Thank you for the amazing feedback. As always, I'm forever grateful for Frannie who makes my words readable.

While Edward kept looking at the footage from the lenses to see what the dogs had seen in the past couple of days, I shot Jake a text message, letting him know I wasn't returning home.

"Fucking piece of shit," Edward spat, making me look at the screens.

I cupped my mouth, not entirely sure if in shock or revulsion. Dr. Cullen was touching Volturi's daughter very inappropriately. Jane was barely fourteen, and his hands were all over her body. The poor thing looked terrified.

"Gives new meaning to…if dogs could talk," I said uneasily.

Edward was fuming as he took pictures of the blurry, grayish footage. Then he touched some dials on an old-fashioned phone sitting on his desk. It didn't have a receiver, but after several long rings, a sleepy voice came through the speakers of his computer.

"Man…some of us sleep at night."

"If I send you something, how fast can you print it?" Edward didn't seem to care the other person had been pulled from sleep.

"What time is it?"

"Two-fifty," Edward answered without glancing at the clock.

"Definitely not for the morning edition."

"Is Alice awake?"

"Dude, what's so important? And I'm not sure how Alice can help."

"She has a friend at the News, and I need to make this public before the election ends."

"Wait a moment…"

"Who's that?" I dared to intervene, not sure what he planned on doing.

"Jasper owns the Gazette. If he can't print this shit by morning, then we'll have the pictures splattered all over the News. It's much better, now that I think of it."

"These pictures?" I pointed to the ones of Dr. Cullen and Volturi's daughter.

"Yes."

I tried to explain how that might backfire on us, but a woman's voice came over the speakers.

"Edward? I hope you have something good. The last time Heidi went over her boss's head to show what you gave her, she was in trouble."

"I'm aware," he answered. "This is very important for every citizen to know why they shouldn't vote for my uncle."

"Oh, God. Heidi won't get involved in that shit."

"It will be a surprise for her like the last time."

"She can lose her job, you idiot."

I admired this Alice for speaking like that to Edward, who seemed to be a force of nature. I was certainly seeing him in a new light now that I knew who he really was.

"Do I have to take over the News studio in the morning and put my footage on the screen?"

"I'd love to see you barging in there. Heidi will never accept another invitation to be your pretty face at the events you have to attend," Alice threatened him.

"I don't even need her to do that anymore. I have a fiancée, now." He glanced my way, smirking playfully.

"Right, as if Swan has ever given you the time of her day," she snorted.

"She's given me the time of her nights," Edward said playfully.

"What?" Alice gasped, and I didn't blame her.

Besides, Edward's sudden mood change was giving me a whiplash. From the serious vigilante ready to seek justice, he had shifted into the playboy I'd known for years.

"So you won't help?" he concluded.

"Heidi won't do that – for you or anyone else."

"Okay. Good night." Edward ended the call. "Do you mind making some coffee? I have to bring in the heavy weapons."

"Tanks?" I asked fearfully.

He barked a loud laugh. "My hacking skills." He pulled a swivel chair to his desk, already pulling up some page with complicated coding on his computer. I wasn't sure, though, because that part was not something I knew.

It took me a while to figure out how to work his fancy coffee machine and discover where he held the cups, teaspoons, sugar, cream, and the likes.

It was thirty minutes past three when I returned to his side in his high-tech garage. Edward was typing a storm, eyes glued to the screens above his head.

"Here." I placed one of the cups next to him, along with two packets of sugar, unsure if he liked it sweet.

He only nodded, not glancing my way or at his coffee.

I didn't try to understand the coding he was typing, so I walked around the large garage. The sleek metal desks lining the walls and large metal boxes were intimidating, and I was truly curious about what secrets they kept hidden within them.

"Don't touch anything," he warned in a distracted voice.

I listened to him only because I was afraid of being decapitated by some sharp object coming out of one of his boxes. Eventually, I returned to his side and sat on the desk next to him, sipping from my coffee.

"So, what exactly are you trying to do?"

"I inserted the photos, along with the footage of a hooded figure knocking my uncle unconscious, into the morning news program. It will create quite the stir when it starts playing shortly after Heidi's first news update of the morning."

"You're giving yourself away?" I asked, scandalized.

"No one can see my face." He relaxed in his chair, taking a gulp from his coffee. "Where's the sugar?"

"I brought you two packets. I wasn't sure…"

"Five, at the least." He winked at me, opening a drawer and bringing up a handful of sugar packets. "For emergencies."

