Chapter 31

~Circle of Trust~

~*Edward*~

My heart continued to pound in my chest long after the immediate danger had passed. The mile markers on the highway whipped by as Emmett drove us away from the grisly scene of Alec's death. Cleaners were en route to scrub the storage unit. It would be as if nothing had taken place.

Bella was tucked against me, sleeping, her pouty mouth half-open, a glossy rope of dark hair partially obscuring her face. My princess was exhausted and needed her rest. Oh, how I wished I could kill Alec again for endangering the love of my life and our baby. Pride bloomed inside, causing a warm feeling to spread through me. Bella hadn't hesitated for a second; she'd slipped the dagger from its hiding place and hurled it at Alec, where it rammed home. A few seconds later, he would have mowed us both down with a spray of bullets, and this day would have ended very differently.

We were on our way to a safe house. Aro decided to put the refuge in place after the fire at The Paradise when he realized there was a rat in his organization.

Even though we were fairly sure nobody knew about Alec or followed us, we pulled into a truck stop, went out the back door, and left in another car Cricket procured for us. It would be days before the nondescript sedan was noticed by anyone and left us the option of an emergency ride if necessary.

Bella shifted against me, mumbling in her sleep. I kissed her forehead and tightened my hold. I fervently wished I could take the horror and anxiety of this day away. My jaw tightened when I thought about all she'd been through since I darkened her door. But I couldn't think that way. We belonged together, and nothing would tear us apart. I would move heaven and earth to make it so.

We left the highway and traveled several miles on a winding road that cut through a state park. Eventually, we turned onto a narrow lane that ended in a tangle of brush.

"Did we go the wrong way?" I asked, keeping my voice low.

Emmett shrugged. "Maybe?"

Before we had a chance to back up and turn around, the vegetation shook, moving toward us, and an opening appeared in the center.

"Holy shit! That has to be the best concealed entrance ever!" Emmett looked back at me, his eyes as wide and excited as a child on Christmas morning. "That's some James Bond shit right there."

"Agreed." I was impressed.

Once we drove through, the gate closed behind us. The dirt path ahead was pitch dark and covered with leaves and other natural debris. If we hadn't just come through the gate, I would think we were in the wrong place. No lights or other signs of life were visible to suggest there might be a dwelling nearby, and the road wound through the forest for quite a while before our headlights panned over a mid-sized stone cottage with reinforced metal doors and shutters covering the windows. The front door opened, warm light spilling out. Aro stood in the entry, his face in deep shadow.

I nudged Bella awake gently. "Princess. We're here."

She blinked sleepily and stretched her arms, looking around. "Where are we?"

"Aro's safe house."

Bella saw Aro hovering by the door and climbed out of the car, hurrying into his embrace. He enveloped her in his arms, swaying back and forth, and kissed her cheek. "My beautiful girl. Go on inside, and make yourself comfortable."

She looked back at me, and I nodded, offering her a reassuring look. "I'll be right there, princess." It was clear to me that Aro wanted to talk privately.

"Edward, a word?"

"Sure."

Aro closed the door after Bella was inside and walked over to me. My eyes had adjusted to the near-darkness, and I tried to read his stoic expression.

"Alec challenged you to find my pregnant, kidnapped daughter, and you thought it was a good idea not to inform me?"

"Aro, it was—" My words were interrupted by Aro's fist slamming into my jaw. My head snapped back, and I stumbled. "I suppose I deserved—" He lunged forward and punched me again, sending blinding pain through my head. Blood gushed from my nose, warm and salty.

Aro cracked his knuckles. "Now I feel better." He smiled grimly and tossed me a towel. "Never keep vital information from me again. Clean yourself up." And then he turned on his heel and left me there.

The presence of the towel indicated a premeditated plan to make a mess of my face. Guess that's why one punch wasn't enough. Fucker. Then again, if Bella were my daughter, I'd probably be pretty pissed too.

When I came through the door into the cozy living room, Aro was nowhere to be seen. Bella stood next to a bookcase, perusing the titles. When she turned around, her eyes widened at the sight of me pressing the bloody towel against my rapidly swelling face.

"Tony, what the hell happened?"

