Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement intended.
Chapter 15
July three months before mobster's ball
During the weeks that followed Edward pursued Bella with a renewed determination,he took her to the opera, baseball games, anything he could think of to use as an excuse to be with her, and be able to have his entourage of bodyguards with them. He was aware that he was flaunting her in front of friends and enemies, but he did not care, the sooner they knew and understood Bella was his, the better off everyone would be. However, because of this he had become even more protective and possessive of her and barely left her side unless she was with her parents or at work. Just the other day he had two of his guards rough up some punk, who did not take the hint to stop undressing his girl with his eyes, as soon as Bella and he disappeared around a corner, his men pounced. He was sending a message, and felt sorry for anyone who did not listen to it. Though why he felt like this towards her was still confusing to him, he understood he wanted her, needed her; but to lose her before he had had his fill sent this unidentifiable wrenching pain through his gut and heart to the point he could barely breathe. It was becoming more pronounced the more time he spent with her, had sex with her, and just the thought of having to let her go made him crazy. These feelings were foreign to him; he had no idea what was wrong with him. For fucks sakes he was supposed to be a hardened mob boss nothing was supposed to penetrate him, he was not some weak, spineless, lovesick pussy.
Lovesick
Where the fuck did that come from there was no way that this feeling was love; hell, he did not even know what that was. He had no room in his cold unfeeling heart for any emotion except anger, darkness, possessiveness, and power. There was absolutely no way he was feeling love for her… that thought alone was fucking crazy to even comprehend.
Before he knew it, a month had gone by since the Denali fiasco and it was time he decided to introduce Bella to his family members. Tanya was safely living in his Penthouse in Eclipse with her lover, and doing a successful job bringing him new clients. Mr. Denali was furious when he found out he could do nothing to his daughter because she was under Edward's protection, and if he tried, it would mean immediate death to him and other family members. Therefore, Peter licked his wounds, forgot all about his daughter, and tried to regain control back over his falling empire.
Meanwhile Edward already had his sister Alice's approval for bringing Bella inside to meet the family, and somewhat of his mother's even though she had not met Bella as of yet. The only one that worried him was Alistair, because of his threats made towards her in previous months. Now that he was openly pursuing Bella, he would not stand by and let his grandfather get away with threatening her, nor make her uncomfortable in his own home. Therefore, he made plans to have the family meet at Calypso tonight.
Edward checked his watch again. Time seemed to be crawling. He asked Bella to meet him here with Rosalie at nine O'clock and there was still six minutes to go before she arrived. His grandfather sat brooding, not happy to been dragged here in the first place, ever the constant reminder that he did not approve of Edward's pick in women.
However, he did not let that bother him his whole mind centered on one thing, Bella. They were all here to meet her tonight and for the first time he was actually nervous about how they would receive her, for she was not just another one of his sluts, and he hoped they did not treat her as such or he would have to set them straight. For he knew that Bella had, gotten into some heated discussions over him with her father, and he was ready to jump to her defense if he had to.
As for his grandfather, he had told him in unequivocal terms, that he would show Bella respect and to understand that he was going to have her in his life whether he liked it or not. His grandfather's fury over that news put an even finer edge on his taut nerves as he waited for Bella's appearance.
Esme Cullen sat very comfortably, listening to the quiet chatter amongst her family members at the table. She was very aware of Edward's tension. Moreover, her husbands' and Alistair's curiosity, though Alistair tried to hide it under a mask of anger and indifference. She knew deep down the old man wanted Edward to be happy whether he was willing to admit it or not, and whether he approved of his choice in women.
Although the men had never met Bella Swan, they were both aware of the attachment formed between the Police Chief's daughter and their son and grandson. The shock that Alistair changed his mind about Edward marrying Tanya had been music to her ears, she could not recall when she'd felt so elated over something.
It gave her immense satisfaction to know that Tanya Denali did not have any chance in becoming a part of the Cullen family, other than an employee. She was surprised when Edward had confided in her that Tanya was actually gay and that is why they had schemed so hard to end the engagement, all the while seeing Bella behind Alistair's back. He had also informed her that Tanya was under his protection and no harm was to befall her or there would be consequences. She agreed with him, and had her support.
The only thing that bothered her was what if Bella found out about them, who they really were. Could Bella, be persuaded to stay with Edward should she find out the truth? Marriage…children…it was still a worry, but not as big, a worry as it had been with Tanya. Tonight Esme was content to count that blessing and hope for the best.
It was ten minutes till nine when Bella slotted her Ford truck in to one of the parking spots outside of Calypso, the area was packed, which made her feel all the more nervous. Tonight she was here to meet the rest of Anthony's family, and she could not help to wonder if they would like her, after all she was just plain Isabella Swan. She did not have money to her name and could not offer Anthony anything, other than herself, which she had already done.
"Bella, stop worrying, they will love you," Rosalie said from the passenger's side of the truck.
"What if they don't?"
"Well the only way you'll find out is if we go in there, I'm sure Ed-Anthony is beside himself waiting for you."
Taking a deep breath, Bella unbuckled her seat belt, and went to open her door and found that one of her guards already held it open for her. She sighed knowing that as long as she was in a relationship with him they would be a constant in her life, and she would have to get used to them being there. She turned back to face the door locking it, and then began to walk to the entrance of Calypso with Rosalie beside her, and two guards trailing closely behind. As they walked up the steps her gaze was trained on the entrance, and remembered the first time Anthony had brought her here for their first date, how she'd been taken with the beauty of the inside…and what had transpired later that evening, and could not stop the smile that formed on her beautiful face.
As they entered the building, she was met with the pulsating beat of the music playing, and the beautiful scenery that was Calypso. The steps she was standing on were flanked by rows of magnificent palm trees and terraces with lushly displayed tropical flowers and plants and ferns. Her eyes were drawn to the center of the club where the fake mountain stood, with cascading waterfalls that fell into a huge fountain. They both moved forward and headed toward the walkway above that led to the restaurant part of the nightclub and in a very spacious area in which a grouping of tables and chairs littered the way into the restaurant part of the club. At one of these sat eight people and Bella's feet almost faltered at the charge of nervous excitement that ran through her as recognition set in.
Anthony was there sitting with his family members, his head raised and he gazed directly at her, as if he had sensed her presence, and if there was ever a man to turn her head and make her heart go pitter-pat, he was it. He smiled and Bella could feel her pulse racing and little quivers attacking her thighs. God he was so handsome, the smile transformed the hard angles of his face, emitting a warm charm that was not there a moment ago; maybe he was as nervous as she was about meeting his family.
