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"Riders on the Storm"
Chapter Four: The Skip
Oddly enough, I wasn't disappointed with Kylie for taking off with Peto. Fuck. I planned it that way and knew it would happen. My wife, after all this time, still likes to bet against me; I wish she wouldn't.
While Bella went around to tell some people—make the announcement—I pulled Aro into the office behind the kitchen. Carlisle and Caius followed, but I closed and locked the door on them.
I was so excited that I let out a small squeak as I turned to my best friend.
"What was that noise?" Aro looked around. "Is there a mouse?" He peeked under the desk.
"Fuck you." Alas, I was still excited and made the sound again, smiling the widest I ever had. "Kylie and Peto just took off—together." I covered my mouth with my hand.
"What?"
"I saw them when we were coming back inside." I rushed out.
Aro placed his hands on my biceps. "Yo, for real? It worked?"
I nodded, not trusting my voice, not sure if I'd be able to contain myself.
"Yes!" he shouted.
Then we jumped for joy, too wrapped up in the moment, like two pussies who'd just won the lottery.
"Skip?" Caius knocked.
"Get the fuck away from the door!" I barked.
"Geez . . ." I heard Caius comment.
"Really?" Aro asked.
"Uh-huh!" I squealed again. "My baby girl is going off to college!"
"What about Joe?" he whispered.
"What about Joe?" I shrugged. "I'll give him a couple dollars, a bump up or something. He'll be fine. Forget about it . . . he couldn't even handle my daughter. She left, and he didn't say a fucking word. What kind of man lets his fiancée do that?" I spoke with my hands.
Aro pursed his lips. "Having you as a father-in-law wasn't going to be some picnic."
"Fuck it . . . let's go get a drink or something, celebrate."
"It's on." He gave me a one-armed hug, and we left the office.
Life as I know it has calmed down immensely over the years. The biggest problems I have—what I love to focus on—are my children, the things they get into. I look out for all three of them. I know exactly what they're doing, and I make sure to keep Bella in the loop, although she sometimes informs me. And business? Well, that has become so fucking easy. There are still risks, but it has become like second nature—nearly automatic—and a slip is not possible. I won't let it happen.
First, nothing is conducted in my home. It's been that way for years, ever since my children started to grow, become nosy, and understand things. I couldn't have any of that shit around them, which worked out for the best because now Bella and I aren't scrambling when we hear about the Feds coming to pay us a visit. It still happens every now and then, and we don't have to hide much—just a few weapons that even if they found couldn't do much damage to us in the long run. I gotta protect my crib, and I have the right to bear arms. But not having to double check and watch my ass as much as I used to has made everything simpler.
Now, I'm just always on the move, although I don't have to be.
People move for me—people will bring the mountain to me.
However, I just can't spend THAT much time at home. I'm there a lot more often than I was back in the day, but yeah. I can't just sit on my ass with my hand wide open. I gotta make appearances and have sit-downs, and . . .
Life is just good . . . very good, now that my daughter won't be marrying that mamaluke.
My only business- and personal-life problem, come in the form of my bruisers—Sonny and Damion.
I know I have a sit-down with the both of them later this week. Sonny thinks he's so fucking slick, letting his brother do hits. Well, Georgie spilled the beans real quick when Aro questioned him. All my buddy had to do was ask. Georgie almost pissed his fucking pants and gave Dame and Sonny up so fast.
That can be a good and bad thing. Either young Georgie folds under the pressure of anyone, or Aro and I put the fear of God into him. It wasn't the worst thing—him telling Aro—as we keep the secret, but there are no secrets to be held from me.
He did the right thing, yet I can't risk Georgie telling anyone else about Damion.
Georgie has to go.
Nevertheless, I'm impressed and a little disheartened by the whole situation.
Damion was the good one, although he's frightened me since he was a child. I just always thought he'd be gay, not enjoy clipping motherfuckers. By societal standards, the latter is worse. Yeah, you can do life in prison or get the death penalty because of it, if you're not careful. But if he's half as good as me . . . fuck. He's actually so much like me it's scary. He looks like me, acts like me, but I never did that dress-up shit—never needed a song and dance to get the job done, just a dollar amount or a reason.
Damion also doesn't "hit" on women. He watches—lets them come to him—and that's not something I ever showed him—it wasn't something he saw me do. That's got to be genetic or a part of some characteristic we share. It's not like I'm out looking for pussy.
Sonny, on the other hand, is business-savvy. He's always elbow-deep in this or that, making fast money in ways I never thought of. And broads? Forget about it. He's actually not that complex. My oldest is a lot like Carlisle, but he's not as stupid. He reminds me of a younger Carlisle—shaky trigger finger and whatnot. He doesn't like to clip motherfuckers, at all, which is not a bad thing—just hard not to do when in this line of work.
However, we all branch out. We all get others to do our bidding. I do, but I never did when I was Sonny's age. I wished he'd finally take the bar exam and get his ass out of that fucking club. He's the only lawyer in the family besides Carlisle and me.
My father is retired. Lizzie went to law school, but then married some Limey fuck from across the pond. She lives in London, and my father spends half the year there with her and her family. She has one daughter and doesn't give a fuck about being a lawyer anymore. Her husband is some well-to-do BBC reporter.
Sonny will inherit the firm when we're all dead. It's logical—only lawyer gets the firm.
Hopefully with some time, his whole heart will be in the thing, but until then, I guess I have to get used to Damion picking up the slack. If he wants, Damion can get his button. God knows he's made his bones—if everything I think and have heard, is true. He'll have our protection, which will benefit all of us if he's going to be as involved as he is. Damion and I will have to talk, as some of the shit he does just doesn't make any sense to me—it scares me. He's going to school to be a doctor.
