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CMF

CULLEN-MASEN FAMILY

Chapter 34 - Epilogue

EPOV

After a few wonderfully peaceful days it was back to work for both of us. I was still leaving a few guards with Bella especially when she was over at her studio working. I still had quite a few things to take care of before all of this Calabrese mess was cleaned up.

Bella showed a preference for Ant, and Felix as her guards during the day, and I was leaving Tom with James on nights. After we took care of the rest of the mess I might cut back.

We arranged a meeting in the underground conference room two days after the deaths of Aro, Marcus, and Caius. We still needed to clean up the importing of this deadly drug Black Mamba, and disposing of the people transporting it here in our country. We also needed to clean up this human trafficking going on in our ports.

We had just about put a stop to it, when we informed the Coast Guard of multiple boats bringing in shipments of humans. We managed to save quite a number of people fixing to be sent overseas. Our understanding was the Calabrese had multiple connections overseas, especially Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and South America. We could only put a stop to it happening in our area, as I didn't have the people, or the authority to do much more than we had.

The people I allowed to get their rite of vengeance against the Calabrese family were very thankful. The one young man that sought his revenge for his sister became interested in our family, and helping others get their revenge for the wrongs inflicted against family members. He understood we dealt in guns, and some drugs, but still had an interest in our interrogation branch. He wanted to learn the trade, and see about becoming a member of our family.

I proceeded to explain it involved a blood oath, and the only way out was death. He understood, and told me of his life, and past experiences. He had not had an easy life, and had experience in the drug trade. A bunch of his friends were dealers, and I told him to prove himself I wanted him to go to his friends to see if any of them was dealing this deadly drug, Black Mamba.

I also told him I wanted to know if they were still receiving any more shipments, and any information he could get from them. He asked for a week, or two to see what he could find out, and he would come and tell me everything he found out.

I had stationed people all along the coast to watch for any shipments of humans, or drugs coming in from unknown sources. I wanted all the information they could gather so we could put a stop to their activity.

Sean was wanting to take a week, and go to Vegas to get married. He wanted to give them a chance of a small honeymoon for the rest of the week, and then come back to work. I was arranging for them a place to stay for the week, and their wedding at the Bellagio. Sean was my right hand man, my under-boss, and my friend. I truly appreciated all the work he done for me so I could handle my legal businesses. He handled everything else.

I was preparing to hand the majority of the running of my illegal business over to Sean, unless there were problems. I would then step in, and take care of the problems as needed.

I wanted to spend some time with my wife, and she was preparing to open her own art gallery. She was starting back to work this week, and had shipments of supplies coming in by the truck loads.

We were looking into some buildings in the areas of some of my restaurants. Specifically Snake, Greenery restaurant, the Gentleman's Club, and Midnight Sun Bar. I was aiming more for the downtown area, and preferably near Snake, my restaurant. It was almost smack dab right in the middle of downtown. We had a couple buildings we were going to look at in that area, and then one near the Gentleman's Club.

I had plenty of people working in both places to cover the gallery if there were any problems. Bella would never be out of danger from people involved in my not so legal business. My association with different branches of the mafia around the world would always pose as a threat to all of us.

BPOV

It felt wonderful to be back at work. I have had so many ideas coming at me from left, and right. Thank god I'm getting a bunch of supplies in. I am so going to need them. I can't believe Edward's suggestion of opening my own art gallery. It makes so much sense, and I could always have a place to display my work. I could even give up and coming artists a place to show their work, too. I could always buy another warehouse, and make it into a gallery if we don't find a building to work.

I just need to get to work, and get some of my ideas down on canvas. I'm glad to not need so much security, even though I'm going to miss the guys. I still have Ant, Felix, and Gianna. I just need to find me an apprentice from one of the schools.

After my experience with Seth I am so leery of going down that road again. I so enjoyed the company of Seth, and how things ended up for him. I just don't want to go through the heartache like that again. It was such a waste of a beautiful mind.

Anyway, I need to get to work. I got Gianna helping me go through what I have on hand, and ordering some more supplies. I also need to go through my canvases, and see what else I can pull to get ready to show.

I'm also needing to spend some more time with my dogs. I feel with everything that has happened lately they are beginning to act up, and I can't have that. Cane is very leery of people, and I understand his acting up. Peaches is just acting like a small child trying anything to get my attention. Anyway, more time with them will help.

So much to do, and not enough time to do it all. I walk up to the lounge area, and just flop down on the couch next to Peaches. She is all for that, as she crawls all over me. I pull her close just loving her up. I just want her to eat this up. So cute! Cane looks at me, and falls back down at my feet.

