A/N Well hello there beautiful people!

I know you have been waiting an awfully long time for this and I'm really sorry for that - thank you for being so patient and sticking with me, so grateful to have you following this story. Also good news, the next chapter is pretty much finished and already with pre readers *shocked silence* so not too much of a wait this time, I promise ❤️ I wanted to thank you all for your support and the kind messages and reviews I've had x

Thank you as always to my amazing WG team, Fran, Kate, Pearly, Jo and April ❤️

Chapter Seventeen: Power

Edward

xXx

Ricko places a bottle of beer in front of me, leaning back on the chair.

"How's Tommie, man?"

I take a sip, my fingers drumming on the sticky bar table as I place it back down.

"He's…" I trail off, lost for the right words. I give up and shrug, and Ricko's jaw jumps, his eyes searching mine.

"You good?"

I scoff at him, and his lips curve up. "Don't act hard in front of me, asshole. I've seen you shit. Nothin' more vulnerable than that."

My laughter rings out so loudly the people at the table next to us swing around to stare. They look away when Ricko eyes them, the fresh tattoo above his eyebrow and the slit through it making him look even more threatening than usual.

"He's fucking bad, man," I mutter when my laughter stops. "Throwing up, tired, the doc said it's normal, but I feel…helpless. Can't fucking do anything to help him."

Ricko sighs, nursing his beer for a second before he rests both arms on the table. "Listen, Mase; you're already doing everything you can. You took the job to pay for his treatment; you're dealing with Isabella…"

I nod, glancing away from his blue eyes. I haven't told anyone about the conversation I had with Bella about her mom or the fact she's been different since she found out about Tommie. I don't know where I would even fucking start. It's been a mindfuck for me to process her weird dual personality.

When we're around her uncles, or Charlie and Emmett, she acts the way she used to—rude, bitchy, downright fucking annoying. But when it's just us, or if we're around her friends or Tommie, she's different. She's always fucking snarky, but our banter is mostly light and playful, and I like the way she bites back.

Not that I'd fucking tell her that.

Ricko changes the subject, talking about this chick he's been fucking, Marissa, and I drink my beer, grateful for the distraction.

I've got to pick Bella up in a few hours, and she's probably still in a bad mood from this morning. We had to go to Charlie's office before I took her to school, and as usual, their conversation was a fucking disaster.

"Have you gotten your dick wet lately?" Ricko asks me, pausing in his recount of how great Marissa looked bouncing on his cock.

"Nah," I mutter. "Too fucking busy and just…sick of how easy it is."

Ricko snorts. "You're complaining about how easy it is for you to get laid now?"

I shrug, resting my arms on the chair arms as I tilt the front legs off the floor. "Yeah, man, it's fucking…same shit, different pussy, you know?"

Ricko nods, playing with the label of his beer. "Doesn't help when the girl you're guarding is a fucking ten."

I smirk. We picked up Tommie from Ricko's last week, and when he saw Bella, he mouthed "holy fuck" to me.

A lot of Charlie's guys haven't seen her before. A smart fucking decision because a lot of them are dogs, and Bella is sex on fucking legs. Not to mention seven-fucking-teen.

Just another one of a hundred reasons why I shouldn't want to fuck the living shit out of her.

"You know, dude, I've said it before, but just be careful. You know if you ever touched her, it would be game over."

I start to reply, and Ricko holds up his hands, "I know you hate her, but just…there's tension there, I fucking saw it."

"I'd never touch her," I say calmly, arching a brow at him.

And I won't.

But fuck do I want to.

xXx

I shift against the wall, my eyes fixed on Bella, the buzzing of the tattoo machine filling the air. We've been here for almost four hours now, and even though I could move into the other room and lie on the couch, I don't want to. Watching her is strangely hypnotic. There's a slight crease between her eyebrows; her full, pouty lips parted in concentration. She's so careful, her movements both precise and effortless as she inks the design between the boy's shoulder blades.

The sound cuts out suddenly, leaving the room in silence.

"All done," Bella says, tapping him on the shoulder. Alec lifts himself and gives her a grin, and the back of my neck tingles.

Cinna and Charlie might not be at open war right now, but things are anything but stable. We've had several guys go missing in the past month, and last week all four were placed in various locations in Charlie's territory; naked, with warning messages carved into their skin.

Give it up.

Step down, or we'll make you.

You're next.

Tick tock.

It could be any of the families, and the power balance is so precarious that if Charlie even hints at it being one of them, the whole thing could go to fucking shit.

If that wasn't bad enough, a huge shipment went missing from the docks, and the boss can't decide if it's Cinna trying to make a point or the fucking feds. They've been sniffing around the fall guys lately, the ones that the NYPD and FBI think are running shit. Motherfuckers are so damn clueless; it's embarrassing. Though anyone that knows the truth is dead or recruited before they can do anything with the information.

Whatever is going down, Bella hanging out with Alec Marquez rubs me the wrong way. I don't trust him, and I trust his father even less.

Alec walks over to check himself out in the mirror, and I cross my arms, snorting at the way he flexes his back muscles, his lips curved up in approval. The tattoo she's done on him looks amazing—a raven with its wings spread in the center of his shoulder blades, surrounded in shadow. There's no color to it, and I get the feeling she hates that; her eyebrows scrunched as she studies his back.

