Married to the Mob Teaser

I held Bella closely as we went to bed that night. The reappearance of Royce King and the information from Billy regarding Colin, his information about Stephan, Royce and Marcus’s alliance, was incredibly troubling. War was coming. A massive war among rival families. Three families against one … Volturi, Romani and King all against the Cullens.

Who would come out victorious?

Who would pay the ultimate price?

Fuck me.

I buried my nose into Bella’s hair, inhaling its soft strawberry vanilla fragrance. She sighed, twining her fingers with mine. “Love you, Mobward,” she mumbled, almost incoherently.

“Love doesn’t even come close,” I whispered, tightening my hold around her body. She snuggled closer and slid her leg between mine. I cradled her to my body and tried to get some sleep, but it eluded me. I’d be worthless today at work, but at least I was able to get some questions answered with Billy and about Royce. Also, in some weird way, I was relieved that Rosalie was still alive. Those pictures, photo shopped to look like Bella, were of Rosalie and I was terrified that Royce had killed her. I hate her guts, but she was, at one point, a member of our family.

A hated member, but still a member.

When my alarm went at o’dark thirty, Bella groaned and tried to burrow deeper in our covers. I hit the snooze and held her close, reveling in the perfection that was Isabella Swan. I idly traced her back, looking down at her slumbering face. Her lips were pouted and her face was completely relaxed, content. However, when the alarm went off again, her nose wrinkled. “That’s the worst sound. Ever.”

“Sorry, dolce,” I said, kissing her forehead. Her eyes blinked open and they were glazed over, unfocused from being disturbed. “Someone’s grumpy.”

“Someone hasn’t slept, either,” she chided, tracing dark circles under my eyes. “You are … you’re going to worry yourself into an early grave, Edward. I kind of like having you around, bub. Don’t go anywhere. I’m fine. Alice is fine. Jacob takes amazing care of us.”

“I know he does, but I hate that it’s been … that we’re forced to have you under protective guard, twenty-four/seven,” I grumbled. “It shouldn’t be that way. As chauvinistic as it sounds, the world of the mafia is very … it’s all about the men. Women are revered, protected and loved, not targeted.”

“As you’ve said, numerous times,” she said, sitting up and straddling my waist. She was wearing a button-down shirt, falling off her shoulder, reveal the swell of her breast. “This sucks. I get it. Royce, Stephan and Marcus? They’re all fucktards. But, we can’t let this force us how to live our life, Edward. You need to go to ‘work,’ taking over the city, one investment at a time.”

“I know I want to make a deposit,” I purred.

“Hmmm, what kind?” she asked, a sly grin spreading over her beautiful face.

“I think you know,” I answered, unbuttoning the shirt and cupping her breasts. 

Married to the Mob Teaser

“Alice, if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to let me know,” I said as I gave her some tea. Her face was bruised and she was moving stiffly.

“I just want to be alone, Bella,” she said, her voice cold, angry.

“Okay,” I whispered. I left the room, closing the door and leaning heavily against the wall. I could hear Esme speaking to Demetri, Jimmy and Felix in the kitchen. It was after nine at night and I hadn’t heard from Edward in several hours. With a sigh, I went downstairs. “Do you guys want anything to eat? I need to do something.”

“Don’t worry, Miss Bella,” Demetri said, his voice quiet and slightly accented. It sounded Russian.

“My fiancée is doing mobby things and I’ve got Alice upstairs who is afraid of her own shadow,” I said. “Something happened. Either I can perseverate on what happened or I can bake something. Anyone want rum cake?”

“Bella, you are too funny,” Esme snorted.

“I’m not kidding,” I smirked as I went into our well-stocked pantry and pulled out what I needed. “Felix, in the bar near you, there’s a bottle of Captain Morgan’s Extra Dark Rum. Can you get that for me?”

“Sure, Miss Bella,” he said. He handed me the bottle and I started working.

“I can also feed you guys something, other than sweets,” I said. “I have left over vodka sauce. I raided Nonni’s recipe book to make dinner last night.”

“With gnocchi?” Jimmy asked. I nodded. “Well, if you boys don’t want any. I do.”

“Jimmy, your ass is going to be the size of Wrigley Field,” I quipped, making him a plate. Felix and Demetri also took some as well, along with some Italian sausage I’d baked. Esme made some salad for them and as I was putting the cake into the oven, Edward and Jasper came inside. “Is everything okay?”

Edward nodded tightly.

“Where’s Alice?” Jasper asked.

“Guest room, second door on your left,” I answered. Jasper smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He shifted a bag in his hand and he jogged up the stairs.