Ant comes over, and I'm very happy to have him around. We have gotten awfully close with everything that happened. I was so worried about him when they drugged him. He took forever to come out from under the effects of the drugs.

He asks me if I'm alright, and I just look at him smiling. I let him know I'm alright, and just doing some evaluating of things. I really need a kick in the butt to get to work, but just don't feel...what? Right? Motivated? I don't really know what the problem is, but I need to do something.

I ask him if he would like some coffee, and I go to make us a fresh pot. I get it set to brewing, and walk back down through my studio looking at things. I notice quite a few things I could go ahead, and pull for storage.

We got Angela and Sean going to Vegas for a week. They're getting married, and spending the rest of the week there for a honeymoon. I can't believe she's getting married, but I'm so happy for them. I guess she will be moving out to her own place with Sean. I need to discuss things with her, and if she is moving out, I could offer it to Gianna.

Then, I have to take into consideration that Edward and I may be moving out of the warehouses into a house. I just don't know what all is going on. I need to sit down with everyone, and make some decisions.

Do you see the dilemma I'm in? I don't know what is going on. I can't stand all this confusion. Apparently I've been standing here waiting on the coffee to finish making, and almost went into a panic attack. Ant comes over making me come back to the couch to sit down. I can hear him on the phone with Edward, and I can't do anything to make him stop.

Before I know it Edward is sitting down next to me asking what is wrong. Where do I begin. I just spill everything I'm concerned about, everything I'm thinking about, all the changes, all the things happening. I just need everything to settle down, to quit being so confusing, so hectic.

Edward just pulls me close, telling me not to worry. Just do my painting, and he will handle everything else. I can't do that. I can't think about working when I have no idea what is going on with everything, and everyone. What are we doing about a place to live. What about the new art gallery. What about me some help. What are Angela and Sean going to do. The list is endless.

He kneels in front of me, telling me to quit worrying about everything. It will eventually all work out. He just wants me to do my painting, and take all this confusion out on a canvas. He tells me we're going to need lots of beautiful paintings to fill our home with...giving me a smirk.

I look at him, taking a deep breath, and giving him a small laugh. He tells me all this worry is not going to solve anything, and it will all work out. Just quit upsetting myself, and do my thing on those canvases. I tell him I'm sorry he got called away, but he tells me he's taking the rest of the day off, and spending it with me. He says he's going to go change clothes, and will be right back down to work with me. Now that really makes me smile.

He heads across to the apartment, and I sit with Ant enjoying a cup of coffee. I talk to Ant telling him I want him to always stay with me. Either in this warehouse working, or wherever I go. I tell him I feel very safe when him, and Felix are close by. Edward walks back in dressed in jeans, t shirt, and sneakers. Looks to good for words. I then tell him what I was discussing with Ant about being my main security, and Felix at nights. Edward is happy with this, and Ant agrees with us.

So, after spending some time just talking about different things I finally get up going back to work. Gianna and I get what canvases I have hung. Edward and Ant help hanging the last big ones, and they go to help unload a truck that just arrived.

Gianna comes to help me pull a bunch of paints, I grab a palette, some brushes, tie on my apron, and walk over to a canvas. I look out the windows, trying to see what I want to paint. I begin to think of all the things going on in my life, and the people involved. I then think of Edward, and before I know it I've started on my new painting. I can see a pair of lovers, and a kiss.

Before I know it I am working on three different paintings. Gianna goes to cover each palette with a damp cloth in between my picking it back up to do more work. I may walk off to get some water, go to the bathroom, or get more paints. I come back, and may work on another canvas. Therefore, three paintings going on at once.

I walk over putting on some music, and back to work. I don't think anyone knows what is going on. Ant, Gianna, and Edward...well, Edward walks over, and I feel him behind me watching me work.

I walk over to the one I'm titling Sensual, and I do believe Edward is in love with it already. I'm just about finished with two of them, but Sensual I got some more to do to it. I call Gianna over giving her two of the palettes, and explain what to do to the paintings. I walk over writing a post-it naming one, A Kiss by The Swan. I tell her to cover it with a cloth, and stick the note to it.

The next one I name it, Ghost by The Swan. I tell her to do the same to it, and tomorrow we'll fix them with a more permanent title on the back of them. I walk back over to my one painting left to finish. I work on it for another couple hours, and finally look up to see it is dark outside. I have managed to work all day, and I got three paintings done. I title the last painting, Sensual by The Swan. Gianna comes over covering it, and taking my palette to clean.

I can barely walk over to the couch almost falling into Edward's lap. "You do know that last painting is mine, right?" giving me a very serious look.

