A/N

A huge thank you to Fran, Pearly and Kate for helping me with this so last minute, especially Fran for beta'ing on such short notice.

I was a bit behind with being back at work this week and all over the place.

Really hope you enjoy :)

xo

Chapter Eight: Tantrum

Bella

xXx

"It's your father," Masen says, holding his phone out to me. I glare at him, ignoring his outstretched hand, and he sighs, placing it on the island and tapping the screen. "You're on loudspeaker, boss."

"Isabella?" Charlie's voice comes from the counter, echoing against the marble.

"What?" I ask, shoving my plate away from me.

Pattie goes to grab it, and I shoot her a glare. She holds up her hands and backs away.

"I wanted to talk about tomorrow…"

My heart drops, and I swallow thickly, my knee bouncing. I don't reply.

"Hello? Isabella? Are you still there?"

"She's still here." Masen answers for me, arching his brow at me, his green eyes curious.

"We're going to-"

I hang up the phone, cutting him off.

Masen makes a surprised sound, and I pull my plate back to me, stabbing a piece of egg with my fork, the metal clanging against the china loudly. The phone rings again, and I cancel the call before Masen can answer it. A few seconds later, my phone starts vibrating on the marble, buzzing loudly. I ignore it, continuing to chew on my eggs even though I've lost my appetite, and it tastes like cardboard. The buzzing stops, and then Masen's phone starts ringing again, the shrill tone cutting through the air harshly.

Masen plucks his phone out of my hands before I can hang up. He holds it to his ear.

"Boss, she doesn't seem to want to talk." He says calmly, arching a brow at me. I can hear Charlie swearing and grit my teeth, throwing my fork down and getting up. I walk past him and head upstairs. "Yeah, she's going upstairs...um, okay…Isabella?"

I ignore him and then hear his footsteps running up behind me.

"Charlie wants us to stop by his office on the way, so we gotta leave in 5."

I turn my head to him and narrow my eyes. "No."

Masen smirks, "Yeah, he said you'd say that, so...either you come, or I make you come."

I arch my eyebrow, "And how will you make me come?"

Masen rolls his eyes at me, still smirking. "By dragging your fucking ass there, his words not mine."

"You will not, Fido." I scowl.

Masen shrugs, "I work for him, so I will unless you get your shit together right the fuck now."

I grit my teeth and twist on my heel, marching up the stairs and slamming my bedroom door behind me with a shriek of anger. Charlie is so fucking manipulative. I know what he wants to say, and I don't want to fucking talk about it. I press a hand to my chest, the ache that's been present all week deepening as I think about tomorrow. Why does he have to do this to me? It's all about how it looks to everyone else; that's all he fucking cares about, keeping up the whole fucking façade.

It's supposed to be a day for me to deal with it in my way, not his way. Not surrounded by strangers and people I fucking hate.

I take out one of the little clear bags that Rose gave me on Monday and grab a post-it note, rolling it into a thin cylinder. I tap the white powder into a line, just a little one, then bend over, taking the hit.

The rush goes through me instantly, my eyes fluttering.

"Fuck," I mutter, sniffing a little. I tuck the bag on my person with an extra one hidden on me too, just in case Masen or my father realize I'm high and go looking for the evidence. They'll find the one I hid more obviously, take it away, and I'll still have more. The smartest option would be to leave it in my room, but I'll need more later, and Rose is in Barbados now, for her uncle's wedding.

I wash my face and quickly apply some makeup, braiding my hair too, wanting to piss off Masen.

It's been a few weeks since the incident between us, and things have been frustratingly uneventful since. I'm doing everything I can to break him without crossing the line, but even though he sometimes explodes at me, he's still fucking here.

As expected, he bursts into my room a few minutes after I've finished my hair.

"We need to fucking go."

I can't be bothered to argue with him; I feel fucking great right now. I pass him at the door, feeling my blood burning, and Masen narrows his eyes at me.

I'm almost at the front door when he calls my name.

"What?" I ask him in a bored tone, glancing back at him.

"Don't you need a coat?" Masen frowns at me, his green eyes narrowed.

"Right." I nod. I place my bag on the circular table in the center of the foyer and walk to the closet. But when I start to open it, Masen's hand suddenly slams it shut.