Healing and killing don't exactly go hand-in-hand. It's apples and oranges, unless he thinks he's God or some shit.
What the fuck? I didn't know whether to give him a button or fit him for a fucking straitjacket. Fuck disheartened, inside this shit was freaking me out, and there was no way in fucking hell that I could confer with Bella on this one.
She'd try to divorce me or kill me.
When he said he wanted to be a doctor, I was proud and afraid for him. People die and shit, and I always thought—deep down—that Dame was our moosh-monster. I always thought his cold side was a show for me, because everything else he used to be into was just a little bit girly. I don't know. That could have also been because of Anthony. They always did weird shit together.
I mean, when he was a teenager, he changed. It had been happening slowly, but he fully transformed when he was thirteen. And each time some shit popped off and the kids had to hide away, Damion would become just a little bit colder, more distant—shy and secluding himself.
When Rocky died, Sonny and Kylie cried, and Damion . . . For all I know, he wanted to dissect the fucking family dog, but he didn't do anything. He told Kylie death was a part of life and to get over herself.
Kylie was seven.
But I remember Sonny telling Damion some shit like that when he was eight or so—when Sonny was shot.
And I remember learning about that harsh reality—that part of life—when I was eleven.
After my mother passed, death didn't mean shit. It was nothing. I was hurt as much as anyone could ever be hurt. Well, at that time I was, but we heal, we move on, and Damion hasn't exactly lived yet . . .
What's he done? Gone to school, screw that chubby goth chick in our basement, and . . . play multiple practical jokes? He hasn't done shit—not-a-damn-thing. And he only thinks he loves Julie because he can't shake that habit, only trying to hold onto things, find that deep meaningful connection. Why can't he just be like Sonny?
Maybe when he finds something that means something to him…
If he's like me—if we have the same fucked-up-ness—then he's not sick. He's just like me, which I cannot explain. I am who I am, and Damion is not me, but I can relate.
"What the fuck is your problem?" The man in question was moping by the bathrooms.
He gave me those attitude-problem peepers, those Manson lamps, his serial killer glare. It's actually funny as fuck, but it scares the shit out of Sonny, and I know that look all too well.
"What?" I flinched toward him.
"Nothing," he said.
Then the door to the ladies' room opened and Alex came out. She bumped right into Damion. "What—shit, I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It's cool." My son ran out of the hall.
Alex fixed her hair. "Is he okay?"
"I—I have no idea," I hated to admit that.
"I think it's school." She nodded. "He talked my ear off all about it. I mean, I haven't heard so much from him since," she laughed, "since he was a kid."
I smiled. "Right. School." Damion was still staring at me, while trying to be slick about it.
"He says he's crazy busy and that girlfriend—what's her name?"
"Julie," I rolled my eyes, wondering what the fuck Damion was really moody about.
"Yeah, she doesn't understand," she giggled. "He wishes she was more like me."
I shook my head. "Do me a favor and just . . ."
"Mind my business?" She winced, and I knew she was drunk. She, Bella, and Alice were guzzling the wine like there was going to be a shortage.
"No, just—" I couldn't put my finger on what I wanted to tell her. The way Damion was looking at the both of us now, I'd say he was interested. Interested in what, I had no idea. His stare—it was almost like zeroing in on the mark, or an animal trying to imprint. I understood it more than I could explain it, which is how it goes when it comes to explaining Damion's behavior. I understand it all. "Keep your distance. He's a man now, and youse two being so close—"
"He's my nephew." Alex hit my arm.
I sighed, not saying more about it. After all, I could be wrong—highly doubtful that Damion would mac on his uncle's wife.
Alex proved to be a cool chick—very loyal to both Bella and Carlisle, and she always looked after all our kids, although she started out immature, she turned into a decent mom—a great mother and wife.
"Don't stress," she laughed. "When they're babies it's so hard . . . But if we knew then what we know now, right? Babies are easier. Watching your babies grow up and having real life problems—stresses and stuff—that's the hard part." She frowned, walking toward me. "You know about Anthony?"
"I do," I whispered. "Carlisle doesn't—not that I know of."
"But you'd defend Ant if you had to—if Carlisle wanted to disown him?"
"He wouldn't," I said.
"If it was your son . . ." She trailed off.
I huffed, looking up to the ceiling and leaning on the payphone. "Look, when Bella was pregnant, when they were babies, I never prayed to God and said, 'I hope they eat pussy'." I laughed and so did she. "I always hoped they'd be happy, and healthy, and smart. And my brother is a lot more understanding than I am. Honestly, I think you and Ant need to have more faith in him." I eyed her to gauge her reaction. She really needs to trust my brother more.
"Right." She looked down.
"I always thought Dame was going to be…" I wiggled my hand.
"He's not," she laughed.
"He ask for a peep show, too?" I reminded myself to tease Sonny about that later on.
"Not at all. Dame and Ant are always hanging out in my basement, and your son has some mouth." She raised a brow. "He may not use it often in mixed company, but when those two get going…" She shook her head. "Dame tells him nasty stories that Ant can pass off as his when he's talking to Carlisle. Ant's going above and beyond with this farce, and it breaks my heart. Anthony shouldn't have to do that out of fear of losing his family."
I nodded.
"We all talk, too, sometimes. Dame's quiet, but…he's gotta be the sweetest, honest-to-God normal-est, person in this family." She pursed her lips, looking to her feet. "He's a lot like you in some ways—the eyes. They may not be the same color, but they pull you. When you look into them, you get stuck and—"
I smiled. "You think I'm sweet? When d'ju stop fearing me?"
"I never said you were sweet. He gets that from Bella." She shook her head. "What's with you men? With the egos and the compliments—" Alex just walked away from me, and I was confused.
"What about his eyes?"
