Chapter 13

~The Pawn and the King~

~*Bella*~

Emmett watched me warily as I paced around the living room while we waited for Tony to get changed. I stopped to pour a drink. "Want one?"

"Yeah, but it wouldn't be a good idea right now." He rubbed the back of his neck. "So . . . this thing between you and my brother. You know it's so many shades of wrong. Where do you see it going?"

I was ready to snap at him, but when I looked into his eyes, I saw only concern for Tony there, and I couldn't fault him for that. "Honestly, I don't know. It seems so impossible, and yet, I can't imagine my life without him." Taking a gulp of my drink, I felt the burning warmth of alcohol and truth. There was no turning back.

"I'm relieved to hear you say that."

"You are?" I glanced over at him with surprise.

"Bella, I've never seen my brother so obsessed. He's usually careful and controlled." He looked up at the ceiling. "I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I'll back you guys. I just want you to understand that it's probably going to get ugly." When his eyes met mine, they held a warning.

It's not as if I didn't already know the way would be difficult and fraught with peril. We were navigating in the narrow buffer between two rival families. The danger went without saying.

"I understand, and I'm willing to take the chance."

Emmett smiled sadly. "That's what I needed to hear. I wish you both all the luck in the world." The unspoken end of the sentence—you're going to need it—hovered in the air between us.

Tony came into the room then, and the moment dissolved. I felt better knowing Emmett was on our side.

They spoke to each other, but I didn't catch the words through the sudden buzzing in my ears. My legs felt cold and weak, my palms sweaty. Pure fear pumped through my veins and nerve endings.

I rushed over to Tony and held his face. "Come back to me."

His green eyes were lit with determination and certainty. "Always." He grasped my hand and brought it to his lips, placing a kiss in the palm. His eyes met mine again, and they held a promise. I knew only death would keep him away.

After they left, I wandered the penthouse restlessly, unsure what to do with myself. I yearned to talk to Angela, but I wasn't about to horn in on her evening with Santo. He was a great guy, and I was rooting for them. Lou was an unfaithful douche. Angela deserved so much better.

I stood by the windows for quite a while, looking out at the lights of the city. I repressed the urge to pour a drink. It would be easy to use alcohol as a crutch every time I was upset—I'd been doing just that quite often since I met Tony—but it wasn't a road I intended to go down. My mind needed to remain sharp, my focus clear, if we were going to successfully navigate this minefield of a relationship.

I heated up a slice of leftover pizza, grabbed a bottle of iced tea, and watched That '70s Show reruns on Jasper's giant screen TV. That show was my go-to when I was in need of distraction and tension release.

My phone dinged with a text. My heart started beating harder, but the alert wasn't from the burner phone.

Hey, so things are going well here. Think I'm going to stay over. ~A

Wow! Go for it, girl! ~B

You sure? ~A

Totally! ~B

Thank God I wore sexy underthings today! Enjoy your alone time with Tony! ~A

I sent her a smiley face blowing kisses. I wasn't about to ruin her night by telling her Tony had been summoned home by his father, leaving me here alone to ponder all the horrible scenarios that might happen.

When I felt stressed or helpless, ice cream was my quick fix. I opened Jasper's freezer, hopeful he liked frozen treats too. No such luck. The cavernous space was empty with the exception of the container beneath the ice maker, which was filled to the brim with cubes. I remembered the store downstairs and hurried to put on my disguise. Twenty minutes later, I was curled on the couch, scooping mounds of Rocky Road into my mouth while I watched Eric and his friends sit in a hazy circle, making silly comments and observations.

I woke up with a bowl of melted Rocky Road balanced on my lap. It was a miracle Jasper's couch didn't end up with a sticky, brown puddle on it. I put the bowl on the coffee table, then rubbed my eyes and stretched my arms overhead. Standing, I worked the stiffness from my legs. I grabbed both phones, but there were no messages. It was well after midnight, and my stomach rolled.

Tony had been gone for hours! Before my mind could conjure up more horrible scenarios, I decided to go to bed. I spent some time brushing out my hair and slipped into one of Tony's T-shirts. I climbed into bed and pulled the neckline of the shirt over my nose so I was surrounded by eau de Tony. There was a vague whiff of cologne mixed with his own masculine smell. I burrowed under the covers and fell asleep with a content smile on my face.

*oOo*

A warm, hard body pressed against mine pulled me from my slumber. I turned slowly, lifting my face from under the covers. Tony's head rested on my pillow; moonlight streaming from the window lit his green eyes, giving them an otherworldly glow.

"Princess." He breathed out my nickname, causing a shiver of pleasure to rush up my spine.