"Look at me," he orders.

"Fuck off, Fido," I say rudely.

"Isabella."

I slowly turn to look at him, trying to look sluggish. "What?"

Masen tilts his head and then scoffs. "You're fucking high. What'd you take?"

"Nothing," I tell him innocently.

He rolls his eyes. "You got it on you?"

"I haven't taken anything," I say firmly, getting irritated.

I'm too fucking wired, and I'm fighting not to grind my teeth.

He laughs, shaking his head, "Isabella…" He grits his teeth. "Have you got shit on you?"

"No," I tell him, smiling sweetly.

"Don't make me search you for it," he growls.

I smirk, "I'm not the one that doesn't like touching."

My words fall between us for a moment, and I start to regret them when I'm spun around, and my face is pressed to the cool door of the closet.

"Fine," Masen says angrily. My body shivers involuntarily as his large hands mechanically run down my sides and then across the waistband of my skirt. He's not trying to be sexual, but his hands are so fucking warm and big, slightly rough, and I can't help but imagine how they'd feel against my breasts, those long fingers moving between my legs.

I don't like him, but I can't deny he's attractive, and his hands feel so good on me, sending a current across my skin that I don't want to acknowledge.

They trace the lining of my bra, professional in the way that they search, and still somehow causing a tingling through my body that makes its way between my legs.

To my annoyance, he finds the cocaine tucked into the right bra cup easily, unbuttoning my shirt by one button and carefully removing the baggie, my eyes fluttering closed as his burning fingers brush the bare skin of my breast.

He pulls back from me immediately, and I spin around and arch a brow at him, my heart racing in my chest, "Did you enjoy that, Fido?"

To my surprise, Masen just smirks at me, his eyes flicking to my chest, which is rising and falling a little too quickly. "Not as much as you did."

"White trash doesn't appeal to me," I say with a sweet smile. "And even if you weren't a little bitch, I still wouldn't want anything to do with you. You couldn't pay me to fuck you."

Masen snorts, crossing his arms, his muscles straining, ink stretching. "As if I'd want to fuck you."

I laugh, "Everyone wants to fuck me."

"Actually, I think everyone just wants to strangle you."

"Like you did?" I say without thinking.

Masen freezes and then swallows. "I…"

I push down the sudden rush of guilt in my stomach and raise an eyebrow. "Hey, Fido..." I say, grabbing his phone from where it's sticking out his pocket carefully, avoiding touching him. I toss it across the room. "Go fetch." It skids across the floor and then hits the wall with a slight crack. Masen growls, storming over to it to pick it up.

"The fuck are you doing?"

He walks back over to me, and I grab his hoodie from the table and throw that across the room, too, the metal zip making a loud cracking noise as it hits the marble floor.

Masen scowls, "You're such a fucking child."

I shrug, giving him a smirk as I reach for the keys sitting on the table.

His hand slams down on mine before I can pick them up, his face only inches away as he narrows his eyes at me, those green eyes flashing. "Stop." He orders.

I pout. "But I'm having so much fun."

Masen's eyes drop to my mouth, and I feel a sudden unexpected jolt go through me as they flick back up to mine, the irises seemingly darker all of a sudden. "Get the fuck in the car." He orders gruffly, snatching the keys out of my hand.

"No need to be so rough, Fido," I say sweetly. "And remember...you're my bitch, not the other way around. Now you go get in the car."

Masen's eyes narrow, and he tilts his head at me. "You've got more coke on you, haven't you?"

I feel a rush of alarm, but I don't let it show on my face. I shake my head, "Of course not."

Masen narrows his eyes and then suddenly drops to his knees in front of me, sliding down one of my socks. I stare down at him, wide-eyed as his long, warm fingers run around the inside of my ankle, every single nerve ending in my body suddenly narrowing to the sensation. Finding nothing, he moves to the other sock, something curling in my lower stomach as his fingers brush my bare skin, the pads slightly rough against me.

He triumphantly smirks as he pulls out the baggie I hid where my sock meets my shoe, and I feel a rush of heat between my legs as I meet his green eyes.

Masen raises an eyebrow at me, biting his pink tongue playfully. "I was locked up for five years, Isabella. You think you can get shit past me? Dream the fuck on."

He stands up, still smirking, and makes a gesture to the front door.

