WRONG DECISIONS
Disclaimer: The Cullen's, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she brought them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.
The awesome and talented dowlingnana searched out my errors and corrected them.
All Marcus did was nod his head in agreement and both men rose at the same time to leave the restaurant.
CHAPTER 20: TRUTH FOUND AND GAME ON
As Edward, Jasper and Emmett saw Carlisle and Marcus rise from the table and begin moving toward the exit they were quick to quick to leave the security room and head for the elevators. Once it arrived, they punched the button for the top floor where they all had suites. They were sure that Carlisle and Marcus were parting ways in the lobby and that Carlisle would be getting on the elevator to come back to the main suite to update everyone about what Marcus Volturi had to say.
They were wanting to arrive ahead of Carlisle to make sure that nothing funny had happened since they had lost sight of him and Marcus Volturi as they had also neared the elevators in the hotel lobby.
All three men were curious as to what Marcus had to tell Carlisle and as to why it had been so important for the urgent meeting to take place.
Their elevator arrived at its destination at the same time as Carlisle was stepping off his elevator along with Marcus Volturi. To say that the three young men were shocked at the sight before them would be an understatement.
"What the hell, Dad?" Edward questioned without realizing that he had asked his question out loud.
Both men looked at Edward and Carlisle introduced his son and nephews to Marcus. Marcus held out his hand to shake hands with each of the young men but the tension being felt by everyone at that moment was so thick that even a butcher knife would be unable to cut through it.
As uncomfortable as the introductions were, it was Marcus who suggested that everyone move from in front of the elevators and into a more private setting like a suite. He suggested this to try to overcome the awkwardness of the moment since Edward, Jasper and Emmett had avoided shaking hands with Marcus. It wasn't that they meant to be rude; they were in shock because of the current circumstances.
As if suddenly realizing just how public their gathering is Carlisle motions for everyone to follow him into his suite that was down the hallway by a few steps.
Then the same reaction was met by all of the occupants of the suite as to what had occurred at the elevators: complete shock by who the stranger turned out to be. Carlisle being a bit fed up with the same thing happening over and over made it clear that everyone needed to settle down and to get comfortable, "We have things to discuss and plan because the situation is worse than first thought."
After everyone had found a place to sit with tension still remaining in the air, Carlisle asked Marcus to tell them everything that he had mentioned in their meeting downstairs. So, without hesitation Marcus did as was requested, and ended by saying, "That is why Cullen and I feel that we need to act together and plan a surprise attack."
"Dad, those are my children. With what Volturi is telling us they are in extreme danger." Edward lamented as he considered all that he had just been told.
"Hold on for a second!" Emmett spoke up and then asked what was probably on everyone else's mind, "Just how do we know that Volturi here is telling us the truth? I mean he could be totally involved in this and just be trying to misdirect us."
Carlisle turned to look at Marcus and then asked, "Is there any way that you can prove all that you've told us?"
"Yes, I can. I can get a hold of the man who told me, and he is totally trustworthy."
"How do you know that?"
"He has been my personal guard for years and has taken a bullet for me twice during the whole time he has been with me."
"I think we're going to need more assurance than just that bit of information." Edward didn't hesitate to tell Marcus.
"Mario became my personal guard after his father who was my guard from the moment I was born. Guido trained Mario and Mario took over his father's position after Guido was killed protecting me from a raid by a rival family.
"Never have I had any reason to call Mario's loyalty into question. Surely you have people in the same positions that you have trusted over the years with your life. They have proven their loyalty time after time even in questionable circumstances."
"Why hasn't your daughter's guard stopped her from being caught up in the position that she seems to be in at the current time?" Emmett asked as he was curious about that situation.
"Because it is her guard that has placed her into this position. James checked out and proved himself over the years which made him the best choice as Tori got older and moved out on her own.
"Also, I've tried to be very careful about keeping Tori out of the family business as I wanted something different for her. I wanted her to have a normal life if it could possibly be achieved.
"So, because of that she has never known that James was her guard."
"Then how the hell did she get to know him and get involved with him?" Jasper was quick to ask what at that moment he felt was going through everyone's mind.
"As I said, she never knew that he was her guard, however, she noticed him from time to time being at the same place as she was and decided to introduce herself and to ask if he was following her.
"Of course, he had his orders to never let her know about his position, so he just told her that it was fate and she believed him.
"Next thing I knew he was being introduced to me as her boyfriend. Things seemed to be okay for a while until I heard some mumbling by others in the family that James had been caught in lies from time to time.
"My brothers and I became suspicious of him but never could get any real proof against him. It was all just rumors, mumblings and feelings. But by this time Tori was too into him and thinking that he loved her as she loved him that I was in an impossible situation. And, as time passed, she knew that I had an intense distrust as well as a dislike of him. That started to create a rift between the two of us. One that I've been working very hard since then to dissolve while trying to separate her from James Hunter.
"Also, as I mentioned earlier, she had me promise not to do anything to James when she came to me to tell me about the children and why he was holding them hostage. She's smart enough to know that something was going to be done about James."