Probably Bella should have watched where she was going, but she did not so lost in Anthony's gaze that she ended up tripping on air and almost landed on her face if Anthony had not been out of his seat to catch her right before she hit the floor.
'Way to go, Bella,' she screamed at herself. 'What a way to make a first impression,' she thought as embarrassment set in causing a blush to flood her cheeks.
With a small laugh, Anthony righted her, and then directed her toward the table.
"Bella, are you alright," he murmured concerned.
Embarrassed, Bella shot her gaze to look around the table and was aware of a smirking Alice and Esme giving her satisfied looks, while the others were staring at her with curiosity.
Looking at Anthony's mother, Bella was glad that she kept her promise to Mrs. Masen and never revealed to Anthony that they had already met. However, she was still uncertain as to why his mother wanted that information kept secret.
Anthony caught onto her anxiety and pulled her into his side tightly. He leaned down to give her a quick peck on her cheek before whispering sweetly. "Relax, Bella."
Bella glared at him from the corner of her eye, letting her lips curve into a small smirk. "I feel like an exhibit."
He leaned in to kiss her on the cheek, smiling and shaking his head. "You have nothing to be worried about."
"I know," Bella said, shrugging one shoulder.
Anthony chuckled again before turning his body in the direction of his family members. "Bella, let me introduce you to my family," Anthony said from beside her. He motioned with his hand toward the man to his left.
"You already know Emmett McCarthy, and your friend Rosalie Hale," he announced with a lopsided smile, and Bella felt a small sense of relief as she watched her friend take a seat by Emmett, who gave her a small wink.
She flicked her eyes back to Anthony's heart-stopping emerald green eyes, and felt some of her nervousness abate.
"My sister Alice and her fiancé, Jasper Hale," the introductions continued.
"This is my grandfather, Alistair." It did not go unnoticed by her that there was a slight edge to his voice, and tension in his body when he introduced his grandfather and she wondered why he would act like that.
Bella nodded then smiled and received a fleeting curve of lips in return from the man seated on the other side of the table. Bella felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end at the way this older man was glaring at her…she got the distinct impression that he didn't like her though she had no idea as to why, and she found herself instinctively moving closer to Anthony.
"My father Carlisle and my mother, Esme," he finished.
She was astounded again, at how beautiful Anthony's mother was. She had the same bronzed hair as Anthony that was sleeked back to a knot at the back, her face so perfectly sculpted it needed no softening effect, big emerald green eyes, so much like her sons, a classic nose. She could not help but stare at the woman who captivated her so.
"Everyone this is, Bella Swan," Anthony finished.
"A pleasure to meet you Bella," came the warm welcome from his mother, her honeyed sweet voice gave Bella a small sense of ease. "A good family, the Swans, still in the police force I suppose?"
"Yes, most of them are," she answered, amazed that she knew that about her family.
"So you're Police Chief Swan's daughter?" Alistair drawled.
She nodded her head not wanting to look in Alistair's direction.
"A brave man your father is, I trust he has looked after you?" Esme quickly replied.
Bella gazed down at her and replied, "Yes he has."
Anthony gestured to the empty chair beside him and pulled it out for her, making sure she was seated before settling in next to her.
"What would you like to drink?"
"Soda would be fine with me, thank you."
Once Bella settled and the waiter took their orders, Bella found herself looking around the table at Anthony's family members. She was spellbound at the beauty of them all…and for a moment felt inaccurate to be even sitting among them being the plain jane that she was.
"So young lady what is it you do exactly," Anthony's grandfather drawled, focusing Bella's attention on him.
"I am a waitress at Bella Italia."
"That's my Brother Aro Volturi's restaurant; I hope he is treating you well?" Esme asked.
"Yes, Aro is a great boss."
"Humph, a waitress you say, how do you survive?" Alistair pressed in a slightly critical tone that niggled Bella. What business was it of his?
"If you mean by how much money I make, then I can assure you it's enough to get by." Bella said defensively.
"Grandfather I don't think that this is the time for you…" Anthony tried to say cut off in mid-sentence.
"So are you the type of woman just waiting for a rich man like my grandson to come along, so you could use him for his money, being that you can barely survive on that pittance amount my daughter in laws brother pays you." Alistair said with an air of supremacy in his voice
"Not every woman puts money first," Bella dryly interposed.
"Seems a waste to me," He raised his eyebrow at Bella who bristled at the implied put-down.
Why did Anthony's grandfather feel the need to put her on the spot like this? He did not even know her and he was already making assumptions about her morals.
"Well it's not the kind of life I wanted," she answered simply. She transferred her gaze to Anthony. "Apparently I seem to be good enough for your grandson, whether I am poor or not, and that is all that matters."
"Is that so," Alistair scoffed.
Anthony glared at his grandfather, "I think whatever career choice Bella wants is fine with me. Why are you questioning her about this?"
Silence, stillness, for the first time Bella lost her own self-consciousness to realize that there were tensions at this table that had nothing to do with her…well maybe a little to do with her, becoming an unintentional focus for them. Very quietly, she picked up her glass of soda and drank, grateful for a small escape from the direct line of firing from the older man.
"I heard what Miss Swan wants, but I don't have to agree." Alistair said in a cool, dignified reply. "Do I?"
"Well I am looking forward to learning more about you, Bella." Esme piped up trying to ease the tension at the table. "You'll have to excuse my father-in-law he didn't take his medicine this morning."
"Stop making excuses for me Esme, the girl will have to learn her place in this family if she makes it into it, better she learns now than later." Alistair snapped.
"That is enough, grandfather. I will not tolerate your ignorance today of all days." Anthony warned matching Alistair's tone.
"Do not talk to me like that."
"You may be the head of this family, but this is the last time I will ask you to reframe your comments toward Bella." Anthony warned in a steely voice.
"Humph," Alistair mumbled.
Edward was thankful that his grandfather let it drop, and he was able to relax and enjoy himself. He watched Bella interact with his family members around the table and she seemed to fit naturally in with them. Even his cold-hearted grandfather seemed to be warming up to her as the first hour passed by. He found himself thinking that having Bella in his life on a permanent basis would be nice…
Then suddenly a picture popped into his head where Bella was standing before him swollen with child, a beautiful contented smile gracing her heart shaped face… He shook his head to clear it.
Where did that just come from? What was wrong with him…he was so fucking confused, he thought as he sat there staring at Bella, with a slight nervous smile on his lips. Get a grip Cullen or she is going to think some things wrong, and that is the last thing you want her to do.