I will my heart to stop racing and scowl, storming past him.

xXx

Masen doesn't take me to see Charlie; he tells Stevie to take me straight to school instead. I can look forward to the drug lecture from Charlie tonight, along with the other shit he wants to say. I'm too high now to even care.

The whole car ride, I feel this weird...energy. I don't know if it's because I'm high or if it's because I felt Masen's hands on me earlier, but for some reason, looking at him is inspiring thoughts in my head I really don't want to have. Like if his hair is as thick as it looks, and how it would feel to lick that angular jaw, kiss those soft-looking pink lips.

I'd never act on my thoughts, but I can't deny their effect on me; I practically run from the car, searching around for Cilian. I know exactly what I need. I find him sitting on a bench, talking to some guys in our year, and I cross the quad, walking up to him and grabbing his hand.

Cilian tilts his head at me as our fingers tangle together, and then his blue eyes light up playfully. He mutters bye to the guys and starts pulling me along, both of us walking fast. On Friday's we have an assembly, a perfect opportunity for morning hook-ups. But before it starts, we need to get to the library and be finished before they get out, so we can mingle with the crowd. Luckily, we're well-practiced.

We hide behind the shelves as the Librarian walks out and then sprint along to the other end and up the stairs to the gallery.

When we get to the back, Cilian types in the code to the storeroom and then flings the door open, pulling me inside.

Instantly my back is to the wall, and he's kissing me, his warm body pressing into mine. Cilian's kisses are warm and familiar, the taste of coffee and toothpaste comforting as our lips move hungrily against each other.

He was the first person to ever touch me, and now all these years later, his hands still feel incredible on my body. Our relationship has never been romantic and never will be; he's one of my best friends in the world.

I tangle my hands in his soft hair, and Cilian groans, pressing closer into me, his warm hands sliding under my skirt, sending tingles down my spine.

"What's got you so horny, pretty girl," he mutters, kissing down my neck.

"Blow, and the bodyguard," I pant.

Cilian pulls back and smirks, his blue eyes dark around the edges and glinting with humor, "You blew the bodyguard?"

I make a frustrated sound, and he chuckles, scooping me up by the thighs and walking me over to the desk. He places me down and kisses me again, standing between my legs as his hand tangles in my hair, pulling lightly just the way I like.

My head tilts back, and I sigh happily. He pulls back, eyes burning into mine, "What do you want, baby girl?"

I lick my lips as I stare at him, my hand slipping under his shirt and running across his lean torso, feeling the muscle there, my eyes locked onto his dark blue. Cilian smirks at me, his hands going to my underwear and sliding it down my legs. "Never mind, I know exactly what you want." He hums.

My back arches as he kisses down my neck, pulling my skirt up my thighs.

He pulls back and bites his lip as he stares between my legs, smirking at me. "Mm."

I tangle my hands in his hair as he lowers to his knees and spreads my thighs, burying his head between my legs.

xXx

We rush down to where the students are leaving assembly, giggling as we step into the crowd. Cilian and I separate ourselves as we get to his locker, and I lean into him, laughing. I squeal as I feel warm arms wrap around my waist and spin around to find Jasper's bright blue eyes.

"Hey," I say, grinning.

Jasper arches an eyebrow at us as we both stare at him. Cilian's eyes drift down Jasper's body while mine are fixed on his slightly pink cheeks and his perfectly formed mouth.

"Where were you two?" Jasper asks with a smirk. I glance at Cilian, and he licks his bottom lip, smirking back at Jasper. Jasper reaches out, swiping his thumb across Cilian's wet bottom lip and then taking it to his mouth. He sucks it inside, his blue eyes glinting.

I shiver, biting my lip, and Cilian laughs huskily, "Can you taste her on me, Jas?"

A tiny noise comes from my mouth, and my cheeks flush. Both of them turn to me and laugh. Jasper's mouth brushes my ear. "I wish I could."

I squirm, stepping back from them, my cheeks feeling hot. "I gotta...um…"

Cilian bites the inside of his cheek, trying not to laugh, and I dash down the hall to my locker.

After twenty minutes of hearing Mrs. Clark, the ancient and incredibly boring, Literature teacher drone on about Tolstoy, I've recovered from Cilian and Jasper's teasing. We're told to read the next chapter quietly, and I stare at the pages, too high to concentrate, my legs bouncing under the table.