Alex never replied, and then I laughed when her drunk ass bumped into Damion again. It wasn't her fault. That dumbass—either to fuck with her or whatever—walked right in front her. She swatted him with her purse before he just walked away.
Shaking my head because we are a motley crew, I met up with my wife. She wore a bright smile, and I placed my arm around her. "Are people leaving?" It looked less crowded.
She shrugged. "People ate . . . the couple called off the wedding and left." She looked around. "I told most to go ahead—you wouldn't care."
I grinned, stealing a sip of her wine. "Are we having people at the house?"
"Fuck, no." She covered her mouth with her hand. "Sorry," she giggled. "I mean—"
"I don't care." I gently kissed her temple. "You look gorgeous." I took in her form-fitting black gown. "Goddamn." I wanted two handfuls of ass.
She leaned into me, biting her lip. "You want more, huh?"
I raised a brow. "You know I'm a greedy fucker—I want it all."
Her smile widened. "Later . . . What were you talking to Alex about?"
"Damion and Anthony, actually. I think homeboy's thinking about coming out? I don't know."
"It's about time. It's not like being a Democrat or a Republican. You're born that way," she laughed. "Fuck, I'm drunk."
"You are," I agreed. "And you're beautiful." I was so happy. With the way things worked out today—so perfect and all—should I really stress about anything else? Truthfully, wrapping this day up with Bella—home alone for a bit—never sounded so good.
"Thanks, Mr. FuckHot." She pulled on my tie. "Kiss me."
I complied, biting her lower lip. "You taste good."
"Yeah," she sighed. "Oh, um, before I forget…Alex is going to fake a headache, so Carlisle has to go home."
I laughed. "The both of you with the scheming…fucking Lucy and Ethel."
"It's not a scheme," she whispered. "She wants to fuck her husband, not get whatever leftover wood he has from Eclipse. I heard the boys. That party is still on. You know?"
I shrugged. "If she's sick, he'll go home. I won't have to say anything." My brother hovers, still caters to Alex. When Bella asked me that wild shit before, I honestly didn't have an answer for her, but I highly doubt my brother is sleeping with someone else. His sun still rises and sets with her. She's his Bella, and he's not dumb enough to fuck that shit up.
I don't know what his deal is, but I know he doesn't enjoy going home. He might tonight, since the twins are with Ronnie and Karen. It's fucked up but not—at the same time. He didn't want any more kids. My brother wanted to focus on the ones they had, so they could live their lives together—be as a couple. Before she got pregnant with them, my brother asked me for time away and if we'd keep an eye on their fifteen-year-old, Eddie. He wanted to take Alex on a trip around the world.
She wanted more kids instead.
It's selfish. I know he loves them, but it's not her, it's the kids and himself. And I don't fully understand his line of reasoning either.
Sure. He's going to be fifty-four and has two ball-busting toddlers, but…
Who am I kidding? I'd shoot myself if Bella got pregnant now, or if we had two four-year-olds running around like maniacs.
Okay, so I can understand.
It's quiet at his office. At Eclipse, the drinks flow and he can actually relax. It's like a second home.
"He's not cheating on her," I said.
Bella's eyes widened. "He has ED like your dad did, doesn't he?" Her smile lit up the fucking room. "Serves him right…nasty ass for all those years."
I laughed, but pinched her ass. "Stop."
"Oh, now I feel bad."
"Don't." I kissed her hair. "There's medication for that shit, and—I don't know dick about that. We don't talk about his cock."
"Word…" She played with my tie. "Sonny's being weird."
"Sonny?" I nodded, wondering when my children weren't being weird. "He's just—it's that giving his work to others shit. He thinks I'm mad." That sounded like his deal.
"But you can't be mad. He's supposed to delegate, just—like—you." She poked my chest, emphasizing her words. "'Supposed to'."
"Yeah." I nodded. "Let's wrap this up, so we can get going."
"Oh my God, yes."
We broke away to schmooze, as Bella calls it.
/=/=/
Sonny and his chick, Damion, Aro, and Carlisle followed us back to the house. Alex must not be a great actress because she went home and Carlisle didn't follow, and Aro said something about Lisa actually having a headache. Now their union, I don't get, but I respect it.
My buddy took Lisa to Hawaii—took her on Carlisle and Alex's honeymoon—and they came back married. They never had more kids. I know Aro was open to it, but Lisa wasn't. She never wanted kids, content to play mom when she needed to for Katie, AJ, and Peto, I guess. Lisa and Aro both work a lot, are still in love, and their arrangement works well.
The boys wanted to stay in the city, but Bella has a way of keeping them in check. She told them they had to come home. I gave them a look; they complied, and here we all are—one big happy family, except for Kylie.
I'll give her until ten, and then Bella or I will be calling her cell phone. She knows she has to be home by eleven.
We lounged around the living room, talking casually, as Sonny and that broad fought out on the lawn.
"You think she'll smack him?" Carlisle asked.
We were all openly staring out the bay window at them.
"I don't know," I said.
"I'll kick her ass if she does—touch my baby." Bella went to leave my lap.
"Easy, Tyson." I held her in place.
Damion snorted. "He screwed Nunzio's daughter at the restaurant. He took Lori, and then . . . "
I chuckled, as did Aro and Carlisle.
"That's not funny," Bella said, looking around to us all. "God . . . my son is a whore. It's your fault!" She threw a pillow at my brother.
"That's not my fault," he protested.
"Watch your tone." I pointed at him, drink in hand.
He sat back, blowing out a breath. "He's young—a good-looking kid." Carlisle nodded. "He gets a lot of pussy, so what?…Salute." He tipped his drink back, while I laughed and wanted to give him a fist pound.
"Salute?" Bella asked. "Ah—Salute, you, motherfucker." She gave him the finger.
