A/N: A big thanks to my ladies, Cristina, Paige, Sherry & Tiffany.

Thank you all for your reviews/follows/favs, your support for this story has been outstanding xx

Chapter 32

EPOV

When we returned to my parents' house, the sight before me was heartbreaking. Isabella was on the living room floor crying with Princess' lifeless body was lying in front of her. My mother was at her side, trying her best to comfort Isabella, but she too, was sobbing. I had already been informed on my way here that the dog hadn't made it, not that it made the sight any easier. Both women looked completely devastated. I'll admit, losing the dog did upset me, but I would rather it was the dog than my wife.

There was nothing I wanted more than to go to Isabella and comfort her, but I had something that I had to deal with first. "You," I said, pointing at Marcus and motioning for him to join me in the hall. He knew what was coming, it was written all over his face, but he never said a word as he came out into the hall. He never hit with me with excuses. He knew he had fucked up and he could very well be paying for his mistakes with his life.

Jasper put his hand on my shoulder, probably wanting me to show restraint, but I didn't have any restraint, not when it came to my wife. "You took your fucking eyes off her," I snapped.

"I'm sorry, boss," Marcus said, lowering his head.

"You're sorry," I scoffed. "Sorry doesn't fucking cut it. That could be her in there. She could be the one who's dead or worse. I asked you to do one fucking thing, and you couldn't even do that. Give me one goddamn reason why I shouldn't blow your fucking head off right now!" I yelled, pulling out my gun and pointing it at his head.

"Edward!" Isabella yelled, running out into the hall. Emmett grabbed her around the waist before she could get to me, holding her back. "Get your fucking hands off me!" she shouted, slapping at his hands and stomping on his foot. Emmett reluctantly let go of her. She ran in front of me, putting herself in front of the gun, and between Marcus and me. "It's not his fault," she pleaded. "You can't kill him."

"Isabella," I said, firmly. I was too angry to be around her right now. I had to take care of this before I could comfort her. "Go back in the living room and stay with my mother. I will be there in a moment."

"No," she said, folding her arms and glaring at me. "I won't let you kill him. He is not to blame here. If you want to blame anyone, you can blame me. I am the reason Princess is dead. I am the reason Marcus left me alone. I am the one who caused all of this." She started sobbing uncontrollably. "If only I had listened to you, if only I had stayed here."

I put my gun away and pulled her into my arms, holding her tight against my chest. "Shhh baby, it's okay. I've got you." I glared at Marcus over the top of her head, letting him know that this wasn't over. I would deal with him later.

I took Isabella upstairs to our room and helped her get ready for bed. Then, I took one of my mother's sleeping pills from her room and gave it to Isabella. I figured she would need help sleeping tonight, and she could certainly do with the rest. I laid down on the bed beside her and held her. "I'm sorry," she whimpered. "I should have listened to you. If I had, none of this would have happened."

"I'm sorry, too," I said, kissing the top of her head. "I should have listened to you. We could have worked out a compromise. I just wanted you safe, and I knew you wouldn't be safe in New York. This was the safest place for you to be, but I understand why you didn't want to be here. Not after overhearing that conversation and us giving the sheets to my father. You've already been through so much. You shouldn't have to go through any more. I'll take care of everything, I promise, Isabella. I'll protect you. I swear." I looked down to see her eyes were closed. Her chest was rising and falling slowly. She was asleep. I leaned down and kissed her again, before slipping out from underneath her. I pulled the covers up to her chin and took one last look at her before going downstairs.

Surprisingly, Isabella had calmed me. I no longer wanted to shoot or kick the living daylights out of Marcus. He was lucky that he had her in his corner, but still, a lesson had to be taught. I couldn't appear to be going soft on him. I found him, my father, Jasper, and Emmett in the study. I never said anything as I walked up to Marcus and grabbed him by his shirt, pulling him to his feet. My fist collided with his face several times, busting his nose, before I let him fall back onto his chair. "When I tell you to keep your fucking eyes on her, you keep your fucking eyes on her. I don't care what she says or how she tries to manipulate you. You work for me and you follow my orders, got that?"

"Yes, boss," Marcus said, looking up at me, his hand holding his bloody nose.

I nodded, satisfied with his answer. "Go and get cleaned up." I watched him leave the room before I went over to the bar and poured myself a drink, downing it and then pouring another.

"Jasper and Emmett have been filling me in," my father stated, his eyes studying me.

I nodded, walking over to one of the chairs and taking a seat. "I want him dead. I want them all fucking dead, every single last one of the fuckers."

"There is something else," my father said, pointing to a folder on the table. I picked it up and opened it. It was a police report. "One of my contacts sent it an hour ago." Jacob Black was dead. His body had been pulled out of the East River just a few hours ago.

"Garrett," I sighed.

"More than likely. It seems that he didn't want us to find out whatever Jacob had to say," my father replied.

"I never told Garrett about Jacob approaching Isabella," I said, confused.

"Perhaps Isabella told her sister."

I nodded. It seemed like the most plausible explanation. "I'll ask her in the morning."

"How is she?" my father inquired.

"Heartbroken," I sighed. I still hadn't had the chance to ask her about James, but I hadn't wanted her thinking about that shit before she went to sleep. I would talk to her about that in the morning as well. Though Marcus had assured us all that he hadn't raped her. They had both been fully dressed when he found them. He did say that he had cut it close. James had been ready to inject her with some shit when he got there.

"Your mother and I, we didn't want, nor expect this to play out this way. The marriage had to be consummated for you to have your claim to New York, for it to be recognized in both families' eyes." I nodded, I knew this. "I understand, admire even, your desire to protect your wife by lying. She wasn't supposed to overhear our conversation and it is unfortunate that she did. I hope now after all that has happened, we can all work out our differences and come together as a united family."

I got up and took his hand, placing a kiss on his ring. "I'm sure we will. Isabella just needs time to adjust, after everything she has been through. Keep an eye on her for me, until I return?" I asked, moving towards the door.

"Where are you going?" my father asked.

"To the warehouse to pay James a visit."

My father waved his hands, dismissing the idea. "James can wait. Go to bed. Spend the night with your wife. She needs you, and James isn't going anywhere."

I sighed, knowing that he was probably right. I had just wanted to put an end to all this shit. Find out what James knew and then end his miserable life. I said goodnight to them all and headed upstairs. I took one of my mother's sleeping pills and undressed, climbing into bed with my beautiful wife. I pulled her tight against my chest and wrapped my arm securely around her, before closing my eyes and letting the pill work its magic.