Camisado - Chapter Six

"Edward, this is stupid," I mumbled for the fifth time in several minutes. So far, he'd carried me down several flights of stairs, at least half a dozen dimly lit hallways, and into an elevator which I didn't remember having ever seen before.

"Relax," he murmured softly as he pressed the button labeled 'DH'. "It's for your own good."

"If you say so," I muttered, then glanced down over his shoulder so I could look at my feet as the elevator began to move. Only, instead of moving down, it went sideways. What the fuck? I chose not to comment on it for now. "God, this is so fucking embarrassing. I look like a goddamn clown."

Edward laughed, then bounced me up higher against him, his hands settling firmly on my ass as he leaned back slightly in an attempt at catching my gaze.

"Bella, look at me," he breathed. I sighed, then lifted my head, reluctantly meeting his gaze. "You don't look at all like a clown, baby. I, for one, love that you're wearing my shoes."

"Only because you're a possessive bastard," I mumbled, rolling my eyes.

"Yeah, so what?" he joked back as he shifted my weight to one side slightly and began to slip one of his hands up under my dress. "With you looking like this, how can you blame me for wanting to let everyone know you're mine?"

I rolled my eyes again, then turned my head in the direction of the elevator/sideways-moving-thing control panel again. Holy fuck, that was a lot of buttons.

"Jesus, Edward." I'd known this place was big, but I hadn't been able to grasp the scale of it until just then. Obviously, The Volturi had expanded beyond what anyone had predicted. Either that, or we'd been off the mark the entire time. "What is this place?"

"It's where I work," he replied, blatantly avoiding the question. He dug his fingers into my thigh beneath my dress after a moment, and I knew he'd answer me later.

"Yeah, but…" I hesitated, then shook my head. "I guess it's probably better that I don't know, isn't it? I mean, I know we haven't spoken much about that night but, um… the people you work with… they're not… Am I safe here?"

"Bella…" Edward breathed, and if I didn't know better, I'd say the concern and sadness on his face was real. "Oh, baby, they're not going to hurt you." He pressed his forehead to mine, holding me tighter against him. I wrapped my arms around him more firmly in return and closed my eyes as he continued, "Fuck, I'm so sorry. I forget how strange this must all be for you."

"N-no, it's okay," I assured him, making sure my voice wavered slightly. "I trust you and know you'll keep me safe, but I just…" I paused as if contemplating something, then sighed and shook my head. "I'm sorry. This isn't a good time to talk about this. Not when we're about to go to dinner with your colleagues."

"If you want to talk, we can talk," he said softly. "They'll understand if we're late."

I shook my head again, then leaned in to kiss him deeply.

"I love you, Edward," I whispered against his lips, not giving him the chance to reply before kissing him more firmly than before and tightening my hold on him with my legs. "I'll be okay, I promise. I just… I need you to make me forget. Please."

"How, baby?" he murmured as the hand which was beneath my dress slid up higher, then shifted until his fingers brushed the inside of one of my thighs. "Like this?"

I nodded weakly, then breathed out a heavy sigh as his fingers moved even higher. "Fuck."

"God, Bella," he muttered when he finally reached the apex of my thighs and felt just how much he was affecting me. "You're wet already."

I shuddered at his words, then leaned in close until my lips were beside his ear. "It's because of you," I whispered, loud enough for only him to hear.

"Fuck."

I smiled, then groaned when I pushed myself closer to him and felt him through the thin barrier of my underwear, hard and wanton. "Edward…"

He turned his face towards mine, bringing our lips together in a passion-filled kiss, then ground his hips against me and moaned softly. "Bella, I-"

Before he had the chance to continue, the doors of the elevator/shuttle slid open and I heard several intakes of breath. Oh, fuck.

Edward hastily pulled his hand out from beneath my dress and I awkwardly lowered my feet back to the ground before glancing up at him worriedly. His entire demeanor had shifted the moment he'd realized who was standing on the other side of those doors, and I knew that they were someone of extreme importance or power – nobody else would cause him to stiffen the way he had.

"Afton. Chelsea." He nodded; a sign of respect, I realized.

"Good evening, Edward," a male voice said from behind me, and I felt Edward's hands, which were on my hips, tighten their grip infinitesimally.

"I didn't realize you were bringing your guest to dinner." Another voice. A female's this time.

"Yes, well, it was a fairly sudden decision," Edward replied lightly. I looked up at him again, and he smiled down at me before glancing back up to the new arrivals. "Bella, allow me to introduce you to Afton and Chelsea – a few co-workers of mine."

I turned awkwardly with Edward's encouragement, but tried to put on the bravest face I could as I looked up to meet their gazes.

