Author Notes:

I'm so late I know. Just read. I LOVE YOU

Chapter thirty-four

Bella's POV

Edward brushed past me, his hands barely touching my waist as he rushed to the bathroom, fixing his tie in the mirror over the sink. I winced, feeling my lower half cry out in pain from the beating it took all last night. I could undeniably say that each room in our new home was freshly christened with our bodies. I should feel ashamed; one of those rooms could belong to our children one day. I'd be sure to steam the sheets just in case.

My stomach flipped suddenly and I held back a groan. Now wasn't the time for any sort of illness and a stomach bug would not be happening on one of the most important, official days of Edward's position as the boss. I pinned the last curl on top of my head as I watched Edward fix his own hair. I pushed back the feeling of nausea and walked confidently toward him in my heels. Jet black, slick and oh so high. I had on a beige pencil skirt and a white, frilled shirt which made me look the epitome of a wife you are not to fuck with. I looked model material. Mafia material. I was a good mob wife.

Or I prayed to fucking god I was once the men started to arrive.

My hands slipped over Edward's, replacing them as I fixed his tie to perfection. His shirt was crisp white, Edward in his best suit yet. Despite how dapper he looked, the anger, determination and slight fear in his eyes was what made me walk over there. His hands were held steady, not even a goose bump on his skin and I knew the only reason his expression held one of fear, was because I would be subject to his world. I would be in with his world and he would have a hard time protecting me, if that's what he needed.

"I will greet them in the foyer by your side," I emphasized, gripping his shoulders. "I will not leave your side until you order me away. I will be a gracious host but if any one of them tries to fuck with me, I'm shoving a pistol down their throat."

Edward coughed a laugh, rolling his eyes as his arm wrapped around my neck to pull me closer to him. He kissed me on the temple lovingly. "I love you, did you know that?"

I smiled, moving to look up at him dotingly. "I know that." I pecked his lips.

"You look ravishing by the way," Edward moved to fix his lips, in case I got gloss on them. "Very professional. You look the part, baby."

I tried to hide the smugness. "That's the plan. You nervous?"

Edward's shoulders sagged. "I just don't want any blood on the new carpets."

I bit my tongue so that I didn't dampen the brand new mood I put him in.

"These meetings are always so tense, nothing ever gets done in one day and I don't want these cock suckers eyeing up my wife for a week in my house."

"Week?" I repeated, shocked. "They usually last that long?"

"They have in the past," Edward sighed. "I never understood why Carlisle let them dictate it for so long."

"What could you possibly have to argue about for a whole week?"

"Territory, splitting of funds, who gets what," he flapped his arm at me. "It's all very technical."

"Sounds like a group of grown men being whiny over how much land they own."

Edward stopped for a second. "Yup. That's exactly how it is."

I scoffed and he laughed.

"They're just pissed the Mason's always cover the most territory."

"Then give up a bit of your turf so that there'll be"-

"Do not finish that sentence, baby, or I swear to god."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. Be greedy then."

"I will," Edward kind of snapped at me. "More territory means more cash and that keeps this roof over our heed."

"Oh please, you evading taxes is what's keeping this roof over our heads."

Edward blanched. He knew this was something we'd never discussed before. Something I never thought to ever bring up. We didn't talk about rumors; about the publics opinion on him in general. "Are you reading about me in the newspaper?"

"I may have read the paper in the tub under this roof after last night's events."

He smirked, despite the petty argument. "Are you unhappy with the roof?"

"I'm unhappy with scary men being unhappy with my husband. Under said roof."

"They won't touch you if that's"-

"Oh my god, you have got to stop saying that!" I threw my hands up in the air as I left the bathroom, deciding I'd had just about enough of upstairs. Edward found it useful to follow me down the staircase.

"You won't be in the room; you don't have to listen to us"-

That's what he thought. "But I'll be outside worrying all day whether or not a shot is going to go off and ruin the new chandelier!"

"That chandelier cost me nine grand, I'm not about to lose it to some fucktard looking for more white to sell."

"Don't talk about drugs like that!" I whispered, as if the FBI were already listening downstairs.

"In my own home? It seems to have slipped your mind that I do, in fact, work with drugs, Isabella."

"Don't call me that," I reached the bottom step, utterly shocked to hear us fight like this. It came out of nowhere. And I knew I should have considered our nerves were getting the best of us, but this was just absurd. "I mean, Isabella? What are you, my father?"