"Looks so damn good, Cygnet," Alec says happily, wrapping her up in a hug, his bare arms surrounding her smaller body. He glances at me as he kisses her shoulder, and that look glimmers in his eyes again, like he's trying to remember something. I stare back at him, narrowing my eyes, and Alec looks away.

Bella pushes him off and nudges him to the chair. "Let me clean it up," she orders, grinning at him.

"Yes, boss," Alec teases, licking his bottom lip and tilting his head back. "So...what do you want for your birthday?"

Bella laughs as she wipes down the tattoo. "What do you think I want?"

"Me?" Alec says playfully.

Bella rolls her eyes, and he bites his cheek, staring up at her. "So...Cilian's with Jasper."

"So…" Bella repeats, tilting her head at him and smirking.

Alec reaches up to brush his thumb across her bottom lip. "Do you remember what we used to say when we were kids, Cygnet?"

"Alec…" Bella sighs.

Alec catches her hand. "It would solve everything. You and I would rule this city together."

My eyes widen in surprise, and Bella glances back at me, biting her lip for a second before she turns back to him.

"We were stupid kids," she says quietly, pulling out of his grip. "Emmett's going to take over, not me."

"But it could be ours," Alec says seriously.

Bella grips his hair and tilts his head back, staring down at him. Alec lets her, letting out a low chuckle.

"Not. Interested. Now, are you gonna make us fall out again?"

He reaches up and removes her hand, rolling his eyes. "Fine. We could always just fuck around?" He grins at her, and she laughs, tapping his cheek.

"In your dreams."

I cough to hide my laugh, and both of them turn to look at me. Bella winks at me, and I feel a tug in the pit of my stomach. Those beautiful fucking eyes burn into mine for a second before I pull my gaze away, hooking my thumbs into my jean pockets.

I hear Alec grabbing his stuff, "But seriously, what do you want for your birthday?"

"For Charlie not to be throwing this stupid party," Bella groans.

My lips curve upward. Everyone who's anyone in New York is invited, and Bella's been ordered to be on her best behavior in front of Charlie's business colleagues. All the families have been invited too, for appearance's sake, which is why I've been told I'm not to be further than two feet away from her at any given time. It's unlikely anything will go down. Everyone knows how to play their characters in front of the public eye.

I'm dreading it even more than her. I haven't been in the same vicinity as Cinna since James and I…

I swallow, tension radiating through me.

Bella sees Alec to the door, and when she comes back in, she bites her lip, meeting my eyes. "What you heard…"

"I didn't hear anything," I say casually, smirking at her.

Bella smiles gratefully and then cocks her head at me, frowning. "Is everything okay with you? You look...stressed."

"Nothin' just fucking bored," I tell her playfully.

Bella smirks, "You didn't look bored."

"Watching me?" I ask her, smirking back.

Her eyes glint. "Not as much as you watch me."

"It's my job to watch you," I point out.

"Then consider it a vested interest of mine to watch you back," Bella states, arching an eyebrow at me.

I fight a laugh. "You have an answer for everything, don't you?"

"Of course." Bella grins.

She stares up at me, and my skin prickles, a tingle making its way down my spine. I quickly avert my gaze, crossing my arms.

"We still okay to go see Tommie?"

"Of course," Bella exclaims. I glance up to find her grinning widely; her eyes lit up in a way that seems to be reserved for my brother. "Can we take him out for ice cream?"

I rub my jaw, sighing. "Nah. Don't think he can eat it…Es says he's been throwing up a lot."

Bella's face falls. "Shit. What can...is there anything we can do?"

I shake my head, and she bites her lip. "Are you okay?"

I raise my eyebrows, "Am I okay?"

"Yeah," Bella says softly. "You must be worried, and you're here instead of with him." She looks guilty, and I frown at her.

"I'm here because it's my job; that's not your issue."

Bella opens her mouth, and I reach over and lightly tap her shoulder. "Chill, I'm fine. And Tommie's a strong kid. Come on."

She looks up at me and then nods as she begins to clean up her workstation.

xXx

Tommie's on the couch, laying on Es's lap when we go into the house, and he lifts his head and grins when he sees me. "Ed," he croaks.

I walk over to him, and he gets up, throwing his arms around me and hugging me tightly.

"How you doin', kid?" I ask him softly. I stroke his hair and swallow as some of it comes off in my hand.

"Fine," Tommie's muffled voice comes from my ribs. I stare at the clump of hair between my fingers and let it fall to the floor, something wrenching in my chest.

Tommie moves from me to Bella and hugs her too. She drops down to his height and squeezes him, meeting my eyes over his head.

"I'm just gonna have a quick smoke," I say gruffly. Tommie glances back at me, and I shoot him a grin.

"Be back in a sec, okay?"

"Okay." Tommie smiles at me.

"Tommie, I wanted to show you something," Bella suddenly says, taking out her bag.

I grab my cigarettes and walk out the front door, leaning against the wall. My fingers shake as I take one to my lips, and I light it, breathing in deep.