"Cygnet," Alec murmurs next to me.

I pointedly ignore him, just like I have been ever since he got back. What he said in the art room...I fucking hate it when people judge like that, and I don't forgive easily.

Alec leans in closer, his warm breath against my cheek. He smells really nice, like burnt sugar and something muskier. "Please, Cygnet, I'm sorry."

I ignore him. He's been doing this every single lesson we've had. I've tried to move, but Mrs. Clark won't have it, the evil fucking bitch.

Suddenly a box appears on the desk in front of me, and I look down automatically. My eyes widen as I read the label, my head jerking to Alec's so fast I almost fall off the chair.

"What the fuck?" I burst out.

"Isabella!" Mrs. Clark gasps.

I wave my hand at her, still staring at Alec. "Why…"

Alec grins at me, leaning his elbows on the table. "Because you won't forgive me, and I know you can be bought," he winks, "was cheaper to buy your forgiveness back when we were twelve, I'll admit."

I bite my lip and look down again. It's the Amstel Pen, the newest wireless tattooing model on the market. It retails at just over three thousand dollars. My eyes flick up to Alec, and he's giving me a cheeky grin, his brown eyes playful, "Please, Cygnet?"

I huff, my lips curving up into a smile. I grab his tie and pull him close, narrowing my eyes at him. "I swear to fucking god; you say anything like that again…"

"I won't," Alec says solemnly. "Pinky swear." He holds up his pinky, and I roll my eyes, connecting it with mine.

"Isabella!" Mrs. Clark hisses in front of me. "Do. You. Mind."

I turn my head to her and raise an eyebrow, "Yes, I do; I'm in the middle of something."

Alec snorts, and I turn back to him. "I accept your apology; we're good."

He grins at me. "Good."

"Isabella!"

I turn back to Mrs. Clark, letting go of Alec's tie, patting it down with an innocent smile. "All done; what's up?"

A vein pops in her forehead. "Get-"

"Already on my way." I cut in with a sigh, stepping up and grabbing my things. I wink at Alec as I leave the classroom, tucking my new tattoo machine into my bag.

xXx

Emmett is sitting on my dad's desk, making faces at me as Charlie drones on and on about the importance of keeping up a public profile. I bite back a smile, crossing my arms and leaning back in the comfy chair.

"-how the fuck am I supposed to be respected in this town when my fucking daughter gets suspended for a week. It's already been leaked; you're just lucky they have no photos of you to put in the media."

I tilt my head at him, "I know...it's such a shame; I spend all this time and money making myself look cute for nothing."

Emmett's lips twitch as he tries not to laugh.

"Isabella," Charlie growls, placing his hands on the desk and glaring at me. "I will not stand for this kind of behavior."

I arch my eyebrow, "The chair's right there. Sit instead."

Charlie's face goes purple, and I smile in delight; we've officially reached DEFCON 2. Emmett jumps off the desk and moves to the other side of the room. Last time I got him this angry, Charlie threw a chair through the glass wall behind us.

"You know this week is hard for me! Why do you have to make it harder?" Charlie bellows.

I freeze and then sit up straight in my chair. "Fuck. You."

"Get her fucking out of here. Now!" Charlie hisses at Masen.

"I don't need to be escorted," I snap, "I'll gladly leave." I get up out of my chair and storm out of the office, refusing to look back at Charlie.

"Let me take you to dinner, Cygnet." Emmett catches up to me in the corridor. "We can go to Irn and Blake?"

I stare at him for a second. His blue eyes are stormy, twisting with the same emotion that I know is in mine, that's been in mine this whole week.

My lips tug up a little. "Okay." I glance to Masen and bite my lip. "Just you and me, though, right Em?"

Emmett gives me a boyish smile then turns to Masen.

"Mase, take a few hours off, I've got her. Just be back at the house at nine; I've gotta oversee a job tonight," he reaches out and claps Masen on the shoulder. I flinch at the contact, eyeing Masen worriedly. He doesn't seem to react badly to it, but I don't like it.

I glare at Emmett. "It's rude to touch other people's pets without asking."