JAMES LUCAS WAITED in the shadows of a doorway as Cullen and his entourage strolled past him. In the days after Volturi gave him the information on Cullen's new girl he had decided to do a little investigating of his own and found himself returning to the small town of Port Angeles. He was able to find out where Bella Swan worked, at the small La Bella Italia restaurant, ironically owned and operated by none other than Cullen's uncle Aro Volturi. Luckily, Cullen's goons had not detected his presence or he would be dead by now.
Since his arrival in Port Angeles, he had spotted Edward coming and going from his nightclub Calypso many times and often headed in the direction of his uncle's restaurant where he met up with his slut. Since the first time he had seen them together he had been shadowing them since. He knew that this girl was different for Cullen, for she was the longest one he held onto. Rumor had it he would go off the deep end if anyone should even look at her cross-eyed. So over the course of the last months, he had took it upon himself to hit him at his weakest point…Isabella Swan, and once he struck at the heart of his enemy he seldom missed…though it seemed that the bastard was lucky and his plan failed every time. However, not this time…for he was here to see it out until the end, and he usually got what he wanted.
He chuckled darkly as he moved away from the doorway and a little out of the shadows. His mole had tipped him off the last minute about Cullen and his goons being here at this location. It was even better that half of the Cullen family was with them. Though it had caused him to have to change his plan, but now what was about to go down would be ten times better, so much so he was salivating at the mouth in anticipation.
He watched as the Cullen's and the Swan woman crossed through the parking lot. His rival would be livid if he knew, his enemy had been so very, very close. He was amazed that Cullen and the rest of his thugs had not yet noticed him.
He waited patiently as they drew closer and closer to their vehicles, and when they were in position, James raised his cell phone to his ear, and gave the terse command to his goons who sat four buildings down in a black vehicle awaiting his directive.
"Yeah boss?"
"It's time," James whispered into the phone, then hung up quickly and watched the scene unfold in front of him.
…
AS THE SMALL party exited the restaurant, Edward took one last look around the area, and then they walked a little way down the sidewalk before crossing through the parking lot toward the direction of their vehicles. He heard that small alarm sound off in the back of his mind, that sixth sense warning him when something was about to go wrong, and he felt a surge of adrenaline kick in.
Emmett paused, his attention caught on something across the street.
"What is it? Did you see something?" Edward asked under his breath not wanting Bella to hear him ask Emmett the question. As they approached Emmett on the sidewalk, he tightened his arm around Bella who he had tucked protectively into the side of his body, and hoped that she did not notice his sudden nervousness.
Emmett cocked his head in the direction across the street near a dark building, in a wordless answer. His gaze shifted up and down the other side of the street. "I'm not sure. It was probably nothing," he said and turned to face Edward.
"We need to get back," he paused and gave Bella a quick glance but noticed that her attention was on Alice who was talking animatedly to her, "As soon as possible, I sense it to something's wrong."
They all continued down the sidewalk, in an energetic pace. Edward's attention diverted away from Emmett when Bella sighed beside him and turned her head up to look into his eyes, as usual looking into her eyes was like drowning and he found he could not look away.
He pulled Bella closer to his side, "Hmm tonight seemed to go very well, and I think I really like you're mother." She said.
Edward leaned down and kissed her on her forehead, "It did and she seemed to like you a lot, she kept asking me when I was going to propose." He told her rolling his eyes a small smirk on his handsome face.
She laughed, "I think she's happy that her son has a girlfriend." She insisted.
Edward knew that was true, these past few years his mother and grandfather had been drilling him about settling down with the perfect woman; though it had been his grandfather who didn't care with whom just as long as he settled down. Now that his so-called engagement ended with Tanya, he could breathe a sigh of relief. He was surprised when the second time tonight the idea of being married to Bella wasn't such a bad thing, he thought as he stared down at Bella and smiled at her glowing face, it was dark outside but the moon was shining brightly giving him just enough light to see.
"Believe me Bella when I say she doesn't ask those kinds of questions concerning marriage if she doesn't like them."
Bella reached for his hand and held it with hers, "Then I am glad she likes me," she said giving his hand an affectionate squeeze. "You know when you left to go use the bathroom she asked me if you had proposed yet."
Edward chuckled, "Hmmm that explains her behavior toward you tonight."
A smile graced his lips quickly returned by Bella. He was caught up in Bella's eyes and there conversation that he almost forgot about the impending warning bells going off in his head and never noticed the car that was quickly advancing toward him and his family until he heard the sound of the screech of tires and the roar of a powerful engine. It leaped forward, rapidly closing the distance to the spot where they all stood.
A fraction of a second was all it took. The car window went down, a figure behind the steering wheel and another in the back seat, both dressed entirely in black and wearing ski masks, aimed guns in their direction. His men began to shout.
"Get down! Look out!"
Edward without thinking turned and pushed Bella and his sister behind a single parked car then dived for cover as he reached inside his jacket for his own gun. Shots rang out ricocheting off the concrete and buildings, with a loud crack all around them. More shots fired over the sounds of screaming as his men returned fire before the black car speed away down the street his men still shooting at the fleeing car.
Edward jumped to his feet yelling at Emmett and Jasper over his shoulder as he charged toward their cars, "We need to give chase!"
"Let's move!" Emmett boomed.
Edward suddenly came to a sudden stop in the middle of the street. A raging frustration coursed through his body and watched the car disappear from his sight around a corner of a building, "NOW!" he commanded, in complete Don Mode.
"Were on it Boss," Emmett shouted, as he, Jasper, Santiago, Felix, Demetri and his cousin Marcus all bounded into the three big black blazers and took off down the street after it.
A quick glance around the densely lit street told him there were no other witnesses this late into the evening. He watched as some of the remaining men ushered his father and mother to one of the remaining black blazers parked on the street, along with his grandfather. He was thankful to see that they seemed unharmed as they climbed into the vehicle.
Alice screaming Bella's name repeatedly, brought his attention back toward the car where he had pulled Bella down behind for protection. He holstered his gun and returned to that location surrounded by his guards…only to find his sister hunched over a body sobbing a few feet away from him, and ran toward them. He froze in his tracks, as the acid taste of fear filled his mouth. Alice was sitting on the ground sobbing hysterically over Bella as she lay on the ground, not moving and a red smear of blood ran down the side of her forehead.
"Bella," Edward cried as he knelt down beside her, moving Alice out of the way, a sick feeling rising in his throat. His hands trembled as he reached out and touched his fingers to her neck checking for a pulse. Please do not let her be dead? He pleaded silently. A wave of relief washed through him when he found a pulse, and with a strangled cry, he leaned down and pulled her carefully up to cradle her limp body in his strong, muscular arms.