"No and thank god for that, but you need to understand the threat you hold to these men. If I asked you to, I could send you to the feds right this instant and let you feed information to them just for the sake of saving me the effort of firing one of their asses."

I backtracked. "I wouldn't do that. Ruin another man's life in your world just so that you get off scotch free?"

"That's what this business is, baby. That's what you're required to do for me. Throw someone under the bus so long as I get my money."

I shook my head. "You've never spoken like this before."

"I waited till I got that ring on your finger," he tried to sound sarcastic but I was having none of it.

"So that's it then," I dropped my hands, both of us standing like statues in the foyer. "I'm just supposed to be okay with this? Keep my mouth shut until you say otherwise? A prisoner in my own home?"

"Just for today, Bella, just until they leave"-

"But you said it could last a week!"

"When my father was in charge but I'll be damned if I lose you too to this fucking world!"

And his fear was out.

The loss of his father cut deep and knowing Edward was about to house the men who potentially killed him, and protecting me on top of that, made Edward senile.

"You hate rats," I mumbled. "This whole ordeal is happening because of rats. I've been seeing your name in the paper a lot lately. They know a hell of a lot more about this life than I do."

"Do you want a full run through of the mafia show down?" Edward held out his hands.

I dropped my eyes. "You never bothered to tell me."

"You never asked for details. You asked me to be home each night and leave that world at the door. You wanted me and me alone and now you've got me but you also got the wedding and that includes everything else in my fucked up life."

"We shouldn't still be arguing about this kind of thing. I don't want to worry unnecessarily that the cops are going to build up enough information to take you down."

Edward's eyes softened. "You think a few fines and taxes are going to be my kryptonite? I'm fine, Bella. We're going to be fine."

"It's my fault I'm so out of the loop anyway," I shook my head, gravitating closer to him. "I asked you to leave your shit at the door. I asked for this. I said yes."

Edward ducked his head a little, forcing me to meet his gaze. "Hey," he said softly. "I'll tell you anything you want to know. I know I'm contradicting myself, but the less you know, the safer you'll be. But the more you know, the more of a threat we pose to these men."

"It's a lose, lose situation."

"Or a win, win," Edward finished and suddenly, we were at an impasse. And I was thoroughly confused. And scared.

Edward checked his watch and cleared his throat. "Emmett should be here any second now."

Just then, the doorbell sounded around the foyer and Edward stood up taller, kissing my forehead before moving to get the door. Then he seemed to catch himself. "Eleanora!"

Something squeaked in the other room before I heard footsteps scurrying towards us in the foyer.

"Yes, sir?" A tiny little woman stood tall and ready to serve, a fucking maids outfit on like she was something out of Desperate Housewives. I hadn't seen her before in my life.

"I thought I made it clear that one of your jobs was to get the door?" Edward snipped, tapping his foot against the marble floor. It echoed around the room.

Eleonore ducked her head. "I apologize, sir. I was tending to the meal."

"That's quite alright," Edward's chin jutted out. "But do remember the sound of that doorbell because you will be hearing it a lot today."

"Yes, sir, I won't forget to answer it, sir." Then the little thing moved to open the doubled front doors, revealing Emmett in a rather fancy suit.

Eleanora shut the doors quietly after him and left to go back the way she came, wiping her hands on her fucking costume. I felt like a Gilmore Girl.

"Hey you two!" Emmett greeted but my eyes were on Edward.

"What the fuck is this?" I screeched, pointing towards the direction of Eleanora.

"What is what?" Edward said, eyes wide and innocent.

"Who was that?"

"The maid."

"The maid?"

"Yes, the maid!" Edward said as a matter of fact. "What seems to be the problem?"

I literally fucking choked. "We have a maid!"

"My mother has maids; you think I can't have one?"

"We can't have any? What the fuck, Edward? You can't open your own door?"

"Not when I have fifteen men coming to discuss business in my home!" He said. "You think I'll look the part opening my own door?"

"Any other man does it!"

"Ordinary men do it."

"Oh, this is just ridiculous!" I held back the urge to pull at my hair.

"Yes, it is, you're being absurd, Bella. We have a maid and her name is Eleonora and she will open my fucking door."

I left the room. Actually, I left to follow our new maid!

"Excuse me?" I called after her, delighted I didn't slip in my heels on the marbled tiles. I had a feeling I was going to be running around frenzied the entire day. "Eleanora? Maid?"

"Yes, Mrs. Mason?" The woman popped up from behind the breakfast bar, causing me to shriek and her whole face fucking dropped. "Oh, Mrs. Mason I'm so, so sorry! Please, let me help you sit!"

