Chapter 24

~The Funeral~

The morning of Bella's funeral dawned cold and bleak. The skies opened, and sheets of rain pelted down, soaking everything in its path. Jagged forks of lighting shot across the sky, and booms of thunder rumbled, causing the earth to shake. It was the perfect backdrop for the death of a mafia princess.

News vans parked across the street from Saint Sebastian's cathedral. Canopies were set up to ward off the rain and protect equipment as reporters hung around like vultures hoping for a hunk of roadkill. Police cars lined the street in front, and officers were stationed at the bottom of the stone steps and by every entrance. Aro's own private security team was in place as well although funerals were sacrosanct; no one with any honor would attack during the service. Then again, no one with any honor would have burned Aro's daughter alive.

My father decided Emmett and I should represent our family at the funeral. That was fine with me because being at the service was part of our master plan to flush out the guilty fuck who was behind Bella's "death."

Emmett and I sat up the block in an SUV with blacked out windows. We intended to be among the last to enter the church. In the meantime, we were people-watching as the families showed up dressed in their finest to pay respects. A shiver of disgust shuddered through me. This was more of a combination who's who and fashion competition than the somber affair it was meant to be.

"Jesus Christ. Look at these mooks!" I gestured at the steady stream of attendees, many of them huddled beneath umbrellas.

Emmett guffawed. "And you're surprised why? Most of these jackals are here to get a sip of Volturi's pain. It's the mafia equivalent of ambulance chasers."

I clenched a fist against my thigh. My jaw was tense enough to pulverize stone. Most likely, one of these fuckers tried to barbecue the love of my life. Death was too good for whoever did this.

Emmett smacked my arm. "E! I see the wheels turning. You need to calm the fuck down! Today, you need to play it neutral. You can't show any emotion or our plan is fucked."

"I know . . . I know! I'm trying. I will gain control before we play our parts."

Just when I thought I was doing all right, I saw the Denalis—all four of them—step out of a Cadillac SUV. Tanya was dressed to the nines in a navy dress, spiked heels, and a hat with a lace veil. Lorenzo and Maria wore fashionably understated funeral attire. Kate was another story altogether. She wore a long, flowing black dress and her head was bowed, a handkerchief balled up and clutched in one hand. She turned her face our way for a moment, and it was obvious she'd been crying. Kate truly cared about Bella, and I regretted the deception we had to participate in to flush out our enemies.

"Holy fuck!" Emmett exclaimed, pointing.

Marcel Corin, flanked by four bodyguards, emerged from a black limo. One of Corin's men held an umbrella over the don's head, and the crowd parted as if God himself had arrived. Flashbulbs lit the area like a flutter of fireflies, but no one dared to approach him.

Emmett's outburst was an understatement; Marcel Corin rarely bothered to show his face. He was the head of the most powerful family, and his disdain for most traditions let everyone know it. Yet here he was, showing up at the funeral of a rival boss's daughter.

A look passed between Emmett and me, and I cocked my head. "I'm not sure what to think of this, Em. It's a statement for sure, but what's he saying, and who's the message for?"

"You got me hanging! Subtle isn't in my wheelhouse."

"You think?" I laughed, shaking my head.

I spotted Jasper amongst the paparazzi. His clothes and demeanor screamed "newbie." I admired the way he played a part, fitting in without appearing to be a threat. Anyone whose gaze landed on him would immediately dismiss him as insignificant and therefore unmemorable. He moved casually at the fringes of other members of the press, careful to stay out of their way, and shot pictures of everyone who arrived so we could go through them later.

When the stream of people slowed to a trickle, Emmett and I headed for the church, huddled beneath a giant umbrella to protect us from the deluge. The police checked everyone who walked through the doors with a metal detector wand, and Aro's men stood sentinel beside the doors to the sanctuary, staring everyone down. They wore earpieces, so I knew they were in communication with Aro and his bodyguards. One of them did a double take when our gazes locked, and he brought his fist up to his mouth, speaking rapidly.

Emmett and I slid into a pew in the back row. One of Aro's guys moved along the side of the church and stationed himself behind us. This wasn't alarming because we knew what was happening—I just prayed Aro's minions who weren't in the know didn't have itchy trigger fingers.