"Thank God she's alive," he breathed out, as a sickening sensation started in the pit of his stomach, as guilt started to eat away at him and fill every part of his consciousness. She could have been killed,all because of him, he raged at himself, as he sat there on the concrete holding her. He quickly checked her before trying to move her…and noticed that the blood on her forehead was the only evidence that any type of injury had even occurred.
With shaking fingers, he smoothed back her dark brown hair and found the source of the blood. It appeared that she must have be grazed by a bullet that caught her on the hairline, it looked to be no more than a scratch and couldn't understand why she was unconscious…a small wound like this should not have knocked her out, He thought. So why was she unconscious?
What happened to her Alice?" he asked his sister who was still crying beside him.
"Someone tried to grab us. We-we fought with them, then Bella just went limp and the person took off. There were so many bullets," Alice said between sobs.
'Who tried to take her, Alice?" Edward asked as a blaze of anger surged up in him. Someone tried to take Bella from him, actually tried to kidnap her. He would kill whoever was responsible for this.
"I-I don't know." Alice answered police car sirens sounding in the distance.
"Boss we got to get you and the girls out of here," one of the guards spoke up getting Edward's attention.
Suddenly becoming aware of their surroundings, Edward made a quick survey of the sidewalk and street, to see if there might be anyone lingering watching the skirmish with curiosity.
"Edward we need-need to get her to a hospital," Alice said panicked.
"No, we cannot take her to the hospital; the police cannot know what happened here." Though it might be too late for that, he thought.
"But Edward she's hurt."
"I know Alice," Edward replied a little too harshly. "Look I'll get dad to take a look at her."
"Felix, where is my father?"
"He and your mother are being safely driven back to the mansion as we speak."
Edward nodded his understanding then glanced at Alice. The sirens were getting closer to them and the last thing he wanted was to be caught red handed in the middle of all this, especially by Bella's father Charlie.
"Alice…we got to get out of here," he said then gently scooped Bella up into his arms, "Are you going to be alright…Alice?" he asked her seeing the paleness of her face and shaking of her body.
"Yes-yes," she answered, as she stood up and glanced at Bella, "Is she going to be okay?"
"I think so; the gash on her head seems to be minor. I'm not sure what has caused her to be unconscious, but we need Carlisle to take a look at her," He answered as he started to carry her the few remaining yards to his Volvo.
"Where is father?" Alice asked as her voice shook with emotion.
"He's with mother; I'm going to call him as soon as we get in the Volvo." He said as he placed Bella in the backseat, and waited for Alice to climb in and cradle her head in her lap. He quickly closed the door and opened the driver's door and got in, started it up and quickly drove away from the curve and headed in the direction of his mansion followed closely behind by his guards. As he drove, he kept looking out of the rearview mirror to make sure they were not followed then placed a call to his father.
"Edward," his father answered his cell on the third ring.
"Father, is mother alright?"
"Si, though very shaken by what just occurred."
"I am glad that you both are unhurt, but Bella wasn't so lucky."
"What do you want me to do Edward? I really should not leave your mother right now."
"I understand that, but I still need you to take a look at Bella, she has a minor wound on her forehead but she's knocked out and I am not sure as to why."
"I'll try to get over there, maybe it would be best to take her to the hospital-"
"No hospital…You will make an effort to see her immediately, bring mother with you, she will understand when she sees Bella."
'Fine, give me ten minutes. And Edward you need to clean out her wounds before I get there."
Edward after hangingthe phone up with Carlisle made a call to Jasper to find out what was going on. He was enraged that they had been ambushed and that many of his family members could have been hurt tonight.
"Boss….we gave pursuit and chased them to the harbor. Emmett was able to force them off the road and into a tree," Jasper said without even having Edward ask him what was going down.
"Are they dead?" Edward snarled. "How many men did we lose?"
"One is but the driver is still alive. There was a third one but they got away, I have some of the men trying to hunt him down." Jasper said. "So far I think all the men are accounted for, a few injuries but nothing we cannot handle."
"Good," Edward sneered.
"Do you want us to kill the driver?"
"NO!" Edward clipped out through clenched teeth, "Bring the driver in, I need to question him for answers." He hoped to hell that his grandfather was not the one behind this tonight, for he would not put it past him to seek pay back from his last stunt with Tanya, he thought angrily.
"Sure boss," there was a pause, "Edward, is Alice…is she alright?" Jasper asked a quiver in his voice giving away to his anxiety.
Edward sighed, "Yes, Jazz she's okay…but Bella has been hurt. I am taking her to the mansion; I will have Carlisle check her out. Once I get her taken care of I'll meet you and the guys in the interrogation room, back at headquarters."
"Thank God! Alice is okay," Jasper, breathed in relief. "He will be ready and waiting for your arrival."
With Jasper's last words, Edward snapped his phone shut and drove a little faster he needed to get Bella and Alice to the mansion…once there he could leave them in the safety of some of his men and take care of everything else….
Ten minutes later Edward came to a screeching halt in front of his mansion, parking he got out opened the back door and scooped Bella's sleeping form into his arms and carried her into the house walking the few remaining yards to his bedroom. He placed her onto his bed then asked Alice to go in search of bandages and the first aid kit he had in one of his bathrooms. Carlisle had said that he would need to start trying to clean out her wounds.
Once Alice left the room, he stared down at her sleeping form and finally got a good look at her and her head, and felt as if he had been punched in the gut. With a mournful grunt, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, and vowed that he would make whoever did this pay.
Alice returned with the first aid kit, "This is all I could find," she said handing it to him.
Edward took it from her hands and placed it on the nightstand beside his bed so he could use it later.
"Is-is she going to be okay?" Alice asked concern for her best friend in her voice.
He looked up at Alice and sighed wearily, "Yes, thankfully it was a minor graze to the temple I think from a bullet, but I'm not sure why she's passed out," he answered then turned his gaze to look upon Bella again, as he touched her cheek and hair lovingly.
"God, Edward what happened tonight?" Alice asked.
"We were fucking ambushed. Somehow someone figured out where we would be, even if it was a last minute decision on my part to have dinner there," Edward answered her. How did that happen? He thought as a flash of anger ignited, followed by a feeling of frustration.
His job was in the habit of hunting down people and killing them or hurting them. The only people he protected were his men and their families. Yet he had not been able to keep his Bellasafe. What was worse was the way he was taking advantage of her vulnerability and naivety. He had had sex with many women in his thirty odd years, but none had affected his life the way Bella had. She finally trusted him and he had betrayed her on so many levels repeatedly.