"I'm not incompetent, Jesus, I can find my own chair!" I ignored the one she set out for me and went for the stools surrounding the island, grabbing the fruit bowl she was about to decorate and did it myself. My fruit didn't need another woman's input. Ugh, I hated Edward right now.

"Bella?" Edward came bounding into the kitchen, determination etched on his perfect features. "What are you doing?"

"What time are the men arriving?" I ignored his question, repositioning the fruit bowl into the center of the table and got to my feet.

"Ten minutes, why?" he gritted out.

"I need to talk to Emmett," I tried to get past him but his hands on my hips made it impossible to move anywhere but closer to him.

"Don't be mad at me," his voice was soft and quiet, so that only I could hear. Because, you know, a woman was watching intently behind us.

I melted into him, despite my brain telling me to do otherwise and stepped one bit closer, wrapping my arms around his neck. "I don't want to add any more stress."

"Then give in," Edward smiled hopefully, winking. I couldn't help but smile. His fucking face was the end of me.

"You don't fight fair," I muttered.

"I never have."

That was true. It was always his way or no way. But then again, wasn't I the same? Perfect match.

"Are you still going to stay by my side when everyone arrives?"

I took a breath. "Until you order me away, yes," I repeated my earlier statement and Edward dipped down to kiss my lips. It was soft, tender, full of a promise to finish it later but if I knew anything about being with my husband, it was that a promise is nothing compared to a taste of what's to come. I'd have him squirming in the meeting room, dying for the events of today to finish so that he could have me all to himself again.

So I reached out my tongue to taste him, tentatively at first and then he responded like I knew he would. Gripping my hips harder, sucking my bottom lip between his and moving our tongues together in synchronization. I loved it. Every bit of it.

"Eleanora," I groaned into his mouth and if he hadn't remembered the woman behind him, he would have thought I was thinking of someone else whilst his hands were on mine. With a ring on my finger to prove my loyalty, Edward Mason would still believe I was leaving him for another woman.

"Yes, Mrs. Mason?" Eleanora's uncomfortable voice came from behind us.

I tore my fingers through Edward's hair and he hissed as I pulled hard, deepening the kiss.

"Go away," I breathed, forgetting about her completely but was sane enough to hear her heels trot out of the room. Edward's hands moved down my body expertly, fingers curling until they reached the front of my skirt. He glided one finger over my private part and the sweet sensation it gave me was indescribable. Until he added more pressure.

That's when my stomach flipped in a not so pleasurable way.

I jerked out of Edward's embrace before I gagged into his mouth and moved towards the sink in case I threw up.

"Bella?" Edward asked, nothing but concern and alarm in his voice. I felt him move behind me but warned him to stay back. "Are you still not feeling well?"

"Mrs. Mason," Eleanora came to the rescue of course. Out of the corner of my blurred eyes, I watched her grab some ginger ale from the fridge and some tissues for my eyes.

"No!" I begged, stopping her from touching me. "You'll ruin my make up if we wipe it!"

I stood up straight, still careful to hold onto the sink for good measure and lifted my head so that the tears could not fall down my cheeks. No way was I ruining Edward's big day any more than I already had.

Edward, bless him, laughed at my priorities and shook his head. "You're crazy."

"I'm saving your ass by making my ass look hot."

"But are you not feeling well?"

"I'm fine," I lied. "It was just the nerves."

Eleanora coughed behind me, as if she was disguising a laugh. I couldn't wait for this meeting to be over so I could fire her fucking ass.

"You kids alright in there?" Emmett called from somewhere in the house and that seemed to wake us all back up.

I took a deep, steadying breath and stood tall, happy to declare my face was still tear stained free. "Okay. Come on, I've a group of mobsters to meet."

Edward snorted, reaching out his hand for me to take. "My wife, the jokester."

"Ha ha."

"Last chance, Bella," EmmeTt snickered and for the last time, I rolled my eyes.

"I'm not going anywhere, Emmett," I sang, leaning closer to my husband. We stood in the foyer, the first ding of the doorbell sounding around the house as Eleanora ran to answer it.

Four large men made their presence known before Eleanora had the chance to say hello. She took their jackets quickly and quietly, scurrying to the foyer cloak room to rid themselves of them completely.

"Ah!" One of the largest exclaimed. "Edward."

"Caius," Edward nodded, stepping us both forward so he could shake his hand. He then made his rounds to the remaining three men, who stood expectantly, all eyes on me. Edward's hold on me tightened. "Men, this is my lovely wife, Isabella."