"Oh!" We all shouted, staring at Bella.
"Relax." I chuckled, kissing her cheek.
"I'm sorry." She covered her mouth. "I'm sorry." She looked to Carlisle.
He tipped his head to her, not fazed since he knows how she gets.
We all shared a laugh, and then we all shouted, "Oh!" again, witnessing Lori smack Sonny's cheek. She hit him so hard, we almost heard it in the house.
"That bitch!" Bella shrieked.
"Ma, relax—for real," Damion told her. "He gets smacked by different women daily—he can take it." He guzzled his beer.
"Slow down," I commented. "Since there's no wedding, you can't miss classes tomorrow. Don't you have a Saturday lab or something?"
"No, I have a clinical rotation—supposed to spend the day in the hospital—but they already excused my absence for the day," he said.
Bella nodded. "Stay the night, and we'll have someone drive you into the city tomorrow. Fuck, stay here tomorrow, too." She beamed at him. "Then you can stay Sunday as well. Did you bring your laundry home?"
Damion widened his arms. "I'm almost twenty-five years old."
I grinned. "You'll always be Mommy's baby."
"Awww." Aro reached over to pinch his cheek. "You were such a cute fucking kid. What happened?"
"Grew up," Dame muttered.
I nodded, digging his short response.
"How's school going?" my brother asked. "Third year—you're into it now, huh? Diagnosing and whatnot?"
"Third year," Dame confirmed, sucking down his Heineken. "I'm not doing much just yet—"
"What do you mean?" I asked.
His brows rose and he sighed, and I bet he wanted to roll his eyes.
"Don't do that," I laughed. "Don't act like I'm asking for the impossible here. I'd…just like to know more about you, what you do." It was a bit embarrassing, putting it that way, but I wasn't about to sit here and have him treat us like we were a bunch of idiots—talk to us like we're stupid. "We don't know what it's like for you. None of us went to med school. We're asking you to tell us."
"Shit…I took the bar exam at your age." Carlisle smiled.
"Me too." I knocked my fist to his. "Becoming a doctor . . . that's just too much school."
"I always wanted to be a doctor." My brother wore a frown.
"I wanted to be a therapist, or a pro ball player," Aro said.
"I wanted . . . Well, I wanted to be a lot of things," Bella whispered.
"You are a lot of things—a lot of wonderful things. You got that?" I planted a loud kiss on her neck, which made her giggle. "Go on," I told our son.
Damion nodded.
"I'd also like to know where my money's going." I shrugged.
"Edward." Bella hit my thigh. "Go on. We're listening." She leaned toward Dame. "Tell Mommy about school."
"Bella." Aro had a tone, and then we all laughed—except Damion, of course.
"All right." He nodded. "The best way to put it…" he paused, "I want you all to think about flying a plane—"
"What?" Aro looked confused.
Dame grinned. "Just…hear me out." When none of said any more, he continued. "Learning to fly . . . Imagine that for the past six years I've been learning from a manual. I've taken and passed the necessary sciences, all my major classes and electives, which gave me the tools—the vocabulary and grammar of medicine, if you will."
We all nodded him along.
"Now—in my third year—I'm doing clinical rotations. All of which means I'm now learning how to fly from the cockpit. I'm shadowing residents, actual doctors, and they're teaching me. Every two months, I'll be transferred to a different specialty, all while I'm still taking courses. It's a heavy mixture of both."
"So—" Carlisle started. "You've learned how to be a doctor on paper, and now you're being taught in the field?"
"Yes," Dame said.
"Uh, son?" I chuckled. "You could have just said that . . . Who understood that last bit more than that other shit?"
When all of us raised our hands, Damion cracked a smile. "Sorry."
"Don't be." I smiled right back. "Thank you for sharing with us."
"What else is going on…besides Julie?" Bella asked, and we all stared at Damion.
He opened his mouth to speak with half a grimace now. "Uh, nothing, um . . ."
"You guys still planning on hanging at the club?" Carlisle asked him, thus saving him from elaborating, which wasn't cool. I would have enjoyed hearing more about Damion's life.
"You're disgusting!" My wife had a few too many, and when she does, her true feelings come to surface. Everyone knows that, and we were all relaxed tonight—no cares in the world, which wasn't too difficult for me, regardless of all the concerns I truly have—so my brother was right in just ignoring her again.
"I love you," I whispered, pecking her neck. "I love it when you let go and relax." My wife hardly ever gets to let her hair down anymore, metaphorically speaking—not that she ever really did. Seeing my Bebella so carefree made me stress less.
She giggled, forgetting about Carlisle, but looked right at Damion. "I never liked Julie." She slurred a little. "Your match is out there—just not her. I hoped you and Bianca would talk, maybe set up a date . . ." Bella trailed off, and Damion left the room. "What'd I say?" she hollered.
My head—or mainly my ear—jerked away from her mouth. "Nothing, baby."
"I invited Amelia for dinner tomorrow," she said. "Maybe they'll ….you know?" She wiggled her brows.
Amelia is Luke's twenty-one-year old daughter from a relationship he had before he met his wife. She was going to accompany them tonight, so she could meet Damion and Sonny, but something came up. She's pre-med, on her way to becoming a doctor, too.
It's been Bella's plan for weeks. She and Elena concocted some plan because my wife adores Amelia and would love to have her as a daughter-in-law. I honestly don't even think Bella cares which one of our sons Amelia hits it off with. I've been leaning toward Dame, since they'd obviously have more in common, and Sonny won't be interested unless he can hit it and run. And he knows better than to do that shit to Luke's daughter, no matter who Sonny is.
Then Bella gasped. "Maybe Sonny is really into Bianca?"
Aro and Carlisle laughed. "If he hit it in the bathroom . . . I mean." My brother winced. "I think he just wanted to do what he did and move on."
