"Okay so the Denalis are a family pretty similar to ours in numbers and power." Edward set his cup of coffee down as he slid into a booth by the window. "They run the Miami area."
"Are we…friendly with them?" I sat down opposite of him. He'd gone back to being his usual distant cold self this morning when we headed out to get coffee. Aro told him to take me on a tour of some of the Volturi hot spots for action and talk to me about the Denalis. Of course I'd already seen most of the "hot spots" while I was patrolling or on backup with Jake.
"Eh." He tilted his head to the side as he took a sip. "We're friendly, but you know how they say keep your friends close and your enemies closer?"
I nodded.
"That's basically what its like. They're our most powerful ally, which also makes them our most powerful enemy. We're always suspicious, always watching them, even if we're sitting around drinking wine together. But that's how it is with everyone in the business. The only ones you can trust are those in your own family…and even then…" His eyes narrowed at me as he trailed off.
I gulped loudly. Maybe a little too loudly. If he was suspicious of me already then I was toast. Say something Bella. Anything.
"Like the last guy." Crap. Wrong thing to say. I wasn't ready to talk about Jake with Edward. Not yet.
"The last guy?"
"Yeah. My predecessor. The one you had to burn." I took a sip of my coffee.
"Oh." He shook his head. "Right. I wasn't in the family then. But I heard about it. Turns out he was a cop. Asshole thought he could outsmart people like us." Edward chewed idly on his red plastic coffee stirrer as he gazed out the window. "Ah well." He began to stand. "One less for us to worry about. Shall we?" He gestured towards the door.
I stood up and tossed my cup in the trash before exiting the coffeehouse. It was nearly dinnertime when we got back to the penthouse. Edward slowed after we exited the elevator. His movements became apprehensive and cautious as he put his arm back to pull me behind him.
"Edward. What are you doing?"
"Shut up." His eyes never left the front door as he drew a handgun from inside his coat pocket.
Slowly, he inched towards the door. I gasped when I realized it was partially open. Inside it was completely black, no light at all. My mind began to race with worry. Jasper. Emmett. They were both in there. And what about that nice girl I met earlier. What if something happened to them?
The door squeaked as Edward pushed it open slightly with the barrel of his gun.
"Stay here," he whispered to me.
"No," I said in a harsh whisper. There was no way in hell I was staying here by myself.
"Stay. Here." He said through clenched teeth.
"Stop telling me what to do." I pushed myself past his restrain and into the dark room.
"Bella stop!" He ran out and threw himself in front of me again.
"Do you know what time it is?" This snickering voice came from the right. It sounded oddly familiar.
"Wait what day is it?" Edward turned to me.
"It's….Thursday."
He laughed, dropping his grip on my waist.
"Why are you laughing right now?" I stomped my foot.
"It's Thursday."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"It's Shootout Night."
"What's shootout night?"
Before he could answer, the lights suddenly flicked on as Jasper and Emmett ran towards us. I screamed in surprise and grasped at Edward only to be pelted by a stream of water shooting from the Super Soakers that the boys were holding.
"Run!" Edward laughed as he pushed me into our hallway and into the bathroom. He slammed the door behind us as I began ringing out my hair.
"What the hell…"
"It's Shootout." He reached under the sink and pulled out two huge water guns. "We play it every Thursday." Edward bent over the sink, filling them both up. "I guess it's us versus them. You ready?" He tossed a gun my way.
"I guess." I pumped the gun a few times.
"First team to completely soak the other wins." He peaked his head out the door.
"Come out you pussies!" Emmett laughed from behind the couch. They had it flipped up on its side and the pillows taken off it and arranged like a fort.
"Why…exactly do you do this?"
"Because its fun." He smiled his crooked smile. For some reason it made me incredibly happy that he was so giddy about a stupid game.
He threw the door open and we charged into the living room fearless.
A half hour later I was crouched behind the bar in the kitchen, watching the room cautiously. Edward and I had been separated about ten minutes ago and I haven't seen either of the enemy clan since then.
"We might have something of yours Bella…." Emmett laughed and peaked his camo painted face out of the pillow fort.
"And what's that?" I yelled back as I pumped my water gun a few times.
"Don't listen to them Bella. Just let them take me!" I peaked my head around the corner of the bar. Edward was sitting just outside the fort with his hands tied behind his back. Emmett had the gun pointed to the back of his head.
"Surrender or the chump gets it!"
"Don't do it!" Edward yelled back. "We don't surrender…..ever." Edward nodded towards me as I heard a slight movement behind me. I whipped around, gun pointed and shot a steady stream of water into Jasper's face.
"Damn it!" He threw down his Super Soaker.
"What the hell Jazz? You let a girl get you!" Emmett started throwing a temper tantrum.
I grabbed Jasper's gun and mine and ambushed Emmett, who was in the middle of stomping around. It was over within a matter of seconds.
"Very impressive," Edward said as I untied his arms.
"Thanks."
