Mafia Princess

Chapter Seventy-Seven

Twilight...not mine (sigh).

Chapter Seventy-Seven

Dinner with Mario and Francesca was quite delightful. When we left, we had enough leftovers to last for days. I think that I've gained ten pounds from the month that I spent in the del Cigno home. Food is love in the del Cigno household.

Mario did declare me the winner of our little wager. Bella was pissed, but eagerly waiting for her reward.

Tomorrow night.

I'd do that tomorrow night.

Maybe? Perhaps, I shouldn't continue this sexual exploration. It's leading her on and it's fucking with my heart, not to mention my brain.

So confused.

We got back home and put the leftovers into the fridge. Bella said she was tired and went to the bedroom. I told her that I was going to stay up for a while longer, watch some television. She kissed me and got ready for bed. I watched an hour of television before checking on Bella. She was naked...Dear God, help me...and asleep in our bed. I picked up my laptop and kissed her forehead. I needed to log a report. So, I picked up the keys for the Maserati and locked up the house before driving to a nearby twenty-four hour internet café.

I found a corner and logged into my computer. I began typing my report of what I'd experienced in Italy and everything that Bella had told me. I kept it as clinical and cold as possible, not letting my respect for Charlie spill over into the report. Twenty pages later, I encrypted the file and sent it to Carlisle. I turned off my laptop and left the café. I took out my cell phone, issued from the bureau from my laptop bag and dialed my parents' home. I knew it was roughly an eleven hour difference. It was about midnight in Italy, so it was eleven in the morning in Seattle. Esme would be home.

I needed her.

"Hello?" came the musical voice of my adoptive mother.

"Hi, Mom," I said as I strolled toward the beach.

"Oh, Edward," she breathed. "I've missed you. Carlisle said you're on an assignment out of the country."

"Yeah, the op I'm on has me protecting this girl and she needed to travel. I'm with her," I explained. I sat down on the sand. "I need your help, Mom."

"Is it about the girl?" she asked, her mom senses kicking into high gear.

"How much do you know? What did Dad say?" I asked, laughing quietly.

"That she's the daughter of the man you're trying take down," Esme said.

"Yeah," I breathed. "Mom, I think I love her."

"But, you're concerned about the job or about how she's going to react when she finds out about your true intentions. Am I right?"

"You should join the bureau as a profiler, Mom," I snickered.

"I don't think so. I'm happy doing what I'm doing," she replied.

"What should I do?" I pressed. "I want to turn off my emotions but we've done stuff and..."

"She can touch you?"

"Yes, she can. Mom, her touch makes me feel normal. I don't get that panicky feeling," I said.

"Edward, my sweet boy, you are in a pickle," she giggled.

"Mom, really?"

"Okay, okay," she said. "Edward, you are in way over your head. I'm happy that you've found love but I'm worried that since it's with a girl that will ultimately resent you due to your position. Carlisle should have pulled you but you're in for a penny, in for a pound."

"What should I do? I don't want these feelings to stop. Conversely, I need them to stop because I need to separate myself from her," I said, tossing some rocks into the ocean.

"Don't do that, Edward. It'll hurt more if you suddenly turn cold. Will this affect your case?"

"No, so far it hasn't," I said. "However, it has changed the direction of the case. Originally, we wanted to take down Bella's dad, but Aro Volturi is the bigger threat."

"Have you spoken to your father about the possibility of witness protection or cooperation with the federal government?" she asked.

"He's working on it. Mom, Charlie isn't a bad guy. I've never seen him do anything like I'd read in the reports from prior to my going under," I said. "Those reports described a sadistic monster. Charlie is anything but that. He loves his family and takes care of his crew. Yeah, he's a bit of a male slut, but he's..."

"You respect him," Mom said quietly.

"Yeah."

"So, let me get this straight. You respect your mark, you love his daughter, and you can be touched by his daughter."

"Pretty much, that's it," I grumbled.

"Edward, I love you, but you're fucked," Esme giggled.

"Thanks, Mom," I deadpanned. "You're a wealth of information and you're not helping me put my mind at ease."

"Okay, okay. Do your job, Edward. You're an amazing agent and I know you'll complete your assignment to the best of your abilities. However, you need to be prepared that when your true identity is revealed, she's probably going to never want to see you again," Esme said. "I hate that you will be hurt..."

"It's my own fault," I said, my heart breaking at the possibility of being alone, of hurting Bella. "I should leave. I shouldn't be here."

"Edward, stop it," Esme admonished. "Don't do anything rash. As cold as this sounds, think about the case."

"I don't care about the fucking case," I growled. "I want her, Mom. I want her to love me. She's said it. In her sleep, but she said she loved me. Do you know how badly I want that?"

"We love you, too," Esme sniffled.

"I know you do, but sometimes I think you loved me out of necessity, not..."

"No, Edward. I love you because you're my son. I may not have given birth to you, but you are my son. It broke my heart when you came into our house with those fearful green eyes. It broke my heart that you slept in the closet with the door barricaded shut because you didn't want to be hurt anymore. It broke my heart that you wouldn't let us touch you. I wanted so badly to hug you, Edward. I wanted to take all of your pain away, sweetheart. I still do. That's why I'm sad about this situation with your Bella. You're going to be hurt again and I'm so terrified that it will take you away from us," she whispered. She sobbed quietly and I felt like an ass. "Nothing will change the fact that I love you, Edward."

"I love you, too, Mom," I sniffled. "I'm sorry that I..."

"I know, baby. Look, I hate to run, but I'm meeting with a client soon and I have to pull myself together," she said shakily. "I pray that this works out for you, Edward. I truly do. All a mother wants for her children is for them to be happy. I want you happy and hopefully, in time, Bella will forgive you."

"Doubtful," I muttered.

"I love you, Edward," she said. "Stay safe."

"Love you, too, Mom. I'll try."

A/N: Some heavy conversation for our Edward. I know some of you have expressed concern about Edward being 'cruel.' He's not intentionally being cruel. For the first time in his life, he's happy and in love. He's at a loss as to what to do. The 'character' he's playing is as close as it could be to him. The story of his life is the truth. His feelings are real. He would NEVER toy with Bella's emotions like that. Just saying...Leave me some.

mn