Disclaimer - Sm owns it, yada yada yada

Thanks to everyone showing the love. The numbers are blowing my mind! :D:D:D Keep it up my lovelies!

Beta'd by some sexy bitch out west, MalloryKnoxx

If this story gets pulled, find me on TWCS and I will be posting the link to my blog soon.

"It's like I tell all of my boys. Always put one in the brain!"

- Johnny Casper, Miller's Crossing

Isabella's POV

I stretched out in the bed moving my arms around to realize I was alone. Or so I thought.

"Did you find what you were looking for, kid?" Edward's deep voice rumbled from the corner.

I didn't answer right away, even though I knew what he was referring to. I'd spent the better part of my free time the last two weeks 'getting things' from my house. I didn't feel that I was really hiding anything bad from him, I just wanted to do it on my own. It calmed me some how to not just sit around and do nothing.

I looked at him as he peeked out the curtains, watching the city move down below. His brow was furrowed slightly, but other than that there wasn't an expression even hinting at his mood.

"No, I didn't." I answered honestly getting out of my to start my morning routine. Edward was of course, already dressed to the nines in a suit. He looked damn good, but sometimes it was nice to see him in a pair of jeans and a hoodie.

"Is there anything I can do?" He asked not looking at me.

"Just what you promised." I sighed thinking about the days spent exploring my own home and finding absolutely no trace of where my dad might have gone.

"I always keep my promises." He reminded me stepping back from the window, "I have to check on my brother. I'll be back to pick you up in time for dinner."

"Okay. Tell Emmett I said hi."

He kissed me on my forehead briefly before leaving.

He had all but kicked Rosalie out and was detoxing Emmett himself. It wasn't pretty. I hadn't even seen him, and I knew this. Rosalie was all kinds of moody over it, but secretly I think she was relieved that she wasn't having to deal with it. I know she loved him, but she was young, and I could tell from the weight wearing on Edward's shoulders, that it's serious business.

I hummed to myself as I spent the next couple of hours showering and pampering for the dinner at Alice's. She may have been on bedrest, but she found a loophole. She was having everyone over and letting the caterers tend to everything so she didn't have to lift a finger. It was a nice compromise between her and Carlisle. She seemed happier than she'd been in awhile.

Esme and Aro also seemed like they had been sipping on happy juice all week. There was something there, I just couldn't put my finger on it yet. I know she wasn't knocked up because we had drank together two nights the past couple of weeks. She just said it was being in love, and maybe she was right.

Was I so wrapped up in my father who left me that I wasn't enjoying Edward, who was here with me now?

I decided then that I was worry less and enjoy more. My father was an intelligent man, and he had a reason for whatever was going on. I would count on Edward to find him and spend my weekend having a good time with the people I care about. I wanted a day with no trouble or drama and no interruptions to our lives, and I was determined to have it.

Aro's POV

So far everyone's mouth was shut over our recent excursion to Vegas. I was thankful for it. I wanted more than anything to sing from the fucking mountain tops that Esme was mine, but I didn't want her family upset with either of us. So I was content to keep the secret for now. I wanted to buy her a huge ring, which she pointed out she couldn't wear, so I relented for the time being.

I was sitting around Emmett's penthouse while Carlisle was checking him over and Edward watched quietly from the other side of the room. Emmett was in bad shape. He was irritatable and anxious,coming in and out of consciousness. He had gotten into some rough stuff and it was going to be a long time before he was in the clear again.

"He's taken drugs since you quarantined him here. Something besides meth." Carlisle shook his head.

"Where'd they come from?" Edward has his brotherly coldly.

Emmett looked down at the floor, remaining silent.

"WHERE?" Edward shouted slamming his fist on the bar in the living room.

"Nowhere."

"Nowhere?" Edward scoffed, "Tell me now. I'm not playing this game, brother. I will not hesitate to beat it out of you."

Emmett looked up with widened eyes at him. Edward was so on edge over the thing with Charlie his nerves were on loose ends. He had threatened his own blood.

"Fucking try big boy." Emmett stood off the couch, rolling his shoulders, warming up for a good fight. Sweat slid down his brow.