I couldn't help but laugh. I watched him dump all the sugar into his cup before stirring and then taking another gulp, smiling in satisfaction.

I reached out to move the hair from his eyes, and his eyelids fluttered as he leaned into my touch when I cupped his cheek.

"How long have been doing this?"

"Too long. Your father was my right hand," he admitted. "He used to help me a lot with inside information."

My hand fell to his shoulder, and I felt faint. "I can't believe it. He never told me you were friends. I mean…he always said you were a disgrace to your family legacy."

Edward smiled in chagrin. "This me," he said, pointing to his suited chest. "It was funny how after a night of working as a team, we would bump into each other in the daylight, and he criticized me openly for what a terrible man I was."

"So…that was just an act? Your way…I mean…how you fucked everything with a pussy?"

He cringed. "I have no idea how that happened. You know how women always fell at my feet. I used that to my advantage." He stroked my calf, looking into my eyes. "You might not have paid attention to the women at my arm, but I never chose them by mistake. I always followed my interest. They all had the information I needed, and there was no other way to get it. The fact that they warmed my bed at night is not something I'm proud of."

I couldn't believe how smart he was, how he'd calculated his every step. "But why are you supporting your uncle's campaign? After what you told me earlier, you should want him dead."

"Oh, trust me. I do," he said the words with such enthusiasm, it gave me the chills. "And what part of my fight with him last night gave you the impression I was playing his games?"

"Well…you accepted their deal to marry me to unite our money."

"Because he'd have killed you if I wasn't playing my cards right. Actually, it was me who suggested I should marry you. I couldn't bear the thought of anyone hurting you."

I stared, perplexed at his honest face. "Did my fighting skills impress you that much? We were never friends."

He rolled closer, opening my legs and pulling me down so I was straddling his lap. Wetness ruined my panties instantly at his precise movement and how it felt to be so close to him. And the fact that he was dressed up as his alter-ego fueled my desire for him.

"You had me since you punched me in the face when we were five, Isabella."

I reeled back, awestruck.

"Fuck." He shifted under me, wincing. "The problem with this suit is that it fucking hurts to be around you. I didn't design it to fit in an erection."

I choked a laugh, sliding back until I was sitting on his knees. My eyes checked his groin area, but there was no zipper or button or anything. Edward laughed, crashing me back to his chest and devouring my mouth. I sagged into his embrace, rubbing against his armor, needing friction.

Then, faster than I could comprehend what had happened, he used his arm to swipe everything off his desk and pushed my back against it.

I watched through hooded lids as he meticulously took off each part of his costume until he was standing in just black boxer briefs, a white sleeveless shirt, and striped socks. Working fast yet carefully he then undressed me in record time.

I tried not to stare at the scars on his arms and chest, but it was impossible. There were two angry red and purple bruises that stood out. One was above his left pectoral, and the other was close to his liver.

As he unhooked my bra, I traced the bruise under his ribs, and he inhaled sharply. He glanced down to check it for himself and cursed softly.

"Asshole thought he could shoot me. That suit is fucking indestructible. I put half of my inheritance in it."

"Does it hurt?"

Edward trapped my hands on either side of my head. "My body is covered in bruises. I'll live." His lips touched mine, making me arch into him, spreading my legs like some wanton woman. He ripped my panties, swallowing my cry of protest.

When he pulled away, it was only to take the rest of his clothes off before he pulled me to the edge of the desk and pushed inside me. I screamed at the forceful entry, but it was exactly what I'd imagined during our nights of fighting alongside each other. I had fantasized about him taking me roughly more times than I was ready to admit.

"Is this what you wanted the other night, Kitty?" He licked at my throat.

"Yes," I breathed, digging my nails into his back.

He groaned loudly, his hips snapping into mine relentlessly, as he tilted his head back, showing me his bobbing Adam's apple. His hands gripped the edge of the desk, and I wanted them on my body. I wanted him to break me, to fuck me until I was unable to think coherently.

"More," I begged, dragging my nails over the planes of his back, making sure to mark him.

His lust-filled, dark green eyes found mine, and I almost regretted my plea. It seemed something snapped inside him because he flipped me around so my chest was pressed against the cool metal before diving back inside me.

I screamed my delight in having all my desires met by the man I used to loathe, yet he was the same man I used to dream about, without knowing his true identity.