"Nasty!" Bella waved a finger.
I grabbed her hand. "Stop."
"It'd be awesome, though, right?" She craned her neck to see me. "Bianca and Sonny. Damion and Amelia. Kylie and Peto…sitting in a tree K.I.S.S.I.N.G," she laughed, doing a little shimmy.
"Ha ha." I shook my head.
Bella shrugged and poured herself some more wine—not that she needed it.
Aro stood from the couch. "I should get going. Lisa is probably wondering what's taking me so long." He buttoned his jacket, and I wasn't sure why he came through anyway. "If they come here first or something, call me. Peto is supposedly staying at Katie's." He rolled his eyes. "That was before, though."
We waved as he let himself out of the house, and Sonny came back in. Their shoulders brushed and they each threw a glare at the other. Their problems stem from Katie, or mainly Aro walking in on my son while he fucked his married daughter a few months ago. Serves my buddy right for not knocking, but to top it all off, Katie was at Eclipse—in the office, a place where Aro himself bagged quite a few broads. If they're not working together or have a common goal, they usually avoid each other, yet get along for "the most part".
"Everything okay?" Bella asked Sonny.
"Yeah." He looked down on his luck. "She never cared before . . . whatever."
"You mean, you've never been caught," Carlisle laughed, and I joined him. "You have a lot to learn."
"We weren't exclusive." Sonny shrugged, his stance going back to not giving a fuck. "And I know enough." He playfully punched Carlisle's shoulder.
"He's not learning anything from you, nasty!" Bella pointed an accusatory finger at my brother.
"Just stop," Carlisle laughed. "What'd I do this time? What's got you hating me suddenly, B?"
Bella guzzled her wine, groaning a bit through loud sips and shaking her head.
"You're not going to tell me?" Carlisle asked.
"Just—" I started.
"You've gone back to the dark side, haven't you?"
"Uh—" Carlisle was confused. "What?"
"Haven't. You?" Bella shouted, sounding like a demon on crack or something.
"Christ." I hissed, holding her to me tightly. First it's the words and then the fists. She might have started swinging. I wasn't sure. "Calm down . . . I told you before he wasn't," I whispered that last part, and she did visibly relax—nut job.
"I forgot," she sighed.
"Forgot what?" Confused or not, Carlisle still found this hilarious.
"You're never home." Damion was lurking by the entrance. "Mom probably thinks you're doing Alex dirty."
"Never." My brother was fast to say. "I hung up my pimp hat a long time ago."
I just shook my head at him—poor choice of words, you know?
"Pimp hat." Sonny gave him a fist pound.
"That what she told you?" Carlilse hollered over to Damion. "I know youse two talk." He looked to me. "The three of them—Ant, Dame, and Alex—those party animals have movie nights."
I grinned, thinking that was cute, although lame for two dudes in their twenties.
"We do talk," Dame admitted, and then he was ghost again—left our sight.
"Well?" Bella asked. "Care to explain?" Her arm moved with a flourish, and she spilled wine onto the carpet. "My bad—thank God it's white."
I chuckled and kissed her temple. "You're too fucking cute." My hand roamed higher on her thigh. "Youse should take off—do whatever."
"He needs to go home . . ." Bella stared at my brother, "but tell me why you're never there first." She leaned forward, eager and as nosy as ever.
Sonny scooted closer and tried to pry the glass out of Bella's hand. "You should go to bed."
"Beat it." I smacked his hand away. "Drink up, baby," I told her. "I happen to love it when my Bebella is drunk." So I was feeling a bit tipsy, too. It was cause for celebration when Kylie and Joe called off the wedding.
Sonny frowned; over the years he has developed quite the attachment to his mother. Like me, he practically obeys her every command. "Mom, you okay?"
"Yes. My God." She sucked down her last bit of wine. "You're my kid. I tell you what to do, mister!"
I hugged her to me. "Baby, why don't you go lie down," I whispered. "Wait for me—run the Jacuzzi." I winked at my son.
He made a face at me like we were gross or something, yet I can hear all about his sex life. Asshole.
Bella nodded. "I am kind of tired." She fluffed her hair, whipping my face in the process.
"Yeah, you're done." I nodded, too, helping her up when she left my lap. When I had ushered her a few paces away, I turned back to my son. "Don't go anywhere." I still wanted to talk to him and his brother.
"What?" Bella shouted.
"Nothing." I kissed her cheek, escorting her the rest of the way to our bedroom. Bella was fine and said she'd call me if she needed anything, but insisted I wake her when Kylie got home. That was news to me. I thought she was down to fool around. I'll have to call Vito—Kylie's driver—to find out exactly where she and Peto ran off to. Before I informed Bella and Aro what'd gone down, I told Vito to follow them.
When Bella put on regular pajamas—the flannel kind—and didn't even look at the hot tub, I knew she was going to pass out.
"What happened to waiting up for me? Uh, did you want another drink?"
"Are—are you gonna go out?" she asked. "You can, I mean…" She was about to doze off. "Chill with Sonny and Dame. I'm sure you'd like to spend time with Damion," Bella sighed.
I shook my head, covering her with the comforter. "I hadn't planned on it." The younger generation, especially my sons, can't party like it's going out of style while the Skip/Dad is around. I feel bad since I'm there when I'd rather be home anyway—leaving them to their vices.
I've partied with Sonny before. We've gone drink for drink, shared a joint, and maybe we've hit the yak together too. He's more of a peer now, a friend—if I dare say—and we just get along really well. We're one and the same.
Sadly, I don't know Damion at all in that capacity. Not that recreational drug use with my kids is a bonding tool—fuck, no—but we usually don't get past the realm of small talk, although I have insight into what he's doing.