"You're back." I caressed his cheek, a hint of stubble tickling my skin. "I was worried."

He brushed my hair back and rested our foreheads together, his gaze boring into mine. "I will always come back to you." His arm tightened around my waist, pulling me closer until our chests pressed together, the heat of his body transferring through the cotton of the T-shirt like a brand.

Tony's lips found mine with soft, slow kisses that led to insistent, lingering ones. He hooked his leg over mine, tightening his hold. Heated desire shot through me. I forgot everything; the peril we were in became a distant concern pushed aside by want and need.

I reached for him, finding the hot skin of his chest beneath my palm. Trailing my fingers along his side, I brushed against the edge of the bandage on the way down before running my hand over his firm ass, which was covered by the soft cotton of his briefs.

Tony rolled us, hovering above me. His lips nipped at the side of my neck. "I need you, princess."

I slipped my hands up his strong arms and over his powerful shoulders to explore his muscled back. "I'm yours."

He leaned up, straddling me, and looked down. "You're overdressed. Let me help with that." He tugged on the hem of the shirt, and I lifted up so he could pull it over my head. The rush of cool air was quickly smothered by the heat of his body returning. Warm lips landed on mine, his kisses urgent, hands roaming down my sides to cup my ass in his large palms. He groaned, giving a squeeze through silk hot from his touch. "I'm going to keep this pair too." His warning held a hint of humor.

His tongue plunged into my mouth, and I pulled back, worried about my breath. He looked down at me with confusion. "What's wrong?"

"My breath. I was sleeping."

Tony's lips lifted in a seductive smirk. "You taste like chocolate." He brought his lips back to mine, licking along my bottom one. "Are you going to let me in, princess?"

I opened to him, allowing his tongue to tangle with mine. He tasted like brandy. My arms went around his neck, and I rubbed my foot along his muscular leg.

When he finally broke the kiss, he knelt beside me, grasping my underwear on both sides and sliding them down and off. Tossing them away, Tony moved to the bottom of the bed and slowly spread my legs. I felt the heat of his breath hovering above my center. "I've been dying to bury my head between your thighs."

He laved me with his tongue, strong hands holding my hips firmly in place. The feel of him, the intimacy of his tongue learning my body, sent sparks of desire racing through me. I dug my fingers into his hair without shame, riding the wave of ecstasy that blew through me with no warning, my cries mingling with his approving hums.

He kissed his way up my stomach, closing hot lips over a straining nipple.

"Oh my god, Tony . . . that was . . ."

He lifted his head, his gaze scorching. "I'm not finished."

His words sent a thrill sizzling through my veins, and I couldn't wait for what came next.

"You're still on the pill?"

"Yes. Tony, please . . . now."

Tony stood beside the bed and tugged the dark briefs down his legs, kicking them aside. A shaft of moonlight illuminated one side of his muscular body, but the part I was both anxious and shy about seeing remained in shadow.

And then he was hovering above me, one knee pressing my legs apart. "Are you sure, princess?"

"Very sure. I want you."

"So beautiful." Tony entered me slowly, his gaze holding mine as he filled me completely. He made love to me with his eyes as well as his body. His thrusts were deep and unhurried, fanning the flames of my own desire to the brink of release too quickly. I wanted to slow down, to savor every touch, kiss, and thrust of his hips. I fought, riding the edge of bliss for a few moments.

Tony whispered, "Let go, princess. We have plenty of time."

I bit my lip, trusting his word, and let go. The orgasm washed over me like a tidal wave, powering away everything except the two of us in that moment, and I rode it out until it became gentle laps along the shore of my bliss.

Tony cried out right after. "Fuck, princess!" He flung his head back, eyes scrunched closed, and let go, burying himself deep inside me.

Afterward, Tony kept touching and kissing me, gazing lovingly at my body in the moonlight. He stopped me when I attempted to get dressed. "Not yet. Let me look at you a while longer."

He wasn't shy at all about his body, going to get us pizza from the fridge in his birthday suit. He looked back as he was leaving the bedroom, catching me ogling his ass, and smirked. "You like?"

"I like."

We lay in bed, eating cold pizza, laughing and teasing each other but not talking about the elephant in the room that loomed larger by the second.

Reality reared its head from outside our bubble. My phone bleated from the nightstand, the ringtone set aside for my father. I stumbled out of bed and yanked Tony's T-shirt over my head before grabbing my phone. "Hello?"

"Isabella Marie, you can come home. The danger is over."

"It-it is?" I glanced at Tony, who leaned against the headboard munching on pizza crust.

"Yes. Life can return to normal."

I stifled a laugh. Normal? I didn't know the meaning of the word anymore. "Dad, are you sure?"