I put on my prettiest, fakest smile. "It's an honor to meet you all." I held out my hand and Caius was all too happy to be the first to caress the damn thing.

"Isabella," he slurred, a smirk embedded on his face. "What a strong, beautiful name."

I just laughed delicately. "I'm charmed. Thank you, Caius."

All men smiled and nodded, shaking my hand quickly before they moved around the foyer to greet Emmett. I ducked my head, catching a minute to myself to smoothen my hand over my skirt. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Edward grab Caius to whisper in his ear.

"Eye fuck my wife again and I'll kill you stone dead."

I swallowed thickly, ignoring my churning stomach and shook my head with a smile. "I can do this," I whispered to myself and then faced everyone once more. "I have the bar prepared for any refreshments you might like, gentlemen."

The doorbell rang again and Eleanora did her best to accommodate everyone and their jackets. She even took a gun from one of the unruly men for safe keeping. I was glad at least one of them had the courtesy to leave their guns outside the meeting room.

Eleanora and I did our best to handle drinks, I made small talk and the remaining men arrived and with that, Edward announced it was time for the meeting. I kissed him firmly on the lips, marking him as mine as he did so with me and wished him luck quietly.

"I love you, baby," he smirked. After the little pre-meeting drinks he seemed a lot surer of himself.

"I love you more," I winked, "if you need me I'll be in the kitchen, waiting for the moment to help once you finish up in there."

"You didn't leave my side at all, princess."

"Not until you order me away," I smiled sweetly pushing him forward to lead his men into the meeting room. When the last man was in the room and the door closed behind them, I let myself sag.

"You did well, Mrs. Cullen," Eleanora said brightly, dancing on her feet. I eyed her for a moment before nodding, leaving to head for the kitchen. I was starving.

I really wanted to listen in on what the meeting was all about but I knew I'd have to wait until after everyone had left the house. No way would Edward let me be in there while they all argued over territory. Nor did I want to listen to that kind of petty argument. Hungry men.

"Can I make you something? Maybe some tea? Tea always cures a cramping stomach."

"I'm not cramping, just queasy," I replied to the maid, hating myself for even calling her that.

"Have you been sick often the last few days?"

"On and off," I muttered, barely keeping tabs on our conversation as I found some peanut butter and a chocolate bar to dip into it.

"That might not be the best idea," I heard Eleanora say as I dug into the jar of smooth, nutty cream.

"They won't see me eating like a horse from down the hall, Eleanora. Tell Edward about this and I'll kill you."

"Yes, but allergies."

"I'm not allergic"-

"Yes, but the baby might."

The bar dipped in peanut butter stayed frozen at my lips. I could smell it as I breathed in but then I stopped breathing at her words entirely. "What did you just say?"

I moved away from the pantry, forcing myself to look at her and she sighed, looking both frightened and exasperated.

"I can recognise the signs anywhere," she said. "You're pregnant, Mrs. Cullen."

"I'm n-not pregnant," I whispered, my blood pumping in my ears. I could hear the damn thing for crying out loud. Absentmindedly, I ran a hand over my stomach. I swore to myself there wasn't a bump there.

"Okay, if you insist," Eleanora said nonchalantly, coming to clean up the little mess I'd made with my almost snack. "But I'm one hundred percent sure you've got a bun in the oven and I've only met you an hour ago."

I let her move around me while I stood in shock. "Pregnant?" But how dumb could I be? My period was on the missing list, I was craving the weirdest things and the obvious vomiting and un-wellness? Was I that blind?

Eleanora finally gained some compassion and nodded sadly. "Hey, it's not a bad thing. You live in one of the safest houses in this town and have a mobster for a husband."

I snarled. "Hey."

She held her hands up innocently. She kinda reminded me of myself with how blunt she was. "I'm sorry, but everyone knows it. The help knows everything."

I snorted. I couldn't help it. She was kinda funny.

"Congratulations," she said feebly and I was back to my anxious self.

"Pregnant. I'm having Edward's baby. A mob bosses baby. Holy fucking shit I'm carrying an heir?!"

"And you'll be under the most protection"-

"Aw Jesus I'll never be able to leave the house again!" I cried. "Edward will be ten times more protective!"

"Most men are."

"This is different."

"I know."

I leaned against the counter for support.

"Despite that, babies are wonderful things."