Before I could answer, Aro walked in with his fist shoved into a bowl of ice. He lifted an eyebrow and half-smirked when our eyes met.

Bella turned to him, hands on her hips. "Did you do this to him?"

To his credit, Aro looked slightly repentant, but then his gaze hardened. "He should have called me when you were kidnapped, not gone rogue."

"Alec didn't give him a lot of time to find me." Bella's fierce expression softened, and she reached up to touch Aro's cheek. "I know you were worried, but I'm okay. So is the baby. Tony saved us."

I shook my head. "No, Aro, your daughter saved us. Bella is the one who killed Alec." I gazed at her with open admiration. "My princess is a badass."

Aro's eyebrows rose. "I need to hear everything. Let's have a drink." He offered me the bowl of ice. "You might want to put some of this on your face. You're starting to look scary."

I pulled the blood-soaked towel away slowly, wincing. The bleeding was down to a trickle, and my nose throbbed like a son of a bitch.

Bella hurried from the room and came back with a clean towel. She scooped ice into the center and wrapped it, placing it in my hands.

"Thank you, princess." I pressed the makeshift compress to my face and sighed with relief as the cold numbed some of the pain.

Bella side-eyed Aro. "Don't make a habit of beating him up. I like his pretty face." She smirked at me.

Aro rolled his eyes. "I want to know everything. Food is being prepared as we speak, and there's enough room for all of us to stay the night."

We talked for an hour, continuing when we sat in the dining room to share a meal. Bella didn't have much of an appetite, but I convinced her the baby needed sustenance. Emmett needed no convincing; he dug into the spaghetti and jammed a hunk of butter-slathered bread into his big mouth. I rolled my eyes and took a medium portion, eating at a human pace.

We finished explaining the story to Aro while we ate. When I got to the part where Bella saved the day, I asked if she wanted to tell it.

Bella blinked, dropping her fork to the plate with a clatter. "I can't. Excuse me." She stood up, looking peaked, and ran for the bathroom.

I followed behind her, tapping lightly on the door. "Are you all right, princess?"

"Yeah. I just . . . need a minute." I heard water running and imagined her splashing the cool liquid on her face while trying to reconcile the events of the day.

"Let me know if you need me. I'm right here." My words were for that moment but also encompassed any time in the future as well. I lived for this woman, would do anything for her, and I knew by the sheer emotion behind her answer she was well aware of it too.

"I know. Thank you," she whispered.

Bella ended a man's life today. Violence had become routine for me, but this was Bella's first kill. Hopefully, it would be her last. Taking a life weighed on the soul like nothing else.

I hovered on my side of the door for a few seconds, the pads of my fingers skimming the grooved frame. Instinct told me to trust her, that she would reach out if she needed me. Backing away slowly, I returned to my seat at the table and met Aro's concerned gaze.

"Is she okay?" he asked.

"She will be," I said with confidence.

Emmett nodded, talking with his mouth full. "Your daughter is the shit, Aro."

Aro smiled, his posture relaxing. "What did she do?"

I stared him in the eye and spoke frankly. "She saved our asses. I only had one shot at Alec, and even though I nailed him in the jaw, he was still alive and reaching for his gun. Bella slipped out this little dagger and hurled it across the room, right into the bastard's eye!" Despite the gravity of the situation, the corner of my mouth lifted. Who didn't find a brave, capable woman hot?

Aro was stunned but recovered quickly, a glint of admiration in his eyes. "It's not wise to fuck with a Volturi—no matter their gender."

"I think we should change the subject. She's had enough for today."

"Of course."

When Bella returned, we retired to the living room for after-dinner drinks: brandy for the men and chamomile tea for her. Before long, Bella yawned, and I suggested we get some rest. She nodded gratefully, and I led her upstairs to the bedroom Aro had assigned us. It didn't escape my notice that the room was in the center of the house, flanked by suites on both sides.

Once the door was locked behind us, I lit a few candles, keeping the lights low. Bella paced nervously, heading for the windows and veering away, repelled by the metal shutters.

I sat on the edge of the bed and held a hand out. "Come here, princess."

She took my hand, and I pulled her down onto my lap, surrounding her in my arms. I kissed her temple and rocked slightly, trying to soothe her.

