Here's a reposted Chapter 3. I hope you enjoy it:

You come in cold

You're covered in blood

They're all so happy you've arrived

The doctor cuts your cord

He hands you to your mom

She sets you free into this life

And where do you go?

With no destination, no map to guide you

Wouldn't you know

That it doesn't matter, we all end up the same

These are the chronicles of life and death and everything between

These are the stories of our lives, as fictional as they may seem

We come in this world, and we go out just the same

Today could be the worst day of your life

(Good Charlotte-The Chronicles of Life and Death)

BPOV

I don't like loud music or flashy cars. I rarely spend my money and I really detest people that spend theirs unnecessarily. Edward Masen represented everything that I hated and on top of everything else, he'd left a dead body on the edge of town, probably falsely assuming Charlie would dispose of it for me. His assumptions really pissed me off.

"Bella, Masen vuole un incontro con noi."

"A meeting? With me? With us? So he can hand me another body to deal with? I don't think so."

"It may be a good idea. He's seen all of our faces."

"That doesn't matter. Quit prodding me before I lose my temper Rose and Alice."

They wanted this meeting, and truth be told, I knew that it needed to happen more than they did. I was just thinking it over in truth. A meeting with Edward Masen would prove to be full of nothing but angry Italian and a lot of threats. Still, I had to make sure he wasn't joining up with the Pack. I was told Royce King was going to be there. Everyone knew he was a hired gun and he was only being called in to find if his loyalty was with the Pack or if he was strictly freelance still.

"Call Masen. Digli che incontriamo oggi, qui, e che meglio non essere in ritardo. Quattro."

He'd better not be late to our four o'clock meeting. I despised tardiness. I made sure to walk to my car then. My truck was reliable but rusty and I didn't see myself buying one in the near future as long as this one ran regularly. I dreaded meeting Masen. He liked fast cars and the women that liked to ride in them. He smoked some of what he sold. There were just too many things I didn't like about him for this meeting to go well.

EPOV

I knew she'd meet with me. I just didn't think it was going to be so fast. I thought it would take a couple more bodies for her to see things my way. I'd keep that in mind. Bella ma Mortale and their leader weren't predictable. It wasn't something I liked, but it was something I could deal with.

"Masen, Questo incontro migliore lavoro."

"Don't worry. This will work. Who's been teaching you Jasper?"

"Emmett. How is it?"

"Pretty good for an American."

I smiled at him and then put my usual hard exterior back in place. The women would be here soon. Women had no place in the same business as Le Belle Re, but sometimes they insisted on it. Isabella was one of those women. I needed to show her nothing but grace and hospitality if I expected her to take my views on matters of business.

"Essi sono qui"

I nodded. I could hear the unmistakable roar of the elderly engine that alerted me to Swan's presence and I didn't like it one bit. Whatever vehicle that sound belonged to, didn't need to come near my Aston. Veronica was my baby. Before I could blink, six or seven blonde and brunette women jumped out of the cab of an old pickup, surrounding who I could only assume was their leader. Whoever she thought she was, she was short and she didn't seem to mind making me wait.

"Torna fuori tutti. You can let him see me."

She spoke fluent Italian. That wasn't good. Whatever it is I wanted to say to my men couldn't be said in front of her or her little band of misfits.

"I see that you speak mia lingua, Bella."

"Actually, it's Isabella. Your blatant flattery is only making me want to leave faster."

She was witty. I would need to file that away for later.

"Cut the crap and get to the meeting. I have another appointment and this better not take too long."

I nodded my head in reply.

"Seguimi signore."

I led them inside the warehouse then. I made another mental note. After this meeting we'd have to find another building. I knew Bella ma Mortale was noting everything around them. Isabella was just as observant as I was. Looking at her I could tell she was an effective leader. By now, she'd probably know exactly how to get here, how many exits there were, and she was probably also smart enough to know we killed Crowley here as well.

"Come in. Have a seat,"

"Noi preferiamo stare en piedi."

Fine. She could be standoffish and refuse to have a seat if she liked. That just meant that things would be over sooner. For the benefit of Jasper, I switched over to english.

"You sound like a woman that doesn't handle bullshit well. That being the case, I'll just get straight to it. How is your alliance going with the Pack?"

"E non esiste."

Her Italian response assured me that she wasn't aware Jasper didn't speak a lick of Italian and that she didn't know the origins of Le Belle Re. She did however assure me that she detested those reservation dogs.

"Good. Is it safe to say we can keep it that way?"

"E perché dovrei farlo?"

Women always wanted to know why us Men wanted them to do something. I saw here that Isabella was no different.

"Because you hate them as much a we do."

"You or Them?"

I could tell her curiosity was starting to overwhelm her because she'd rushed the words out in english. I gave her a dazzling smile.

"Us."

She smiled back at me. It was nice to know she smiled after all.

"So I can trust this meeting will remain with us?"

"Only if you can explain why Royce King is here."

She was perceptive. I liked that.

"We need to do clean up on the Crowley family. The Crowley's are from Forks, so I need you to plant a rumor that they left. You know. So that none of us are implicated in the end."

"And if I don't?"

"Royce will make sure Charlie torna manca qualcosa la prossima volta che va a caccia."

Threatening Isabella Swan's loved ones was not beneath me. Threatening the loss of one of his limbs was almost second nature.

Well, there you have it. As always, please R&R. Let loose people.

Lots of love,

-V