May We Meet Again Teaser

 I was sitting at my desk, trying to make plans for Bella's rescue, but coming up with nothing. I was angry, scared, and sick with worry. I had to save her. I absolutely had to.

Think, brain think!

"Newton to Cullen," Mike called over the radio. "You've got some visitors."

"I'm busy," I snapped to myself. I picked up the radio, keeping my voice even. "I'm working, Mike."

"You'll want to see these visitors," Mike pressed.

"Unless it's Jacob, returning Bella, I don't want to see anyone," I snarled. "I've got to figure out how to save her and being interrupted? Not. Helping." I went to turn off the radio when it crackled again.

"Edward, it's your mother … please, let me see you. It's been so long and from I'm hearing, I'm worried about you," Mom said. "Your father and I both are."

I leaned forward, pinching my nose. Hearing my mother's sweet voice made my heart lurch, missing her and my father. It also made me want their comfort, even if I didn't deserve it. Bella was taken under my watch. I promised her that I'd keep her safe, and I'd failed. I'd failed her in the worst possible way. "I don't deserve your support or your love … I failed her, Mom." I swiped my fingers under my cheeks and wiped away tears. "I'll meet you in the dining hall. Cullen out."

May We Meet Again Teaser

 "Get the Rover ready to go," I said woodenly, unclipping my radio. "We need to find them. Bella cannot be taken back to the Drop Ship. Jacob will … he'll …" I stood up and tried to not cry. I had to be strong for my Bella.

I was failing miserably.

"We can't take the Rover. Not today," Jasper said, pointing to the dead battery. "It needs to charge for at least eight hours."

"Then, find something else to cover the ground!" I yelled, turning to face Jasper. "Run! Just get her back!" I wanted to take off into the forest, but strong arms stopped him. Peter tackled me back to the ground. "Get the fuck off me. I need to find her!"

"Bella would tell you not to go off half-cocked, Edward," Peter said. "Radio your team."

Scowling at Peter, I opened a channel to the command center. "Cullen to Command Center, Mallory come in?"

"Yorkie here. Mallory was on the overnight shift," Eric said. "How can I help you, Commander?"

Swallowing down bile, I spoke to Eric. "Can you pull up the security feeds in the garage? Bella was called up here for a medical emergency, but there wasn't an emergency. There's also no Bella. She was taken by someone from the Drop Ship."

"I remember that call," Eric said. "It came from a different channel than we use for medical."

"What channel?" I pressed.

"One we don't use … channel fourteen," Eric replied. "We can hear all the conversations, but we have to turn to the channel in order to respond. Anyway, I didn't recognize the voice, either."

The update for May We Meet Again will be posted on Friday. I have curriculum night on Thursday and will not get home until after nine at night. Thank you for your patience. :-)

Blockbuster Update

Blockbuster Ch. 33 on FFn

Blockbuster Ch. 33 on AO3

Blockbuster Ch. 33 on Stars

Blockbuster Ch. 33 on Wattpad

I counted his freckles as he slept, noticing that two more had sprung up on his forehead and another just beneath his left eye. I traced the veins of his hand, thanking God for keeping him relatively safe. Also, I needed to touch him to ensure he was real. He was real and alive and back with his family.

Unfortunately, Seth was injured because of Jacob’s ire, but thankfully he was alive.

It would take some time before we felt safe.

If ever, to be perfectly honest.

“Gorgeous, I love you, but you look like you’re about to collapse,” Edward said, walking out of the ensuite bathroom of the hospital room. He scrubbed his face, yawning widely as he smoothed his hair underneath his baseball cap.

“I have to keep him safe. Touching him, watching him, it’s the only way for me to ensure his safety. To know he’s okay,” I whispered, caressing my fingers down Seth’s cheek. He was sleeping hard from the pain medication Dr. Snow had given him, but he snuggled his cheek against my palm. “If I sleep, I won’t know if he’s safe.”

Edward crossed to me, picking me up and sitting down in the recliner with me in his lap. He cupped my face, forcing me to look at him. He was just as exhausted as I was, with dark circles under his green eyes along with heavy stubble and too long hair covered by a baseball cap.  The latter was from the movie shoot and pulling some insane hours before this break for his birthday. He simply didn’t have the time to get his hair cut. “Bella, I love you more than anything,” he whispered, kissing my lips. “But, if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of Seth. You haven’t slept in nearly three days. You barely ate. I know you’re worried …”

“I could have lost him,” I hissed, looking at Edward. Panic was growing inside me. “I thought I did. I need to be here for him.”