"It's nice to meet you," I said softly, then stuck my hand out for the man, Afton, to take. He stepped forwards, smiling politely, then shook my hand firmly.

"Likewise," he replied, eyeing me carefully. I tried not to let the intensity of his scrutiny affect me, but couldn't stop myself from stepping back towards Edward slightly, seeking out his silent comfort. Afton smiled, noting my movement, then let go of my hand before stepping inside and allowing Chelsea to take his place.

"I've heard a lot about you, Isabella," she said as she moved towards me and air-kissed both my cheeks. "Your appearance has caused quite a stir."

I blushed, glancing back towards Edward. Chelsea smiled, then watched carefully as Edward reached out and placed his hand on the small of my back; a protective gesture I very much appreciated.

"As I'm sure you know, it's not often we get a legitimate visitor, so you'll have to excuse us all for doubting your intentions," Afton added, watching me to gauge my reaction to his words. Fuck. They were testing me.

"It's okay," I told him softly, shrugging as I leaned back into Edward. "I may not know everything about what you do, but I think I can sort of understand why you'd be wary." I brought my hand up to my ribs without realizing, remembering just how badly they'd reacted to my arrival.

"Baby," Edward murmured, and I glanced up at him, turning slightly to face him. He gazed down into my eyes, his expression one of pain and regret, and I smiled weakly before leaning into his touch. He kissed the top of my head, pulling me into his side, then sighed softly.

I slipped my arm around his waist, leaning into him even more than before, then turned my head back in Chelsea and Afton's direction as they hit the 'DH' button on the console and the doors slid shut again. "Aside from that initial thing, though, most people have been very welcoming."

"Of course," Chelsea replied, sounding irritated. "We don't treat our guests like animals, Isabella, especially not those who are important to our members."

"No, I know," I stammered, as if trying to backtrack. "I didn't mean to imply otherwise, I just meant-"

"She knows that," Edward murmured softly, squeezing my arm. I nodded, then turned into him, closing myself off from Afton and Chelsea's all too seeing eyes.

"Sorry," I mumbled, playing the weak and apologetic girlfriend once again.

"It's okay," he assured me, but I could tell from the slight tension in his body that something was bothering him. I glanced up into his eyes, slipping my other arm round him too, and he smiled softly before kissing my forehead. My eyes fluttered closed at the light contact, and I felt my entire body relax when he began rubbing soothing circles on the small of my back.

"We're here," he said softly a few moments later and, as if on cue, the doors behind me slid open and we were greeted by a wall of noise as Chelsea and Afton stepped out into the hallway. People were laughing and talking somewhere close by and, though it was almost entirely drowned out by the voices, I could just about make out the music playing in the background. Christ.

I lifted my head, having not even realized I'd been leaning it against Edward's chest until just then, then gazed up at him again as panic washed over me. His expression softened the moment our eyes met, and I knew he'd already realized something was wrong. The hand that was on the small of my back pressed down gently, guiding me further in to him, and I let out a shuddering breath as he pressed his forehead against mine, no longer able to stop myself from wrapping my arms tighter around him.

"Don't worry," he breathed. "It'll be fine. They'll like you, B, I promise."

B. I smiled to myself, then closed my eyes and pressed my lips against his, truly glad we had this false relationship for the first time since I'd gotten here. At least I had a legitimate excuse to act as nervous as I suddenly felt and could get some kind of comfort from somebody, even if it was only physical.

"You ready?" Edward whispered as he leaned back from me, eyeing me carefully. I sighed softly, then nodded as confidently as I could and smiled. "Want me to carry you again?"

"And look like even more of an idiot?" I shook my head frantically. "Fuck no."

"Bella, please," Edward murmured, looking concerned. "I don't want you to be in any more pain than necessary, and if carrying you will-"

I placed my finger over his lips. "I'm okay."

He nodded reluctantly, then hesitated for a moment before slipping his arms around me and hugging me tightly to him. I hugged him back instantly despite my surprise, then hummed contentedly when he kissed my neck and buried his face in my hair.

"I didn't realize you were such a 'hug' person," I breathed softly after a few moments, and smiled when I felt him chuckle against me.

"Is that a complaint?" he murmured, but made no move to let me go.

"No," I sighed, squeezing him tighter. "It's most definitely not a complaint."

I felt Edward smile against my neck, then smiled brightly at him as he pulled back and gazed into my eyes.

"Now you're ready," he teased, and in that moment, I truly was.

"Let's go before I can talk myself out of this," I said softly, for the cameras more than anything else. Edward laughed quietly, shaking his head, then moved his arm until it curved round my waist before pulling me in to his side and kissing my temple.