He could not keep doing this. Once again, he would put her life in danger, knowing that her being in his life, that she was his weakness and because of that, other crime lords would put a hit out on her. He did not know whom to trust and did not know out of all his enemies who would want to kill her, he thought that just his presence would be enough to scare them. Why would this person want to still take the risk and be subject to his wrath when he found out who it was trying to do this to her? All he knew at that moment was how frightened he had been when he saw her crumpled body on the ground with blood on her forehead, and his hysterical sister crying over her.
He touched her cheek again, and gave a humorless chuckle. Here he was, someone that was accustomed to being in charge of everything and everyone…being able to make split decisions…for the first time he found himself at a complete loss, because he really didn't know whom to trust anymore. Also there was something else in that moment that became very clear to him…as he sat there gazing down at her sleeping form, he loved her
Shocked at this revelation, the crazy emotions he had been fighting against from the first day were suddenly quite clear to him, and that new knowledge scared the shit out of him. For the first time he could finally admit to himself what he was truly feeling for the woman lying in his bed.
He was in love with her.
He snapped out of his musings when she began to stir. A soft moan escaped her lips, and then slowly she opened her eyes. Bella tried to sit up overcome with a wave of dizziness, and fell back into the softness of the pillow's her hand unconsciously pressed to her head.
"Hush Bella you need to stay still."
She looked up at him, her dark brown gaze locking with his. A surge of excitement pushed at him. She had finally regained consciousness and only seemed a little disoriented.
"What-what happened?" She asked groggily.
"Do you remember anything at all?"
She stared at him for a few minutes, and then shook her head as if to clear her thoughts. "I was grabbed, and being forced away from everyone. I remember fighting to free myself. I think I fell…then I heard people yelling and…and I tried to stand up and something banged into my head hard. I fell down with Alice screaming, and the next thing I remember, I opened my eyes and I am here with you."
A tender smile spread across his handsome face, as he stared down at her and contemplated whether he should tell her the truth or not. To let her think that she hit her head and not the bullet that actually grazed it.
"You had me worried," he said and watched the panicked look form in her eyes before continuing on, "When you were pushed down, you must have hit your head." shock darted across her face, and tried to make light of the event, to calm her fears. "The bump on your head will hurt for a while, but the small cut you have should not leave a scar."
She slowly tried to sit up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. He helped her to her feet. "Why- I don't understand what happened," she said confused.
"Oh Bella," Alice sobbed. Up until then Edward had forgotten she was in the room with them. Nevertheless, he found himself quickly cutting off her next words. "It was an ambu-"
"It was a robbery," he said and gave Alice a hard glare and shake of his head, "We all walked along the sidewalk coming out of the restaurant when someone tried to mug us, and pulled out a gun. I pulled you behind a car to protect you….But there must have been someone else there to grab you. I never meant for you to get hurt."
"I-I guess we were all lucky then, it seems to be your lot in life to have people pulling guns on you all the time." Her words came out attentively, the emotion attached to them evident. "I am so glad, not rich."
Edward leaned forward, wrapped his arms around her, and brushed a tender kiss across her lips. Hating himself even more for having to continue with the lies, "Why don't you stay here with Alice and rest for a while?"
Bella looked at him then glanced at Alice who stood beside the bed ringing her hands, "Okay, but what are you going to be doing?"
Edward sighed, as he inwardly winched at the lie he was about to tell her, "I'm going to go down to the police station and press charges."
She stepped away from the inviting warmth of his embrace. A new determination swelled inside of her. "I don't want to rest," she looked him in the eyes, making sure he was paying attention to what she said. "I want to go with you to the police station; my father would be able to help you."
Edward shook his head, "No, Bella you need to rest you've been through enough for one night."
"But I was just being my clumsy self and apparently banged my head off of something. I'm fine now," she said without waiting for him to respond she headed for the door. She glanced back over her shoulder brown eyes crashing with emerald green, "Well are you coming?"
Alice and Edward both made sounds of protest before Edward walked forward and took hold of her arm to stop her from going out the bedroom door. He pulled her into his arms, "I'm not giving you a choice right now. You will stay here with Alice and rest. Do you understand?"
Bella went to pull stubbornly out of his warm embrace overcome with a wave of dizziness that made the room spin and instead of pulling free, she was now clasping onto his arms to keep from falling in a heap at his feet. Before she realized what happened he had picked her up bridal style and quickly carried her over to the bed and was placing her onto it.
"Alice, call Carlisle and find out how much longer he'll be, I need him to check on Bella." Edward told his sister.
"Sure…but, but where are you going?"
He turned to look at her face, a churlish smile on his handsome face, "To take care of business," he said before walking out the door.
As soon as he entered the hallway, he ran into his father and mother.
"Edward," Esme said hugging her son. "Is Bella and Alice all right?"
Edward hugged her back then steeped away from her. "They are both okay, Bella has a bad bullet graze on her forehead, Alice is unharmed."
"Is she still unconscious," Carlisle asked.
"No she is awake and alert, seems a little confused though. I tried to clean the wound as best I could, but I need you to take a look at her." Edward answered his voice quivering. Esme noticed the paleness of her sons face and the stiffness of his body and knew in that moment that Edward cared about this girl, more than he was letting on. 'Do not tell her what took place other than we were robbed," he warned them.
"We will take care of her son," Esme said reaching out to touch his arm in assurance, trying to sooth. "Please do not worry so."
Edward nodded, "I have to go… Emmett said they were able to catch one of the shooters. I have to find out who they work for and why they were put up to this."
"We understand."
He turned to Bella's guards, Jane and Alex whom have been keeping a close eye on Bella for months now, standing in the hallway. "Take care of her, and do not let her leave, or anyone other than my immediate family members near her." Edward said in a commanding voice before turning and walking away.
…
IT DIDN"T work! James Lucas, thought darkly as he watched the hit go down in the shadows of the building, and was livid when he realized that his fucking goons could not follow through with his orders. How hard was it to kill Cullen's men, wound Cullen himself and let him watch as they kidnapped the Swan bitch?
Well if you wanted something done right, it seemed you just had to do it yourself. He snarled silently to himself.
He had thought for a moment that that fucker McCarty had noticed him in the shadows of the building, but he had given the order before he or anyone of the others could react. He had quickly stepped back up against the building and waited for his goons to make there move.
