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A Mobster's Dynasty

Chapter Eight: The Brother, The Heir, The Criminal

Bella Cullen

I couldn't wait another second to unravel Edward's scheme to drive me out of the family by any means necessary. I made my way across the house in my pjs, nothing more than a pair of grey shorts and a white tank top and damp hair. I didn't cross paths with any of my family or even a single staff member along the way which was a bit of a record. The room was unlocked he should be more careful about that. I checked the hallway around me before letting myself inside and closing the door behind me quietly as possible. He wanted me out of the family and I wasn't leaving his room until I found evidence to support my claims.

I made my way into his closet which had a dimmer set inside and lighting behind the clothes to illuminate them. His closet had two levels and plenty of shoes all organized neatly by colour and style. The wall on the right side had a set of shelves up at eye level for holding various items such as ties, cufflinks and so on and on the other side was a clothing rail for the clothing. I crouched and pulled open the drawers, most were filled with socks but others held his other clothes like boxers, pants, a few shirts. He appeared to keep everything neat, very neat actually, my skin glowed slightly by seeing the levels of detail put into ensuring everything matched in colour and design. All his clothes were folded up or ironed depending on the material.

Inside his bedroom I heard the door open and close with the voices of Edward, Emmett and Jasper quickly following. They were discussing our father's birthday and Edward's plans to make it a week to remember for everyone involved only he wasn't going to tell either of them what his intensions were. I quickly looked around the closet for somewhere to hide, with the only option being tucking myself between his suit jackets which I quickly did given I could hear approaching footsteps and the sound of Edward's voice becoming louder. The doorknob was turning. I closed the gap between myself and the shelf making the jackets bunch together covering me up.

I held my breath as he entered the closet, I could see him in the corner of my eye as he continued his discussion with Jasper and Emmett who thankfully hadn't followed him inside.

"You'll do something extravagant I'm sure." Emmett called to Edward.

I watched Edward now standing just a few feet from me with his back to me as he slid off his suit jacket.

"Cullen's take everything to the limit." Edward responded his voice so clear and chilling in my ears.

I could faintly hear Jasper and Emmett talking amongst themselves as Edward began to unbutton his shirt. I swallowed and felt my chest starting to rise and fall a little more forcefully now. I watched him slid it off over his shoulder exposing his toned shoulder blades and even more prison ink.

"So if you're gonna tell dad the plans for his birthday tonight at dinner, why not just tell us now?" Emmett called.

"Can't you be patient?" Edward called to him.

"Not in my nature."

Edward turned then and my eyes widen as his eyes immediately found mine between the coats. My heart was thundering against my chest as he stepped forward and snapped either side of jackets away from me, taking away my cover and exposing me fully.

"Nor mine." Edward called back to Emmett.

"Please" I mouthed to him.

There was no way of living this down, of being found in my brother's closet by not just him but our siblings too. Edward smirked at my pleading and fear before he gripped the chrome rack above my head pinning me between the closet wall and him as he moved in closer.

"This is a new low even for you." Edward whispered, his eyes locked with mine and his tone hard.

I just pressed my lips together in response not sure what to say in response to something like that. Was it the truth?

Edward searched my face for something.

"I have to talk to you." I whispered.

"Clearly."

"So what are we gonna do for dad's birthday?" Emmett called making me flinch and causing Edward to delight in my anxiety.

I met his eyes and looked away only for him to tuck his head down to meet my gaze ensuring I held onto his as his lips parted.

"Vegas." Edward called back.

Wait, what? Edward was taking our dad to Vegas?

Edward tilted his head to the side then eager for my response it seemed but I stared blankly back at him giving him nothing.

"We're going to?" Jasper asked.

Edward wet his lower lip "Actually I'm taking the whole family," Edward paused to stare at me then "To sin city."

"Excellent." our brothers responded.

I just shook my head refusing to go.

"Is it true what they say brother?" Jasper asked "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas?"

Edward leaned towards me and the smell of his musky cologne was nearly suffocating me as his mouth reached the shell of my ear, his nose skimming my cheek "Let's hope that isn't the case."

