Chapter 19

~Forbidden Fruit~

I poured my heart out to Santo over a bowl of Rocky Road while we sat around his breakfast bar. Once my tears dried up, he insisted we make a huge bowl of popcorn and watch comedies in the family room. To their credit, Santo and Angela sat on either side of me. We laughed and joked, throwing popcorn at each other. They never made me feel like a third wheel, and I was so grateful to have them both in my life.

The next morning, we had breakfast on Santo's patio. Early morning fog hung in ethereal tendrils above the pool, and the iron gray sky threatened rain. I managed to eat half a pancake and a slice of bacon, which was pretty good for me lately. I slipped my phone out and called Aro.

"Isabella Marie! Where are you?"

"On Santo's patio, eating breakfast."

My father was immensely pleased to hear this. "And how is your husband-to-be?"

"He's wonderful, really wonderful." I meant this for a different reason than Aro's, but he didn't need to know that. "Dad, there's something I have to tell you."

"What is it, my dear?"

"I don't trust the Denalis. They're consorting with the Masen family, and Tanya is dating To—um, Edward Junior."

"I'm aware, but I appreciate you letting me know. We're monitoring the situation." His tone went from thankful to ominous. "Let those fucks believe they're pulling the wool over my eyes. Now you understand why it's imperative to solidify our family."

"Yes. A lot of things are becoming clear." Again, my words had a double meaning.

"You're a good daughter. I'm proud of you."

"Thanks . . . Dad." It was still difficult to call him that. "You're okay with me staying at Santo's?"

Aro's baritone laugh boomed over the line. "This isn't the olden days! You're spending time with your future husband. I think it's wonderful!" He laughed again. "You could be doing worse things."

I laughed with him, and then a sobering thought struck me. Worse things, like sleeping with the enemy? The laugh died on my lips. If Aro found out about Tony and me—whether it was over or not—there's no telling what the consequences might be.

After we hung up, I sat watching the fog dissipate. The backyard went from eerie back to normal in a matter of minutes. I couldn't help but feel the truth was shrouded in a fog. Maybe if the subterfuge burned away, I'd be able to see things clearly.

Angela poked her head out the door. "I'm leaving for work. I'll see you later?"

"Hey, can I ride along and borrow your car?"

"Of course!"

Santo was gone already, so I left him a note. I grabbed my purse and met Angela by the Mustang.

We drove in companionable silence for a few minutes before she looked at me with suspicion. "Where are you planning to go?"

"Jasper's."

"Do you think that's a good idea?"

Tears stung my eyes, and I took large gulps of air. "He's my only connection to Tony."

"Even after seeing Tony leave Tanya's room at five in the morning? Maybe it's time to take a step back."

"I refuse to believe he wants her. He told me he loves me! Something isn't adding up, and I need to find out the truth." My heart ached. The pain was so great, I crossed my arms to hug my body as if it might keep me from falling apart.

"I'm sorry this is happening to you. Let me know if there's anything else I can do, and just . . . be careful." She eased the Mustang off the highway.

"Pull over!"

"What?"

"Fucking pull over. I'm gonna hurl." I clamped a hand over my mouth and swallowed convulsively, horrified at the thought of messing up Angela's car.

She wrenched the wheel to the right, pulling onto the shoulder. My door was open before the car came to a complete stop. I lunged out of the car and lost my breakfast in the bushes. I stood bent over with both hands on my knees, dragging in deep breaths.

Angela hurried over and rubbed my back. "What can I do, honey? Do you need anything?"

I spit in the dirt and swiped the back of one hand across my mouth. "You got a new life I can have?" I stood up, testing the waters. "Actually, can we stop somewhere and buy a toothbrush? I need to freshen up."

Angela stopped at the CVS up the block from the hotel. She told me to stay put and ran in, returning with a bag, which she handed me. I almost choked when I opened it. In addition to a toothbrush and some Colgate, there was a pregnancy test. I held it up. "Something you want to tell me?"

Angela frowned. "Chica, is there something you want to tell me?"

I laughed. "What?"

"You just threw up your breakfast."