I leaned in to him for support as we exited the elevator/shuttle, and made a mental note to ask him exactly what the hell it was and how it got here in the first place later on. It took us a while to reach the end of the hallway and, just as we approached the doors, they were pulled open from inside, revealing the grandest banquet hall/ballroom/bar I had ever seen in my entire life – and I'd seen a lot of them.

Judging by the size of the place, I could only assume they'd converted two levels of a warehouse and somehow managed to decorate and furnish it with what could only be custom designed and made furniture. All of it was way too grand to be shop bought, and the fact that every single piece was perfectly sized and shaped for the room only confirmed my initial suspicions. How they'd managed to pull this off without anyone knowing was beyond me. Mind you, so was the fact that nobody had noticed all the construction work that must have gone on in order to build a place this size in the first place. How the fuck had they eluded us for so long?

I was brought back from my thoughts by the sound of someone clearing their throat beside me, and startled slightly when I turned and saw a man I didn't recognize standing way too close for comfort.

"Um…" I began, but Edward quickly cut in for me.

"Good evening, Caius," he greeted politely, reaching out to take the man's hand before turning to the woman beside him.

"Athenodora," he murmured, nodding at her. She gave him a curt nod back, curving her arm tighter around Caius' arm as she did so.

"This is Isabella," Edward said softly as he gently guided me closer to his side, almost as though trying to protect me. I smiled nervously at Caius, sticking my hand out for him to shake.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." I tried to echo the confidence in Edward's voice, and must have had some success, for Caius smiled before taking my hand and bringing it up to his lips.

"The pleasure is all mine, Isabella." I shuddered at the way he said my name, biting back the urge to yank my hand from his as he kissed my knuckles before lowering it again. Athenodora scowled at me, and I blushed before pushing myself further into Edward's side, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable.

"Well, as nice as this has been, we'd better go and greet some of our other guests, hadn't we, darling?" Athenodora said sickeningly sweetly, glancing up at Caius. A moment passed between them, and I heard Caius sigh before nodding in agreement.

"If you'll excuse us." With that, Caius and Athenodora moved on from Edward and I, and I felt my entire body relax as we watched them go.

"That's Caius and his wife," Edward murmured softly into my ear, startling me slightly. I turned my head back in his direction and gazed up into his eyes, waiting for more information, which he didn't hesitate to give.

"Caius is one of the… top dogs here," he explained, glancing behind us to where I assumed Caius was now standing. "He's in charge of all weaponry, both dealing and in-house supplying, and is in charge of what they call, uh… 'debt reclaim'."

"Debt reclaim?" I whispered, frowning. "What do you mean?"

"When people owe money or supplies to The Volturi, it's Caius and his department's job to go out and… get even on those debts. And if they can't or won't pay up…" He trailed off, knowing I'd understand what he was hinting at.

"So he's, like, an underboss? Or is he a caporegime?" I wondered as I tried to get my head round it all. Edward laughed and shook his head, obviously finding what I'd said amusing for some reason.

"What?"

"Bella, The Volturi aren't the mob," he said softly, a small smile playing on his lips. "Things don't work that way."

"What?" I frowned deeply, then shook my head. "No, I mean, I know they aren't the mob, but I just thought… I was told that…"

"Not everything you've been told is accurate," Edward sighed, looking slightly irritated, though at whom, I wasn't sure. "Things within The Volturi are much more complicated than you could imagine."

"I'm starting to realize that," I muttered. "So how is this hierarchy thing arranged, then?"

"It's complicated," Edward mumbled, then gently squeezed my waist and began to move away from the doors and towards a more secluded area of the room, taking care not to walk too fast so that I could keep up with him. "There's no set hierarchy for everyone, as such, but for the main players… Okay, I'll break this down into mafia terms for you." He stopped walking suddenly and turned to face me, cupping my face in his hands.

"Aro is the Boss. He controls everything, though he likes to let Caius and Marcus think they're on par with him. Caius is kind of an Underboss/Capo, depending on which way you look at it. He delegates jobs out to certain people, mainly Felix and Demetri, who you've already met, unfortunately…" I nodded in understanding, knowing just when and how that meeting had taken place; Felix had been the one I'd managed to kick when they'd first grabbed me.

Edward's expression softened suddenly, and he smiled before leaning in to kiss me, his lips gentle and soft against mine. One of his hands slipped down to grip my waist and squeezed twice as he pulled my lower body into his, letting me know someone was coming towards us. I tilted my face up slightly, pushing my lips harder onto his, then sighed as he pulled away and gave me a small smile.

I smiled weakly back at him, suddenly feeling nervous again, then saw Edward glance over my shoulder at something, and turned my head in the direction he was looking in.