All I can do is look at him, smile, and "Yes, I kind of figured that from your spending so much time watching me finish it."

He explains he is hanging it in his underground office next door. I stretch a little, and my legs are killing me. I am so going to pay for this day of work, but I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Now, to go home, take a long hot bath, get something to eat, and cuddle with my Edward. I am so surprised, and thrilled he spent the day with me...in some capacity. Now, he has another painting. I swear, that man would have every one of my paintings for himself if possible.

Once we arrive at the apartment, we go upstairs to find someone has ordered Chinese of everything imaginable. I am very hungry, come to think of it. We all sit down, an start dishing up the food. We have Cal, and Ant joining us this evening. It will be a miracle if there is anything left when we're through. They so can put away the food. I may need to look into getting someone as a permanent cook at this rate. No, I love to cook, and it's very seldom I work so late to not get something cooked for dinner.

Anyway, after dinner, and once everything is cleaned up Cal, and Ant go downstairs after locking everything up. They both live downstairs...well, on the second floor. There are bedrooms with en suites for four people, plus a lounge area at the bottom of the stairs. There is also our surveillance room which is always staffed.

I go into the bathroom stripping off my clothes to find Edward is running us a very hot bath. Very nice, and I do love to see me a naked Edward...at any time. I walk up behind him running my hands down his back, and just as I'm about to grab me a hand full of perfect ass he pulls me around, and begins to kiss me very passionately. I love my Edward.

He picks me up, sitting me in the tub, and climbs in behind me pulling me close. We lounge back enjoying the hot water, and he turns on the jets. They feel wonderful on my body. I have so got to quit pushing myself to the point I can't even walk. I have someone I love very much I need to take care of too.

We sit enjoying the heat, the pulsing of the jets, the peace, and quiet. I almost fall asleep right there in his arms. I feel him stand up grabbing a towel, sitting me on the counter drying me off, and slipping a gown over me. I know he takes me, and lays me down in the bed covering me up. He gives me a kiss on the temple, and runs his finger down my cheek. I don't remember much else after that.

The next morning I wake up, do my morning ablutions, get dressed, and wander into the kitchen. I start the coffee, and start pulling things out of the refrigerator for breakfast. I want to make a nice big breakfast for my Edward, and the guys that have started roaming in.

They fix me a cup of coffee, and sit down at the counter. It's nice to see them so bright, and bushy tailed this morning. One eye open on each of them. We are so screwed. LOL

In walks Edward with his hair sticking up in every direction. He walks over giving me a kiss, and gets a cup of coffee swiping a piece of bacon as he goes. I smack him on the ass, and he walks around smiling to sit down at the kitchen counter.

They are talking about how things are going, and some of the things they have uncovered about the Calabrese's goings on. They discovered a big building down the coast they were using for slipping people in to transport to other countries in their human trafficking crap. The Coast Guard stormed the place, and discovered almost fifty people being held. It was a mess. Young girls hyped up on drugs, being raped, used, and sold. It was disgusting.

They also found a few dealers of the deadly drug, Black Mamba. They managed to fix them up with their own product as they refused to quit selling it, or give up their supplier. I feel they paid aptly. They were now tracing a few other buyers, and sellers, and just about to close in on their sources. It appears there were some left over from the Vlad, and Stephan dealers.

It didn't matter as long as they got everything cleaned up, and either turned them in, or they paid the ultimate price. It all seemed fair to me especially after what they did to Seth.

Paul was working with Jasper, and Emmett, and doing a wonderful job from what Edward say's. I'm glad he's doing alright. He thanked Edward for letting him handle Caius, and getting his revenge for Seth.

Scott was now working along side Randall, and doing alright. Edward was still watching him, but he has proved quite a few times he is going to do right by him. I guess we'll wait, and see.

As for me, well we found a wonderful building in the downtown area right near Edward's restaurant Snake. They just finished up with the remodeling, and installing the lighting. I was having a bunch of paintings moved down this week, and getting ready to go put them on display. I was hoping in about a month to have the place open, and a big night of it's debut. I can hardly wait.

Only one more thing to handle, and to unveil a new project I got growing. I'm not sure how to unveil this one though. I wonder how he'll handle becoming a 'daddy'!

Guess we'll see...

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Well, guess we're going to mark this one 'Complete'. I hate to see it end, but left it so I could possibly come back at a later date to make a sequel. Sound good?

Let me know what ya'll think. I need quite a few reviews to make one thousand. Would love to see that happen.

Don't forget to check out the group page for some new pics.

Thanks muches for going on this adventure with me. Thank you for all the wonderful reviews too. They mean the world when we sit down to pound the keys.