“Can I go home now?” Esme asked. “I love spending time with my newest daughter, but …”

“Dad sent a text. You’re staying here tonight. As are you guys,” Edward said, looking at Felix and Demetri.

“What about me?” Jimmy questioned. “How am I supposed to get up the stairs?”

“We’ll spend time on the couches, Uncle Jimmy. I’ll stay with you,” I answered. “It’s a lot more comfortable than that shitty couch you have at your apartment. Dude, that thing is so ugly.”

“Don’t be hating on my couch, Isabella Marie,” he groused. He made a face as he rolled his way to the bathroom. Edward followed at a discreet distance, but when Jimmy was safely ensconced in the powder room, my fiancé walked back to the kitchen.

“Why can’t I go home?” Esme asked.

“Dad, Emmett and Jake are taking care of a cleanup job,” Edward explained.

“And what happened?” I pressed.

“I’ll tell both of you tomorrow. I promise, but we have to stay on the DL with Jimmy in the house. I love the guy, but he can’t know what happened or what we did,” Edward said, his voice hard and cold, sounding very much like the mob boss he’d become in a few short months.

“It’s bad?” Esme sighed.

“As bad as it can get,” Edward replied, scrubbing his face.

Out of the Darkness Teaser

Shortly before the bell rang, Mrs. Cope wished the kids a great summer and that she couldn’t wait until next year. I could hear the tremor in her voice. She also asked for me, Lauren and Jessica to come to the office to discuss the situation after we’d sent the kids home. Twenty minutes later, I walked into the office, trying not to lose my temper. Lauren and Jessica were bitching about how Swan’s disappearance was cutting into their summer vacation.

“Lauren!” Mrs. Cope snapped. “You’re going to meet with Chief Hamilton from the Port Angeles PD in my office. Jessica, you’re going to work with Detective Omari in Ms. Whittier’s office. Edward, you’ll be talking to Chief Burke from Forks PD. They’re going to help with the search.”

“Where are we meeting?” I asked.

“Conference room,” she said, following Lauren into her office.

I turned on my heel and went to the conference room, across the hall from the main office. Charlie was inside, pacing the length of the tiny room and his face was ashen. He turned when I closed the door and he pulled me into his arms. We both cried, scared for Bella. I was worried about the fragile psyche of my mate and he was obviously terrified for his daughter. He took my face in his hands and he narrowed his eyes. “Show me. From the moment …”

I nodded, closing my eyes and allowing my memories to filter to his. He felt the same dread I experienced when Bella went into the forest. The emptiness I experienced when she was taken was passed through our connection. The wavering darkness was apparent in my thoughts and memories. “We have to find her, Charlie,” I whispered. “If we don’t, she’ll be lost forever.”

Charlie nodded solemnly. “I just got her back. I can’t lose her again,” he choked out. “Now, that wavering sense of evil … what do you think about that?”

“I don’t know, but there was something familiar about that signature,” I muttered. “It’s corrupted by darkness, but they haven’t given completely over to the evil. They still have some control …” I trailed off. “Come with me.” We got up and left the school, making our way back to where Bella had been taken. I knelt down, putting my hand on the muddy ground. I allowed the signature to penetrate me. “I know who took her.”

“Who?” Charlie asked. “Someone I can arrest? Shoot? I want to use this fucker.” He took out his gun and glowered at it.

“It won’t hurt him. Not now,” I answered. “Prior to working here at the school, I did rehab work for a guy. His name is Emmett McCarty. He was the project manager. He started dating Bella’s boss/landlady Rosalie Hale.”

Charlie took out his notebook, flipping through some notes. “Both of them were reported missing by loved ones. Rose, you know about, but Emmett, his disappearance was more recent. He vanished, without a trace, about a week ago. He still went work, went home and hung out with his friends up until then.”

“Who reported him missing?” I asked.

“One of his workers. Tyler Crowley,” Charlie answered. “Hamilton told me that when we met up in the office. Do you suspect those two harpies?”

“They’re harmless and fucking lazy,” I snapped. “They sat on the bench, looking at their cell phones while Bella ran the kickball station on her own. And did you hear their thoughts?”

“Yes, I did,” Charlie growled. “They’re bitching about my child. I’m sorry that their lazy asses couldn’t …” He held up his hand, disgusted by the two of them. “And Lauren was revolted that you were told the student that you were Bella’s boyfriend. Bella is not worthy of you.”

“It’s the other way around,” I whispered. “I’m not worthy of her.” Charlie cupped my cheek and smiled softly.