Oh, fuck.

"Hello there, Edward."

"James." Edward nodded curtly, and shook the hand James had offered him before smiling stiffly at Vicky, who was standing beside him. "Victoria."

"Edward," Vicky – Victoria, I mentally corrected – practically purred, smiling in what I assumed she meant to be a seductive way as she stepped forwards and kissed both of Edward's cheeks. "I'm surprised to see you here! I thought you weren't coming."

"There was a change of plan," Edward replied politely, squeezing my hip. I slipped my arm further round him, trying my best not to look up at James, who was eyeing me up in that creepy way he had.

"It's so nice of you to bring Isabella here," Victoria told him, glancing at me and sneering before looking down at my feet. "And to let her borrow your shoes, too. How cute."

"It is, isn't it?" I smiled back at her, leaning heavily into Edward's side and placing a possessive hand on his chest as I glanced down at Vicky's feet. "Oh, wow, are those from last year's Jimmi Choo collection?" I asked, and judging by the furious blush that spread across her cheeks, I could tell I'd been right. "How cute."

We glared at each other for a few moments, but her eyes soon flickered down to Edward's hand as it slipped from my waist down to my ass. She swallowed hard, jealousy practically pouring off her in waves, and when her eyes flicked back up to mine, I couldn't help but smile before turning my head back in Edward's direction.

"Baby, um…" I paused for effect, waiting until I had Edward's full attention before trailing my hand down his chest and toying with one of his shirt buttons. "Do you know where I can get a drink? I'm gasping."

"Sure," he replied, squeezing my ass twice in warning. "I'll go get you one. The usual?"

"Yes, please, baby," I murmured, then moaned softly as he leaned in to kiss me before walking away and heading in the direction of the bar on the other side of the room where another crowd of people had gathered.

"He's such a sweetheart," I told Victoria, grinning as I watched Edward go. "He really takes good care of me. He always has."

"Yes, well…" Victoria leaned in to James, but he just kept his eyes trained on me, evidently unaffected by her. "James is always helping me out down in the warehouse when he's not on another job. He loves to drop in for surprise visits, if you know what I mean?"

"Oh, I know what you mean." I smiled, then glanced in Edward's direction. "Edward used to do that all the time."

"And he doesn't now?" Victoria sounded pleased at that news. "Oh, what a shame. I guess it's because you're so… banged up, right?"

I snorted, and smiled as if remembering a past encounter of mine and Edward's. "Oh, no, it's not that," I told her, then took a chance and glanced at James, trying to act confident. "It's just… Well, he doesn't need to drop in so much anymore. We spend a lot of time with each other as it is." I leaned in, making myself blush. "He can't seem to keep his hands off me sometimes."

"I can see that." James glanced pointedly at my cheek and sneered at me before leaning in and whispering, "Do you like it rough, ma petite putain? Or did Eddie not like you snooping around in other peoples' business?"

I leaned away from him, ignoring his comments, and shifted uncomfortably as James smirked and Victoria glared at me. I glanced in the direction of the bar, and sighed with relief when I saw Edward making his way towards us, drinks in hand.

"Excuse me," I muttered, then pushed past James and hurriedly walked to meet Edward halfway, almost forgetting to limp in my haste.

"Hey, baby," Edward said softly, smiling when I came to a stop in front of him. "Are you alright?"

I nodded weakly, grabbing the drink Edward offered me and taking a sip of it. "Just coke?"

Edward smiled apologetically. "I wasn't sure what kind of drink you'd want, so…" He shrugged, offering me the other drink and winking.

"Please tell me you have alcohol in that," I pleaded, then grinned when he nodded and took it from him before taking a sip. Bacardi and coke. Emphasis on the Bacardi.

"Mmm, that tastes good," I half-moaned, half-sighed. "I haven't had one of these in ages. Thank you."

"My pleasure," he replied, then leaned in to kiss me before taking the other drink from me and having some. "You ought to be careful around James and Victoria, you know."

I nodded in understanding, quickly gulping down some more of my drink before asking, "Are they together?"

"Technically? Yes. But everyone knows Victoria's feelings for him run deeper than his do for her."

"I can't imagine James feeling anything for anyone but himself," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "He's an arrogant ass."

"Yeah, but he's also Aro's son."

I almost spat my drink out. "He's what?!"

"Exactly," Edward sighed. "He doesn't really do much for the organization but bug Caius to let him go on jobs, but he still thinks he can do whatever he wants to whoever he wants and get away with it, which is why he targeted you in that corridor yesterday."