There was a knock at the door and Demetri entered the apartment.
"Aw man. You played Shootout without me?" He seemed genuinely disappointed.
"Sorry D. You got replaced and outplayed by a girl." Emmett slapped him on the back. "She didn't even fall for the surrender attack."
"Thanks for making me look bad gorgeous." He winked at me.
"Sorry," I shrugged my shoulders.
"So what are you doing tonight?" It seemed like he was asking everyone, but his eyes stayed on me.
"Umm. I don't know….nothing." I looked around for an answer.
"Well then you should come to Tony's with us. All of you." Demetri smiled.
Edward's eyes narrowed at Demetri. They were stern, cold again. This guy and his mood swings were totally throwing me for a loop. One second he's laughing and having a good time with his buddies, the next he's giving this guy a death stare. I didn't understand it.
"Did someone say Tony's?" Alice flitted into the room and into Jasper's arms. "Babe you're all wet. What happened?"
"Bella wasted me in Shootout."
"You're kidding? Nice job Bella." She reached out and gave me a high five. "So Tony's? We're going right?"
"What's Tony's?"
"A stupid bar," Edward said flatly. He leaned against the wall crossing his arms.
"It is not!" Alice protested. "Oh my God Bella it's so much fun we have to go!" She grabbed at my arms.
"Oh Alice, I would but I don't…really have anything to wear."
"Bella. You're talking to me. I have a whole closet full of things for you to wear. Give me your next excuse that I will have some solution to."
"Okay fine. But as long as everyone goes." I turned to the boys.
"I'm in," Emmett said.
""You know if Alice goes then I'm going," Jasper conceded.
The man leaning against the wall brooding was silent.
"Edward?"
"Fine. Whatever." He stalked off.
"Yay!" Alice started jumping up and down. "Bella you go take a shower and I'll go pick out some clothing options. Boys go get ready. We'll rendezvous back here in an hour and a half." She shushed me down the hallway towards the bathroom.
Ten minutes later I heard the door open as I was washing the shampoo out of my hair.
"Edward?"
"No it's Alice silly. Why would it be Edward?" I heard her opening drawers and clanking things together. That was embarrassing. I'd just been so used to Edward coming in when I was in here, it was like second nature. I'd even come in here a few times to brush my teeth while he was in the shower.
"Okay do you like red, blue, black, or silver?"
"For what?"
"Just pick one Bella."
"Okay silver." I reached out and grabbed a towel to wrap around myself.
A small piece of silver fabric flew in front of my face.
"What the hell is that?"
"Your dress."
"Where's the rest of it?"
"This is it silly."
I shook my head. "Alice I can't wear that, are you kidding me?"
"Put it on. Now. You wanted me to dress you. I'm dressing you."
I pushed the dress away. "No Ali-."
"Bella." Her eyes seared into mine.
"Fine." I turned and slipped the dress on as I dropped the towel.
"Whee! Look at you. You are so beautiful Bella. Why do you always cover up?" She started adjusting the dress across my body. Then she started tugging at my hair. "Okay sit."
"Alice I can do my own hair."
"Nonsense. I'm giving you a makeover tonight. Just sit and relax. You're going to be a knockout."
An hour later I was walking, rather stumbling out of the bathroom in sky-high heels and this ridiculous dress. I didn't get a good look at myself before Alice ushered me out of the bathroom, but I'm sure I looked absolutely ridiculous.
Alice skipped ahead of me into the living room.
"Presenting the new and glamorous Bella!" She gestured grandly towards me as I stepped out meekly.
The boys and Demetri were standing around the bar taking shots. They all froze when their eyes settled on me. This was embarrassing. She must have made me look like a clown. I cleared my throat and debated running on the door, but opted for starting back towards the hallway.
"Bella where are you going?" Alice grabbed my arm and pulled me back out.
"Alice I look ridiculous. I mean look." I gestured back towards the boys, who were still speechless, mouths gaping.
"Bella they look like that because you look smoking hot. Not because you look bad." She tipped her head towards them. "Jasper stop staring and close your mouth." He took his shot and smiled sarcastically at her.
"Let's go boys, we're ready."
Alice pulled me directly to the bar once we arrived, shoving various shots of alcohol my way. I was drunk before we'd been there a half hour. I was a lightweight and I knew it, which was why I didn't frequent bars much. Jake and I had gotten a bunch of tequila the night of our graduation. That was the last time I'd been this drunk.
"Alish," I mumbled. "You can't let me drink….anything else." I exaggerated my point by throwing my hands out to the side. I accidentally popped Edward right in the side of the head.
"Edward!" I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, laughing hysterically. "I'm sorry. I'm a little tipsy."
"I can see that." There was no humor in his voice. "Alice I think she's had enough.. I'm taking her home." He put his hand on the small of my back and started to lead me towards the door.
"No!" I pushed him away. "I'm not ready to go yet! I haven't even danced." I pointed out to the dance floor.