"Fucking bastard's!" he said under his breath, as his hand moved to finger the pendant hanging around his neck… It was at that precise moment that he vowed the only way to get to Edward would be to continue to go after Bella Swan. First, he had other things to take care of. Cullen would not win, in the end. With a sinister grin, Lucas took off in the opposite direction. From where the three figures were knelling on the ground…too caught up in what was happening to notice him. He stopped at a pay phone to make a call to the authorities.
"Yes I would like to report a shooting that just took place in Port Angeles, near Calypso. I only recognized one person….Isabella Swan; she was with a man. You need to send someone immediately," James finished hanging up before the cops could get any more information from him.
…..
With each step Edward took, his anger at the situation grew with leaps and bounds. All he could picture was Bella lying broken on the ground, and would have never forgiven himself if something had happened to her.
"Where is he?" Edward barked into his cell phone.
"Emmett, Felix and I are holding him at headquarters," Jasper answered.
"Have they been able to extract any information out of him?"
"No, they have been unsuccessful," Jasper, said.
"What about the other one?" When there was only silence he asked, "Is he gone?"
"He's gone. As you ordered, Tyler and Garret are at the crash scene, but I don't think there will be anyone showing up to claim the dead body or the vehicle." Jasper finally answered him.
Edward walked out the front entrance of his mansion three of his remaining guards trailing behind him. Calypso was only about twenty minutes away from his mansion. From the outside, it looked to be just an expensive nightclub and restaurant...but that was just its cover up. For the basement underground was where he mainly ran his illegal operations… away from prying eyes and the authorities.
"I want to take my time with the shooter," he paused to take a calming breath as he tried to keep his temper in check. "Though not to long…Bella still needs me."
There were several minutes of silence, than Jasper spoke, "Edward…man, I just informed you that the driver is gone, and we were unsuccessful in catching the third person. Felix and Tyler stayed back at the crash scene, but I don't think there will be anyone showing up to claim the body or the vehicle." Jasper repeated as Edward climbed into a SUV and the driver pealed out of the driveway.
Edward glanced at the rearview mirror, and winched at the look on his face, he had never looked so haggard, shaken by what happened. He knew he had to get a grip because he could not let his men see him like this or they would not take him seriously. Showing any sign of weakness right now was out of the question.
"I heard you the first time," he snapped. "I wish I could have been the one to make that mother fucker suffer," Edward grated out between clenched teeth.
It did not take long with the driver's death defying speed to come to a screeching halt in the Calypso parking lot. Once the SUV parked, the men quickly bounded out, headed inside of the nightclub, and in to the elevator that would take them to the headquarters, as soon as the elevator doors opened, Edward made his way to the weapons room and hurried inside followed by Jasper, Emmett and Felix.
"Where is Marcus?" Edward grated out; looking around the room for his cousin, noticing for the first time he was not with them.
Jasper, Emmett and Felix all looked back and forth between them, "Not sure he seemed to disappear right after the shooting." Jasper answered.
Edward stopped in his tracks and turned his heated gaze upon the three of them, "Find him, and get ahold of the rest of the men. I want them all here within the hour." He snarled before turning on his heel to stare at the plethora of weapons at his disposal on the wall of the weapons room. Funny how it seemed that his cousin was never around when things like this went down.
"What you going to do boss?" Emmett asked, as he watched Edward slip on a pair of brass knuckles, and check to see if his gun and knifes were still strapped to his waist.
Edward stood there still visibly angry Colt 45 in hand glaring at it, a cruel sneer on his handsome face, "I'm going to make him scream," he said menacingly, before he turned toward the door and walked into the room where the gunman was.
He is just a kid, Edward thought, taking in the sight of his youthful appearance, and bloodied face. Fuck this is going to be too easy.
The gunman sat there in the chair with his shirt torn to shreds and his arms handcuffed at his sides, his feet tied with ropes to the chair legs. He sat up straighter as soon as he saw Edward, and Emmett staring and glared at them in defiance, which only spurred Edward's anger further, without wasting any more time he moved forward and swung his brass knuckled fist into the side of the young man's jaw causing blood and spittle to fly from his mouth.
"Fuck!" the gunman wheezed.
"Who are you working for?" Edward demanded. When the gunman did not answer, he swung again punching him in the stomach this time. He coughed then gasped through the pain still determined to stay quiet.
Edward backhanded him, "You'll answer my fucking questions if you know what's good for you. Do you understand me?"
It was not a question; it was a command. Edward wanted to make sure that he understood just how much danger he had gotten himself into with them.
He reached out to grip the young man's hair roughly pulling his head back until he was staring into his angry, cold, calculating eyes.
"Now I suggest that you do what I say, because right now it would give me great pleasure to rip you apart piece by piece," he snarled in his face and chuckled with glee from the fear in the his eyes, "I am only going to ask you this one more time, who the fuck are you working for?"
"Go to hell," the gunman cried.
"I don't think so," Edward said, he looked down at the pathetic specimen of man to see that both of his eyes were beginning to swell shut, and that his lips were bruised and busted open where blood was gushing from the open wounds. He grabbed the young man's neck and began to squeeze cutting off his air, the man tried to move his head back and forth fighting Edward's strong grip on his neck.
"Do you know who I am?" Edward asked silkily letting go of his throat. The young man breathed air into his starved lungs regained his breath, and gave him a smug look even with a badly bruised face, not answering him.
"Well do you!" Edward shouted, losing patience at his pathetic attempt of defiance.
The young man still gasping could only shake his head no.
"I'm Edward Cullen."
He could see the dawning cross the young man's eyes as his cocky smirk fell from his face, and realization set in that it was none other than a Cullen he now sat facing.
"Fuck," he whispered under his breath.
Edward smiled sadistically, "What was that?"
"I-I didn't know! Shit he didn't tell me we were going after Cullen's!" the young man shouted desperately, realizing how much his life was in danger.
"That's just too bad for you," Edward snarled. "Now answer my fucking question."
"What does it matter? I'm dead anyway."
Edward nodded and stepped back, reaching for the knife that he had strapped to his side. His hand came to a rest on the hilt of the knife and his eyes made contact with the shooters, he was getting tired of playing this game. After all, he was not known for being a patient man and he was at the end of his rope…the drama with Bella was the straw that broke the camel's back.
"This is your last chance to cooperate-"
"Fuck you!" the gunman yelled then spit in Edward's face.
Edward did not wipe the spit from his face only glared darkly at the young man.
"You're going to wish you had by the time I get through with you," Edward said as he pulled the knife out of its sheath and flipped it repeatedly in his palm relishing the weight of his longtime friend. Before finally catching the hilt and holding, the pointed edge toward his victim.
