CHAPTER 16

Brought some strangers in our beds

And now you lost your right to privacy

Spilling all our secrets

When you thought they'd probably die with me

Know you fuckin' love it on the low

And you don't have to say I'm crazy

'Cause I know, nothing's changed though

~ Post Malone feat. Future & Halsey, Die For Me

EPOV

"Are you sure about this?" I asked her quietly.

The SUV was quiet. Claire sat across from us, scrolling away at her phone. Bella sat beside me, hands folded in her lap while her fingers anxiously twisted her wedding rings around her finger.

In theory, it was an excellent move. Lawrence was exploiting the most traumatizing moments of Bella's life for his own gain, was using them against her to try and harass her and open old wounds for his entertainment. Showing up at the very award show where he and Duncan Zane forced a smile on her face in the middle of a mental crisis was not only a slap in the face to them but a message to everyone. A clear announcement that Isabella Cullen no longer listened to anyone but herself.

The problem was, Isabella Cullen also had a habit of putting her own wellbeing far too low on her list of priorities.

The thought sent a fresh wave of guilt through my veins. Followed closely by a boiling rage I had yet to be able to control whenever the image of my wife in the same room as Aengus O'Malley flashed before my eyes.

My palm clenched into a fist.

Bella's anxious fingers gently pried mine open. "Are you?"

I sighed. "I'm serious, Bella."

"I'm okay," she said, but it wasn't entirely convincing.

I intertwined our fingers and brought the back of her hand up to my lips. The kiss was as much to comfort her as it was to calm myself.

She might be telling herself she was okay, might have actually convinced herself of it, but I knew better. She had all of the fear and anxiety locked up and was using it as ammunition when she needed it.

"I'm okay," she repeated, her voice stronger this time.

The car stopped. Heidi knocked on the door, and it opened a moment later to a blinding flash.

Bella kept her hand firmly clasped in mine as she got out of the car.

The screaming was instantaneous. Bella smiled and waved to the crowd but kept on Claire and Heidi's toes as they led her through the throng and toward the carpet flooded with photographers. It was empty–cleared solely for her.

I had ten men intermingled with the photographers to make sure nothing happened. Another ten stationed at various points throughout the carpet who would move inside as soon as Bella did. Alistair was here and would have eyes on her at every moment.

None of it mattered. The sight of her standing there against the backdrop with hundreds of cameras pointed at her and a smile that made the flashing double while four days ago she was locked in an interrogation room with O'Malley still made me tense.

I had been constantly fighting the urge to send her to the new safe house I had set up since I heard she had been arrested. The precinct's flimsy excuse of an old arrest warrant was bullshit.

The CPD and I had a long history, one they were seemingly forgetting about.

I shook my head clear, making my way along with Heidi and Claire to the other side of the carpet as Bella finished up. She grabbed my hand immediately and gave it a squeeze. She waved politely to the crowd, smiling and acknowledging the countless journalists that attempted to call her over as we walked by.

It wasn't until we nearly got to the door that she stopped and did a double take of one man who hadn't shouted or heckled, just politely waved back at her.

"Josh Ellis?" Bella asked, happily hopping around me to walk over to him. She ignored the horrified looks on Claire and Heidi's faces as she walked over and gave him a friendly hug. "How have you been?"

"Good, good. You?" he asked with a slight chuckle. He was trying to be friendly, like everybody in the world didn't know how she'd been.

Bella giggled with a shrug of her shoulders. "I've been great. I haven't seen you in years." She looked around, waving me over when she caught my eye. My palm rested comfortably on her back as I took my spot beside her. "Josh was the first person to ever interview me."

"It's the first thing on my resume to this day," he said with a kind smile. "They told all of us you weren't stopping."

"Oh, I'm not supposed to. My publicist told me I have to do media training before I'm allowed to talk to anyone."

"You in media training?"

Bella laughed. A real one, not the forced chuckle I knew she usually gave reporters. "I know."

Josh gave her a genuine smile. "It's good to see you, Bella. Give 'em hell."

She smiled back. "Always do."

She glued herself back to my side as we followed Claire and Heidi inside.

–Love|Power–

I had been to my fair share of award shows. I knew how they worked. And I knew the entire goddamn arena practically going silent before erupting in a near deafening cheer as Bella walked in wasn't normal.

Yes, she was always acknowledged in any room she walked in but this was different. More. Maybe it was because she hadn't been to this show since she was eighteen or maybe it was because the last award show she was at she had been booed off the stage.

