Welcome back everyone ! We back with another chapter. But before, I want to say that I'm really happy that more and more of you are taking the time to not only read but to put this story in your favorites and alerts... So thank you so much!
That being said; have a great read. I'll see you at the bottom.
Chapter 5: A Risky Invitation
Edward clutched his phone tightly, the unfamiliar number flashing on the screen. This was a crucial moment; he couldn't afford to mess up. Glancing at Emmett, who had the recording equipment ready, Edward took a deep breath and answered the call. "Hello?"
A deep, authoritative voice reverberated through the line, filling the room with a commanding presence. "Anthony Masen, presumo. This is Caius. How are you guys doing?"
Edward's pulse quickened at the mention of their names. The underboss knows about them, and that was huge. He exchanged a glance with Emmett, who met his gaze with unwavering confidence. "We are doing well, Sir," he replied, his tone respectful yet composed. As he spoke, his mind sharpened, determined not to let any detail escape him.
Caius' voice carried a tinge of curiosity as he continued " I've heard great things about you and your fratello, Will. You've come highly recommended by Marcus. That doesn't happen often, so you must imagine, you've picked my interest."
Edward maintained his steady voice, "We are honored Sir. We just want to prove ourselves to you." A brief pause followed, the weight of Caius' silence bearing down on Edward and Emmett.
Then, the commanding voice resumed, its tone growing even more authoritative. "I would like to meet you both in person. I might have a job for you, but before, I want to assess things myself. "
Edward's mind raced as he absorbed the gravity of Caius' words. This was the opportunity they couldn't afford to squander, and their operation depended on making a lasting impression. The closer they get to Caius, closer they get to Charlie, closer they get to their operations. Also, closer he gets to meeting Isabella.
Taking a deep breath, Edward's voice laced with anticipation. "I understand, Sir. We are eager to prove our loyalty."
"Bene. I expect you and Will to be present at our meeting a week from now, at sunset. We will discuss matters further then. Simon will give you the address."
Edward couldn't suppress the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins at the thought of the impending meeting. "Thank you for this opportunity, Sir. We won't let you down." The call ended, and Edward exhaled slowly, his mind reeling with the weight of the conversation. What just happened! He turned to Emmett, who had been silently observing, their eyes meeting with a shared understanding of the magnitude of the task ahead.
Emmett discreetly packed away the recording equipment, a satisfied smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Well, that was intense." Edward nodded, his mind still processing the conversation. "You're telling me! You were not the one that had to talk to him."
Emmett clapped a hand on Edward's shoulder, pride evident in his voice. "You did it, little fratello. He chuckled, recalling Caius' nickname. "We just have to get ready."
"Who knows, maybe at the end of this whole thing, our Italian will be better." He continued making himself laugh.
As soon as possible, they informed the team about their upcoming meeting with Caius Swan. It safe to say that Jacob was happy to report the news to Aro and curious trying to find what kind of job Caius might have us do. For him, to be asking for them specifically for a job, must be something important and risky.
Deep down, there were thoughts that it might be a trap. But for the past months, they have taken all the precautions possible to live the life as Will and Masen, so it is unlikely that they know about their true identities. It is crucial that they leave a great impression on Caius Swan.
Edward couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and trepidation. This is what he loves about his job - the adrenaline, the feeling of being on the edge. Thoughts of Bella swirled in his mind again. It seems he can't get away from her. Never in the past, he had felt that much attraction towards a girl and be his luck, said girl happens to be part of a job.
Later, Edward and Emmett decided to take a moment to relax and headed out to a lively sports bar. The distant cheers from a football game provided a comforting background noise, creating a sense of normalcy amidst everything.
As they settled into their seats, the brothers exchanged banter and laughter, their brotherhood shining through. These moments away from everything gave them a much-needed sense of normalcy. Edward knew that Emmett longed to see little Rosie, especially with her first birthday coming up. They had planned to send gifts and a video from both of them to be played for her. The plan was when they come back, they will throw her another 1st birthday.
The rest of the night was spent drinking an absurd amount of beers, sharing stories, and laughing until their sides ached. It was much more needed.
The next day, they paid the price for their drinking the previous night, but they had to get themselves together because they were meeting Simon to deliver someone. Emmett made them some greasy breakfast and some disgusting green looking juice, he was scared to even asked what was in it, he looked at Edward and say: "I lowkey miss the times where we only had to drop something or pick something, now we're dealing with people."
They were tasked with finding a thief who had been stealing their product without paying them back. Despite their best efforts, the elusive culprit had managed to remain one step ahead for the past few weeks. They searched rundown buildings, secret hideouts, and the city's underground routes. By now, they had finally located him. It had been frustrating but now they know where he has been hiding the past three weeks. They planned to deliver him to Simon and let him do whatever he wants. They did not really care. They had bigger fish to fry. Which was focusing on the upcoming meeting with Caius Swan.