"Bella."
"No Edward. I. Want. To dance." I strutted out on the dance floor to join Emmett and Rosalie, who had shown up the same time we did. This was definitely another indicator that I was drunk. I don't dance. At all. But there I was, shaking my groove thing all around the dance floor not giving a rat's ass. Alice and Jasper joined us as Edward took a seat at the bar, his eyes set on the dance floor.
I stuck my tongue out at him and turned away.
"Why is Edward just a dick sometimes?" I asked Alice.
"No clue. He's just like that. Ever since I first met him. I guess I've just grown immune to it." She danced away with Jasper. I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist and a body close behind me.
"Geez it's about time you stopped being a Scrooge." Without thinking I snaked my hands up and around his neck. But this neck was taller than Edward's neck should be. I felt up to his hair. Definitely not Edward's shaggy beautiful bronze hair. It was short, almost buzzed. I spun around.
"Demetri." I brought my hands down. "I thought you were Edward." I stumbled slightly to the side. His arms held me up.
"He doesn't dance as good as I do." He smiled and started dancing with me.
I started moving to the music too. It wasn't a big deal. We were just dancing. But then his hands drifted south from my waist. I pushed against his chest.
"Demetri. Stop." I pushed harder. He wasn't budging and his hands were roaming other places.
"Come on Bella. I see how you look at me." He leaned closer and kissed my neck. I couldn't escape. I was trapped. It didn't help that I couldn't put one foot in front of the other.
"Get. Off. Me!" I pushed harder.
"Get the hell off of her!" Edward yelled as he pulled Demetri's grip off me. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?"
"Mind your own business Edward." Demetri reached out for me again, but Edward stepped in between us.
"Back. The fuck. Off."
"Fine," Demetri said as he stomped off.
I started feeling dizzy. "Edward. Take me home. I need to go to bed." I stumbled forward and my knees gave out. He caught me and tried to help me walk. I blacked out as he scooped me up into his arms.
I finally came to just as we, or I guess he, was walking through the door to the penthouse.
"You can put me down," I said softly.
He looked down at me and nodded slightly before setting me on my feet. I was a little bit wobbly but able to stand at least.
"Hey Edward thanks…you know for what you d-"
"Don't worry about it," he interrupted.
"Okay." I looked down at my unsteady feet. "I think I'm going to go take a bath to wind down a little bit." I turned and stumbled down the hallway, occasionally bumping into the walls.
The bath was amazing, as usual. My eyes kept turning towards the door, waiting for him to come in. My heart stopped everytime I heard some movement outside the door. He never came.
I finally got out when my fingers started turning all pruney. I tried to wrap the towel around myself, which was quite difficult considering I was still drunk. As I reached for the door handle I heard loud voices from inside the apartment. I definitely heard Alice and Emmett. They all must be home. I paused. The voices eventually died down as they walked down their hallway. I was just about to exit the bathroom when the door creaked open and Edward rushed inside.
"Good. You're still in here."
"Yeah I was just heading to bed."
"Bella you can't sleep in your room."
"Why not?"
"Because I know Demetri. That little stunt he pulled earlier isn't going to be the end of it. He's out in the kitchen eating some leftovers right now waiting for everyone to go to bed."
"Well whatever, I'll lock the door." I started to push past him.
Edward grabbed my arm forcefully. "You don't think he knows how to pick a lock. He's a security expert."
I swayed to the left and right. All this drama was intensifying my drunken symptoms.
"Edward you're being ridiculous."
His eyes darted towards the kitchen. "You'll sleep in my room tonight. Come on." He grabbed my hand and led me towards his room, his eyes always fixed on the kitchen.
"Here you can wear these." He threw me the same pair of sweatpants of his that I'd worn earlier, as well as white wife beater tank top. He turned as I changed, almost falling multiple times.
When I turned around he had changed as well, or better yet just undressed. He only wore sweatpants similar to mine. My eyes lingered on his perfect bare chest. I'm pretty sure I unconsciously licked my lips. He was utterly delicious, even when he was being absolutely absurd. Stop thinking like that Bella, you're just drunk. Snap out of it. I shook my head.
"Umm. You can have the bed." His eyes gestured towards the large bed on the other side of his room.
"No that's okay I don't want to kick you out of your own bed."
"No I insist. I'll sleep on the floor." He took a pillow off the bed and grabbed an extra blanket out of his closet. I was half contemplating just telling him to sleep in the bed with me, but I held back. That'd be an awkward wakeup tomorrow.
"Okay fine." I crawled into his bed and settled in. I breathed deeply as the covers enveloped me. I turned my face in towards the pillow. It smelled like him. I smiled.
"Goodnight Edward."
"Uh. Goodnight." He sounded like he was taken aback by my words. He flicked off the lights and I heard him settle onto the floor.
I soon drifted off into a deep, much needed sleep, but not before I heard Demetri's footsteps creep up the hallway and go into my room. Thank you Edward.