"I'm nervous and—"

"And you haven't been able to hold food down for days." She shot me an exasperated look. "How are your boobs feeling lately? They look a little plump."

I stared at her, a retort dying on my lips. "No. Uh-uh. Nope." I shook my head.

"Last period?"

"I'm irregular?" I stared at her helplessly. "No fucking way this is happening to me."

"Just do the test. You need to know."

"Okay, I'll do it later. I promise!"

She glanced at her watch. "Shit! I'm late for work." She eased the Mustang back onto the road and pulled up at the side entrance of the hotel so I could get in the driver's seat. She leaned into the open window and squeezed my shoulder. "Don't worry about anything, okay? No matter what the results are, we'll deal with this together."

I laid my hand over hers. "Thanks, Ang. I love you."

"Love you too. Good luck."

I stopped at a McDonald's and brushed my teeth in their bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror. The woman staring back at me appeared to have her shit together. That was the best I was going to get. Straighten your fucking crown.

When I pulled into the garage at Skyline Square, I rested my forehead on the steering wheel, taking several deep breaths until my heart stopped racing. Tony might not be here, but I had to do something. I couldn't exactly waltz into Casa de Masen and demand to see him.

I slipped into the elevator and punched in the code before I lost my nerve. With each floor, my palms grew sweatier. When the doors opened, I strode out with confidence, determined not to show any weakness.

"Oh, hello!" I was startled by the unfamiliar female voice. Following the sound, I encountered an attractive woman with short, dark hair sitting at the breakfast bar.

"Hi. I'm looking for Jasper."

"He's in the shower." She tilted her head, appraising me with discerning gray eyes. "I'm Alice."

"Kelly. Nice to meet you. I hope this isn't a bad time. Jasper's not expecting me."

Alice smiled cheekily. "Unless you're here for a booty call, it's not a bad time." She narrowed her eyes, looking me up and down. "You look very familiar. Do I know you?"

"I have one of those faces, I guess."

"Would you like a drink?" Alice hopped off the stool and glided into the living room. She was petite and lithe, moving with poise and confidence. "What can I get you?"

I thought about the pregnancy test waiting for me in the Mustang. "Oh, um . . . just a soda, please."

"Not a daytime drinker, huh? Me neither." Alice poured two Cokes, handing one to me.

"Where are you, darlin'?" Jasper sauntered into the living room with a towel draped around his hips. He had a muscular torso with a dagger tattoo on his left pec. Not what I expected to see under the button-down oxfords. When he saw me, he drew up short. "Bella!"

Alice's eyebrows rose. "I thought you said your name was Kelly."

Like a deer caught in headlights, I glanced between the two of them. "Um . . ." I patted my hair and realized that in my nervous haste, I'd forgotten to don my Kelly disguise. "I'm not blonde, am I?"

Jasper shook his head slowly.

I took a swallow of my Coke and wandered toward the windows, unsure how to respond.

Alice snapped her fingers. "You're Isabella Volturi! Didn't you just get engaged to that hunk, Santiago Lanzo?"

The elevator dinged. Saved by the bell? Or not.

"Jesus Christ! Are you fucking my sister?" Tony's outraged voice boomed as he strode into the room. He looked handsome in a charcoal suit with his hair slicked back although I preferred him in jeans and work boots with his hair artfully mussed.

Wait, Alice was Tony's sister? Alice Masen. And she saw me here without my disguise. Fabulous.

"Be cool, man." Jasper held his hands out.

"Put some fucking clothes on, Hale!" Tony ground out the words.

Alice rolled her eyes. "I'm a grown woman, Edward! What Jas and I do is none of your damn business!"

"Like hell—" Tony halted mid-sentence when he noticed me by the window. "Princess!"

Alice's head whipped in my direction and she arched a brow. "Princess? Looks like I'm not the only one with a secret." Then she threw her head back and laughed. "Oh my god—Daddy would skin you alive if he found out you're sleeping with the enemy!"

Jasper grabbed Alice's hand. "Darlin', why don't you come with me so these two can talk?"