…..
A week later, Edward and Emmett found themselves standing at the entrance of Caius' secret meeting location, uncertainty reflected in their eyes. They consciously refrained from carrying any recording devices, well aware of the heightened security they expected to encounter. And they were right to do so! As the heavy oak doors swung open, they stepped into a chamber crackling with power and secrecy. Dim, ethereal light bathed the room, casting eerie shadows that danced upon the ancient walls. The air itself seemed thick with suspense, filled with the hushed whispers of concealed conversations.
They exchanged a brief glance, their eyes reflecting a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. This moment was a turning point. They understood that the figures gathered before them would test their loyalty. With echoing footsteps, they advanced through the chamber, their gaze drawn to the opulent surroundings. The chandeliers above cast a muted glow upon the polished table that dominated the room, reflecting both the grandeur of the surroundings and the weight of the impending encounter.
Edward and Emmett exchanged a surprised glance as they noticed all three brothers present.
Their positions revealing the hierarchy within the room. Charlie Swan, the boss, sat in the center, emanating authority. Marcus, the strategic mastermind, sat to Charlie's right, his piercing gaze assessing the room with calculated precision. To Charlie's left, Caius exuded an air of loyalty and power. They were all in tailored suits with drinks in front of them.
Caius broke the silence with his deep voice, his Italian heritage imbuing every word. "The infamous Will and Masen," he declared, his voice resonating through the room. "Welcome. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. My brother here has spoken highly of your skills. It is music to my ears to know that we have such smart individuals working for us."
Charlie's unwavering gaze met theirs, and a knowing smile curled his lips. He chose not to speak, letting his brothers do the talking. "Indeed," Marcus interjected, his voice carrying a hint of challenge. "We have heard impressive things about your skills. Today, we shall see if the rumors hold true."
Emmett responded with gratitude. "Thank you, sir. We are honored to be here."
A moment of silence hung in the air, pregnant with expectation, before Caius spoke again, his voice brimming with authority. "Tell me, what brought you to us?"
Edward held Charlie's gaze unwaveringly before answering. "We have always been involved in various contracts and jobs for other people, but we come to realize there is serious money to be made. And it seems, that it doesn't get any better than working for you. Simple as that. We go where the money is." A small smirk appeared on Charlie's face.
Was that a glimmer of approval?
Caius leaned back in his seat, admiration gleaming in his eyes. "Very well. Like we mentioned earlier, we have a project that we've been working for way to long, and said project is causing us too much headache. If you're able to deliver then, we'll talk."
Charlie leaned forward. "Let's see if you both are the real deal." Their eyes locked on Charlie, awaiting further instructions.
"We need you to locate … someone who has been in witness protection for quite some time," Caius continued, urgency underscoring his words. "Let's say this person possesses …information that could cause... some problems for some dear friends of mine. And I promise them I would take care of it."
Emmett's brows furrowed, his mind racing with the implications. Finding someone in witness protection was no simple task. It was top secret and would not be easy to get done. Edward's gaze shifted to Marcus and Charlie, observing the unspoken dynamics between them.
"We understand," Edward replied, his voice steady. "Consider it done, Sir."
Charlie's eyes showed excitement, mirrored by a nod of acknowledgement from Marcus and Caius. Without any other words, they left the room in perfect order.
With the conclusion of the meeting, Edward and Emmett drove back to their apartment.
"Did you see the way they acted around each other?" Edward mused, running a hand through his hair. " Yeah, Charlie didn't speak much, this is the kind of shit you see in movies."
Emmett laughed. Edward sighed, leaning back in his chair. "This is risky shit. It's not like we can simply give them the location."
Emmett's expression mirrored his brother's apprehension. "I know, anyway we would have to talk to Aro about that." They sent a coded text message to Jacob, requesting a meeting to talk everything over.
Not long after, the voices of their colleagues filled the room, Edward proceeded to relay everything that had happened since the moment they left their apartment for the meeting. As expected, Aro was not pleased. Putting someone into witness protection involved numerous factors, and the FBI couldn't afford to lose their only witness on a murder charge against a high-profile case involving Judge Matthews, who had died the previous year. Apparently, Judge Matthews was ready to expose the names of those who had paid him for not guilty verdicts and lighter sentences. Next thing you know, he was found dead in his office without much evidence. So, you can imagine finding that eyewitness was a huge deal.
Their team absorbed the weight of the assignment. Questions and concerns arose, highlighting the ethical and legal implications of that request.