“And, you will,” Edward murmured, sitting back, and tucking me against his body. “He’s sleeping. We have security outside of the room and on the floor. We’re okay.” He gently pushed my head against his shoulder. “Sleep, love. I’ll watch over him.”

“Edward,” I huffed, moving to get off his lap.

“No, Bella. You need to sleep. We’re both rattled, but he’s sleeping, just like we need to be,” he whispered, trailing his hands up and down my back soothingly. “Use my overly bony shoulders and let me protect both of you.”

“Your shoulders aren’t bony. They’re shockingly comfortable,” I snorted, pressing my cheek to his shoulder, and curling onto his lap. I yawned as he hummed quietly, rubbing my back and legs with his hands. I relaxed against him and closed my eyes, just wanting to get a few moments of rest. However, when I woke up, it was daytime, and I was still in Edward’s arms. He was talking quietly with Seth, obviously trying not to wake me up.

“Good morning, Mom,” Seth said as I shifted on Edward’s lap. “Or should I say afternoon?”

I rubbed my eyes. I looked up at Edward, who gave me a soft smile. “How did you sleep, Sleeping Beauty?” he asked.

“Um, really well,” I croaked. “How long?”

“It’s almost two in the afternoon,” Seth snickered.

 

Blockbuster Teaser

 I counted his freckles as he slept, noticing that two more had sprung up on his forehead and another just beneath his left eye. I traced the veins of his hand, thanking God for keeping him relatively safe. Also, I needed to touch him to ensure he was real. He was real and alive and back with his family.

Unfortunately, Seth was injured because of Jacob’s ire, but thankfully he was alive.

It would take some time before we felt safe.

If ever, to be perfectly honest.

“Gorgeous, I love you, but you look like you’re about to collapse,” Edward said, walking out of the ensuite bathroom of the hospital room. He scrubbed his face, yawning widely as he smoothed his hair underneath his baseball cap.

“I have to keep him safe. Touching him, watching him, it’s the only way for me to ensure his safety. To know he’s okay,” I whispered, caressing my fingers down Seth’s cheek. He was sleeping hard from the pain medication Dr. Snow had given him, but he snuggled his cheek against my palm. “If I sleep, I won’t know if he’s safe.”

Edward crossed to me, picking me up and sitting down in the recliner with me in his lap. He cupped my face, forcing me to look at him. He was just as exhausted as I was, with dark circles under his green eyes along with heavy stubble and too long hair covered by a baseball cap.  The latter was from the movie shoot and pulling some insane hours before this break for his birthday. He simply didn’t have the time to get his hair cut. “Bella, I love you more than anything,” he whispered, kissing my lips. “But, if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of Seth. You haven’t slept in nearly three days. You barely ate. I know you’re worried …”

“I could have lost him,” I hissed, looking at Edward. Panic was growing inside me. “I thought I did. I need to be here for him.”

“And, you will,” Edward murmured, sitting back, and tucking me against his body. “He’s sleeping. We have security outside of the room and on the floor. We’re okay.” He gently pushed my head against his shoulder. “Sleep, love. I’ll watch over him.”

“Edward,” I huffed, moving to get off his lap.

“No, Bella. You need to sleep. We’re both rattled, but he’s sleeping, just like we need to be,” he whispered, trailing his hands up and down my back soothingly. “Use my overly bony shoulders and let me protect both of you.”

“Your shoulders aren’t bony. They’re shockingly comfortable,” I snorted, pressing my cheek to his shoulder, and curling onto his lap. I yawned as he hummed quietly, rubbing my back and legs with his hands. I relaxed against him and closed my eyes, just wanting to get a few moments of rest. However, when I woke up, it was daytime, and I was still in Edward’s arms. He was talking quietly with Seth, obviously trying not to wake me up.

“Good morning, Mom,” Seth said as I shifted on Edward’s lap. “Or should I say afternoon?”