"He deserved it, right?" she whispered.

I tightened my hold. "Yeah, he did."

"He . . . killed my father. He would have killed you," she said haltingly. "But why do I feel so awful?"

"Hey." I caressed her cheek and waited for her to look at me. "You took a life today. Sometimes it's necessary, but no matter how deserving a kill is, it doesn't feel good. It shouldn't feel good."

"You've killed."

"I have. The first time, I threw up and refused to touch a gun for a month." My lips stretched in a faint smile. "Emmett finally smacked me on the back of the head and told me relying on knives for protection was stupid—especially when it might be him I needed to protect. He dragged me to the shooting range and shoved a gun in my hand."

Bella rested her head on my shoulder. "Does it get easier?"

"Yes and no. Alec had no code of ethics. I believe we need a code—otherwise we're just animals. If a bastard comes at me or someone I love, all bets are off, but I won't kill without good reason. My father thinks that makes me a pussy, but I disagree. Restraint and smarts are as important as brute force and muscle. Mercy has its place, but you need to know the difference between benevolence and stupidity. Rabid dogs need to be put down."

Bella was silent for a long moment. "Thank you for that. It makes sense in my head but not in my heart yet. Will you lie down with me?"

"Of course." We turned down the bed and slipped under the covers. She rested her head on my chest, and I held her while the inevitable tears flowed. I stroked her silken hair, sure that it soothed me as much as it did her. Before long, soft snores issued from between her pouty lips. I smiled and shifted into a more comfortable position.

I longed for sleep, but it eluded me. My mind played the scene with Alec over and over in an endless loop. So many things could have gone wrong today—the end of my life, Bella's life, our unborn child's life. The danger wasn't over. My father was involved in shady dealings that he was hiding from Emmett and me. He seemed to be in bed with the Denalis, and I had a strong sense that it all led back to Marcel Corin. I worried because a fractured family was a weakened one. The secrets my father felt had to be kept from us were the very ones most likely to destroy us.

~*oOo*~

There was no morning light to wake us. The metal shutters blocked the dawn as well as the dark. I opened my eyes, blinking hard, and listened closely. The murmur of voices came from downstairs, and the smell of breakfast wafted under the door.

I sat up, scrubbing both hands over my face and nearly screamed from the pain. I'd forgotten Aro decided to rearrange my face last night. I stumbled into the en suite and flicked the light on, looking in the mirror. "Mother of God." A blue-gray bruise shadowed my jaw, which wasn't too bad, but my nose was a swollen mess of mottled red and deep purple with more bruising spread under both eyes. My face throbbed. I hunted around in the medicine cabinet and found some Advil. I shook four out and swallowed them with a handful of water from the tap. "Fuck me."

"Tony?" Bella stood in the doorway, shading her eyes from the light, her voice faint and sleepy.

"Hey. Sorry if I woke you."

"You didn't. I smelled bacon." She grinned until our eyes met in the mirror. "I'm sorry about your face. Aro can be such a—"

"Protective father?" I interrupted her. "Don't apologize for him. I had it coming."

"But your face . . ." Tears filled her eyes, and I figured they had more to do with pregnancy hormones than anything.

I turned and pulled her into my arms, resting my chin on her head. "We have bigger fish to fry than the state of my superficial injuries. You're safe, and that's all that matters. How about some food? You must be starved."

She nodded. "Okay."

I turned a lamp on and found clothing for both of us in the small walk-in closet. Bella was happy with a pair of sweatpants and a loose T-shirt. I dug around until I found a pair of black slacks that fit me pretty well and paired them with a crisp, white button-down, open at the neck.

Following the mouthwatering scent, we entered the kitchen, holding hands. Emmett's bulk dwarfed the stool he sat on. He leaned his elbows on the marble top of the island, the snug T-shirt he wore showing how massive his muscular biceps were.

"There they are!" He grinned at us, popping a crispy slice of bacon into his mouth.

Aro stood across the bar from Emmett, leaning casually against the counter. He wore charcoal slacks and a gray and white pinstripe shirt. His dark eyes met mine with a touch of amusement, and he nodded. Turning his attention to Bella, his face softened considerably. "How are you feeling, Isabella?"