"Mmm." I shifted uncomfortably again, not wanting to relive that particular memory, and we stood there in silence for a short while until I gasped with surprise, recognizing the opening notes of the song now playing from the speakers above us – Por Una Cabeza by Carlos Gardel.

"Fuck, I love this song!" I looked up at Edward excitedly, grinning widely despite the confused expression on his face. "God, I used to listen to this all the time when I was younger. I made Charlie dance to it with me whenever it played in that Arnie film, True Lies."

Edward smiled and nodded, then offered his free hand for me to take. "Come on, then."

"Come on, what?" I asked. Now it was my turn to be confused.

Edward laughed, shaking his head, then took my hand in his and pulled me towards the dance floor area in the middle of the room before taking my empty glass from me and handing it and his to someone as we passed them.

"Edward, this really isn't a good idea," I protested as I stumbled slightly in Edward's too-big shoes, but Edward still kept going, all the way to the dance floor.

Other couples were already dancing to the music, some of them taking up the entire floor whilst others just chose to stick to the outside of it, and as I watched them move about the floor, I suddenly felt entirely out of place in my awkward shoes and inelegant limp.

"Edward, can we just-"

"Dance with me, Bella," he said softly, placing one hand on my waist and taking hold of my right one with the other.

"I can't dance like this," I mumbled, shaking my head.

"Yes, you can," he breathed, then pushed me further into him with one hand while holding the other out in position to dance. I inhaled sharply at the closeness of our bodies, and the look in his eyes as he gazed down at me sent a shiver up my spine.

"Okay," I ceded, lifting my free hand and resting it on his shoulder. "But don't blame me when this goes wrong."

"It's all in the leading, Bella," he teased, and then, just like that, we were moving.

At first, we just took awkward, simple steps, both of us trying to learn how the other moved and get in sync with each other while I struggled to keep up with him in my clown shoes, but then the music picked up, and suddenly we just… fit. His steps became more confident, and his body pressed tightly against mine, bringing us flush against each other. With every step we took, our legs would slid between the other's, and feeling him against me like that made my heart rate skyrocket.

Even when the music slowed again, his confidence still remained, and although our steps weren't as powerful, the strength of their effect on me never wavered. I found myself leaning in to him as we moved, and even though part of me was burning to ask how he knew how to dance like this, I was too lost in the moment to act upon it. Not even my newly throbbing foot could ruin this.

The music reached another crescendo pretty soon, and so did our dancing – he was pressed against me so tightly now, it was like we'd somehow fused together, and I blindly followed him in every step he made, even when he suddenly spiraled us round and made me stumble a bit.

"Sorry," I muttered, but Edward just smiled and simplified the steps again, fixing his gaze onto mine.

"Come here," he sighed after a few moments passed, slowing to a stop before gesturing for me to step onto his toes.

"No. I'll crush you," I protested, and he rolled his eyes before leading me into some more steps, though he was less ambitious than he had been before.

"Come on, Edward," I breathed, pushing my hips into his. "I'm not made of glass. You wanted to dance, so dance."

He growled under his breath, shaking his head slightly, and began to lengthen his steps again, making our improvised little mix of steps more complicated as he went until I began to find it hard to keep up with him. I'd never been a brilliant dancer as child and had always enjoyed it despite my lack of talent, but dancing with Edward like this was an entirely new experience for me. It was like there was some sort of charge between us, not electricity as such, but there was definitely some form of underlying tension as we moved; a newfound connection that stirred feelings I didn't recognize deep within me despite my best attempts at keeping them under wraps.

Before now, I'd barely dared to look into his eyes, simply choosing to survey the room and the people within it instead, but I suddenly found myself unable to resist the mounting urge to gaze up at him any longer. The moment our eyes met, I shivered. I wanted so badly to ask him if he could feel what I was, but my mouth and my brain seemed to have disconnected, and all I was able to do was stare.

After a few moments, his gaze turned intense, and before I could properly register the movement, just as the music hit its next peak, he hitched my bad leg up to his hip and held me tightly as he walked backwards, letting my good foot barely graze the floor as he moved. I could barely stifle my smile, knowing he'd taken that move from the film I'd mentioned earlier, then gasped when he lowered my foot back to the floor before leaning me over backwards, his face just inches from mine.

I exhaled shakily, stunned by the intensity of the moment, then laughed when he straightened up, swapped hands, then leaned me over on the other side. He grinned back at me, then slowly straightened up as the song drew to a close, still holding my hand just as tightly, and we gazed at each other for a few moments, caught up in the lingering passion of the dance.

"Bella…"

I leaned in and kissed him, letting my eyes fall shut as his lips moved with mine. His tongue briefly grazed my own before pulling back again, almost as though he was second guessing himself, and I let out a small groan of protest as I slowly opened my eyes once more.