Blockbuster Update

Blockbuster Ch. 32 on FFn

Blockbuster Ch. 32 on AO3

Blockbuster Ch. 32 on Stars

Blockbuster Ch. 32 on Wattpad

One thing before I send you off to read … next week is my production of Beauty and the Beast. My life is essentially going to be spent at work. I’ll be home long enough to sleep, if I’m being honest. Anyway, there will be a brief hiatus on this story until April 14th – that’s when the next teaser will be up. Hopefully, things will even out once the musical is completed.

Seth Swan

Paul Lahote

Jacob Black

Agent Dean Morrison

Agent Winston Schmidt

Desert Regional Medical Center

 

Blockbuster Teaser

Seth

I woke up with the feeling of cotton in my mouth. I smacked my lips, trying to shift on whatever I was laying on. My head was pounding, and I couldn’t move. Well, I could, but I felt like I was moving through mud.

I opened my eyes, trying to figure out where the hell I was and to get more comfortable, but my arms and legs were tied up. The bindings were so tight that my fingers and toes tingled. Everything in my vision was fuzzy.

The room was warm, overly so. It also smelled musty and gross. I wasn’t sure if it was the room or the bed I was laying on. I needed to pee. I refused to piss myself, so I called out.

“Hello?” I croaked, my voice cracking. I tried again, “Hello?”

The door slammed open, and I saw my sperm donor. His hair was greasy, and he wore the same clothes I saw on him at the park. There was blood splattered on the legs of jeans. I checked my body, seeing if he’d hurt me, but other than the woozy feeling from whatever he injected me with, I was perfectly fine.

Well, as fine as could be, being kidnapped by my sperm donor and his loser buddy.

“What the fuck do you want?” Jacob sneered at me.

“I need to pee,” I answered, glowering at him. “Or would you rather I hose you down, asshole. You could use a bath, dude.”

“Your mother allows you to talk that way?” Jacob retorted coldly. “For that … I should let you pee all over yourself.”

“But, we’d have to smell it, Jake,” said the other guy. He was as dirty as my sperm donor, with more blood on his jeans and some splattering onto his shirt. “No thanks. It already smells like ass in here. We don’t need to add piss into the mix.”

“Fuck you, Paul,” Jake snapped, shooting a scowl at his friend.

With a shake of his head, Paul walked over to me, untying my arms and legs. “No funny business. You try to run; you’ll be dead before sunrise. We’re in the middle of the desert.” He grabbed my arm, pulling me from the bed. I stumbled clumsily. I was shot with something, and it made me dizzy, uncoordinated. I couldn’t have run, even if I wanted to.

Paul practically tossed me out of the doorway. He told me to ‘answer the call of nature’ wherever. I huffed out a breath, stumbling away from the door. I peed and allowed myself a few moments to cry. I missed my mom. I missed Edward … my dad. Paul stomped toward me and wrapped his meaty paw around my arm. “You’re crying? Because of that whore?”

“My mom is not a whore,” I hissed. “She’s the best mom and person I’ve ever known.”

I went to say something else, but Paul backhanded me. I fell to the ground, catching my hands on the rough sand. I spit out some blood and my jaw ached. Paul grabbed my arm, dragging me back into the house. I was tossed back onto the bed, locked into place. Instead of ropes this time, I was tethered to the bed with handcuffs that bit into my wrists and ankles. “Tying up an innocent kid. You guys really are assholes,” I shrugged, trying not to show how much I was freaked out.

“It’s for your own safety,” Jacob said mockingly. “Heaven forbid that you get bit by a rattlesnake.”

“I’d rather be bit by a rattlesnake than be with you,” I argued. “You’re nothing but poison.”

Seth

Joshua Tree National Park, cabin

Paul Lahote

Jacob Black

Married to the Mob: Fighting for Freedom Update

MOTM:FFF Chapter 21 on FFn

MOTM:FFF Chapter 21 on AO3

MOTM:FFF Chapter 21 on Wattpad

MOTM:FFF Chapter 21 on Stars

MOTM:FFF Chapter 21 on FicPad

I ran in the darkness, soaked to the skin from the deluge that rained down on us. I had my gun at the ready. I heard some harsh comments in Spanish. Men were gathering near the side entrance of the warehouse. I heard them give an order to kill anyone approaching the warehouse. I didn’t give them a chance to carry out those orders. With silent hand signs, I ordered my own men to kill them.