I hear the door open and look over to my right. Es walks up to me and holds out her hand.

"Can I steal one?"

I give her mine and light a fresh one, staring out at the houses in my view. There's a fight going on down the way a little, and I can see a dealer leaning out his window, talking to some kids.

"How you holding up?" I ask Es quietly.

"Just can't wait for this round to be over," she murmurs. "It's unbearable watching him go through this; he's getting so thin."

I grit my teeth, a bitter taste in my mouth, and Es sighs.

"Ed…"

"Don't," I say stiffly.

"You know that I-"

"Stop," I growl. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, exhaling the smoke. I turn to face her. She's got one arm across her body, ash building on the end of her cigarette. I watch a tear track down her cheek and shift.

"It's done, let's just…not go there," I say in a softer voice, tapping the end of her cigarette for her. "We're fine."

Es looks up and gives me a weak smile.

"You know you're supposed to actually smoke it," I say playfully.

Her smile widens, and she chokes out a laugh.

I tilt my head at her, running a hand through my hair. "Hey Es, you still got those clippers?"

xXx

"Stop staring," I say to Bella, smirking at her over the kitchen counter. Her eyes lock with mine for a second before stabbing her fork into the salad on her plate, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip.

"It looks…"

I arch a brow, running a hand over my freshly buzzed hair, the bristles familiar under my palm. "Yeah?"

"Good," Bella says, shrugging.

I take a bite of pizza, my smirk widening, and Bella rolls her eyes.

"That was really sweet of you," she says after a while, putting her fork down.

"It's nothin'," I say, my mouth full of pizza.

Bella rests her chin on her hand, staring at me. "But it meant so much to Tommie."

I roll my eyes. "Don't cry about it. It's not a big deal."

"I'm not crying about it. It was just sweet," Bella says, sticking her tongue out at me.

I glance down at it, my cock jolting to life.

"Now who's staring," Bella teases.

My eyes flick back up to hers, and I shrug, taking another bite of food.

"Does it feel weird?"

"Nah, used to it," I mutter. I put down my pizza and lean into her slightly, watching her hands as they play with the rings on her fingers.

She's staring at my head curiously, and I smirk, the words leaving my mouth before I've thought it through.

"Want to touch it?"

Bella's eyes widen, and my pulse skyrockets. I don't mind her touching me now that she knows the limits and is careful, but I'm fucking surprised at myself for even asking.

Bella's eyebrows knit together. "Are you…sure?"

I shift in the chair, shrugging. "You want to or not?"

"But…"

I arch an eyebrow, "But?"

Bella sighs, biting her lip. "I don't want to…upset you."

I snort. "Since when?"

Bella starts to frown but relaxes when she sees my smile.

"Are you sure?"

I roll my eyes and grab her hand, pulling her towards me so fast her breath hitches.

I pause with her hand near my head and smirk, arching a brow. "Go ahead."

Bella stares up at me for a second before her lips curve, and she reaches out carefully.

The second her warm fingers brush my scalp, I have to fight my eyes not to roll back.

Shit feels so fucking good.

I pull back from her and meet her hypnotizing eyes. She smiles at me. "It feels weird. Kind of prickly but soft at the same time."

I nod, biting into another piece of pizza.

Bella studies me, opening her mouth and then closing it again.

"What?" I ask with my mouth full.

"I'm just…can I ask you something?"

"Fire away." Bella bites her lip, and I grin at her. "If you're gonna proposition me, it's still no. You're not my type, sweetheart."

Her eyes glint, "I was just...curious about something."

I arch a brow, and Bella shifts. "Um…how do you have sex if you don't like being touched?"

I stare at her for a second before I snigger, shaking my head. Bella shifts in the chair, lifting her chin.

"Well, when I fuck, I'm always in control," I say casually, resting my elbows on the table as I stare at her.

Bella swallows, her pupils dilating. "In control? Like you have to be on top?"

The way she's looking at me is making me so fucking hard, her big eyes hooded over, cheeks flushed.

"Yeah." There's a grit to my voice, and I can't help but imagine her underneath me, those beautiful tits bouncing as I fuck her, breathy moans and whimpers falling from her lips. "Why? You want your fantasies of me to be accurate?" I tease her, my dick pressing against the seam of my jeans.

Bella shifts in the chair, and her tongue flicks out over her full bottom lip. I wonder if she's imagining it too, thinking about me on top of her, inside her. My skin prickles with heat, and I swallow, looking away from her.

"Just wondering," she says breathily.

I don't say anything, just shrug, willing my dick to chill the fuck out.

Bella's silent for a second. "I'm gonna go to bed."

"Aight," I mutter, "I'm gonna eat more. Fuckin' starving. No plans to sneak off, right? If I eat another slice, my capacity to run is gonna be severely hindered."

Bella giggles and then stops, smiling to herself before she nods at me. "Nah, no sneaking off tonight."

I watch her leave, her ass jiggling in her gray shorts, and drop the pizza on the plate, licking sauce off my thumb.

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PS: I have been nominated in a few categories for the Golden Onion Awards! If you want to vote for me you can find a link in my facebook group 'creaatingmadness' ❤️