Another look of fear entered the young man's eyes as he eyed the blade of the knife, and Edward smirked as he leaned toward him whispering harshly in his ear "It's too bad to end such a brief life."
"Go ahead do your worst…Just remember it didn't stop me from getting close to your whore," he sneered back at Edward.
With a growl of rage, Edward lunged and sunk the knife blade into the thigh of the young man's leg, at the mention of his beloved Bella. He had had enough and this son-of-a-bitch was going to pay for even trying to hurt her, and the rest of his family.
"You fucking stabbed me, you crazy son-of-a-bitch!'
"Who put you up to this tonight?" Edward yelled in his face, over his cries of pain.
The young man shook his head, still not willing to answer him.
Edward growled in rage at his stupidity, and for his defiant attitude, he pulled the knife from his thigh and quickly plunged the blade into his right thigh, the young man screamed out once again, and tried to get away from him but could not move because of the bindings holding him to the chair.
Edward scowled heatedly at him and twisted the knife in his thigh causing it to cut deeper, breathing heavily he watched in sick fascination as blood flowed down the side of his leg and pooled on the floor at his feet from severing a major artery.
"Tell me." He snarled. The young man remained silent, and in another time, another place Edward would commend him for his bravery. Instead, he saw his defiance as a nuisance, and because of that, the young man had sealed his fate.
With one last twist, and the screams of pain from the young man he pulled the blade from his thigh. He watched in rapture as the blood dripped off the end of the blade and laughed in glee. It felt freeing to let the sadistic side of his nature be released and relished the freedom that washed over him as he stood there stroking the blade of his knife as he stared with blackened eyes at his prey.
"Damn, you," the gunman wheezed in pain.
Edward moved forward once again and slammed the butt of his knife against his forehead, then trailed the blade down the side of his face over his jaw making a deep cut as it went until it rested at his throat, blood gushed from the wounds inflicted, flowing a steady path downward.
"Any last words before I end you?" he asked in a sickly sweet voice.
The young man gulped causing, the blade at his neck to cut into his throat from the pressure Edward exerted.
Emmett's loud guffaws sounded in the room. "Stupid kid you will bleed out from your wouns and we will let you. You might want to answer the boss's questions and he just might let you live."
Without warning, Edward stabbed him in his side making sure the blade went deep, and twisted it. Chuckling menacingly as he shrieked in pain, loving the feeling of power it gave him to hear his screams.
"Lucas!" the gunman screamed spittle and blood flying from his mouth to land on Edward's face and suit.
Edward pulled on his hair making the man's head jerk back causing the blade to go deeper, and placed his ear near his mouth, "What was that…I didn't hear you?" he asked in a sing song voice.
"Lu-Lucas," the gunman stuttered out through pain, and weakness of loss of blood.
At the mention of that name, Edward stiffened. Lucas the bane of his existence he should have known it was him behind this attack tonight, an attack that had not only put his life in danger but his family and Bella's. What the fuck was Lucas up to? Why would he need to keep trying to get at him through Bella? He needed answers and he needed them now.
"He's the one who put you up to this," he snarled.
"You can't protect her….any of them," the young man said, but cried out in pain when Edward pulled the knife from his side to his throat, pressing deeply.
"That is where you're wrong."
"You don't get it! Lucas wants you out of the picture."
"Why?"
"I-I don't know, he-he just does."
"It's not going to happen," he snarled.
"Sure about that," the man-boy dared to goad him, "What about the girl? She must be a good fuck to make the leader of the Cullen's not to take notic-"
Without warning, Edward slit his throat in a blind rage, and stepped back to watch his body convulse gurgling as the blood poured out of his slashed throat. No emotion registered on Edward's face as he watched the life slowly seep out of the young man's eyes before he slumped over dead. He turned and walked out of the room not giving him a second glance, removing the brass knuckles from his hands and holstering his knife back at his waist. He looked down; noticed blood on his hands arms, as well as his white dress shirt, and black dress pants, and chuckled darkly. It did not bother him to know that he was covered in that asshole's blood, and would use it to make a statement when he confronted his men. However, he would eventually have to ditch his ruined suit and clean up before going back to his mansion and to his beloved Bella. After all, he would not want Bella seeing him in this condition and have to figure out a way to explain how this much blood got on him…now would he.
Jasper and Felix entered the room and looked cautiously around, seeing the man slumped over in his chair, and Edward staring fixedly at his ruined suit.
"He dead boss?" Jasper asked, trying to gage Edward's mood.
Edward looked up from the inspection of his clothes, "I want Felix to take his dead ass back to a location where Lucas will find him, and this time don't let the police find the body," Edward said in a cold detached voice.
"Lucas?" Jasper asked hesitantly.
"The bastard squealed like a girl, was too happy to talk, and thought I would give him freedom… as if I would after putting my girl and families life in danger." Edward said menacingly.
"Fuck Edward how could he know that?" Jasper asked.
"Apparently he knows about Bella and my closeness to her." Edward said in a deadly tone. His eyes were blazing with anger, "He fucking knew we would be at Calypso tonight. He fucking knew!" He bellowed angrily punching his fisted hand into the wall he was standing by.
He was tired of this he knew exactly how Lucas knew about his ware bouts. The fucking rat, he would find the perpetrator and dispose of him once and for all.
"I want the fucking rat found I don't care if you have to call every one of my men in to help, just get it done!" Edward bellowed. "I still do not understand why you're sorry asses have not been able to pinpoint who it is."
"Take it easy boss," Emmett said, taking a step back from him, trying to calm him down.
"Take it easy," Edward whispered heatedly. "You want me to take it easy. I have been too lenient on all of you. Find the rat or it will be all your asses…DO YOU UNDERSTAND."
Edward then turned on his heel and walked out the door, they silently followed him down the hallway toward the meeting rooms, leaving Felix to deal with the body.
When Edward entered the meeting room to find it empty he went off, "Where the fuck are my men? I thought I told you to get them here NOW." He bellowed grabbing Jasper by the lapels of his suit jacket and slamming him up against the wall of the room, smearing blood all over the front of Jasper's suit jacket.
"Apparently I've been to soft, maybe I need to teach all you boys who's in charge here."
Jasper tried to calm him down but it did not seem to work. There was no reasoning with Edward, once he turned into the sadistic, ruthless man he was known for, the one that everybody feared, and tonight's events had pushed him over the edge.
"There on their way boss, just got to give them time to get here," Jasper said in a calm controlled voice, showing Edward any sign of fear or weakness was not a good idea, for he had just killed someone and would not hesitate to do it again.