One thing I had come to know about Hollywood was the turnover rate was quick. There was a reason people were always shocked at the longevity of Bella's career, and it was that people simply didn't achieve her level of success and keep it. There were few people who kept at it as long as she did.

However, that also meant fresh blood, so to speak. Apparently the latest group of celebrities were fond of Bella. For the most part. I still eyed more than a few jealousy filled glares sent her direction.

There was nearly a constant line of people waiting to talk to her. I watched as Heidi and Claire and Alistair kept most of the area around us clear of bystanders while Bella happily rested her head against my arm.

"Thanks for coming with me," she said, her voice barely audible in the bustling arena.

I pressed a kiss to her temple.

Bella sighed. "I know you're still upset about it, but I'd like my slightly less grumpy husband back whenever you're ready."

I took three deep breaths. "I'm working on it."

"I know," Bella nodded. "I just miss you. It's partially my fault. I'm sorry I'm so busy."

I repressed the urge to roll my eyes. "You don't have to apologize."

She shrugged. Peter got through the barrage of people and plopped down beside Bella and our conversation was over.

"Thirty people told me to tell you hello as I walked over. I don't remember a single one, but if anyone asks, I told you."

Bella laughed out an okay.

The show started and while I had little to no interest in any of the people accepting awards or performing besides the pretty brunette beside me, there was an interesting shift compared to the shows I had attended with her in the past. Nearly every person who accepted an award thanked Bella. Sometimes it was for her influence and music and sometimes it was for her efforts to make the industry a safer place.

And I realized it went back to the high turnover rate. The younger generation knew Bella was the top of the pyramid. Most had known it since they were born, probably grew up listening to her. She wasn't their competition. They appreciated her in a way the people who constantly tried to beat her years ago never would.

They were just as angry as she was. Most probably just as scared as she once had been about the industry.

They all screamed just as loud as she did as she performed Nightmare for the first time. The screams were deafening as the logo for her documentary, appropriately named If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power lit up the screen as she finished.

There would never be a time when I watched her perform that I wasn't a little awed that woman was mine. This time, however, it was tinged with the crushing fear that I could have very easily lost her four days ago.

–Love|Power–

We didn't linger after her performance, heading straight for the waiting SUV without stopping for Bella to change out of her performance outfit; dark frayed cutoff jean shorts and a simple white cropped tank top.

I pulled her close in the car, unable to get my mind to stop playing the hundred different ways this week could have ended up.

When we got to the house–the same one I visited her that first time in LA so long ago–I left Bella in the kitchen with Claire and Heidi as they talked. I was too pent up for civilized conversation.

The shower scalded my skin, but I didn't make the effort to turn it down. It was a nice addition to the complete and utter self-loathing I was burying myself in. I wasn't sure how long I had been standing there, arms braced against the tile with my head hung underneath the boiling water before I heard her.

She let out a quiet curse, probably when she stepped in the shower and felt the water. A moment later it cooled and then she squeezed herself between me and the shower wall.

"Edward," she whispered softly. Her palms cupped both of my cheeks, forcing my gaze to meet hers.

I did, but not before my eyes glazed over the scar on her shoulder. From the shooting, from the surgery she had a year ago because of her tremors.

"Tell me to get out," I demanded.

Her brows flinched. Pretty brown eyes stared up at me, water dripping down her cheeks. "What? I turned the water down, I–"

My arms fell from the tile, palms settling on her hips. My thumb subconsciously brushed over the spot I knew by heart where my name was inked into her skin. I let my head fall to her shoulder. It was beyond endearing that she had assumed I was talking about getting out of the shower.

"Not the shower, Bella."

Her palms froze on my back when she put the pieces together. "Did something happen?"

A low grumble rumbled in the back of my throat. "You know what happened."

I felt her warm breath against my chest as she sighed. She understood how dangerous O'Malley was, but I wasn't sure if she had grasped how helpless she had been in that interrogation room.

Any attempt I would have made at getting her would have gotten me immediately arrested. No amount of money would allow me to force my way into a police precinct without a little preparation beforehand. I had men at every exit, but O'Malley could have easily used her as a shield to get out. He could have taken her anywhere. Done anything to her.

My stomach churned at the visuals that had haunted the back of my mind for the last four days. "Tell me to get out, Bella."

I'd do it. For her. I should have done it for her and Aiden years ago. Hell, we probably never should have left the island after the trial.

Her palms slid around my chest until firm fingers gripped my chin, forcing my attention to her. "No."

I frowned down at her.