I stayed quiet and watched until I was needed to intervene.

"Don't tempt me." Edward said stepping across the room.

"Let's cool it." Carlisle held up a hand to either of them.

"You don't know shit about what is really going on." Emmett spat.

"It doesn't matter. I'm your brother, and I know that you need help."

Emmett's eyes softened slightly and Carlisle moved out of the way.

"It doesn't matter if you tell me or not, I'll find out." He never turned around as he raised his voice, "And, whoever is helping to get drugs in here with get a bullet to the fucking brain!"

Emmett shook his head and walked away, his stance defeated.

"Can you sedate him or something?" Edward waved towards the stairs.

"I could, but he isn't going to agree to it."

"Fill the needle and give it here. I don't want to worry about him while I'm at this dinner."

Carlisle sat his bag down, pulled out a small glass bottle, and inserted the needle, filling up most of the small syringe. He didn't look happy as he handed it to Edward.

"Be right back." Edward sang as he walked off holding the needle pointed up.

"Emmett isn't going to be happy about this." I said whistling as I hopped off the counter.

"No, but it's for the best. He refuses to admit he has a problem. If Emmettino has to be brought into this, not only will he be pissed about the situation, but that he was kept in the dark about it."

I nodded.

"He's out." Edward walked back in picking up his jacket a few minutes later. "Keep a close eye on him. I'll deal with you boys later."

"I'm riding with you. Esme went to your place to get ready with Isabella." I followed him out.

"My sister seems very happy." He commented once we were in the car.

"Yea." I couldn't help the goofy grin that came over my face.

He didn't say anything else, but he gave me a look I couldn't put a name on. He had been a little off anyways.

"How's it going at home?" I asked wondering how Isabella was really taking things.

"She's upset, not as much, but she is. She tries to hide it. She wants to be as strong as everyone around her. She's been searching her house. I haven't really commented on it. I have to come up with something soon. She'll hunt forever not knowing she is hunting for a dead man."

"Whatever you need, I'm there."

Things were going so well for Esme and I, I couldn't help but feel pity for him. He was walking a thin line with Isabella.

Rosalie's POV

"So a dinner tonight, huh?" Jacob said slumping down on the couch in my parents' living room.

They hadn't asked too many questions about why I was home. I told my mother that I wanted to spend some time with them while Emmett was going to be so busy, plus their house was much closer to school. They said nothing more and were happy I would be home for a little while.

"Yes. Mary Alice is going crazy being on bedrest so she talked Carlisle into a dinner party for everyone. Esme, Isabella, and I are in and out visiting her, but that's not enough for her. Besides, it'll be fun to be around everyone and outside of school."

Jacob rolled his eyes and pulled his phone out, texting away.

Lauren had been around some at school. I personally couldn't stand her, I just couldn't decide if it was because she was a dumb whore or because I was jealous.

I tried really hard to push all thoughts of Jacob out of my head. I talked to Emmett a couple of times on the phone, but he hadn't acknowledged that there was anything wrong or out of the ordinary going on. I was praying for him every night and hoping Edward had things under control.

Our wedding plans were on hold temporarily, something our parents were going to notice soon. I didn't want to be around to face Emmettino's wrath over Em's behavior. I just wanted to get through the last few months of school, and for Emmett to get better so we could enjoy a nice, easy summer.

I was still undecided about what I wanted to do after I graduated. Before, I thought that I would be a wife and mother and that would sum it all up, but now I wanted some way to take care of myself. This whole ordeal with Emmett had really scared me. What if it was a lifelong problem? Could I handle it?

"Who are you talking to?" I asked curiosity finally getting the better of me.

"Aro and Lauren." He said quietly.

He knew it bothered me, but he would never say it. We hadn't talked about whatever it was that was not really happening between us. I knew his feelings were more than I anticipated and mine were lingering in the vicinity of somewhere they shouldn't be. I had come to the conclusion, I wouldn't do anything to put him in danger.

Whatever happened with Emmett and I, Jacob could never be in my life that way. Now, I had to accept that, really accept it.

"Is that what you're wearing?" I changed the subject taking in the jeans hung low on his hips, and his almost too small white t-shirt that made his russet skin blaze.