"Edward, I'm…" I began, biting back the sudden disappointment I felt.

He shook his head reassuringly and smiled, chastely pressing his lips to mine again before cupping my cheek in his hand. "Thank you for the dance, Isabella."

I blushed, surprised by my body's reaction to him saying my name like that, then smiled weakly before frowning as he glanced up over my head and smiled.

"Didyme's here," he said by way of explanation when he looked back down at me and saw my confused expression. "She's just making her way over now."

"She's here?" I asked excitedly, feeling a smile form on my face. Edward nodded, then gently guided me to turn by gripping my hips before resting his chin on my shoulder and pointing over to a group of three long tables at the back of the room. I spotted Didyme instantly, and waved at her happily as she smiled and leaned in to murmur something to the man beside her. He turned round to look at us, then nodded at Didyme before calling out to get a young girl's attention and gesturing for her to join them.

"That's her husband, Marcus, and their daughter, Corinne," Edward told me softly as he slid his arms around my waist and kissed my shoulder. "They're part of the more legitimate side of things here. Marcus is on the same sort of level as Caius, and controls a lot of businesses, casinos… that kind of thing. Stuff to draw in the legit money and keep the feds off everyone's backs."

"Marcus O'Bryant," I realized, feeling my eyes widen. "He's… Oh, my God. Him?!"

Edward kissed my shoulder again and pulled me back tighter against him. "The one and only."

"But he… he donates to charities and holds balls and events and…" I mentally kicked myself for being so stupid. Never judge a book by its fucking cover, Bella. But, sure enough, I'd overlooked him during my research, not expecting such a 'good' man to be part of such a hideous organization like this. "Fuck."

"He stays away from the violence side of things, Bella, just like Didyme. Only, instead of healing the wounded directly, he spends money trying to undo damage he hasn't caused." Edward straightened up as Didyme, Marcus and Corinne got closer, and we both smiled brightly at them when they were only a few feet away.

"Bella! You look gorgeous," Didyme gushed as she stepped forwards and hugged me gently, careful not to put too much pressure where she knew I was injured before kissing both my cheeks.

"You look lovely yourself," I told her truthfully, taking in the elegant black gown she was wearing.

"Oh, and Edward!" Didyme smiled happily, and I shifted slightly to the side so that she and Edward could embrace. "You look so happy!"

Edward blushed slightly for the first time since we'd met, and as Didyme moved away from him, he slipped his arm back around my waist and pulled me back into his side, smiling.

"How are you two tonight?" Marcus asked as he reached out and shook Edward's hand before reaching for mine.

"We're doing great so far," Edward replied, glancing down at me for confirmation. I blushed, nodding, then leaned in to him a little more, the memories of just how great things had been going so far making me crave more contact.

"It's good to finally see you down here again, Edward," Marcus said earnestly. "We've missed your company."

"Yes, well… you know what it's like," Edward sighed, smiling apologetically. Marcus gave him an understanding nod in return, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Corinne shift uncomfortably.

"How are you, Corinne?" I asked softly, moving closer to her as Didyme, Marcus and Edward continued to speak. She startled slightly at the sound of her name before looking up at me in shock. For some reason, it seemed like she didn't get directly addressed often.

"I-I'm good," she replied quietly, glancing nervously up at Marcus. "How are you, B-Bella?"

"I'm doing okay," I told her honestly. "I'm in a bit of pain, but it's nothing a drink can't fix."

She smiled sadly and nodded her head, seeming to understand my situation. "I'm sorry you're in pain."

"It's not your fault, Corinne," I assured her, reaching out and placing my hand on her upper arm. She flinched slightly at the contact, then swallowed hard before gazing down at her feet.

"Are you okay?" I asked softly, moving my hand away from her. She nodded weakly, then sighed before looking back up at me and smiling.

"I'm sorry. Mom gave me a, um…" She gestured to her arm, and the moment I saw the faint bruise indicating she'd had some sort of injection recently, I instantly understood.

"Oh! I'm sorry." I smiled apologetically, knowing how painful the slightest touch could be following that kind of injection.

"No, it's fine," she assured me, smiling again before glancing down at my feet. "What happened?"

"Oh, that?" I wiggled my good toes and sighed. "I had a little accident and broke my toes." Corinne gasped. "I was standing a bit too close to the door when Edward opened it."

"That's not entirely true," Edward piped up from behind me, and I smiled as I felt him slide his arm around me. "It was my fault for not paying attention."

I scoffed and shook my head, then sighed as he kissed my temple. "Sorry to interrupt, but dinner's ready."