Esme had sat the whole time listening to what everyone had to say or ask without joining in the conversation at any time. However, she could no longer remain silent. "Mr. Volturi, not saying that what you're saying is an attempt to set my family up for some reason, however, I do feel the need to suggest giving us a bit of time to be able to check things out in our own way."
And, as she finished with her statement Marcus opened his mouth to comment but she beat him to it by continuing, "I do realize that time is short, and we need to plan and move quickly but we need to be certain of the situation for ourselves."
"Very well, I understand your hesitation and possible distrust of the information that I'm relaying to all of you because of who I am, but as you said, time is short and therefore it would behoove us to move soon and not drag this out due to mistrust of each other." Marcus commented on what Esme had said.
Making it as clear as he could, Marcus rose and began moving toward the door. Once there he pauses and with a slight shake of his head, he turns looking at the room as a whole to add, "You know how to reach me once you have come to a decision but don't so long that you regret your hesitation." Not saying anything else, Marcus left.
The Cullen members all looked at each other and then looked at Carlisle to see what he wanted to do and to hear how he wanted it done.
XXXXXX
Marcus returns to his home with an idea that he plans to put into place regardless of what the Cullen's decide to do. For his plan to fall into place he is going to need to talk with Mario. He is determined to have Tori and the Cullen children safe and away from James before any movement against James is made. He is also determined to return the children to their mother and then she and the Cullen's can come together to make a decision of how best to proceed in the future within their own family dynamics.
Marcus made it a point to always keep his promises in whatever manner that was necessary to do so. He had promised the young Mrs. Cullen that he would return her children to her, unharmed, and that was exactly what he was going to do. And, to do that meant that he was going to have to get the children and Tori out of the house and harm's way before everything went down.
Picking up his phone, Marcus called Mario and told him that they needed to meet as soon as possible. "This is urgent, Mario, and we have no time to lose."
"Okay, Boss, I'll be there within the next half hour."
After getting off the phone, Marcus sat down to begin thinking about how he could take the action that he wanted to do without alerting James or Tori about his intentions. That was going to be the biggest problem; not letting Tori know what was going to happen in a matter of hours. That time factor Marcus was certain was correct if Cullen's reputation of taking immediate action against an enemy was anything to go by.
Although Marcus understood the hesitation that existed with the Cullen's about what he had told them, he also knew that he couldn't sit by and not have something in place to protect Tori and the Cullen children. As far as he was concerned that was the utmost priority; everything else was secondary.
Time passed quickly while Marcus was waiting for Mario and he had been so lost in thought that he didn't realize it until Mario appeared in the doorway asking, "Boss, you want to see me?"
"Yes, come on in. We have some planning to do to protect Tori and the Cullen children."
Mario entered and Marcus quickly explained what he wanted to do then the planning began. Thoughts were expressed and then rejected until finally they had a good plan of action decided upon.
XXXXXX
Victoria had to give the twins a little knockout treatment before leaving since James didn't want to be bothered by them. He said that he had to check up on some things and that they would only get in the way if he had to worry about them as well as his other things.
"It's getting close to time for the Cullen's to start acting on getting rid of the Volturi's. And, before you say anything I know we are talking about your father as well. But, V, if we don't include him then all of our plans will fall apart.
"I hate that it has to be that way, but it's the only way that we can be together, and you know it. Besides the things I need to check on and do to be ready for the Cullen's have to be taken care of over the next couple of days, so I need to get started today and don't need their brats in my way."
Victoria wasn't happy with his explanation but didn't comment about what he had said, at least she wasn't going to at that moment. She knew that she needed to pick her moment with James to be able to get him to listen to her. Maybe she would be able to get him to change his opinion and to give her dad another chance.
She debated with herself about going to her father once more but decided against it as it would only create more of a problem than what she needed at this time.
She needed to hurry up to get her grocery shopping done and return to the house as quickly as possible since she didn't know how long James would remain there in case the twins woke up.
James, thinking that he had plenty of time to get his plans double-checked, called his contact and they took the time to go over everything. During the conversation he lost track of time and didn't hear Victoria return.
She quietly entered the house with the groceries and was about to call out to James for some help when she caught the sound of him talking. Curious as to who he was talking with she quietly got closer to the living room doorway. That was when she truly heard what he was saying to whomever he was talking to on the phone.
She heard how he was planning to not only get everyone killed or arrested but to double-cross everyone that would also being helping him to take all parties out. She also heard how he was planning to get rid of her and the twins.
Victoria knew that she didn't really have the time to go to her father and she knew what would happen if she did. Things were already in play that she didn't have full knowledge of and had no way to stop it. No, she had to do something on her own to protect all three of them.
AN: Okay the Cullen's are going to take the time to check out all that Marcus was telling them. Marcus felt the pressure of time being short. James showing what an ass he is and Victoria is now learning the truth. What is she going to do to get her and the twins safely out of this mess?
Thanks for reading and looking forward to your comments.
