaries were, and slowly caressed her back. Her tension began to wane and I took that as a cue that it would be okay to proceed in showing her my affection. I pinched her chin between my thumb and forefinger lightly and pulled her face to mine.
I gazed into her eyes, looking for any signs of hesitation or negativity and found none. They were wide and sparkling, filled with anticipation. I closed the gap between us and gently kissed her soft lips.
So much emotion erupted at once, that slight contact brought forth wants and desires that we'd both long forgotten. But they had resurfaced with a vengeance. Bella immediately deepened the kiss, parting her lips and darting her tongue out to taste mine, while simultaneously reaching her hand up and gripping the hair on the back of my head.
As I kissed my wife with as much love as I could conjure up, she returned my actions with enthusiasm. She hitched her leg up over my hip and pulled our bodies flush. My body immediately responded, much to my embarrassment, because I didn't want her to think that I just expected a repeat performance of the previous night.
"Oh, Edward… I am so sorry I've been so distant and cruel to you," she mumbled into my mouth.
The previous year of rejection and pain seemed to melt away with her touch.
"Don't apologize… not anymore, I'm just so glad WE are here now, together."
With those words, with a physical strength I didn't know she possessed, she rolled me to my back and straddled me. I must have had a look of pure shock on my face in response to her will and strength.
She chuckled. "Um… I guess 'Operation Make Bella Stronger' is working, huh?"
Ah, yes, the tag team effort of my dear sister in law, Rosalie, and Bella's best friend, Jacob, to rebuild Bella into a stronger woman.
"Well I'm not so sure I'd want to go any rounds with you, that's for sure!"
A sly smile spread across her face. She leaned down with a mischievous smirk, and began kissing my neck. My already apparent arousal became even further engorged, in a way I didn't even know was possible. I attempted shifting Bella, in a way to conceal my want for her, but she was having none of that.
"Not a chance, Cullen," she stated, arching one eyebrow.
In one swift motion, my wife had me positioned at her entrance, and was hovering her face above mine.
I smiled her favorite crooked smile, because really, that's all I could do.
She leaned in and kissed me, slowly at first, but with building intensity and passion. As the kiss deepened, so did my manhood. A groan escaped my throat once I was fully sheathed inside. That feeling of oneness with Bella returned. I focused all of my attention on her every move and shift of her hips as she gyrated over me. It was almost too intense and too perfect for me to hold on, but something deep inside of me focused intently on her, and her need to do this.
Torn, between letting her control the entire situation, and my need to touch her, I hesitantly put my hands on her hips. Not so much to guide her, but to just feel more of her. In response, she sat up right, pushing me further into her, and grabbed my hands and placed them on her breasts. I took this as a cue to be more involved.
I kneaded the mounds of flesh and pinched at her nipples, elongating them and making them even perkier. I wanted to taste them badly. I sat upright, crossing my legs, and wrapped my arms around her slender waist, and pulled her chest to me. I began by taking her right nipple into my mouth and sucking and nibbling with the slightest of pressure.
Bella weaved the fingers of both hands into my hair and pulled my face further into her chest, and began rocking faster. As I continued, her movements fell out of rhythm and became more erratic. I knew she was close, so I reached my hand between us and used my thumb to rub her bundle of nerves, while I applied more pressure with my teeth on her nipple.
In just a few short thrusts, she hit her climax and her walls began clenching down on me and her arousal flowed freely. Lost in her orgasm, and in hopes of extending her pleasure, I grabbed both of her hips and grinded her body against my own, I sheathed myself in and withdrew out, over and over until my climax was unavoidable. Bella, sensing my release, grabbed both of my shoulders and slammed down on me one last time, sending me over the edge. She continued to rock her hips as her walls clenched again in another orgasm, and milked both of us until we were completely spent.
I shuddered as she finally stopped moving. Her body went limp on top of my own, and with a contented sigh from us both I drifted back to sleep.
"Edward, hurry up in the shower, we have to leave in 15 minutes to be at your parents!" Bella yelled as she entered the bathroom. She was in a nice pair of jeans and a blue v-neck long sleeved t-shirt, with heeled boots. Simple, but doing nothing for my resolve to want to go anywhere.