She looked into his eyes and nodded. "Sure." On her way past Tony, she poked him in the chest. "We'll finish this later."

"Yeah." Tony barely acknowledged her. His intense green eyes were laser focused on me. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

I glared and walked toward him slowly, drawing closer with each question I tossed at him. "Why won't you take my calls? You knew it was only a matter of time before Santo and I would be engaged, so why did you act like I betrayed you?" He stood silent, staring back at me. When I was a foot away, I threw the rest of my Coke in his face. "And what the fuck were you doing with Tanya Denali until five a.m.?"

Tony wiped a hand over his face. "I suppose I deserved that, but it's the only shot you're going to get." A spark of anger smoldered in his eyes.

"I haven't even gotten started!" I raised my hand to slap him, and he caught my arm in midair, his grip like iron.

"Stop."

To my horror, burning tears welled in my eyes and spilled over. "How could you fuck that piece of shit after you pledged your love to me?"

Tony let my arm go and stepped forward, gripping my shoulders. "Do you really believe I would touch her?"

"I saw the two of you. You stayed in her room all night! Were you playing canasta?" I stared at his tie.

"Look at me!" When I refused, he softened his voice. "Princess, look at me." The imploring desperation in his tone caused me to look up automatically. His intense gaze held sorrow, hurt, and censure.

It was difficult meeting his eyes, like looking directly into the sun. "I saw you cozied up with her. You spent the night. And when you saw me, you seemed so unaffected."

"I assure you, I wasn't unaffected. I was dying inside. That night, I prayed you weren't working."

I shrieked at him, trying to twist away from his grip. "You said I was the only thing that could destroy you, and then you ghosted me!"

"You are the only thing that can destroy me!" Tony cupped my cheek, his voice low and hoarse. "You are my Achilles' heel. There's no room for weakness when I take over for my father. I won't allow you to be collateral damage in the fight between the families."

I laughed bitterly. "Isn't that exactly what I am? Collateral damage? A stepping stone on your way to the top?"

"No. I'm trying to protect you."

I stepped back, pulling out of his hold. "That sounds like a load of shit, Tony. We already knew the risks. You asked me to be yours forever." I wrenched my shirt up, exposing the tattoo. "Remember? Why don't you practice what you preach? The truth is everything, right?"

I stalked away, heading for the elevator. This was a mistake. Tony was a fucking liar, making promises he'd never keep. The tears poured from my eyes, and I hit the call button over and over.

"Princess!" Tony called to me, but I ignored him. "Please, just listen to me!"

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. I lurched inside and hit the button. Tony slipped through the doors at the last moment and punched in a code. The elevator came to a smooth stop between floors.

"What did you do?"

Tony stalked forward, backing me up until I was trapped in a corner. He pressed his palms against the wall beside my head, caging me in. He waited silently until I looked into his eyes. "I love you, princess. I will always love you. I shouldn't tell you this, but I can't go on letting you think I don't want you." He gazed at the ceiling for a moment, his expression hardening. "I'm being blackmailed. Tanya knows about us—I don't know how, but she does."

"What?"

"She threatened to tell the heads of all the families about us."

"But she won't if . . ." I couldn't even finish the thought.

"If I break it off with you and marry her."

"No!"

"I'm sorry. This is killing me, but I have to protect you!"

"Do you really believe Tanya Denali will be satisfied with being married to a man who loves someone else? You think once you are married, she won't try to hurt me in some way? Open your fucking eyes, Tony!"

"What the fuck else can I do? I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you! What would Aro do if he knew?" Tony tried to rake his fingers through his hair, but with it slicked back, they slid off. "Fuck! I hate this!" He used both hands to run them through his hair savagely, messing it up thoroughly.

It reminded me of a scene from an old Jim Carrey movie, and I couldn't hold back my laughter, which turned into a full-on belly laugh. I lost my breath, doubling over.

"What the hell is so funny?"

"You are!" His hair stuck up in uneven spikes. "Take a look at your hair!" I laughed even harder.

Tony glanced up at the mirrored ceiling. "Jesus Christ!" he yelled. Then he looked back at me, and he started laughing too.