Six men fell into a mud puddle. They never even saw us coming.

“They looked as high as a kite,” Felix grumbled, pushing one of the bodies onto its back.

“Probably, because they are,” I snorted, replacing my clip. “Eyes open. No one walks out of here alive except my wife.” We plastered ourselves to the wall, making our way to the door. Just as I was going to open the door, more of Ricardo’s men poured out of it. They didn’t even get a chance to react to our presence. They were picked off quickly, blocking the door as they fell to their death, cut down with the bullets from our guns.

We pushed our way into the warehouse. It was dark and dingy with the distinct odor of cocaine, with an undercurrent of body odor and terror. It was flowery and metallic with a chemical burn to our nostrils. Bricks of it were stacked, marked with a modified brand mark of Los Muertos. This appeared to be a home base for the newly allied gangs.

“Boss, should we …?” Felix asked, blinking to the drug stash. I knew he wanted to take it into our possession, using it to pad our wallets. Any other time, I’d agree to seizing the drugs but we had other things to attend to. Now was not the time to focus on profits. My wife was out there. She needed me. I needed her. Charlie needed his mother.

Period.

“No,” I answered curtly. “Our focus is Bella. We need to find her and recover her.” I shook my head. “If I had my way, this place would go up in smoke.”

Over my earpiece, my father chimed in, “We entered the building at the rear. We have about ten DOA’s.”

“Did you see Ricardo? Renee?” I asked.

“No,” he responded. “This building is easily the size of three football fields.”

“More like five,” Esteban grunted. “This used to be a hub for Los Muertos. A processing station for …” He trailed off as he made the shape of a woman with his hands. It indicated that it was a stop for their human trafficking ring. “It’s also used as storage for drugs and weaponry before distribution. Lots of locked rooms.”

“God damn it,” I snapped, looking to the right and trying to see if there were any approaching men. “Partner up and spread out. Kill anyone you see.” I blinked to Jasper. He nodded and we separated from Felix, Emmett and Esteban’s team. On our phones, Felipe had sent an infrared overview of the warehouse. Jasper turned off his earpiece and told me to do the same. “What, Jas?”

“I don’t trust Esteban or this alliance. This place is too big and too obvious for Renee and Ricardo,” Jasper said, his voice tense.

“I agree, but it’s the only lead we have at this point,” I muttered.

Married to the Mob: Fighting for Freedom Teaser

I ran in the darkness, soaked to the skin from the deluge that rained down on us. I had my gun at the ready. I heard some harsh comments in Spanish. Men were gathering near the side entrance of the warehouse. I heard them give an order to kill anyone approaching the warehouse. I didn’t give them a chance to carry out those orders. With silent hand signs, I ordered my own men to kill them.

Six men fell into a mud puddle. They never even saw us coming.

“They looked as high as a kite,” Felix grumbled, pushing one of the bodies onto its back.

“Probably, because they are,” I snorted, replacing my clip. “Eyes open. No one walks out of here alive except my wife.” We plastered ourselves to the wall, making our way to the door. Just as I was going to open the door, more of Ricardo’s men poured out of it. They didn’t even get a chance to react to our presence. They were picked off quickly, blocking the door as they fell to their death, cut down with the bullets from our guns.

We pushed our way into the warehouse. It was dark and dingy with the distinct odor of cocaine, with an undercurrent of body odor and terror. It was flowery and metallic with a chemical burn to our nostrils. Bricks of it were stacked, marked with a modified brand mark of Los Muertos. This appeared to be a home base for the newly allied gangs.

“Boss, should we …?” Felix asked, blinking to the drug stash. I knew he wanted to take it into our possession, using it to pad our wallets. Any other time, I’d agree to seizing the drugs but we had other things to attend to. Now was not the time to focus on profits. My wife was out there. She needed me. I needed her. Charlie needed his mother.

Period.

“No,” I answered curtly. “Our focus is Bella. We need to find her and recover her.” I shook my head. “If I had my way, this place would go up in smoke.”

Over my earpiece, my father chimed in, “We entered the building at the rear. We have about ten DOA’s.”

“Did you see Ricardo? Renee?” I asked.

“No,” he responded. “This building is easily the size of three football fields.”

