AN: Early post again! I'm off today, but Tuesday's post will most likely be when I'm at work, so around 8-9 Arizona time.

Sooo, we're on day 3. I'm getting pumped. How bout you? This one is a wee bit longer, and hopefully I can give you this much content each day, but don't hold me to it. I'm going to guesstimate this to be 60-100 chapters. So a two to a three-month ride. Holla.

Day Three:

Monday, July 10th

Laguna Beach, California

Jasper

That email was a scare tactic, and it was effective, but I didn't consider it a threat as long as we played ball and didn't do anything stupid like antagonizing them. Nobody wanted a war, and my stance was simple: see what they wanted and see if we could agree.

The only reason I rushed home was because there was a time limit for Edward and me. I had two days to settle everything in the Congo and return to Laguna. I packed my things and left within an hour of watching the sick, vile video. The trip took a day and a half with two layovers.

It was difficult.

When I returned and got out of the Uber, I smelled like shit and felt even worse, but seeing Bean in all her flowing, sun-kissed, sweet-tasting glory made the hustle back worth it.

She whispered, "I missed you." Her enticing scent and supple bosom enveloped me in their embrace.

"My God, my sweet lotus, you have no idea." I whispered with a hungry groan.

Even though I was a rolling stone, Edward and Bella were my true north; they were the only home I knew in this world. When I was with them, I felt peaceful and centered. It was their stability and strength that gave me the courage to go out and change the world.

I have always believed that what you put out, you get back.

Perhaps it was my arrogance that contributed to our downfall.

However, never in a million years did I believe anyone would want to hurt us. Our intentions were therapeutic and medicinal. We didn't get into the weed biz to poison people. No, that was big pharma, the real fucking drug peddlers and gangsters. But even as altruistic as my beliefs, I was in the minority and had no government backing.

It was the wild, wild west out here.

I want to do good, spread goodness, and, if I'm lucky enough, be the one to receive some of that back, like a boomerang.

Edward didn't think his efforts were important.

He said, "No one is good; everyone is born to do evil." People have to be taught to be good.

I refuse to believe that.

Goodness exists without needing to be prompted.

Prime example was right in front of me as I stared back into her warm, gentle brown eyes. Bean was my proof. She was naturally good, the boomerang God had given me for my own deeds.

I asked, "Where is he?" as I set Bean back on her feet but kept her close and under my arm.

She said, "Inside."

Edward greeted me at the door, which wasn't his usual style, but these circumstances were different. We had stuff to discuss. I didn't have the energy to get into it, and Edward recognized that.

We hugged, said our hellos, and caught up briefly before he left for a long swim to allow Bean and me to get reacquainted. I appreciated the thoughtfulness. Something was to be said for a hot bath and snuggling between your girl's legs.

I'd missed her.

Once refreshed and rejuvenated, I met Edward on our beach deck by the fire pit.

I put a hand on his shoulder and handed him a Trumer Pils. "Good swim?"

He smiled up at me and we clinked the bottles. "Exhilarating."

"No sharks," I said and sat down in the chair beside me.

Edward glanced over towards the house to locate Bella. She was within hearing distance, so he kept his voice down. "Not in the ocean."

It took him only a beat to get straight to the point.

"They knew you were comin. They want to meet. Tomorrow."

I took a sip of my beer to stall. It allowed me to gather my courage and thoughts. I'd come to a decision somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean.

"We make a deal."

Edward snapped his head toward me. "Big mistake."

"Are we really going to be caught up in this shit, man? We could get out of the business we wanted to get out of anyway."

The grind of it all was becoming tedious. I didn't like the drops, the greenhouse, the money laundering, and so on. We made our fortune, it was time to sit back and enjoy it.

Of course, Edward didn't make it easy for me.

"What if I'm not ready to walk away?"

I scoffed. "Then you run it."

"It's not what I do."

"Then let me do what I do best, all right?"

"We built this. It's ours. Why the fuck do you want to give it away?"

"You seen the video."

It wasn't a threat at that moment; it was only a cautionary tale, but if we didn't give them what they wanted...

Edward rolled his eyes at me and waved my concerns away. "I've seen worse, and I'll do worse to them."

"Yes, I know, but I wouldn't."

"They're going to think we're afraid of them."

"I am afraid of them."

"I'm not."

And I believed him. That was a part of Edward I envied: to not be intimidated by the world. It did, however, come with a downside of seeing only the worst in people.

"We're not all like you, man. I didn't get into this to kill people."

Or be killed.

Edward faced me again, his eyes narrowing into a glare. His voice was tense. "You don't get it, do you? It's a jungle thing. When they smell your fear, they like it. They will attack us. They're fucking savages."

AN: Dialogue plucked from the movie. I just embellish with the inner thoughts. Let me know if you like this or want me to completely go off script. I'm happy to do either.

Thanks for reading!