"Good . . . stay home for Kylie in case she wants to talk—not that she will, but I don't know what state of mind she'll be in." She shot up to rub her face. "Make a pot of coffee. I can't sleep knowing she—"
"Shhh." I gently brought her back down. "I'll make sure she's okay. If she needs to or wants to talk…I'll send her in here. Sound cool?" I grinned.
Bella's lip quivered and tears filled her eyes. "She hates me . . . Edward, all I want is for her to be happy."
"She doesn't hate you." I bit her nose. "Never."
Bella sniffled. "She does . . . The way she looks at me—and I've always tried so much harder with her. Growing up, I always wished I had someone, so…I made sure to always be here, to always listen, and never judge her, Sonny, or Dame. But it's hard . . ." She hiccupped. "You know? To love someone and watch them hurt, and watch them make mistakes, and they won't talk to you or try to fix it themselves . . . What did I do?"
I sighed. "Nothing. Baby, you did nothing wrong. She's wrong." It angered me that Kylie made Bella feel this way, inept and less than, just because our daughter couldn't get her act together. "You guys always got along before—"
"She was my best friend . . . and then, and then . . . Joeeee," she sobbed. "That's why we had to let her go through the motions. That's why we had to actually plan this wedding. We would—we could have lost her."
I snorted. "No."
She sucked her teeth. "You'd hunt her down, make her stay with us—make her let us be in her life? Edward, it's her life."
"Yes—no—I don't know." I shrugged. "I'd cut her ass off. Let's see her be hip with no funds," I laughed, but Bella didn't. "I'd never do that, okay?"
She nodded. "I'm just—"
"You're worried, but you shouldn't be. So, she's confused . . . She left with Peto, the wedding is obviously off . . . They'll talk, she'll come home, and, hopefully, tomorrow things will go back to normal."
"I hope so."
I looked to my watch. "She'll be home in an hour or so. If you're up to it, we should all sit and talk."
Bella smiled. "Maybe she won't come home at all—spend some time with Peto."
"Stop." I left the bed to take off my jacket. "She'll cool down and come home."
"Peto looked amazing in that suit." She hit me with her toe.
"You're buggin', drunk." I nodded. "Maybe Peto threw a wrench in those wedding plans, but—"
"Just don't freak if she doesn't come home or's late," she slurred, turning over. "Make sure she's safe and leave her be, I guess. I—I dunno."
"Go to sleep." And that was that. I didn't want to hear any more of that, and I left our bedroom. I was about to text Kylie, but then remembered our sons.
"You two—" I pointed to them. "Have a seat."
They looked at each other, to their uncle, and then to me.
"Sit," I said.
They complied, sitting nearly thigh-to-thigh on the sofa. "Everything okay?" Sonny asked, biting his lip—a nervous habit he picked up from his mother years ago.
I shrugged. "You tell me . . . What's going on with you two? I don't wanna hear about broads or petty shit . . . Start with Isaac, tell me about him. What happened at the Diamond District earlier today?" I sat back, staring at them.
"Where's Aro?" Sonny asked.
"You two don't get along," I laughed, "But yes, he's definitely the lesser of two evils . . . You know me. You know everything is cool as long as you come clean."
"That's true." Carlisle nodded.
"You know what—" I put my hand up, seeing Bella cross the hall in her pajamas. There was no way I'd risk her hearing any part of this conversation. "Save it for the sit-down. We'll talk tomorrow after dinner. Make sure you both come through." I looked to Dame. He'll likely go back to the dorms tonight since he'll already be in Manhattan.
Sonny and Damion exchanged a look.
"If you guys are going out tonight," I leaned forward to see if I could spy Bella, "go now before your mother gets her second wind." Maybe my wife likes having a full house, but I honestly didn't give a fuck. She also blames our recent increased sexual appetite on that bullshit, but that's not true either. I'll fuck her whenever the opportunity presents itself—that has never changed.
Personally, I was looking forward to that second wind.
Sonny hit Damion's arm. "Let's go."
"Dad—" Damion looked like he had something to say as he leaned toward me.
"Come on." Sonny pulled him up, and then they rapidly left the house.
"Be here for dinner tomorrow . . . it's not a request." I waved a hand, hoping they'd heard me.
Carlisle was grinning when I looked back to him. "That was us," he mused, "to a T." He shook his head, rubbing his forehead. "Still can't help but see them all as kids, though."
"I know," I whispered. "It's weird, right?"
My brother shrugged. "Sonny's a lot more mature than I was, even though I had Hanna at his age. I don't know. There are differences, but so many similarities." He faced me. "If Damion, uh, likes working with the dead? Why doesn't he do something with forensic science?"
"What? C, he likes clipping motherfuckers, not fucking with their bodies." I couldn't believe he drew that conclusion.
"Whatever . . . he has that . . . what you have." He waved a hand at me.
I pointed my finger. "Don't start talking shit, all right? You and everybody else. An ounce of liquor, and you all start running your mouths."
"I can say some shit right now, but I won't."
"Say it, I fucking dare you—"
"Christ . . . stop fighting!" Bella yelled at us from somewhere. "Go home and fuck your wife, Carlisle!"
"Damn," I commented. "Bro, why am I hearing about your sex life, or lack thereof?" I raised a brow.
"Lack?" he laughed. "It's been a couple weeks. What the fuck is Alex telling people?" He suddenly looked pissed. "She doesn't take sex seriously—doesn't think it's that personal and tells your wife everything, and then Bella likes to tease and be nosy…"
"Once upon a time, a few weeks felt like years." I poured myself a glass of wine. "You want?" I showed him the bottle.