"We'll find a way," Agent Yorkie asserted, his voice tinged with determination. "We'll find a way to deliver what they want without giving anything away." As the conversation continued, plans began to take shape. None of them were totally sure on how they would achieve it.
…
Three weeks had passed since that meeting with Charlie, Caius and Marcus. And the FBI team been working tirelessly to find a way to protect the witness and deliver for the Swans.
One thing they have learned being on the inside and having a full view of their operation was seeing firsthand why the Swans are a notorious and impressive organization. They had created a perfect system, and no one can afford to fool them, you will have no second chance.
With the proper and necessary approval chain, the FBI team had devised a plan. So far, the only information that Edward and Emmett were privy to, understandably, was her name, Amelia Morgan, and she was put in a modest house in a remote town in the Midwest, she has been living under an assumed identity. This Lady had been dealt a terrible hand. She was at the wrong place at the wrong time last year, and now, Charlie Swan is after her. Talk about bad luck!
Lucky for all of us, we had strategized a plan and was ready to put it in motion.
As soon as possible, they arranged a meeting with Caius with the help of Simon to deliver the plan.
As they gathered in the meeting room, Caius greeted them with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. There was no time for small talk, and after a quick salutation, Edward dove straight into presenting the information they had "supposedly" discovered. He laid out the evidence, including pictures and even a video, his coup de grace, of Amelia going about her daily routine. Edward's heart races, realizing the weight of the information he was providing. If their plan failed, chaos would undoubtedly erupt at headquarters, and Amelia Morgan would be dead.
Throughout the whole time Edward and Emmett were speaking, Caius remained silent, listening intently at every word, and scrutinizing every picture. When they were done, he was still silent. Finally, he spoke up, questioning their certainty about the pictures and her location.
"How sure are you that this info is correct?" he questioned.
"100%" Edward answered instantly with confidence.
Caius expressed his satisfaction and commended their work.
"Molto bene" clearly, he was excited. "Great job guys, Imma say, I'm really … impressed. I guess what they were saying about you is true."
He took all of the information on the table ready to leave but just as Caius was about to leave, he turned back and asked:
"How did you get all of this information, even our own people were not able to do so."
"I know someone that is a magician in the cybersecurity world, the moment he had the picture of her, he did his thing, got in contact with the right people and voila! I owe him a hefty amount." Apparently, that made Caius laughed.
Edward and Emmett exchanged a glance, and laughed along because they were hoping their story would hold up.
"Bene! I would like to meet that friend because if he is that good, I might need him under my retainer." Fuck!
"Sure," Emmett responded, relieved that their explanation had satisfied Caius's curiosity.
Later that same day, as planned, Caius arranged for the brothers and two other trusted men to go to Amelia's house and execute her. The tension among the four of them was palpable as they approached Amelia's residence. Actually, more from Edward and Emmett, then the other two since they were more eager to kill the innocent lady. When they arrived at the residence, they moved with caution, Emmett convinced the other two men to guard the area and to notify them if people are approaching or if anything looks suspicious.
Following the plan, they strategically set the house and Amelia's body on fire, as promised to Caius, ensuring they secured her body as proof. The other two men helped them bring it to the car.
Unbeknownst to the other two guards, at the same time, the FBI tactical team was also present, skillfully coordinating the substitution of the burned body with one that closely matched Amelia's appearance and characteristics down to the finest details. It was a meticulously orchestrated performance. Now, all that was left was to present the lifeless body to Caius and Charlie and hope they buy it.
Early next morning, they arrived in New York with the body bag, and drove to the location that was provided to them. As they revealed the body, Charlie inspected the burned body but what they did not expect was for him to bring another sketchy looking figure to examine and provided confirmation of the body identity. The examination lasted about 20 minutes, and when he nodded his head at Charlie, they finally allowed themselves to exhale, a sense of relief washing over them. Charlie's face displayed a mix of approval and satisfaction, even earning a round of applause.
Before Charlie could utter a word, a guard abruptly interrupted their conversation.
"Hey Boss! Sorry to disturb you, but Miss Isabella is outside, she mentioned that she has been waiting for you and you are late."
The guard clearly was nervous to interrupt the conversation. Instantly, Charlie's demeanor transformed.
"Oh merda! I forgot. She's going to be furious," he muttered, and started walking towards the door.
"Boys, deal with this!" Charlie instructed the guards, gesturing towards the body. Turning to Edward and Emmett, he added, "Gentlemen, follow me. I'll introduce you to my daughter, Isa.
We'll get this out of the way because after what you just deliver, we will be working closely together."
If he could, Edward is sure that he would be pissing his pants in this moment.
He was about to meet Isabella Swan.
Sooooo What do you think ? let me know what is crossing your mind at this point. I would love to know.
NEXT CHAPTER: A Fateful Encounter