"I'm almost done," I said as I did one final rinse of the back of my body, and then shut the water off. I reached out of the shower and grabbed a towel to dry off. After drying, I wrapped the towel around my waist and stepped out.
Bella turned around and eyed me as I stood there. She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and bit ever so slightly; ungh, how that undid me.
"I suggest you knock that off if you want to leave the house anytime soon," I retorted. A red wave flowed up her chest and settled on her cheeks, as she looked away. "Not that I'm opposed to the idea of staying in."
"Behave," was all she responded with.
Ten minutes later we were in the car and on our way to my parent's home.
The changes in Bella were astounding. I was still trying to catch up and keep up with everything. The woman I could barely talk to back in Chicago didn't even resemble the woman sitting next to me in the car now.
I hadn't seen this woman in a very long time. The last time I talked to her was on the phone when I asked her to drop off files at James' house.
It seemed like a lifetime ago, when really it was only not long over a year ago. So much had changed. Things had changed that I swore nothing would ever happen to. Nicholas, Natalie, and… Isabella.
I had found it easier in the past months to refer to the three of them by the names no one ever used for them. It made everything seem… abstract, like it wasn't my family that was torn apart, rather someone else's.
I would never get my children back, but I now had Bella back. I'd be damned if I ever lost her again. She was the one I could fight for, and by God I would fight for her.
"Edward? You all right? You seem… distracted." Bella's quiet query pulled me out of my dark thoughts. She was here now I needed to focus on that.
"I'm fine. Still reeling from everything that's happened, but I'm fine now," I said softly into the dark car as I picked up her hand and kissed the back of it.
I maneuver the long drive of my childhood home with ease even in the dark. Most people would have blown right by the driveway, but years of practice let you learn from experience.
Sure enough Mom and Dad are waiting for us on the front steps. So much like a very different time we pulled up in this same spot, less than two years ago, but a lifetime nonetheless for a very different reason.
"Oh it's so good to see you both!" My mother gushes as she pulls both Bella then me into a tight hug. This past year has been so hard on her. Family being so important, not being able to see us didn't treat her well.
Dad is as always a bit more reserved in his welcome, but we both feel his love for us also. Bella had been like a daughter to him since her first visit to his emergency room. It's one of his favorite stories to tell of her. She'd said he was handsome. Proudest day of his life I think even if Bella still blushes when she hears it.
Dinner is nice. Just like old times I suppose. Conversation somehow flows easily while also avoiding the areas surrounded by red tape.
We don't talk about the past several years. We don't talk about the twins, we don't talk about her kidnapping, we don't talk about her depression, and we don't talk about the future beyond tomorrow's weather report.
We make it all the way to dessert before I notice something I hadn't previously, the effects of time. In the middle of bringing another forkful of apple pie and ice cream to my lips I see them. I see the tiny little things that are the evidence that this past year has existed.
I see it most in my parents, before they seemed timeless, like they would never age. From the first I could remember they hadn't really changed in my eyes. Now… now I could see it. The tiny little wrinkles spreading across their once smooth faces. The little gray hairs that were mixed into the hair color they had always had. The few extra pounds my dad had put on.
It's now that I see how they look… tired, as if they have seen so much and been through so much that it is finally creeping up to the surface.
All those little things that I hadn't ever taken notice of before. Briefly I wonder why. That is until another thought occurs to me, and I whip my head around to look at Bella in the same light.
I hadn't noticed her looking any different. She still looked liked my same Bella that I fell in love with.
However, this past year didn't leave her completely untouched either. Looking at her now I notice how loose her once tailored clothes fit her. The shine to her hair isn't quite there anymore. She too carries the look of having to endure things beyond her years. I want nothing more than to undo all those things.
The one common denominator I manage to see, though, is the same smile that hasn't left her since I first stepped off that plane is also with my parents.
No matter what we've all been through, and no matter what we all want to forget we're still happy. We have each other, and if only for this moment everything is good.
I know right now that tomorrow, when I have to get on that plane that it's not going to kill me. I'm not going to want to leave her anymore than I do now, but I can step on that plane not knowing what the future will hold, but knowing I finally have my wife back.
I can get on that plane tomorrow knowing that when she's ready she'll come back to me because she loves me.