He put up a hand, declining. "I'm happy. We're happy, you know? I'm not fucking around on her either . . ." He paused, looking down. "Ed, I'm just tired. Back when we were first married, we'd go at it. Fuck, we'd spend days in bed—whole fucking days. Then it slowed down when Eddie was born, but it was cool. Then it slowed even more—came to a complete stop—after the twins were born. I was fine—went with the flow. Sex doesn't define my marriage."
"Whoa…" I looked around us. "When did you grow up? Did it happen while I wasn't looking?"
He didn't answer that. "We're settled without settling. We still joke and laugh, and we talk about everything, and we have spoken about this . . . We just haven't spoken about it within the last few months. I don't know. She's different, insatiable—"
"That happened to Bella. When she hit her mid-thirties . . . fuck, man. It was awesome. We went from doing it whenever to going at it all the fucking time—every night, like clockwork. As soon as I'd come home, she'd be on me. Sonny and Dame were older, Kylie was finally sleeping through the night. Those everyday stresses were gone. She was able to relax."
Carlisle nodded. "I know what's up with my wife. Guys peak at like…what's it, eighteen? Women don't go through that until their thirties. I know what's going on. I just can't—"
"Keep up?" I raised a brow.
He stole my wine to drink it up. "No, I'm tired. I come home from a long day to a house with two very hyper children. The meds help, but…they're still kids, and they're a handful." He sat up straight. "You have Bella. Sonny and Dame don't live at home anymore, and you're not 'working' as much as you used to. Ed, I have six kids. Six-fucking-kids. Alex made our house a home. They don't want to leave. That's the only reason I'm still supporting Hanna and Carli. They're old enough, and I gave them slack because of guilt . . . Ant's still living in our basement. He's out a lot, doesn't come home sometimes and does his thing, but then there's Eddie. We've got a few more years until he goes to college. The twins—" He blew out a breath.
I nodded. "Your office is quiet."
"It is," he whispered. "I'm not a bad person."
"I never said you were, but come on. You have six kids. You made conscious decisions to have those kids . . . you gotta put up with them, even if it's in doses."
"I'm home every weekend. We do sports, arcades, the movies—we go places, we do things, and my adult children tag along, too. I'm glad that Alex and I have provided this nice, family-type atmosphere, but it's them too—the older ones. Them always being around . . . We start fucking or getting into it, they'll know what we're doing. The only privacy I have is at the office, and Alex doesn't get it. My poor wife can't even shower without interruptions, but she's fine with it. She never loses her temper or cares. She tells me to lighten up," he ranted. "So, no. I'm not cheating. Christ. When the fuck would I have the time? And to tell you the truth? I need another headache—another broad—like I need a hole in my head."
I laughed along with him. "Good for you…For a second there, I mean."
"Old habits die hard . . . Trust. I love chillin' at Eclipse, watching the girls and pretending I'm twenty-five again." He shook his head. "But at the end of the day, I love my home life—wouldn't sacrifice it for anything, even though it's turned my hair gray." He pointed to his head. "We don't have the time to do the things we want to, but—"
"It is what it is. You do the things you can, and right now—to you—sex isn't that important."
"Exactly. Where the fuck is my dick going?" He widened his arms.
"Very mature of you . . . to think that way."
He nodded. "It's still early. I can go to Eclipse, check on the kids, and be home to chill with Alex. Karen's hanging onto the boys, and Eddie—he'll likely chill here or with Ant, and he can get himself to school Monday. I'm going to surprise Alex and take her to the shore tomorrow night—we'll head down after we have dinner here. The plan was to leave after the wedding . . . It doesn't matter if it's October or cold. The beach—" his smile lit up the room, "is our thing . . . so no, I'm not worried about rushing home tonight."
"Because you wanna go to Eclipse?" I grinned.
"It's business, too. Caius needs to me to look over those papers from Twilight," he sighed. "I was supposed to last week, send a courier over, but . . . you know. I was just too busy and forgot. He hit me up again at the party. Regardless, taking Alex down to the shore will make up for tonight in spades, especially with what I have planned."
"What's that?" I asked.
"Well, for one, I don't plan on us ever leaving the crib—"
"You're using Dad's spot?" I kicked off my shoes to get comfortable.
He nodded. "And . . . some time during this weekend, we'll have a picnic at the lighthouse, where I plan to ask her to marry me—" He reached into his pocket.
"Huh?" I scrunched my nose. "Youse have been married for sixteen years—"
He showed me a diamond ring, which looked like more of an anniversary ring. "Our marriage was planned by her parents—I never really had a chance to ask or do anything romantic, even if I'd already had the ring. She's always deserved a proper proposal, and it all started at that fucking house."
I laughed and clapped, and then I gave him a high-five. "That'll be awesome, man. She won't get on your ass about anything for months—fucking months." I briefly thought about doing the same.
I never did anything romantic. I blurted that shit out on a street corner, lying through my teeth about my grandmother, because I couldn't imagine being honest with her. Those early days of Bella and me, I lied to myself a lot.
I—Edward Cullen—wanted her from jump.
The decision to propose was my chickenshit way of keeping Bella in my life. I couldn't fathom her leaving me, even at that early stage in the game, and that's the fucking truth.
But where do I propose? Where did it all start for us? Middletown? That hotel where C got married the first time—where I'd made love to someone for the first time in my life? Three blocks over and two avenues up, where I initially asked her on the street? My old apartment where Sonny lives now?
The first time it even dawned on me that I loved her, I was at Eclipse—the night I realized that marriage was the safest bet, especially since I was letting her get too involved in my world. Fuck, I hadn't even realized it at first.
Regardless of what defines us as a couple, I needed to pick out a stellar location. I wanted my wife to cry those happy tears and fuck my brains out for days on end. I wanted her to see that although I can be an asshole, that I can also be loving, romantic. I wanted Bella to know that after all these years of marriage, I still felt the same—that I still loved her more than anything . . . more than life itself, and she needs to know that I wouldn't change anything, not a fucking thing.