"I know, Edward," she said fiercely. "I know how fucking bad it could have been. That's why we can't just get out."

"We can. I have–"

"I have no doubt you have a few dozen plans, but I wasn't talking about logistics. I'm not going to let Lawrence destroy my legacy and career and I'm not going to let O'Malley run us out of Chicago. Those two need to learn their goddamn place because we're not going anywhere."

"I can't lose you," I snapped. "I can't."

Her fingers trailed from my chin to my cheek. Her soft smile a stark contrast to my deep frown. "You won't."

I cupped her cheeks, memorizing every inch of her before I pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. Then to the corner of each eye. To the tip of her nose and the edge of her chin and then her lips.

I knew I didn't belong, but every brush of her lips was like heaven. The thin hold I had on myself snapped as I pulled her closer, every inch of her against me.

I tugged her out of the shower, forcing myself to take my time and dry her skin and squeeze the water out of her hair. I lifted her easily, her legs wrapping around my waist in a movement we had perfected over the years. I didn't let either of us break our kiss for a breath until I had her comfortably situated in the middle of the bed.

Her fingers brushed through my hair, still dripping wet. She didn't seem to mind as she pulled me back down for another kiss. Her teeth dug into my bottom lip when my cock brushed against her clit.

I kissed my way down her body, taking my time with each pretty pink nipple and every curve of her abdomen until I got to where I wanted to be. Her taste saturated my tongue, her hips gently gyrating against me with each little whimper she let out. Her fingers tugged at my hair and my own dug into her thighs.

As I kissed my way back up her abdomen, her palm slid down mine and wrapped around my cock. Her free hand pushed gently at my chest. I grabbed both and intertwined our fingers against the mattress.

"You can suck my cock later," I breathed out, letting go of her hand only to slide myself inside of her.

She let out a breathy little whimper as I slid back in. Her nails dug into my shoulder, eyes slightly glazed over as she looked up at me.

"I love you," she breathed out, fingers sliding up my neck to tug at my hair. "No matter what. Forever."

I took her slowly, my teeth and tongue leaving marks along her neck and collarbone. Our fingers intertwined against the mattress, mine probably squeezing hers too tight. She didn't seem to mind.

–Love|Power–

Adeline's paperwork was pristine. I never expected otherwise. She was a phenomenal attorney, and I was constantly reminded that I was lucky she was on my side and not working with the DA.

"How much?" I asked, closing the file and handing it back to her. She sat across from me in my home office, her briefcase full to the brim of materials.

"I think it would be reasonable to ask for around one million in damages."

I nodded. We didn't need the money. Bella would probably donate it somewhere. She was far too philanthropic.

Getting back from Los Angeles had opened my eyes and I realized I no longer needed the Chicago Police Department. They relied on me far more than I relied on them, and if they were going to accept donations from O'Malley in exchange for following through on decades old fucking arrest warrants, they were no longer of use to me.

If I was a better man I would feel sorry for them. They had no idea how easy I had been on them.

But I was not a better man and was looking forward to watching them crumble.

Bella had an excellent case against the department. We had more than enough evidence of her being questioned illegally time and time again for a case for police harassment against her. Added in with her recent arrest and the Chicago PD was going to have a hard time fighting the case.

Just as I was looking up I saw her walk down the hall, yawning as she went. Her eyes drifted into the office quickly, probably assuming it would be empty. She lit up when she saw Adeline sitting across from me.

"Hi," she smiled, walking over and giving Adeline a hug. "Is everything okay?"

Adeline nodded, though her eyes gave her away. She was an excellent attorney in the courtroom, but horrible at lying in her everyday life.

"I have a few things I need you to sign," I told her, opening up the document again.

Bella frowned, taking a seat beside Adeline across from me. She picked up a pen from my desk and scrawled her name quickly as she asked, "What is it?"

"A lawsuit against the Chicago Police Department."

Her hand froze above the paper as her signature dried. "What?"

"I'm not going to let them keep harassing you."

Her frown was adorable. "But… I mean, don't you–"

I shrugged. "Is my life a little easier with the CPD accepting my money? Yes. But they're not necessary. Not anymore."

I had the whole goddamn city at my fingertips. The CPD was part of the puzzle that kept my many businesses–legal and otherwise–afloat. But I had contingencies that were just as secure.

If the CPD wanted to choose to side with O'Malley, that was their mistake to make. I would happily bury them both.

A/N: A bit short, but I wanted to get this out to you guys today! I hope you're still enjoying these two and I'll see you next time!