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 is intended. Edited by Sjdavis84 and StillDreaming85.
WARNING: This story contains mature themes and is intended for mature readers.
EDWARD CULLEN.
"You're getting married, tomorrow?" Aro asked, in an oddly irritable disbelief.
"Yes."
"To Marcello's daughter, the girl I had arranged for your father to bring her? I didn't think the wedding would be this soon. Where is she? I would like to meet her."
"She's...Gone." I shrugged, pouring myself another glass of scotch.
"Gone where?" Aro questioned with narrowed eyes.
"Heidi will not be my bride, Aro," I said, watching as his face dropped, but he collected himself quickly.
"Then who is your bride-to-be, godson?"
"That is not your concern, godfather. You will only see her, if you need to see her."
"Edward, you are a Don. Your marriage is important. Give me this woman's name so that I may do my research," he demanded wheeling himself over to me.
"You may leave now," I said, waving him off.
"Edward," he said, firmly grabbing a hold of my hand. "We do not want a repeat of what happened to your brother. You need to leave this woman and marry Marcello's daughter."
"I think you are forgetting your place again, godfather. Who I marry is not your concern. But if it will help you sleep tonight, know that I have done my research. If you are concerned about her family, do not be, she is full blooded," I lied. While Isabella's mother was full blooded Italian, Charles was not. His father was Sicilian, but his mother was English. But of course Marie, was from a full Italian family.
"I cannot let this happen. I am sorry, but I cannot let you do this. You need to marry Heidi. Edward, for the sake of the family, for the honor and respect," Aro insisted.
The doors of the study burst open. My very frantic sister rushed into the room. Her movements stilled when her eyes landed on Aro. Whatever she had been worried about a second ago, she now masked with a smile.
"Rosalie, what a surprise. I did not expect you to still be up at this hour. Or is it all this excitement over your brother's wedding that has you sleepless?" Aro smiled.
"I need to speak with my brother," my sister said.
"By all means, do not let me stop you."
"I need to speak with my brother alone. It is a rather private matter," she said.
"Of course. Maybe, dear Rosalie, you might have more luck in talking your brother out of this marriage with a mystery woman than I have," Aro said. He kissed my sister's hand before wheeling himself out.
"I'll try," my sister said, void of any emotion. She waited for Aro to leave, locking the door after him.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Where's Anthony?"
"Taking care of some business. What the hell is going on, Rose?"
My sister looked from the locked door and back to me, nervously. She knew there were cameras in this house, she also knew Aro was aware of that. There would be no way Aro would linger outside the door.
"I think Aro helped Charles Swan with dad's case," she finally said.
"That's a big accusation you're making Rose. Are you sure?"
"I don't know," she sighed, flopping down on the couch. "But it would explain a lot."
"Like what?" I asked. Anthony and I had always suspected Aro was up to something, ever since he insisted his son become a made guy the next time the books were opened, but our father had refused the idea almost immediately.
Caius was the sort of man that should not even be involved in this business, in this family. If it weren't for the fact that he was Aro's son, I am sure he would have been taken out long ago.
I don't know what happened to Caius, it was as if Aro hadn't raised him at all. He didn't know his place, and at times, he didn't know his limits. Those were the sort of things that got people killed. Caius was the sort of man that wanted power and control, he didn't want to take orders, he didn't want to be told what to do. My father had organized for him to run a small section of Brooklyn, in the port. He was responsible for making sure that any shipments arriving were to make it to their final destination safely and untracked. It was about the only job he was good at, but I suspected Aro helped him with that.
"There are things in there that don't make any sense. Things that Aro has tried to hide from me. Do you know how I got those documents, Edward? I broke into his house and copied them," she said.
"You're going to have to give me the details here, Rose. We heard everything that was presented in court, what did we miss?" I asked.
"They charged dad with embezzling money from an account here to one in Italy and then transferring it to another in Switzerland. Those accounts aren't in dad's name. How did Swan know they were his accounts? The house in Portland, I don't know what's there, but that house wasn't in dad's name either. The house was put under his name a month before he was arrested."
"FUCK," I said. "How did we not see this?"
"We can't tell Anthony any of this, you know what he'll do, and we don't even know what Aro's real involvement was," Rosalie stressed.
Our brother would end Aro if he found out about this. He had never had too much patience with our godfather. If I'm honest, I think Anthony is biding his time and waiting for the perfect occasion, a good enough reason to end Aro.