It felt good to laugh, especially together. I couldn't remember the last time I giggled until I couldn't breathe. My stomach would be sore later on, and it would remind me of this lighthearted moment.

Tony moved to the keypad, but I stilled his hand. "Wait! Your hair. Let me." I reached up and ran my fingers through the chaotic strands, pushing them this way and that until he looked more like my Tony instead of an uptight mafia boss or crazy comedian. "This is how I see you in my dreams." The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Tony cupped my face, his eyes scorching. "You are the love of my life. I'll never lay a finger on another woman. I don't care what happens." His gaze flicked to my lips, and he moved in slowly, brushing his mouth across mine as light as a feather. "Can I kiss you, princess?"

I wound my arms around his waist, under the suit jacket. "Please."

Tony's soft lips moved against mine, sending delicious tingles through my body. My heart beat faster, and I melted against him. His kiss was hungry, his tongue seeking mine. I lost myself, forgetting where we were and how desperate our situation was. The only thing that mattered to me was being in his arms and knowing he loved me.

Without breaking the kiss, he lifted me by the backs of my thighs and turned, pressing me against the wall. "Have you ever made love in an elevator?" He whispered against my mouth.

The fact he said "made love" instead of something crass sent a thrill through my chest. "No."

His hands drifted under my skirt. One cupped my ass, and the other slid along the edge of my silky panties, dipping lower with each pass. "Say yes." One finger hovered over my center, and I almost came from the anticipation.

"Yes."

Tony swirled his finger over my sensitive heat, sending the most delicious waves of pleasure washing over me.

The intercom crackled to life, and Jasper's voice burst our sex bubble. "You need to put the elevator back in service. Also, FYI, it's monitored by security."

Tony swore, pulling his hand from between my legs and setting me on my feet. He punched the code in, and we returned to the penthouse. When the doors opened, he took my hand and led me out. Even though Alice was standing there with Jasper, Tony kept my hand in his and brought it to his lips for a kiss.

Alice looked me over with intense gray eyes, her head tilted. Eventually, she nodded. "Shit. It's the real deal. Silver, you would fall for the most forbidden fruit."

"What can I say, squirt? 'Easy' isn't in my vocabulary." He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close.

"Silver?" I queried.

Alice winked at me, grinning conspiratorially. "Childhood nickname. I'll tell you about it sometime. Maybe over drinks?"

"Um, sure. You don't have a problem with this?" I pointed between me and Tony.

"Of course not! Like a cyclone, true love is a force that cannot be restrained." Her gaze flicked to Jasper before returning to me.

Tony sighed. "Well, I guess if I was going to pick someone for my sister, it would be you, Jas."

Jasper relaxed and let out a deep breath. "Sorry, man. I just didn't know how to tell you."

Alice slid her hand into Jasper's and smiled up at him. "I told you it would work out!" Then she looked at us. "Now we have to work on your happy ending."

~oOo~

Who hates Tanya more than ever? *Raises hand* Glad these two made up, but life is not going to be easy for them any time soon. Leave me your thoughts and theories. You know how I love them! I received many queries about cheating and HEA. There will not be any cheating, and this will definitely be HEA. I might have to twist you in to a pretzel to get there though.

I'm hoping to update again next week. For those who make snarky comments about how long it takes me to update stories that I write for FREE and pour many hours into working on, I also have a family, a career, and health challenges. If anyone would like to pay my bills so I can quit my job, I'd be happy to spend my days writing for your pleasure.

I post teasers and links to updates on my blog and on Facebook in the No Rules Twilight Fan Fiction and It All Started With Twilight groups.

Thanks and gratefulness as always to my awesome betas, SassySue (chayasara) and Wendy wmr1601. These ladies make my stuff much more presentable!

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PSA: Fanfic has made a ridiculous update that will turn email notifications OFF. This is the default setting. You will need to go to "settings" in your FF account and opt in to receive email notifications. Even if you do this, this setting will automatically default back to NO every six months, at which time you will need to change the setting again. Just one more way FF is making our lives difficult.