Emmett scoffs, removing his arm from Masen, "Jesus Cygnet, don't be a fucking bitch; he's not your pet."

I turn to Masen. He's looking at me with a curious expression, his green eyes dark and intense. "Be a good boy Fido," I say dismissively, waving my hand at him.

He rolls his eyes at me and walks off, not glancing back as he gets into the elevator.

Emmett stares after him and then turns to me, laughing. "Oh, Cygnet…"

I smile at him, and Emmett sighs, "Come on, I just want to...have a nice few hours before tomorrow."

I glare at the floor. "I'm not doing it, Em. I'm not going."

"Fuck, Bella, you can't not go…"

"Watch me," I state firmly.

Emmett breathes out in a huff. "Look, I can't help you on this one, Bella, Charlie will go fucking ape shit, and...it's, you know for him, too, it's-"

"Don't," I snap. "Don't fucking start."

Emmett grabs my arm and pulls me into him, hugging me tightly and kissing my head. "Fine, Cygnet, your choice; I promise I won't get in your way tomorrow, just please think about it; you know how he'll react."

He squeezes me, and I tremble for a second, burying my head in his large chest, taking that split second of comfort from the only family member I can stand, then I wrench backward, lifting my chin. "Come on then, let's go to dinner...and seeing as you're buying, I think I'll have the lobster." I give him a playful smile.

Emmett gives me a sad smile back, seeing straight through me, just like always.

We go straight to Irn and Blake, even though I'm still in my school uniform. It's one of Bano's clean-ups; he's always been one of the classier bosses. Three years ago, we wouldn't have dared come in here, but now he's Charlie's, just like they all are, and we're ushered in at the door and placed in the table that always stays empty for us.

We won't eat for free, but we could if we wanted. No matter how mad I am at Charlie, I know not to fuck with the mob or his cred.

Emmett orders half the menu and has me giggling in no time, his special gift.

"You're never at the house anymore," I say after a while, playing with the bread on my side plate.

Emmett's jaw jumps, and he runs a hand across his stubbled cheek, lowering his voice. "I know Cygnet, but things have been intense. Bano rose up a few weeks ago and killed two of ours, so we had to kill six of his. Cinna's not pleased either. FBI was snooping around the docks, so SBS shut it down-

I scoff. "Do not call him that, Em."

Emmett rolls his eyes, "Charlie...shut it down. But now Cinna hasn't got any drugs coming in to sell, and Bano's boys aren't getting their weapons...shit is stirring up."

"What about Michel?"

Emmett's voice goes cold, "Trigger's fine."

Michel Sorano is nothing like his brother, and he didn't do anything to our family, but we still hate him.

Emmett clears his throat, "Bianci, on the other hand-"

I grimace. "I don't want to know."

When Cinna became king in New York, the Bosses agreed to stick to their own quota. Cinna Marquez is narcotics, Charlie is extortion, Bartolomeo Nostariccio or Bano is arms, Michel Sorano is hits, and Noel Bianci runs trafficking and prostitution. It's the only way to keep the Kingdom running without everyone trying to kill each other. The grunts run for a mix under the Bosses, and there are plenty of crossovers. But things get tight when one of the families starts infringing too much on another's business. Of course, nowadays, it's all my dad's business; he runs all of it, runs all of them.

"So, how's your friend Rose?" Emmett asks with a smirk.

I narrow my eyes at him, "Off-limits."

Emmett's eyes light up, "Is that a challenge?"

"I swear to god, Emmett, leave Rose alone."

"She wants my dick, though," Emmett says bluntly, waggling his eyebrows.

I grimace, "She doesn't know what she wants. And she's a virgin, Emmett. Stay away."

Emmett rolls his eyes. "You know I'm only messing with you, Cygnet. She's just a kid."

"Touch her, and I'll have you maimed, permanently," I tell him casually, twirling my fork in the pasta dish in front of me.

Emmett's laugh is so loud that several people turn to stare at us.

"Oh, I'm deadly serious." I point out, arching my brow.

"That's what's so fucking funny." Emmett cackles.

It's not until we're in the car, on the way home from dinner, that I realize Masen never told Charlie I was high this morning.

A/N: Let me know what you're thinking in the reviews :) Hope you're having a great start to the week! See you thursday for TOTGA ❤️