“More like five,” Esteban grunted. “This used to be a hub for Los Muertos. A processing station for …” He trailed off as he made the shape of a woman with his hands. It indicated that it was a stop for their human trafficking ring. “It’s also used as storage for drugs and weaponry before distribution. Lots of locked rooms.”

“God damn it,” I snapped, looking to the right and trying to see if there were any approaching men. “Partner up and spread out. Kill anyone you see.” I blinked to Jasper. He nodded and we separated from Felix, Emmett and Esteban’s team. On our phones, Felipe had sent an infrared overview of the warehouse. Jasper turned off his earpiece and told me to do the same. “What, Jas?”

“I don’t trust Esteban or this alliance. This place is too big and too obvious for Renee and Ricardo,” Jasper said, his voice tense.

“I agree, but it’s the only lead we have at this point,” I muttered.

Esteban Sanchez

Married to the Mob: Fighting for Freedom Update

MOTM:FFF Chapter 20 on FFn

MOTM:FFF Chapter 20 on AO3

MOTM:FFF Chapter 20 on Wattpad

MOTM:FFF Chapter 20 on Stars

MOTM:FFF Chapter 20 on FicPad

Arriving at the condo, I called my parents, Emmett, Jasper and the rest of my inner circle, including Anthony, Nina and my new allies in New York City. Anthony and Sean would be on the next flight to Chicago. Everyone else was on their way to formulate a plan of attack.

I changed Charlie and tried to feed him something, but my hands were shaking and he couldn’t stop crying. I wanted to cry along with him. I wanted to rage against Renee. I wanted to call Felipe and rip him a new asshole for double crossing the Consortium.

They would pay for their treachery.

Though, he seemed like a man with integrity. He apologized for what his nephew did that day and we did the honorable thing of extending our condolences for his loss after his own father gunned him down.

I shook my head angrily, feeling the panic build inside of me. I could feel my heart race. I was losing it. Quickly.

“Take a breath, Edward,” Claire said, approaching me slowly. “In and out.”  

She took exaggerated breaths and I followed her movements, calming down with her help. “Thanks, Claire. Have you heard from Seth?” I asked. “How’s Leah?”

“She’s rattled, obviously. He brought her to Alice and Jasper’s old place. Alice is bringing a sedative,” Claire answered. She took the baby food from my hands and pushed me away. “You need to relax. You’re still shaky, Boss.”

“My wife was taken by her incubator with the help of someone who I thought was an ally,” I hissed, stomping to the window and watching as it rained heavily, splattering onto the windows. Lightning splintered across the darkening sky, followed by a loud echoing boom of thunder that made my windows rattle. Claire had managed to feed my son. He was blinking sleepily. I walked over to the kitchen, taking him from his highchair. As I did that, Jake, Nessie, Felix, and Liam all walked into the condo. The latter two were soaked to the skin, caught in the rain while riding the motorcycles back to the Consortium. Nessie looked completely spooked, shaking next to Jake. “I’m putting my son down. Felix, Liam, there should be dry clothes downstairs in the Fortress.”

Claire hopped up and slid her arm around Nessie. “Why don’t you sit down, sweetie?”

“What’s going on?” Nessie asked as she sat down on the couch with Claire. “Why does Jake have a gun? Why was Bella taken? Why?”

I blew out a breath, walking to the nursery and settling Charlie into his crib. He was antsy, but the emotions of the day had hit him hard, along with the weather unsettling him. I rubbed his belly until he fell into a fitful sleep. I flipped on his nightlight and made sure that the blackout curtains were tight, keeping the lightning storm at bay. Back in the living room, Claire had gotten Nessie some water and was sitting next to her. She was trying to soothe my nanny, but it was to no avail. Nessie looked petrified. I sat down across from her, removing my own weapon and putting it onto the table. Not helping, Cullen. Nessie blanched with her eyes wide with terror.

Clearing my throat and trying to stay calm, I said, “Nessie, what is heard in here cannot leave these four walls. I need you to promise me that you’ll keep a secret.”

“Are you going to kill me?” she squeaked. “I don’t want to die.”

Nessie

Edward and Bella's Chicago Condo

Charlie's nursery

Mobward ... and he's fucking pissed

Bella's lost ring

Esteban 

Felipe

Los Muertos' apartment

Felipe's Tech Center

Abandoned warehouse

Train tracks