And as he lifted himself away and exited the closet, a thousand possibilities flooded my mind, each and every one ending badly and painfully.

This isn't happening, I'm not letting it happen. My life couldn't possibly sink any deeper could it? Could my brother be more sadistic and cold-hearted. My entire life had turned on its head with his release, and his punishment of me for things I haven't done has just intensified with each passing day. My fingers trembled slightly as I stepped out of the rack of suits and back to the centre of his closet. He knew now, he knew I was in here spying on him and what made it worse was I'd not found any evidence suggesting he was against me. There was just my theory to prove him and I just didn't have the proof. What did that leave me with? Exactly where I started five minutes ago when I came up with this stupid idea.

When I was sure my brothers were gone I left Edward's room and returned to my own to dress for dinner, choosing to wear jeans and a simple white cashmere jumper to dinner. The house was prepared for my father's arrival after a day of meetings in the city, the lighting downstairs was soft in each room with every drink tray stocked with fresh ice and sliced fruits at the ready. The dining room was a sight tonight, lit only by candle light with a new centre piece made of white roses, baby's breath and white holly leaves. The place settings had white cloth napkins tied by a green ribbon with a white china plate, gold knife and cutlery, a tall champagne flute and a water glass. As a final touch every chair was draped by white fabric on the back.

I was the last to arrive, with one of our male wait staff pulling out my chair, the only chair which was to the left of Edward's seat. Who took great pride in my rush to sit and avoid my mother and father's gaze which was not difficult to do considering the dim candle light. Our chef stepped out from the kitchen and stood across from my father as he began to explain tonight's menu and as he did the wait staff filled our water glasses.

"Mr Cullen?" A waitress came to Edward's side then "Something to drink?"

Edward turned to her before meeting my gaze and smirked "Surprise me."

It was then he shifted his gaze to our father who spoke to him in Italian from the other end of the table. I watched Edward closely as he nodded along following every word while the rest of us including my brothers remained in the dark.

"Blood pressure." Esme whispered to my father who downed the remaining of his red wine before taking a sip of the white, his glasses immediately refilled.

When I looked over to my mother she smiled at me.

"I saw you outside today sweetheart, I'm so thrilled to see you've returned to your yoga."

"I saw you too." Edward announced lifting his water "What was your pose again? Downward dog I think."

Emmett snorted down the table and the glare Jasper sent to Edward.

I turned to my attention to Emmett "He's been out nearly a week and already he's back to being your favourite?"

Esme cleared her throat "Let's not discuss such things during dinner."

I placed my hand to the arm of my chair before glancing back at my brother whose features were entirely still and calm. I was half tempted to kick Edward under the table just to get his reaction.

"It's been wonderful to have our children around more." Esme changed the topic "We've even been discussing this week, perhaps visiting your grandfather."

"No." Both Edward, Emmett, Jasper and I said in sync before realizing ourselves.

Our grandfather was a true Sicilian mobster who hated the fact that our father was living here in America and that he had the nerve to only have two women in his life instead of having four like he and his father before him.

"He's been calling for a few weeks, he wants to see the boy."

The boy is twenty eight and one week out of prison for second degree murder. I looked to Edward who had his eyes fixed upon our father.

Esme brought her wine glass to her lips "The press is asking questions about us, a family photograph is essential."

"Wait, what about the press?" I asked only to have my mother seated beside Esme hushed me.

She picked up her white cloth napkin and placed it into her lap.

"We're expected at Fashion Week" Esme reminded my father

Esme is socialite as was my mother but they carried themselves with more class and dignity.

"That's not happening now." My father said.

"Darling, Esme and I haven't missed Fashion Week in five years. If we don't attend there will be attention brought on that."

"Unless you'd rather have the tabloids scrutinize us, head lighting us at the worst time," Esme drummed her fingers against her glass "Would you like to read headlights such as the wives aren't getting along?"

I'd never heard either of them talk to my father like that before, but they did have a point.

My father looked to Edward who nodded once.

"You will attend. And Isabella shall accompany us to Vegas." Edward said.