He gestured over to the long tables Didyme had originally come from, and I gasped at the number of people who had already gathered there and were walking around the edges of the tables, reading little white cards that were carefully placed at the center of each plate.

"They made seating arrangements?" I asked, stunned.

"They always do," he murmured, then smiled at Corinne, who sighed softly before scurrying away to join Didyme and Marcus, who had somehow already made it to their places at the table.

"Who do you reckon they'll put us with?" I wondered, frowning as I tried to figure out where we'd most likely be.

"Knowing Aro, we'll be near Afton and Chelsea and maybe even him and Sulpicia."

"Who's Sulpicia?" I looked up at him and placed my hand on his chest, trying to make us look less suspicious.

"Sulpicia is Aro's wife. She's only with him because this kind of life is all she knows," Edward murmured, gazing down at me. "They married young, and she fell pregnant with James soon after. She's been hooked in from the start."

I sighed sadly and nodded in understanding. I knew that feeling all too well, simply doing something because it's the only thing you know how to or feeling trapped by it to some degree. Only, I wasn't filled with as much regret as Sulpicia may have been. At least I was doing it for a good cause.

"What about Afton and Chelsea?" I asked, frowning again. "Why would they sit near us?"

Edward hesitated for a moment, then leaned down and kissed me softly before taking my hand in his and squeezing before tilting his head in the direction of the tables. I nodded, smiling, then let him slowly guide me towards the tables, knowing it was crucial that we at least appeared to be in character.

"Afton is nicknamed the human lie detector, Bella," he whispered. "He has this… ability which enables him to detect microexpressions. Are you aware of-"

"I know what microexpressions are," I told him, trying my best not to outwardly react to the news. Microexpressions were a pretty dangerous thing in our world. Although very few people had the ability to detect them live, they'd still been covered in our training extensively just in case a situation like this arose while we were out in the field. Microexpressions were almost impossible to fake, let alone hide, and could be a dead giveaway if picked up on by the wrong people. They lasted less than a second at best, and were basically involuntary facial expressions which depicted seven emotions: sadness, happiness, disgust, anger, fear, surprise, and contempt, the last three of which being especially hazardous if detected at the wrong time. Like now, for instance.

"Chelsea isn't much better," Edward warned, sounding nervous all of a sudden. "She reads body language, and seems to just… She knows when people are faking. She's a useful tool to have when her skills are aimed at the right people; she can tell how strong people's relationships are, simply by the positioning of their bodies and the way they move when they're near each other."

I swallowed hard and nodded, again, trying not to outwardly show my panic. This was bad news.

"But I think you already picked up on that, so well done," Edward continued, smiling down at me as we neared the middle table. "I mean, in the elevator… the way you seemed to center yourself around me was just… it was genius. I wish I'd thought of it myself."

I smiled weakly and tried to laugh it off, ignoring the strange feeling that had settled upon me at his words. I hadn't known about Chelsea until now. Yes, I'd realized something was up, but if I'd 'centered myself' around Edward like he claimed I had, it certainly wasn't a conscious decision.

"Shit," Edward muttered suddenly, then nodded to someone up ahead of us before speeding up and pulling me along behind him. "Brace yourself."

"Edward!"

Oh, fuck.

"Good evening, Aro," Edward said loudly as we neared the head of the middle table, and I almost stumbled over my shoes when he came to an abrupt stop in front of two chairs opposite none other than Chelsea and Afton.

"I took the liberty of ordering your usual for both you and Isabella," Aro informed him, and I had to bite back a shudder when he turned his attention to me. "How are you, my dear?"

"I'm fine, thank you," I replied. "And yourself?"

"I'm splendid," Aro sighed, smiling as he surveyed the room and all his guests in one smooth sweep. "Are you enjoying yourself so far, Isabella? I must say, you dance rather beautifully. It's a pleasant surprise, considering what I've been told about your… physical condition."

"That was all Edward's leading," I assured him, laughing softly. "And the Bacardi. And the pain killers."

Aro laughed too loudly, then gestured for Edward and I to take our seats. "Please, do sit."

"Thanks," I murmured, and couldn't help but smile softly when Edward pulled my chair out for me before I had the chance to even move. I glanced up at him, grateful for the gesture, then felt myself blush as he pushed my chair in before taking his own seat beside me, instantly reaching for my hand and holding it tightly.

"We're having filet mignon," Edward told me softly as he pulled our hands into his lap and began to trace random circles across my skin. "Is that okay?"

"Of course," I assured him, smiling. "What woman doesn't love a bit of meat?"

Edward smirked and squeezed my hand as he leaned in and whispered, "Behave."

I smiled again, then reached forwards to pick up a glass of water from where it had been placed in front of me, suddenly needing the distraction.