"From the look on your face, I would say no." He looked up.

"Wear a suit. All the guards wear suits. You want to look sharp." I instructed him going back to switching things from one purse to another.

"I always look sharp." He teased as he got up to go change.

Don't I know it...

Mary Alice's POV

Everyone was sitting around my new mahogany dining table, minus Emmett. I was so happy to have a house full of people. Life had been fairly boring lately. Carlisle held my hand as he talked with Jane's finacé,Felix. Jane was being very polite, talking a little bit to everyone. Esme and Aro looked like they were glowing, the happiness was radiating out of them so hard. Rosalie made sarcastic comments during Jacob and Santiago's conversation about sports. Edward and Isabella were the only quiet ones. They both looked like they were hiding something.

"Have you set a wedding date?" I asked Jane.

"September. We haven't picked which weekend yet. Since Daddy- we decided to move it out a little and Carlisle will be walking me down the aisle now." She replied with glossy eyes.

I didn't miss Edward cringe slightly, or Isabella's quiet sigh. Something was going on there, but I wouldn't push it. If it involved Charlie, I didn't want to know.

I quickly changed the subject, "What's everyone doing after graduation? Only two months left!"

"I want to do interior decorating." Esme smiled.

"Of course, you would. You're great at it." I encouraged.

"I don't know what I want to go for, but I've always planned on going. I thought I would have another year to thing about it, but I'm not complaining." Isabella said softly.

"Whatever you want." Edward squeezed her hand.

"Rosalie?" I thought twice after I asked. Carlisle had informed me about Emmett.

"Actually, I want to go to school." She sounded determined.

"Good for you." I smiled. "I will be staying home with the baby, of course."

"Are you still going with Melania?" Aro asked.

"I think so. I think it's a beautiful name."

Carlisle smiled at me and continued eating.

"Whatever you pick will be beautiful. A beautiful name for a beautiful baby." My brother assured me.

"Well, you need to make up your damn mind so I can have something monogrammed." Rosalie exclaimed waving her glass around.

"I'll see what I can do." I smiled sweetly at her.

"I agree with her." Jane said, "How can we put the name on anything if you're not sure about it."

"Don't put the name on it or wait until she is here." Carlisle answered coolly ending the discussion.

After dinner, we all sat around in the newly furnished living room and talked some more. It was a very nice time. Everyone was relaxed several drinks in. I was laughing at some story Santiago was telling when Rosalie caught my attention with a slight nod. I mouthed 'okay' and excused myself.

Rosalie followed and we walked down the hall to the den. I sat down in one of the cushy armchairs and Rose parked her ass on the pool table, slowly swinging her legs.

"What's up?" I asked absentmindedly rubbing my baby bump.

"It's about Jacob." It was barely above a whisper.

"No surprise there the way you look at each other."

She looked up at me with a serious look.

"Sorry, did anything happen?" I lowered my voice over the point of subject.

"No, not really. I kissed him and he basically rejected me. I know it's wrong, but I can't help the way I feel about him." She huffed, "I love Emmett, but it feels different now. I'm not sure I want to be with him anymore, I mean if I did, if I was in this a hundred percent, I wouldn't be having feelings about Jake, right?"

"Emmett has done some bad shit lately, it's understandable why you feel the way you do. Also, Jacob is with you like twenty-four hours a day. For me, after everything Carlisle has done, I still can't see my life without him. You have to think about that. And if you think Jacob is causing interference with your feelings, get a new guard. You have two months left of school. Deal with it, then say you want a new one. Let Jacob off the round the clock job so he can go to school or explore whatever other options he has."

She kicked softly against the side of the pool table as she contemplated what I said.

"That's an option I hadn't thought about."

"Take a couple of days and decide what you want. You know I'm here for you."

I hugged her and went back to my party.

Edward's POV

The long day of checking on Emmett and Kate and handling normal business was almost over. Isabella and I were in the car on the way home from Carlisle's house.

"You're being very quiet." Isabella broke the silence.

"I'm beat. It's been a long day dealing with Emmett on top of everything else."

"How's he doing?"