RPOV
"Jenks, I absolutely NEED you to get me something and soon," I demand. This man is killing me. I need information and I need it yesterday.
"Doc, I think I have some things I need to share with you, that date back before you asked me to look into this." He begins, while nervously adjusting his tie.
I arch my eyebrow at him, Emmett refers to it as my bitch brow, and who am I to complain, it has intimidated and convinced many people I've came across and I know how to use it.
"Well," I hedge.
"Well, I need to give you some history and then I have some photo's I would like to show you." He adjusts in his chair uncomfortably. "I'm not sure if you noticed when you asked me to look into Mr. Cullen's prior partner, Mr. Campbell, but I was taken aback by it. You see, some months ago, Mr. Cullen himself came to me, you had referred him, you advised me he would be a real pain in my ass…"
"Yes, I recall that."
"Well, I did find some pretty incriminating evidence against Mr. Campbell's client, and turned it over to Mr. Cullen, now this evidence never went public to my knowledge, and I was almost certain that was Mr. Cullen's intentions for it. I know their law firm dissolved shortly after I gave it to Mr. Cullen, so I think that might be pertinent for you to know. Mr. Campbell's reputation and dealings are quite 'shady' to say the least, and I'm not sure what you are looking for on him, but who he works for and the access he has by having those connections worry me greatly for everyone involved."
Jenks has always been a bit concerned about my safety, one of the reasons I think he goes above and beyond what I ask of him to be sure all is well when I have him look into something, but this is different. THIS time there is fear in his eyes, and I don't think its fear for just my safety, he may be fearing for his own as well. What in the hell is going on here?
"I'm not following you Jenks, what are you trying to say?"
"Doc, I think you might be getting in over your head on this one, and I'm nervous to be perfectly honest. The evidence I found, that Mr. Cullen has, or at least had, would have proven Mr. Campbell's client, Caius Volturi guilty in that murder case, and I'm not sure if Mr. Cullen is holding it over Mr. Campbell's head, or what happened, but I can tell you this… the Volturi Brothers… well you just don't mess with them Doc… you just don't!" there was a hedge of panic in his voice.
"The Volturi Brothers, Jenks? Really? They are just a bunch of spoiled rich boys, socialites pretending to have power, they are in the tabloids all the time, and Caius is just a putz, I don't know how he got off on that case, but it was probably incompetence, he's NOT the brightest crayon in the box. He's doesn't have the intellect or the wherewithal to kill another person." I state matter of fact like.
"That's what Aro wants everyone to think, that's how he plays it off. But make no mistake, they aren't just socialites getting away with murder, they are much more than that, and I think you should back away now while you can."
"If you know something about James Campbell that I can link to what happened to my best friend, Isabella, there is no way I'm backing out. Dammit, Jenks, she said 'James', she was brutalized beyond description, the torment she suffered, IF you know something you had best tell me!" I am seething, is Jenks telling me that Edward's ex-partner, who I thought just suffered from making ill decisions, could be the 'James' that did this to Bella?
"I don't have any proof of that particular incident, but I am saying this Doc… James Campbell isn't exactly bright, but he's got some backing with the Volturi Brother's. Aro Volturi is very powerful in the Chicago area, and the rumors that float around him, well let's just say that most have a basis of fact to them, and IF James Campbell had found himself in a situation like you are describing with your best friend, I can assure you that he would go to Aro to make it disappear." His eyes are imploring, he's trying to say something without actually saying the words.
"Okay, okay… I get it, be safe… watch your back, stop digging. But Jenks that's what I have you for, I'll keep my nose clean of this, if you can just dig a little deeper and find me something, if James Campbell did this to Bella, I'm going to find him and castrate him myself!" I concede, sort of. "Now, you mentioned something about pictures?"
"Ah, yes… I wanted to show you proof of Mr. Campbell's association with the Volturi Brother's. So at a social event, I believe Marcus's children's birthday party, I got pictures of James interacting with the entire family." He says as he pulls a manila folder from his brief case.