I thought for a moment; of the life Edward and I would live with a baby under our roof. A baby in my stomach, to carry for how many months. Painting one of the rooms upstairs and transforming it into a nursery, picking out clothes, shopping for maternity pants, announcing our pregnancy to the family, the tabloids, choosing baby names… So many memories created over such a short period of time.

Before I could even help myself, I was smiling and blubbering and crying with joy. "I'm having a baby!" I squealed, though I was sure no one else could hear in the house. "I'm having Edward's baby!"

Eleanora smiled with me and I even let her hug me for a minute.

Until I heard the front door being busted down and all hell breaking loose.

"We have a warrant for the arrest of Edward Mason!"

My whole world stopped.

I didn't even feel my legs moving as I sprinted towards the foyer, seeing hundreds of police men and bomb squad bombard my house with bats, plastic shields and dressed in all black. I saw the guns before I saw them and made sure to protect my stomach, despite no one knowing a damn thing about the life growing inside me. The life Edward and I created. A life that would be added to our own. Until now, when Edward was being ripped away from it.

I watched in pure devastation, tears still flowing down my cheeks as they destroyed the house, searching each room until they finally found the room my husband was in and that's when I sprang into action.

"No!"

I barreled my way into the meeting room, guns placed effortlessly around the long, mahogany table and my heart went out to Edward, my dearest fucking husband, the great love of my life as he stood to address the men coming to take him away. He wouldn't go down without a fight. And Lord knows that would get him into even more trouble.

"Edward Mason, you are under arrest for laundering money and for the murder of Demetri Abruzzo. Anything you say now will be held against you in the…"

I watched in horror as they tore Edward's arms behind his back and handcuffed him. All the while, Edward's eyes never left my face, even when they slammed him down on the table. All around us, men were trying to bolt with their weapons, under no protection now that their leader was being arrested. Others were already being handcuffed the same as Edward.

Me, I was memorizing every inch of his face, hoping I wouldn't lose him for good this time and that we could have a proper life; a life where he could see his child I was bearing.

"Fucking Abruzzo!" Edward roared out of nowhere, our eyes separating as the cops lifted him from his position.

"No, please wait!" I begged, tears streaming down my face. A cop grabbed me at the waist, holding me in place so that I couldn't get to my husband but all I thought of was the little blip of a baby I held in my stomach and how I couldn't lose another part of me too in the one day. "Stop please, let go of me please!"

"Get your filthy fucking hands off my wife!" Edward struggled with all his might and for a second, broke free until more cops grabbed hold of him. He never looked fiercer until that moment. I looked around helplessly for Emmett, but my god… Emmett, who always seemed so indestructible, was being held against the back wall, cuffs cutting into his wrists and it took all I had not to lose it in that moment.

"No, please, I'm pregnant!" I wailed. "I'm pregnant, please let me go!"

Edward's whole world stopped, his body gone limp, yet still remained rigid as his eyes glazed over, taking in every inch of my body before landing and staying on my stomach. The cop holding me loosened his grip and gained some compassion as he whispered in my ear.

"Please, Mrs. Mason, stay still or they'll end up arresting you too."

"Edward…" I begged, and in some outrageous turn of events, it was the cop holding me keeping me upright and giving me support as the love of my life was removed from our new home… Our new home as a married couple, who were meant to start a family together. I watched as Edward Mason was dragged from the room, but not before he forced the cops holding him to swirl him around to face me one last time.

The man holding me loosened his grip and I ran to him. I ran to my Edward and kissed him full on the mouth, letting my tears soak our faces because who knew when I would get to do this again?

"I love you."

"Edward, I love you."

He was removed from our house and into a police car, along with many other men until it was just me and Eleanora left to clean up the mess the police left behind.

It wasn't until Eleanora produced the gun that one of the men gave to her to hold, that I wiped my tears, gritted my teeth and took the weapon into my own hands.

I recalled the evening and what was read out in terms of Edward's arrest. There was no evidence, no footage of the killing of Demetri Abruzzo. Edward and his family made sure of that. This was dirty work… Dirty cop work that could only be released with the help of a rat.

And who could that be?

Jasper.

Abruzzo.

Acerbi.

I tightened my hold on the gun I now recognized as a desert eagle and took a deep breath. This wasn't over. This was only the beginning.

And I was getting my Edward back.

End notes:

And that's a wrap HAHAHAHAHA. A sequel is in the works but when that will be uploaded, I do not know. But know that I love every one of you who read this story. It meant so much.

Meg x

Chapter song: Lord Huron- the night we met