I cannot let him do that just yet. If there is any truth to my sister's accusations, we have to get to the bottom of it, we need to find out what Aro's true involvement was in my father's case.
"Don't tell mom either. She cannot find out about this," I said. Our mother, she was a sweet woman, but underneath that exterior was a woman you did not want to mess with. She loved our father to the point of almost obsession, if any of this got back to her, I would not be worried about Anthony reaching Aro first, but our mother.
"I am trying to piece this all together, Edward. But there are so many things that don't make any sense. Why would Aro betray dad?"
"Because, Aro wants what dad has. He wants his position," I said.
"If that's true, Edward. Then why help Charles put dad away? What would it matter if dad was locked away, or dead even. There is still you and Anthony to factor in...Unless…"
~DINY~
The wedding was only a small gathering. Only the people that needed to be here to witness, were here. Of course that included Aro, but I was having Emmett watch him closely.
Isabella was with James and Garrett. They had brought her up to the estate. James had told me, she hasn't spoken a word. I didn't know how to feel about that. After that night, I found her with my brother on the floor asleep surrounded by broken glass and cocain.
I don't know what my brother said to her that night, but she hasn't spoken a word to me, or anyone since.
My mother had organized this last minute wedding in a matter of days. Of course, having it at the estate helped. It was out of sight and away from prying eyes. It was still too early for Isabella to be seen out in public. There was still a great deal of media attention around the case considering that Charles's body was discovered in his daughter's bedroom last night. He had killed himself. I didn't want that small piece of information getting back to my bride any time soon, or ever. It was something that she did not need to know.
"Who are you getting married to?" Sofia asked, tugging on my pants.
"A very pretty girl," I said, picking her up.
"Is she prettier than me?" Sofia was her mother's daughter after all. She was every bit Rosalie in a miniature.
"You will always be the most beautiful girl I have ever laid eyes on," I said, kissing her cheek.
"What's her name? She better be nicer than the other one. I didn't like that one, she was mean and ugly."
"Her name is Marie," I said.
"That's a pretty name. It's like mine. Sofia Marie." She beamed.
"That's right it is."
"Uncle Anthony, hug me," Sofia said, wiggling out of my arms. She wrapped herself around Anthony's waist.
"Rose, get it off of me," Anthony said, staring at our sister, obvious irritation on his face and in his voice.
"I love you, Uncle Anthony," Sofia sighed. She knew that she made Anthony uncomfortable, and she played him at every chance she could.
"I really wish you would have let me meet this Maria before the wedding," my mother said, prying Sofia off of Anthony.
"You will meet her soon enough."
"I hope she likes the dress I picked out. I hope it fits her. Seriously, Edward, what is going on?" My mother stressed.
"How about we all take our seats, it's almost time," Anthony said, escorting our mother to her seat. Garrett came in and took his seat on the opposite side of my family. He gave me a small nod, letting me know that everything was okay and going to plan, although his face didn't look convincing.
James appeared at the entrance of the room with Isabella, their arms linked together. The first thing I noticed was her flushed face and red eyes, anyone in this room would be blind not to notice that. Although none of them would be looking at her that closely, they knew better.
James took one step forward, but she stayed frozen on the spot. Her eyes were downcast, she was staring intently at the floor.
James leaned in and whispered something in her ear. I don't know what he said to her, but when he took his next step she followed his lead.
"Oh my God," I heard my mother's whispered gasp. Anthony had put a hand over her shoulder, holding her down. My sister stared at Isabella with her mouth wide open, shocked and angry at the same time. They recognized her. None of the other twenty people in this room said a word, they wouldn't dare.
James let go of her hand, although she was reluctant to let go of him. I held onto her hand tightly, rubbing small patterns with my thumb over her wrist. Her pulse was very rapid and the rise and fall of her chest was evident.
It was over before it began. There were no big speeches, no big production. We only exchanged simple vows. She hesitated, but she said her "I do." Her voice was loud and clear and filled with hate as she spoke those two little words.
I did take the opportunity to kiss my bride. My cupped her face in between my hands and brought my lips to hers. She moved her body closer to mine, her hands grabbed onto my jacket. She held onto it as if it was some sort of life support. She let me kiss her, she let me have my way with her mouth. Holding her, having her this close to me in this way, it was easy to slip away and forget we had twenty pairs of eyes on us.
"I want to make everything better," I said. Pulling away. Looking into her red, watery eyes. She shook her head. "No, you can't," she said.