I take the folder and start scanning the pictures. 8X10 black and whites. I recognize James immediately, he still looks like the weasel he always did, and I see Caius Volturi, whom I recognize from the tabloids, as well as the two lesser known brothers, Aro and Marcus. They are all pretty irrelevant pictures, just as he said, a kid's birthday party, noting nothing special about other than there are a bunch of men there and they are all in suits looking very stiff. Then that strikes me as odd, if this is a child's party, where are the other children? I keep flipping through the pictures, and I see an attractive woman tending to two children, one boy and one girl, and both are in party hats.
"Jenks, I thought you said this was a kid's party, I only see two children in all these photo's," I begin.
"Oh, yes, those are Marcus and Didyme Volturi's twins, Jane and Alec, it was their party, and let's just say the family doesn't let many people get near them. You see, Didyme had a very hard time conceiving, her and Marcus tried everything, everyone refers to them as 'Aro's gift' because he was so supportive of their infertility treatments, not just financially, but emotionally as well. He's quite fond of those kids."
"It would appear that way, from these pictures, and of course the nickname. Aro Volturi couldn't be all that bad, when he's so caring and attentive to his niece and nephew like this," I say pointing to a picture of all of the Volturi's gathered around the celebrating twins.
"Oh, he has a special attachment to them, that's for sure, VERY protective of them, I guess black market children are expensive and he's just looking out for his investment." Jenks rambles off.
"Excuse me?" I implore, completely baffled at his insinuation of the children. I mean, surely you can't just buy children like that, even though they don't look anything like any of the Volturi family.
Jenks chuckled, "Ah, well, yes… Aro spent a small fortune trying to help Marcus and Didyme have children, and there's no proof of course, other than their looks, but a while back, Marcus and Didyme disappear for a few months, come back and they have twins, that are a few months old. Of course, they say she was in a specialty clinic, getting the best care, and the twins came early and that's why no one noticed her pregnant, but word has it, that is all fabrication. Didyme wanted children, Marcus will give anything to Didyme, and Aro will do anything for Marcus… thus 'paid for babies', no one directly talks about it, but it's physically obvious those children are NOT Marcus's and Didyme's biological kids, they have no resemblance… here wait, I have that shot in color as well." He reaches for his briefcase and produces the same picture I'm looking at, but in color.
"I see what you are saying about the lack of resemblance," I manage as I pale and my heart stops.
A/N (Jessi): 1.) Can I say it? I should. I have to. 'DunDunDun!' Danna. With that ending I think every single person is on the edge of their seats. Props to you! Love it! I'm biting my nails, and I'm writing the next chapter. You're good, you're very good.
2.) Okay. So y'all are probably wondering what took us so long. We'll I'm sorry for that. There wasn't a whole lot we could do about that. Real Life caught up with us. I really have nothing to whine about compared to everything in a very long e-mail from Danna that left me crying like I just read a chapter from this story, but that is her story to tell at her choosing. For now I just need to thank her for everything she has put into this story. Little pieces of us get scattered through this whole thing for good or for bad I don't know, but I'd like to think it's not the latter. I also need to thank our wonderful Beta Songster. You keep us on the straight and narrow how Danna does me. Thanks billions to you both! Also thanks to our readers! What's a story without people to read it? Thanks to all you as well!
A/N#2 (danna0724): ~~~ is a TOTAL FAIL! I am truly sorry for the delay, it is entirely my fault. And JessiBel is sensitive, that's why she cried ;o) ILY BB… ya big softy! And to Songster, who is AWESOMESAUCE!
Okay readers PSA: for all the females out there, go get your Pap! It is vital, uncomfortable yes, but well worth it. Stuff can sneak up on you, even if you are a good girl (like me) and go yearly! I wasn't even a due for my yearly, when I was diagnosed with cancer down there, I found a lump, doc tested, it's cancer, they remove it, it's got friends up 'inside', yada yada yada… so on my little journey (which I'm on, and fighting btw) I have found that MANY of my friends have gone YEARS w/o having their yearly women's physical. I was BAFFLED! ASTONISHED I tell ya! FLOORED! So please, love yourself enough, to go make sure your vajayjay is good! MUST take care of the vajayjay! It's VITAL for sex and stuff ;o) nuff said!
*jumps off soap box*
Okay, I'm done w/ that, now, onto what is really WONDERFUL~~~ me begging… please, I implore of you, hit that review, and tell us what you think?