Addressing my father drew Tony's attention, and he looked over with a sharp, quizzical expression.

"Very sure. Come on home. Angela too."

"What happened?"

My father's voice telegraphed impatience. "There's no need to concern yourself with that. You return to work tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll see you soon."

"I love you, my precious daughter." Aro's words caught me off-guard. He rarely allowed anyone to witness a vulnerable moment, and my eyes misted over with tears.

"I . . . love you too, Dad." I ended the call and tossed my phone on the nightstand. I looked over at Tony. He seemed interested but not surprised. "Okay, what the hell is going on?"

Tony shook his head. "Not discussing this in bed. I don't want to sully this place for us. Let's get dressed and talk in the living room."

I spent too long in the bathroom—brushing my hair, washing my face, staring at myself in the mirror—because I was afraid of what Tony was going to say. I ended up leaving Tony's T-shirt on and paired it with leggings. Wearing his shirt made me feel closer to him, more secure.

When I padded out to the living room, Tony was standing by the windows, looking out over the city. His hair was damp, curling over the collar of his shirt. I joined him at the window, leaning my head against his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer, and planted a kiss in my hair. A subtle light was bleeding away the darkness of the night sky as the day prepared to dawn. New days were filled with hope and promise, and I prayed this day would bring good things to us.

"Everything is going to be fine, princess."

"You promise?" I asked unfairly.

"I will move heaven and earth to protect you, for the chance to love you."

I turned in his arms and pressed my face into his chest, breathing deeply of his essence. I looped my arms around his waist, hugging him until he winced. "Sorry!"

"It's okay. I'm just a little sore."

"Did you hurt yourself when we had sex?" I looked up at his face with concern.

A slow smile spread across Tony's handsome face. "Probably, but I didn't feel anything but bliss when I was inside you. The pain came later."

I loosened my hold on him. "I'll try to be more careful."

He held me close, rocking us back and forth. "I'll let you know if it's too much. I love being close to you."

I closed my eyes and basked in his loving embrace. Then the little devil on my shoulder interrupted with a reminder that Aro was expecting me—and Angela too. If we didn't show up soon, there would be a lot of questions to answer.

I slipped my phone out of my waistband and leaned against Tony while I texted Angela.

Aro called. The danger is over. He expects us home pronto. Hope you had a raunchy night! ~B

Damn. Glad the danger is over, but his timing sucks. Pick you up in 30? ~A

Sounds like a plan. ~B

"Okay, Angela's picking me up soon. Tell me what's going on!"

Tony's arms surrounded me, and he rested his cheek on my head while he spoke. "My father had a meeting with me and Emmett to give us our assignments. He put me in charge of real estate and Emmett in charge of construction. I got into a tussle with him over my mom because he drugs her for every little thing." He stroked my back slowly, but I could feel his heart picking up speed. "We had a meeting with your father at his club. It went really well, actually. Much better than I expected. We all agreed, even my father, that Aro wouldn't be stupid enough to use a hitman-for-hire to take me out. A man like that is loyal to whoever waves the largest wad of cash under his nose. It was a setup. Someone is trying to ignite a war between our families."

"Who?"

"We don't know, but we are going to work together to find out. The idea is to pretend we believe your father put out the hit, that we sent him the head of his guy and have now called a truce. Whoever did this won't be satisfied and will make another attempt to start a war."

"Wow." I was shocked. The way Aro spoke about the Masens, I couldn't imagine him working with them in any capacity.

"Aro was very gracious. He wants to find the culprit, even if it means working with me and Emmett." Tony hesitated, his body stiffening around me. "I asked about the vendetta between our families, but Aro wouldn't tell us. He said we need to get the story from our father. I'm going to try, but he doesn't share anything truly personal with us."

I pulled back and raised my head, looking Tony in the eye. "So you believe Aro? You don't think he put a hit on you?"

"Yeah. We believe him."

I sagged against him. "I'm so relieved. I know this means we have to flush out the real assassin, but I'm glad it wasn't my father."

"Me too." Tony's voice turned hard and cold. "But we will find out who was behind this, and they will pay dearly."

A chill skated down my spine. Tony's tone of voice scared me. He had been so loving and supportive with me, and this was a side of him I wasn't familiar with. I had to remember he was next in line to be the head of the Masen family, and I was simply the daughter of the head of the Volturi family—earmarked to be married off to strengthen an alliance.

I was a pawn. He would become a king.

~oOo~

Wonder what Bella will be faced with when she returns home. It won't be easy for her to spend time with Tony, and things are about to get even more complicated. Would love to hear your thoughts. Love all the theories you guys send my way!

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