"I do not have time on my hands; every hour that wastes away is another hour for that fucker to plan something else." Edward snarled letting go of Jasper and backing away from him. He knew one thing Lucas was going to die a slow and painful death when he got a hold of him.
It was not long after that when his men started entering the meeting room even his father and grandfather graced them with their presence. They noticed Edward's mood and appearance immediately and sat down no one dared to talk other than the old man. He gave his father an enquiring look, silently asking him if Bella was all right. His father nodded his head and gave him a half smile, letting him know she was safe and doing well. He felt relief soon to be replaced by anger as his grandfather let his presence known.
"I presume we have all been called here do to the hit made on us this evening." Alistair asked.
Edward's eyes narrowed on his grandfather, "Let me inform you grandfather that I'm not in the mood to take your bullshit. I advise that you keep your fucking trap shut. I am in charge of this mafia world since you decided to step down, and it will be I that will be making any decision from here on out. I am tired of your interference."
"Well it's about fucking time, I just hope for your sake, Edward I will not be forced to clean up another of your messes."
"This mess," Edward spat the last word out in fury, "Is everyone's problem."
"What do you mean?"
"For the past few months I have called you back here concerning certain events that have been taking place. From the times, I was held up many months ago, the warehouse, and almost gunning down of my family and girlfriend this evening. At first, I did not think it was connected. Since then I have been able to pry information from one of the gunmen tonight that James Lucas was the one involved"
"Lucas," Alistair spat.
The sudden paler of his father's face, had Edward's attention immediately, he narrowed his eyes, his suspicions that his father was hiding something from him was renewed. The fucker had better not be the one leaking Lucas information or he would be dead, father or not.
"James Lucas is behind the attack tonight, and what I am assuming all other's before." Edward said in a cold chilling tone. "What I find suspicious is he seems to be getting his information from the inside." Suddenly without warning, he drew his gun. "Which one of you fuckers is it." He asked in a deadly voice.
The murmurings around the room stopped, and thirty men sat there in stunned, silence while gapping at their boss holding a gun at them.
"If it's one of you or someone that you know, I suggest that you fess up or there will be even worse punishment." Edward said in a lethal voice, "Well who the fuck is it?"
Everyone looked at one another, but no one spoke up or fessed up.
"That's the way you want it then…to be integrated, because I am all for it. I do not trust anyone at the moment…no one is leaving this building until I make sure you're not working for the enemy." Edward warned.
He then looked at Emmett and Jasper a cold calculating look in his eye. "Jasper, Emmett start with him." Edward said pointing at his grandfather.
"What," Alistair roared rising from his chair, "Who the hell do you think you are to give an order to have me integrated." He pulled his arm out of Jasper's grasp, when Jasper went to lead him away.
"As I said before grandfather, I am the head of this organization, and what I want is the law. Why so worried…if you're innocent you have nothing to fear than do you." He said smoothly then motioned to Emmett and Jasper to remove him.
"You'll be sorry for this," Alistair threatened, as Emmett and Jasper went into action taking Alistair by the forearms and forcing him from the room.
Edward turned back to look at the rest of his men including his father, "I do not care if your family or not," Edward began, making eye contact with everyone in the room, "I hope for all your sakes that you are all innocent, or so help you…" he warned. He rose from his chair straightened his suit jacket, holstered his gun back at his side before angrily leaving the room full of stunned men.
He was still pissed that they had not been able to detect who the rat was among his men. He had every one of them questioned for hours including his family members and not one gave up any information about whom the rat was. There was either no rat among them or the fucker was very good at being deceitful. However, one thing was made clear tonight that he was not going to be lenient anymore, if his people did not want to conform they would pay the ultimate price for there decisions.
Edward leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes; to say he was exhausted was an understatement. He had been away from Bella for four hours, four long excruciating hours, going through every emotion known to man, all the while just wishing to be with her, to help rid him of the darkness threating to consume him. Once the SUV arrived at his mansion, he opened the door got out and made his way to the front door, walking up the stairs and to his bedroom door. He nodded to Alex, and Jane who stood guarding the door, before entering.
Alice was sitting quietly in a chair beside the bed with a sleeping Bella lying down in the middle of it, and was startled when he entered the room.
"Shush," Edward whispered placing his finger over his lips to indicate for her to be quiet. "You can go now, get some rest…Bella will be fine." He reassured his sister.
Alice's startled gaze ran over his blood-coved suit, hands, and face before landing on his eyes; hers filled with questions. Edward shrugged his shoulders running a hand through his matted hair then shook his head indicating he did not want to talk about what happened tonight, for his mood was still dark.
Alice nodded her head in understanding, stretching tiredly, before heading to the door, throwing one last concerned look in his direction before closing the door behind her.
Edward walked over to the bed and looked upon his love, and smiled. He was glad to see her nestled sung, and safe under the covers in the middle of his king sized bed, and wanted nothing more than to hold her. However, he forced himself to walk away from her and into his closet stripping out of his blood stained clothes, grabbing a bag off the floor and depositing them inside tying the end. He would have to make sure one of his guards got rid of the bag, before Bella came across it. The last thing he wanted to do was explain to her why his clothes had a ridiculous amount of bloodstains on them. He also hoped that her fucking father did not get wind of the shootout down town or he would have his hands full with him, and that was all he needed on top of everything else.
He then headed into the bathroom before taking a shower, quickly washing all the evidence of the last four hours off his skin. As soon as he was done and dressed in pajama bottoms, he quickly walked into his bedroom overwhelmed by the sudden need for her that throbbed painfully in his chest. He wanted her beside him, filling him with her softness and purity; scared for once by the darkness eating away at his soul…wanting to consume him. He needed her nearness to chase it away, to help make him sane again. Sliding under the covers, he pulled Bella into his arms making sure her body was pressed as close to his as possible he turned his head to kiss her bandaged forehead before breathing her sent into his starved lungs, and let out a shaky breath.
She was all right.
She was alive.
He said repeatedly to himself, trying to soothe the monster inside him that wanted vengeance. For he knew if Bella had been taken from him this evening there would have been no stopping him.
God, he loved her.
With another shaky sigh he snuggled his face into her hair his arms tightening around her, and before long, he was asleep.
…..
There you have it chapter #15, thought that I would get this one out to you all since it took so long for me to update the last one. You can thank my husband and parents for being out of town, and parents wanting to have our kids spend a week with them…gave me some extra time, when I was not at work. Happy reading, hoped you all liked this chapter…