"Would you like some wine, Madame?"

I jumped at the sound of a man's French-accented voice coming from behind me, almost spilling my water in the process, then twisted around to look at him. "Excuse me?"

"Wine, Madame," he repeated, politely ignoring my mini freak out. "Would you like some?"

"Umm…" I glanced at Edward for help. I hated wine.

"No thank you, Laurent," Edward replied, squeezing my hand again. "Bella will be having a vodka and cranberry juice and I'll be having the Chateau Margaux."

I felt my eyes widen with shock at his selection of drinks; vodka and cranberry was one of my favorites, though he didn't know that, and Chateau Margaux was expensive. Really expensive.

"Certainly, Sir," Laurent murmured, smiling at us both before nodding and scurrying away again, presumably to get our drinks.

"Chateau Margaux?" I hissed at Edward once Laurent was out of earshot, leaning in to keep our conversation private. "Are you shitting me?"

Edward smirked, though I could tell it was just for everyone else's sake, and before he had the chance to speak, Aro chimed in, "Cost is not an issue here, Isabella. It's simply a matter of quality."

"Right," I mumbled, fighting the urge to roll my eyes.

"You don't agree?" Aro sounded curious. Edward gave a small smile as he let go of my hand to reach for his glass of water, and I didn't hesitate to let my hand rest high on his upper thigh, needing to feel his warmth and support.

"No, it's not that. I just…" I cleared my throat awkwardly, then glanced up into Aro's eyes for just a moment as I continued, "I don't see the point in spending thousands of dollars on something you can only enjoy for a short while and will leave you craving more. I think it would just be more… worthwhile to settle for something not as exquisite which you can have more of."

"You don't come from money do you, Isabella?" Aro asked.

"No, Sir, I don't," I replied proudly. Aro smiled, as though what I'd just said explained everything.

"Pity," he murmured after a few moments, then sighed before pushing his chair back from the table and standing up. The entire hall seemed to fall silent just seconds later, everyone having turned all of their attention to Aro.

"Good evening, everyone," he called surprisingly quietly. The guests all murmured their greetings in return, and Aro smiled brightly before continuing, "I've been informed by our chefs that our first course is almost ready, so I shall keep this short." Everyone laughed; clearly short speeches weren't really his thing. Edward's hand slipped down onto his thigh, moving to cover mine reassuringly.

"In light of recent events," he looked pointedly down at me, "I would like to remind everyone that guests must be pre-approved by Caius, Marcus or myself prior to arrival for the safety of everyone involved."

I swallowed hard and glanced down at my lap, only to have Edward turn slightly in his seat and cup my cheek in his hand, coaxing my head back up so he could gaze into my eyes.

"I love you," he mouthed, and I smiled weakly as if embarrassed before mouthing it back. He smiled in return, then glanced over my shoulder and lowered his hand from my cheek.

I turned curiously, wondering what Edward had been looking at, then felt my eyes widen as Laurent silently approached, carrying two extremely large looking glasses over on a tray.

"As you all know, security has been tightened following an alert of a potential breech in confidentiality through one of our associates, but I reassure you all now that you are in no danger," Aro continued, oblivious to Laurent, who handed both Edward and I our drinks before hurrying off again. "The leak has been plugged and our friends down at the Bureau have assured me that there is nothing to worry about and that they are handling it."

Several people voiced their approval, and Aro smiled widely before nodding once at somebody I couldn't see. "As always, it's a pleasure to see you all again, and I would like to extend an invitation for each of you to join me down to the den following dinner. The usual entertainment will be provided, plus a few… extras for those who desire them."

Edward slipped his hand a little higher up my leg, and I had to fight back a shudder as his fingers brushed the inside of my thigh. He smirked slightly, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye, then casually lifted his wine glass to his lips with his free hand and took a sip. I shook my head slightly, then slid my own hand dangerously high up his thigh in return and gently squeezed before raising my own glass, copying his movements.

The moment the sweetness of the cranberry juice hit my tongue, I had to bite back a moan. Wow. I could barely taste the vodka, which was a good thing, I decided, and briefly wondered if they'd imported the cranberry juice somewhere like they had the Chateau Margaux. Maybe that was part of what Marcus did?

Before I had the chance to dwell on it, Aro began to speak again, and I reluctantly turned my attention back to him as I continued drinking.

"I'm sure many of you will be wanting to retire to your suites or returning to your homes pretty soon after the meal, so in case I don't see you before then, I hope you all enjoy your evening."

Edward glanced at me and smiled, and I instantly found myself smiling right back at him as a blush stained my cheeks.

"Bon appetite!"