"I'm okay, Dad." Bella snatched a piece of bacon from the platter and munched on it slowly.

Caius walked out of the pantry, an apron covering his clothing. I raised my eyebrows, but Bella wasn't surprised.

"I wondered if you were doing the cooking, Uncle Caius."

"I made you pecan French toast."

"My favorite! Thank you." Bella's eyes lit with excitement.

To Caius's credit, he seemed comfortable enough with himself that cooking for us didn't weaken his position.

Aro invited us to sit in the dining room. The table held platters of scrambled eggs and French toast, a carafe of coffee, a pitcher of orange juice, and a steaming cup of tea I assumed was for Bella. I was surprised to find Cricket seated at the table chatting with Marcus. Emmett followed me in, carrying the bacon.

Cricket smirked. "Finally ready to let go of that dish, Emmett?"

"Can you blame me for hoarding this? Caius makes perfect fucking bacon!"

"I wouldn't know," Cricket answered dryly. His stoic gaze shifted to me and my bruised face. "Morning, boss. Rough night?"

I huffed a laugh, rubbing the back of my neck. "I earned the visible injuries, but the Alec business blindsided me." I pulled a chair out for Bella and sat down beside her. Capturing Cricket's attention again, I shot him a meaningful look. "I have a lot of questions . . . after speaking with him."

"Fair enough." He nodded grimly as if he'd been expecting this.

Aro took his seat at the head of the table and waved a hand around. "Dig in, everyone! We can discuss business when our stomachs are full."

We kept the conversation light throughout breakfast. There was even a bit of laughter, mostly due to Emmett's antics.

Afterward, we gathered in Aro's study. He gazed around the room, meeting each of our gazes in turn. "Caius, Marcus, Edward, Emmett, Cricket, and my beautiful daughter—our discussions and future plans must remain between the people in this room. This is our circle of trust."

"Angela can be trusted," Bella said. "Santo too."

"Angela, yes, but I'm not certain of Santo's loyalty." Aro shook his head.

"Well, I am. Santo has helped and supported us from the start. He loves Angie."

Aro looked to Marcus, their gazes locked for a long moment, the silent communication of lifelong friends going back and forth. Eventually, Aro nodded. "Okay, Santo is in." He turned to me. "Edward, I know you trust Mr. Hale. You can tell him things on a need-to-know basis for tech help, but that's it. You must keep your sister out of this though."

"Understood." I nodded, satisfied. Jasper wasn't part of this life, and I wanted to keep Alice as far as possible from any fallout. Keeping the circle of trust small was the right choice. We needed information to flush out any moles and find out where loyalties lie. I didn't trust my own father right now, and I certainly didn't trust the Corins.

Emmett's phone buzzed, and he frowned at the screen. "It's Dad. He wants to see us right now."

"Of course he does." I sighed deeply and tilted my head to the side, cracking my neck. "Tell him we're on our way."

I turned to Bella. Mild panic resided deep in her eyes, but she put on a brave face. I pulled her into my arms and kissed her forehead. "I have to go, princess. Cricket will watch over you until I get back. There's nobody in the world other than Emmett that I trust more."

Bella sighed and leaned into me. "I know you have to keep things as normal as possible. Promise you'll come back to me."

I pulled back and waited for our gazes to meet. "Always. I will always come back to you, for you—and our son." Cupping her face, I pressed my lips to hers and kissed her tenderly. "You're the love of my life. You are my life."

"And you're mine. I love you so much, Tony." Bella looped her arms around my neck and kissed me back with passion, slipping her tongue past my lips to stroke against mine.

Emmett grabbed my arm. "Let's go, bro! Before you get her pregnant again."

I shot him a look. "Em, that's not even a thing."

"Says you. Whatever."

Aro handed out new burner phones to all of us. Cricket and Caius were tasked with taking care of Bella; the rest of us had to return to business as usual. We would find out who was betraying us, and they would die for it.

~*oOo*~

A/N: Alliances are firming up. Aro is placing a lot of trust in Edward and Emmett. They defeated one source of danger, and they're about to land in the middle of a viper's nest of deceit and power grabs. What are you thinking?

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