The service was long and boring, especially because I knew it was fake. Bella's mother played her part well, and I wondered if Aro let her in on the subterfuge or if she believed her only child died in the fire. After the priest was done speaking, Angela went up to the podium. She wore a long, black dress, and her face was hidden beneath a veil. She pushed the fabric aside to do the reading, but the shadows hid her expression. Her voice sounded small, like she was about to burst into tears. Afterward, Aro came up and put an arm around her shoulders, leaning close to whisper something. Angela nodded and made her way back to her seat.

Aro leaned on the podium, gripping the edges with both hands. All rustling and whispered conversation halted so completely you'd be able to hear a pin drop in the cavernous space. He lowered his head and appeared to be gathering his thoughts before raising his head to look out over the congregation.

"I wasn't always part of my beautiful daughter's life. I allowed another man to raise my child and give her his name because I feared she would come to harm. Isabella entered my world at the age of fifteen. You can only imagine the rough time she gave me—after all, she is . . . was . . . her mother's daughter. We butted heads, and she told me she wanted no part of this life. Over time, our relationship grew into one of love and mutual respect. I'd like to think Isabella Marie knew how much she meant to me though I didn't say it often enough, foolishly believing we had more time." Aro faltered, choking up. He took a deep breath and looked out at the crowd, his gaze intense. "Someone murdered my daughter. She was locked in a soundproof room with no exit, and then the fire they set ripped through the concierge wing of my hotel. I have a message for whoever took my daughter from me."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, and there was palpable unease, many people shifting in the pews.

Aro slammed his palms on the lectern. The thwack echoed around the church, bringing about a stunned silence. "If you were involved in harming my daughter, get your affairs in order—which is more than you allowed Isabella—because I'm coming for you. Isabella's betrothed is coming for you. There isn't a corner of the world far enough for you to escape me."

The congregation probably thought Aro was referring to Santo as Bella's betrothed, but I knew his words were meant for me. Together we would bring the fuckers to justice.

oOo

We joined the end of the funeral procession that wound its way through the cemetery. As the cars came to a stop, Emmett pulled off onto a side road, leaving us the ability to make a quick exit.

The rain slowed to a drizzle. Mist hovered in the air, casting an eerie pall. Between the police and Aro's men, the reporters were kept away from the cemetery. The priest said a blessing and prayed for Bella. Aro and Renee tossed white roses on the top of the casket once it was lowered into the grave, and roses were provided for anyone who wished to participate. By the time the line finished snaking past, the polished top was covered with blooms.

Aro stood stoic, watching everyone. When my turn came, he glared at me and pointed. "You! Did you have something to do with this?"

I shook my head. "No, Aro!"

"You better hope not, Masen!" His face turned red, and he lunged at me, cursing and spewing threats. Caius and Felix grabbed his arms, holding him back.

I held my hands out. "I had nothing to do with what happened to your daughter! We'll go. Our intention wasn't to upset you, only to offer condolences."

Aro glared at me with abject hatred. Fear flooded through me until I remembered this was all for show. We were hoping whoever tried to kill Bella would either feel confident they had gotten away with it and make a stupid mistake or their ego would be triggered, causing them to become arrogant and make a stupid mistake.

Emmett and I returned to the SUV and headed to Jasper's, using a circuitous route to make sure we weren't being followed. The knot in my chest started to loosen when we pulled into the parking garage. I tapped my foot as the elevator brought us to the penthouse, and I hurried off the elevator the moment the doors slid open.

"Princess?" My gaze panned the foyer and hallway as I moved toward the bedrooms.

"Tony!" Her breathless voice came from behind me. I turned and instinctively caught Bella in my arms when she launched herself at me. I held her tight, lifting her feet off the floor and spinning her around. When our lips met, I forgot the rest of the world existed. Pressing her back against the wall, I kissed her deeply, desperately.

Emmett hurried by, joining Jasper in the living room, and I ignored their hushed conversation as I let Bella down and wrapped her in my embrace, burying my nose in her hair. "You feel so good, princess. You smell like life." My voice was low and ragged.

"You feel good too," she murmured. Then she pulled back to look into my eyes. "Did you say I 'smell like life'?"

"Yes." I cupped the back of her head, running my nose along the side of her face until my lips nestled against her ear. "I can't describe how hard it's been for me. First, there was the fire, when I thought I might have lost you. That was hard enough, but attending your funeral, fake or not, crushed me."