"Truth?"

"Truth."

"Someone snuck some in for him or he had it hidden very well."

"What does that mean? I know it's not good, but how bad is it?" She asked wrapping her tiny hands around my free one.

"It wouldn't be so bad if he was only relapsing, but he doesn't think he has a problem at all. He is going to be the reason for everything around him to crumble. I can tell Rosalie is sick of his shit, I'm covering all his slack at work. Our mother would worry herself sick, and our father would blow his fucking top."

"Is there anything I can do?"

I looked over at her flawless face, the perfect look of innocence.

"Just be by my side, just be you."

"Always." She gave me a small grin.

I brought her hands up to place kisses over her knuckles.

"You're everything to me. With you, I can get through anything."

We spent the rest of the ride in a comfortable silence. I was so worn out I didn't even want sex when we got home. Isabella quickly slipped into one of my shirts while I shucked my suit all together. My bed never felt more comfortable.

I dozed off thinking about who to pin the pig's murder on, when I was going to take out Martin, and how we would be handling Frank Denali.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

I was asleep for a couple of hours before my phone blaring woke me up.

"What the fuck?" I answered groggily.

"He's gone! I don't know how the hell he got out."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I nearly yelled, trying to control myself so I didn't wake Isabella.

"Like I would joke with you. What do you want done?"

"Send someone to search for him and you stay there in case he comes back. I'm getting dressed now. Get someone on tracking his phone." I barked orders as quietly as possible while remaining threatening.

"On it."

I cursed throwing my phone on the floor as I put on the suit I discarded on the chair.

"Edward?" Isabella mumbled.

"It's fine. I have to go take care of my brother." I cooed to her, kissing her chastely, "The guys are downstairs. You'll be fine. I'll call you when I can."

"Okay. Love you."

"I love you."

I walked briskly through the building to get to my car. I made calls to check in with everyone to find out that he was smart enough to leave his phone at home on silent, stuffed in a sock drawer. For the first time in my life, I worried for my brother. We still didn't know who shot him, although I was beginning to think Emmett knew more that he was letting on. On top of that, my brother had become a fucking junkie and wasn't anywhere near his right mind.

After checking all the regular spots, I gave up and sent men back to the hotel I found him at before. If he didn't turn up before daylight, he was on his own to deal with my father. I watched his back and took care of his ass for the last several weeks and I wasn't hiding his problem any longer. I had too much other shit on my plate.

I made calls to Carlisle and Aro, filling them in on everything I knew and went to the penthouse to wait.

I sat in the dark sipping scotch and listening to the clock tick on the wall. The few men in the apartment said nothing, afraid of setting off my temper. Carlisle would be over before he went to work. I intended to subdue my brother any way I could before dealing with all the shit to go down.

Dawn broke, spilling golden sunlight into the room. Obviously, I would get to spend a pretty day with this bullshit instead of Isabella. I texted her letting her know I was dealing with family business, and I would be home as soon as possible. I told her to go shopping or something with one of the girls.

The door creaked open and I glanced up. Instead of Carlisle, Emmett stumbled in with blood shot eyes and a black eye. He wore the clothes from the night before, his curls were unruly, and one shoe was untied.

"Did you have fun?" I asked casually setting my glass on the table and standing up.

"Hell yes." He grinned.

I approached him slowly, reaching into my jacket.

"Good, because you won't be for a long time." I said pulling my gun out and whipping him hard in the side of his head.

He hit his knees, but the drugs kept him from passing out.

"WHAT THE FUCK?" he shouted looking up at me with anger in his eyes.

"That was suppose to knock you out, but since it didn't work we'll try this." I said as Carlisle crept up behind him and stuck a needle in his arm.

Emmett groaned as his eyes fluttered shut and he slid the rest of the way to the floor.

"What is your plan now?" Carlisle asked stepping over Emmett's passed out form and heading to the bar to pour a drink.

"I'm letting my father deal with him." I texted my dad asking him to come to the penthouse while picking up my own drink, "Should you be drinking before going to save lives and whatnot?"

"I only have general visits today, besides I need it. Your brother has been as ass to deal with."

"I agree."