Maybe we could go on vacation?
"That's not why . . . I wanna do this." Carlisle interrupted my thoughts. "I need this time away just as much as she does. We live together, but...I miss her a lot."
I agreed with him on that one. My thoughts of proposing again are for me, too.
We both fell quiet, and the small grins we both wore wasn't lost on me. I finished my last sip of wine and leaned back in the chair, and then I sat up startled when I saw a crack in the ceiling. What the fuck? "You see that?" I pointed up.
"It's a crack, so what?"
"So…?" I shook my head. "My house is falling apart. Bella just redid this room." I groaned at the thought of having painters and shit here again. "I hope she doesn't notice."
"Dude . . . Alex wants to redo our kitchen—the appliances are old." He grumbled. "And I'm a dick because getting a new fridge—the thought of it—doesn't get me hot." He chuckled.
I shrugged. "They like to focus on home improvements. To be frank, I'm happier when Bella's spending money. Usually when she's bored, she gets involved with the church, acts like a holy roller for a stint." I stuck out my tongue. "Needless to say, I hardly get any when she spends her days with nuns and priests. It makes her feel dirty."
"And who do you think she does all this with? Trust. I know." Carlisle huffed a breath, and we got quiet again.
"Bella should go back to school—get that degree? Things are quiet. Shit, when Kylie leaves, I don't know what she'll do. What'll I do?" I whispered that last part to myself. "Shit." The world was our oyster. No fucking kids living here? Holy Mother of God. It'd just be us—Bella and me, and I hoped that "only me" was enough for my wife.
"She's settled now. Why should she even bother?" C asked.
"I—" I twirled my finger, realizing what he said before. "Back up, Eddie's staying here?"
He shrugged. "Or at home with Ant, although I'd rather he stay here. Bella won't say no."
"Oh, you won't ask me?" I laughed. "This is my house."
"Come on, bro. Who you kidding?"
"Fuck you," I laughed. "You know Ed's welcome here. He's so quiet; I hardly know when he's here."
"Thanks," he said. "He has a baseball game on Sunday, but Ant knows and will take him."
"Uh, how is Ant? You guys still close and whatnot?"
He nodded. "We're good. He's seeing someone—" The way he said "someone" made me think he knew.
"Someone?" I raised a brow.
"Yeah…someone." He gave me a look. "School was never his thing. I think I might have to donate a library so he gets a degree, but…things could be worse. Actually…I mean, he's hinted at running with a crew."
"Really?" Now that had my attention. "He never showed any interest in our thing before…"
"Why should either of us be surprised? They can't hack it in the real world, and then think pulling a trigger or scheming, wheeling and dealing is a wise career move."
"Sonny's good," I said. "Fucking great at what he does, actually."
"Sonny was made for this life . . . just like you were. You'll give him the throne?"
I nodded. "Aro thinks he's too old, but I'm not going anywhere yet, nor do I have any intentions of retiring. It has nothing to do with him being my son either. He's smart, has a good head . . . but I don't want him knowing that," I laughed. "Power's a scary thing . . ."
"You think Sonny would take you out? His own father?"
I composed my smile. "No, I don't, but the longer I am where I am, it keeps the heat off of him. Plus, I still need a few years to teach him."
"Ant's tough." He nodded. "He'd find a groove, something he'd be good at. He could start as a low-man on Sonny's crew—only Sonny's, but . . . Fuck. What's going to happen when his personal life intertwines with that one?"
"Uh—"
"Come on, Ed. I know. I know." He sounded cryptic. "Sonny would—we'd all defend Ant to our deaths, but since when—when have you ever heard of a, you know, a gay being in our thing?" he laughed, yet I could tell he didn't see any humor in his words. "Who'd take orders from him or watch his back? No one would respect him."
"But you respect him," I said, wanting to gauge his personal reaction.
"Of course, I do. Just like I go along with all his lies. He'll tell me when he's ready."
"It doesn't bother you?"
He shook his head. "This bothers me—the thought of him getting involved and me not being able to hold his hand the whole way. He'd also have to hide—seriously hide—that part of himself for the rest of his life. So . . . I'm basically fine with him being gay. When it comes down to it, gay couples adopt and get married, too. He can still have the life I hoped for him, but I do not want him involved with our thing. Not at all."
I let out a large breath. "We could say no."
"And what? Have him go behind our backs like Dame did? When they want something, they go for it."
"True," I mused. "I still can't believe that shit—the Dame shit." I pulled my hair. "But you should talk to Alex about Anthony. She's afraid for him—afraid of your reaction."
He waved a hand.
"Bro, Sonny would have his back—we all would, and the first to call him a fag would get a cap in their ass, and that's how that'd go."
"No," he said. "I'll figure out a way for him to be involved, make some money without really being too enmeshed."
"Do whatever." I honestly didn't care, not when it came to Anthony. I'd grown to love that boy as though he was my own son.
When silence fell upon us again, I jerked my head to the door. "Go, so you're still home at a reasonable hour . . . and make sure our boys don't get into trouble tonight."
He grinned. "Tell your wife to have more faith in me." Carlisle stood up to kiss my cheek and then let himself out.
"I know I'll never make that mistake again," I called out to him, and he placed his hand to the door, wearing a smile before he turned.
I gave myself a minute of quiet—enjoying my recliner before I checked the front and back doors. I did my rounds for the time being, and then joined Bella in our bedroom. She was out cold. Kylie wasn't answering her phone, but I was able to get in touch with Vito.
It was minutes to eleven, and Kylie was either going to be a little late or in a lot of trouble if her ass didn't get home soon.
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Damion POV is up NEXT!
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