Bella shivered. "I'm sorry," she whispered, ghosting her hand down the side of my face. "So sorry you had to go through that. If I ever lost you . . . I just . . ."

"You're never going to lose me." I tightened my hold on her soft warmth. "You are my everything, and I will always come back to you, always do whatever is necessary to keep you safe."

"I know." She sighed, pressing closer to me. "I just love you so much that it scares me."

"You should be scared for whoever tried to kill you. They might not know it yet, but they're already dead." My voice was cold and hard, my tone flat. Right now my enemy was nameless and faceless. It was frustrating to harbor all this rage and have nowhere to channel it, but I would find out who did this, and then there would be no curbing my wrath.

oOo

~*Bella*~

Tony's arms surrounded me, his warmth and the weight of him pressed against me a comfort to my soul. I knew he meant to kill whoever set the fire, and this caused an icy wash of fear to surge up my spine. It wasn't myself I worried about; I was afraid Tony would get hurt while trying to protect me. I couldn't bear it if something happened to him. I nestled my cheek against his broad chest and burrowed against him, holding on tight.

He pulled back and nudged my chin with a finger until I tipped my face up. Scorching green eyes searched mine, something stormy and dangerous lurking within their depths. "Hey. Baby, we've got this. Everyone believes you're dead. Aro made a show of threatening me in front of everyone at the funeral. Word will spread, and whoever did this will slip up." He gazed down at me with such intensity that heat bloomed low in my belly.

Dangerous Tony always sent waves of desire flaming through me. I loved how fiercely protective he was, and I knew he would do anything in his power to keep me safe. I felt cherished.

I pressed my lips to his throat, and inhaled. His scent was woodsy and masculine, invoking memories of him hovering above me as he sank into me over and over. My breath caught, and he groaned, his hold on me tightening.

"Princess, we need some alone time."

"Yes."

"Later though."

I let out a defeated sigh. "How did I know you were going to say that?"

The elevator dinged, and Angela breezed through the foyer barefoot, a pair of strappy stilettos dangling from one finger. She saw me mashed against Tony and raised a brow, shooting me a saucy smile. "You look animated for a dead girl." Her smile dropped, and tears glistened in her eyes. "I have to tell you that was one of the worst experiences of my life. I knew you were here waiting for us, but it was so real. Uncle Aro played his part—that's for sure. Even I believed he wanted to tear Tony apart."

Tony nodded. "Me too."

He loosened his grip on me, and I hurried over to hug Angela. "I'm sorry. It must have been incredibly stressful. It must have been really hard on my dad too."

Angela tightened her hold for a long moment before pulling back. "You called Aro your dad. You've been doing that more and more lately."

"Yeah . . . I guess I have. He's not the horrible person I thought he was."

Tony let out an ugly laugh. "No, that title goes to my father. He's turning out to be quite the bastard. I know he's hiding shit about the family business, and god only knows what else."

"Why don't we go into the living room? I'd like to see who showed up for my big day." This was an attempt to lighten the mood, but Angela looked sorrowful.

"Oh, honey, it was so hard seeing Kate and not being able to tell her the funeral wasn't real. She really cares about you."

Tony agreed. "Yeah, she was wrecked."

I gasped, pressing a hand to my chest. Kate had become a friend, and I cared for her as well. "Maybe we could—"

Tony shook his head, his mouth set in a hard line. "Absolutely not. The Denalis are on my short list of suspects, and we can't chance having Kate let anything slip."

"Okay, but I really hate this."

The three of us joined Emmett and Jasper in the living room. There was a laptop on the coffee table, and Jasper was clicking through photos from my funeral. Emmett sat beside him, taking notes. Every so often, he stopped Jasper and asked him to go back.

I sat on the other side of Jasper and watched the pictures go by. It was a stormy day, the perfect backdrop for a funeral. There were some faces that were unfamiliar, but I recognized most of them.

Tony headed for the bar. Angela dropped her shoes next to the couch and joined him. They spoke in low tones, glancing at me every so often. I might have been more curious if I wasn't transfixed by the images on the screen before me. Most of my family and friends thought I was dead. There were tears and sad expressions; my father up at the podium, red-faced; my mother hidden behind a veil. I saw Kate's tear-streaked face, a handkerchief clenched in one hand, and my chest tightened with sympathy. And then there was Tanya in a curve-hugging, navy dress with a veil covering her pretty face. A bolt of white-hot anger obliterated my sorrow.