"More than enough for you, Kitty?" he asked roughly, gripping my shoulders as he fucked me so hard; my release taking me by surprise. He either didn't notice I'd come, or he didn't care, because he kept moving in a punishing rhythm that had me yelling his name in pleasure mixed with a touch of pain. "You have…no idea…how long…I've been waiting…for this…moment," he said slowly, puncturing each word with a snap of his hips.

My legs were ready to give out, but I had nowhere to go. His dick and his strong hands were keeping me from melting to the floor.

When he shot his load deep inside me, I realized he hadn't even bothered to ask if I was okay with him fucking me raw. Having just discussed his man-whoring ways, it was irresponsible of him. But luckily, I'd been on the pill since age seventeen. And I had a nagging feeling the smug asshole knew that. Besides, he hadn't fucked anyone else since our engagement was announced.

Edward took a few steps back, out of breath. He snatched his sleeveless shirt from the chair, where it had landed earlier, and used it to clean me gently. That redeemed him one hundred percent in my eyes.

"Now that Kitty and Vengeance have this out of their system, can Edward show Isabella to his bed?"

I laughed loudly at how boyish and sly he sounded. I couldn't get a hold of my laughter as he helped me into a standing position. I leaned into his side, rubbing his strong arm, tilting my head to look at his handsome face.

But he wasn't looking at me. His eyes were on one of his screens. "Maybe later," he added hastily. "It's show time. Get dressed."

I checked the screen he was looking at, and my breath caught. Several black cars pulled up in front of his gates, and it looked like the drivers were trying to figure out how to get through them.

Edward was already in his suit, and I was still struggling to get my sweaty legs into my leather pants.

"You need more practical gear," he said off-handedly, handing me my blouse. "How good are you with nunchaku?"

"Uh…" I'd managed to hit myself in the head the only time I'd attempted to practice with them.

"Good." Edward handed me two sets. He had one of the tall metal boxes open, and it was filled with non-lethal weapons. "This, too. Hold your wrist," he demanded, keeping an eye on the screens. He fastened a whip around my right wrist. "Just keep a tight grip on the handle, then shake your hand. It's fast, so be careful."

I only nodded. My head was already spinning.

Talk about coming back to reality after our hot romp on the desk.

"Who are they?" I was truly curious. "Volturi's people?"

Edward winced. "I made some new friends the other night when you were hiding under your blanket."

"I wasn't …What friends?" I demanded because there was no time to start an argument.

"The kind who bring flowers to your grave after they kill you." He winked, cracking his fingers, taking a fighting stance just as a large Humvee came crashing into my bike.

I saw red but held my position.

They all jumped out of the car, their guns pointing at us.

"Oh, look. He found a pussy," one of the goons joked.

I didn't think. I jerked my right wrist in his direction and was surprised when the end of the whip curled around the man's throat. I pulled with all my might, and he fell to the floor while my whip retracted.

"It works," I heard Edward whispering in awe.

If we didn't have a dozen guns pointed at us, I'd have kicked his ass. He'd just tested this device on me.

"Is that all you can do, Pussycat?" Another mindless idiot catcalled.

I crouched low before I rolled toward the Humvee and did a backflip that landed me on the hood. In several movements of my wrists, I had five of them on the floor with the help of the nunchakus. The rest of their friends started shooting as if on command, and I ducked out of sight, but one bullet grazed my thigh as I rolled under their car.

I didn't have time to think about the pain because the red blinking light meant big trouble.

I slithered out, crawling to Edward's box of goodies, looking for something to create a diversion so we could disappear. I found what I needed after a few seconds. I had no idea what they were called, but I knew they created smoke if they were opened.

My heart stopped for a second when I looked up to see the men from the car openly shooting Edward, who stood immobile as if he wasn't affected by their bullets. One of them ricocheted from his head and embedded in the wall.

I threw the smoke-producing device toward their car, and within a second, they ceased fire and started shouting at each other.

I seized Edward's hand, pulling him around the attackers. He tried resisting, but I jerked him after me.

"Listen to me, for once in your life," I begged.

We were near the gate where they'd left their other cars when the bomb exploded. Edward covered my body, throwing us to the ground.

My ears were ringing so loudly, I doubted I'd ever hear again. His arms tightened around me, and I could feel his ragged breathing in my ear.

"Keep your head down," he shouted.

I didn't understand why until the cars outside the gate blew up one by one. It was sheer luck no parts landed on us.

It felt like hours passed before we were able to get up, unstable and disorientated.

Edward was looking at the entrance to his underground garage, a scowl on his face. Then an inhuman growl ripped through his chest as he charged in that direction like a missile.

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