"I'm sorry what?" I asked a bit more loudly than intended, but my words were a whisper compared to what he just said "I'm not going to Vegas."

"We will go as planned," My father insisted "As a family. As the Cullen's."

Edward agreed nodding before taking a sip of his scotch.

"We will fly in on Friday night, I expect the both you there no later than Sunday," My father looked to Esme and my mother then back to the rest of us "We'll extend the trip by two additional days, it's important we all be photographed."

"But as a family," Edward said then and we all looked him "Us posing for a family photograph isn't what we need, not until the final night, before that it will look staged."

"Like we're trying too hard for the public to believe we've united since your...release." My mother said.

"Precisely."

"What do you have in mind?" Esme questioned, curious to his plan and secretly so was I.

"Separate rooms for one. They won't believe for a second our wealth would mean we all stay in a single villa," Edward glanced around the table

"Emmett, Jasper and I will stay separately. Father I'm sure you'll want to make alternative arrangements," Edward put it as delightful as he could as his eyes crossed to my mother and Esme.

My father nodded in agreement.

"But that still leaves Bella." Esme said.

"I can stay here." I suggested,

"Out of the question. If you're not there the press will say your catholic school had turned you against your brother." My father spat

Edward couldn't hide his smirk, clearly enjoying hearing him speak as such.

"Actually father you do have a point," Edward drummed his nails against the table "We don't want the press to believe Isabella and I are at odds."

"They already think you two hate each other." Emmett said.

"Quiet." My father warned him.

My father looked to Edward "How do we convince them otherwise?"

Edward was quiet a moment before he glanced towards me and back to him.

"We have to allow the press to capture photographs of us out in the open, Isabella and I alone." Edward said.

It was as if I wasn't even in the room anymore.

"We want stories the public will believe."

Edward leaned forward then placing his elbows on the table "Our first night in Vegas, I'll escort Isabella to a club of my choosing, tip the press, within the hour the story will be," Edward stopped to look my way "Big brother Edward spotted escorting baby sister back to hotel, safe and sound."

"That sounds believable." Esme agreed.

Edward didn't look my way nor even acknowledge what Esme had just said and was looking directly at me.

"Perfectly believable" My father agreed and they went ahead with their planning.

As they spoke I reached over picking up Edward's scotch and downed what was left in his glass before placing the glass back onto its coaster as he watched.

Edward leaned in to whisper to me "What would they think of you if they knew?"

Knew what? It could be any number of things right now I thought bitterly to myself. He stared at me another moment and a satisfied expression washed over his face.

"What do you mean?" I asked softly to ensure no one heard.

"That I know your dirty little secret." He responded as he took the glass from my hand.

My secret?

"What secret?"

The conversation continued all around us, with no one around the table acknowledging the exchange between the two of us as.

Edward glanced around the table as he spoke "And if you fuck with me," he paused "I'll tell them, I'll tell your mother, I'll tell your friends."

"Tell them what?" I demanded.

Edward must have hooked my chair leg at some point because without notice he suddenly yanked me toward him without sound or fuss.

I locked eyes with him.

"Isabella's got a little crush."

"Stop it." I warned him.

I glanced around the table unable to look at him as I spoke "You think you can get inside my head-"

He was so close to me now as he looked me dead in the eye, his lips parted a moment as he spoke.

"I'm already in your head Isabella, and despite what you desire it's the only place you're ever going to have any part of me," he met my gaze "Inside of you" he finished.

"Stop it." I clenched my fists under the table.

I locked eyes with him.

"I know you sent that reporter." I hissed.

"And I know you bought a lock for your door because you're convinced I'm gonna sneak in," He smirked "Worried about what I'll do to your virgin pussy while you're sleeping and dreaming of daddy's money?"

My chest heaved as my heart raced.

"Listen clearly," Edward's smirk faded "Get over it, or face the consequences."

"Consequences?" I asked trying to keep my tone calm and my emotions under wraps as I spoke with my parents and the rest of my family surrounding me all of them blind to my fear.

I met his dark eyes "What consequences?"

"Me"


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