A drink was pressed into my hand. Angela sat beside me with her own glass. Tony, on his cell, hovered by the windows. He paced like a caged animal, raking a hand through his chaotic hair.

I almost choked when I saw several images of Marcel Corin, and the brandy went the wrong way, burning a trail down my throat.

Emmett laughed. "Yeah, we were also surprised Corin came out of his castle for this."

The measured click of high heels came from the tile floor in the hallway. Startled, I turned my head to see who it was. A tall, curvy woman with long, blond hair sauntered into the room. She wore a gray pinstriped pantsuit with a crisp, white blouse. A pair of tortoiseshell designer frames were perched on her nose, lending her a sexy librarian vibe.

Jasper lurched to his feet. "Everyone . . . meet my cousin, Rose Hale. She's the secret weapon I told you about."

"The computer guru?" I asked.

"The one and only. Rose is a huge part of Hale Tech." Jasper made introductions. "This is Bella, the dead girl, and Angela, her partner in crime."

Angela and I exchanged greetings with Rose. I thought she seemed shy and reserved for such a beautiful woman.

"This is Emmett Masen, and his brother Tony is over there on the phone."

I glanced at Emmett, who was transfixed.

"Nice to meet all of you." Rose smiled and adjusted her glasses.

Emmett sat silently, so I nudged his ankle with my foot.

He stood, walking over to Rose. He took her hand in his and placed a kiss on the back. "Jasper didn't tell me he was related to Aphrodite. The pleasure is all mine."

Rose let out a shocked laugh. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Masen. There's no need to butter me up though—I've already agreed to help."

"Butter you up? Surely you realize how . . ." Emmett faltered, and Jasper shook his head slightly.

Tony joined us. "Hale! You never told me your computer genius cousin was a chick!"

Rose raised her eyebrows but didn't respond.

"Tony Masen. Nice to meet you." He shook her hand, and she smiled.

"A pleasure, Mr. Masen."

Emmett's booming laugh filled the room. "Please with the Mr. Masen shit. Call us Emmett and Tony!"

"Okay. And you may call me Ms. Hale." She winked.

Emmett laughed harder and went down on one knee. "Marry me, Aphrodite!"

Rose's creamy complexion flushed a deep pink. "Please get up." She shifted uncomfortably and adjusted her glasses again, looking to Jasper.

Emmett rose to his feet and leaned in close. "Hey—if I ever do ask you to marry me, it won't be in Jas's living room. It will be spectacular!"

There was an awkward silence, and then Jasper took over. "What do you have for us, Ro?"

"I'm still working my magic. Chasing down people's secrets is a complex business, but I'm making headway." Rose seemed more comfortable talking about her work. She went into some technical mumbo jumbo that seemed to hold Jasper's interest—Emmett hung on her every word for a different reason.

Tony took my hand and led me back to the couch where we started going through the photos again.

"Stop!" One image held Tony's attention. His jaw was tight, eyes laser focused. "What the fuck was he doing there?" he muttered.

The image was of a man hovering at the back of the church. He was tall with a medium build and spiky black hair. His pock-marked complexion was dusky, and a scar marred the skin beneath his right eye. He didn't have a sympathetic expression on his face; he wasn't even pretending. His sharp gaze missed nothing. Even in the picture, I could tell that.

"Who is he?"

"Alec. He's the fuck that was looking for us the night I met you—the one who would have killed us both if we were discovered."

I stopped breathing. His was a voice I would never forget. This was the man I overheard arguing with Aro the night I hid under the desk at the strip club. The bastard had killed the man who raised me. This was the face of the assassin who had murdered Charles Swan.

~oOo~

A/N: Sorry for the delays in posting. I've got a lot going on right now, but I'm here, and I'm trying. Thanks for being here with me.

A dangerous game is being played with Bella's "death" and Aro pointing the finger of suspicion at the Masens. Hopefully, it will offer the real arsonist a false sense of security, and they will screw up. And now Edward has confirmed for Bella the identity of the man who murdered Charlie. Let the theories fly! You know how I love them.

I post teasers and links to updates on Facebook in the No Rules Twilight Fan Fiction, The Twilight Fanfiction Finders, 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! (Translation: save me from sounding like a blathering fool)

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