MeteorOnAMoonlessNight: Devil Incarnate Chapter Nine

Stunned, Edward sat back in his chair and stared at the man claiming to be from the CIA. “Proof.”

With a small smirk, Holden pulled out an identification packet and tossed it at Edward. “I know everything you’ve ever done, Cullen.”

“I’ve never had any charges stick, if that’s where you think you’re going with this.”

“You never stopped to consider why? You may be a canny businessman, but there are always certain aspects at play that you’ll never know about.”

He had to be bluffing. Jenks was a fantastic lawyer, that was all. And Edward kept his fingers out of the filthier actions of the mafia those days. No, he didn't believe Holden’s veiled claim that he or others like him had made certain to keep the Cullen Family from serving jail time.

“I can see by your expression you don’t believe me. I don't care. The point is, we need to work together now. Zion is a vast organization with roots and tendrils growing into every nook and cranny of the world. They’re Russian, but they have operations in Iraq, Italy, the UK and the US. Pretty sure they’re in other locations as well, but we haven't proven it yet.”

“I don't deal with Russians, so what would they want with me?” That was the one thing Edward and the others hadn't been able to figure out. Why him? Why his family?

The soldier who dropped the file in front of Holden now dropped a photo in front of Edward.

“Look familiar?”

“Oh, my God.”

At her outburst, he saw Bella shudder out of the corner of his eye. It seemed fate wasn't done fucking them over yet.

“I see.”

“Their leader married her. Apparently, when they needed a fuck buddy, your name came up.”

“Who the fook is that ghastly looking creature?” Seamus asked, his fingers spread over his eyes.

“Heidi Young, widow of a rival who’s home blew up,” Emmett answered.

“We’ll pretend it wasn't you,” Holden said with a smirk.

Bella leaned over to study the picture. “And who did she marry?”

Holden opened a folder and produced several pictures. Pointing to them as he spoke, he began his story. “Ivan Zaytsev founded Zion approximately thirty years ago. He began with goals similar to your father’s—to run the area they lived in and be the big man in charge. Weapons, drugs, girls, you name it, they traded in it.”

“Ugh.”

“Funny how mafia men all do illegal shit,” Holden said to Rose, “but everyone seems to have a gut reaction when we mention sex trafficking.”

“How did they branch out?” Edward asked.

“Ivan was single for most of his adult life. He preferred to dabble with the women they trafficked. His second in command is Alexei Aleyev, who he entrusted with his daughter, Katja. When the two of them came to the United States to broaden their organization, they stuck with New York at first. They ran a handful of boroughs there, but they always wanted more. So they ventured west until they settled in Washington.”

“And somehow this douche got in touch with one of our former rivals?” Emmett asked.

“Sort of. Ivan sent out feelers when he decided he should marry. Katja is illegitimate and not likely to take over, but Ivan had already bequeathed his empire to Alexei. He didn't exactly need a wife, so we don’t know why he chose to find one. But he went through the mystical back channels all you felons use when you want something. Heidi was looking for a sugar daddy more than anything else. She had the money left to her by Laurent, but she went through that like toilet paper during the stomach flu. Gianna hadn't found a match either, since you dumped her at the altar.”

When Holden smirked at him, Edward rolled his eyes and refrained from responding.

“Enter Nikolai Demov, their contact here in the states. He moved up the ranks fairly quickly, so he was deemed worthy of Gianna, or maybe it was the other way around. At any rate, Heidi wouldn't allow her daughter to marry before she did, so the deal was she got a big splashy second wedding to Ivan and offered her daughter up as a lamb for the slaughter.”

Edward felt Bella shudder again.

“By all accounts, Gianna despises Nikolai. They have one son, Pavel. The stepsisters aren't fond of each other, either, which makes for interesting conversations when the family gathers.”

“Which of course you listen to,” Ben muttered.

Holden grinned in response. “There are two other major players, Sergei Kirilov and his wife, Zoya, and Artem Revyakin and his wife, Masha. The women don’t know squat about what their husbands are up to, except that it’s illegal and it brings in huge rolls of cash. Unfortunately, Ivan couldn't stop at just being a mafia king. No, he had to look into nuclear and bio weapons. He wants to rule the world, but only after he destroys it. They’ve claimed responsibility for a number of mass murders, and we are always one step behind them.”

“Which is apparently where we come in,” Edward stated.

“Yep.”

“Are you the person I was communicating with online?” Ben asked.

“No, but it was one of our operatives, Jamal. Unfortunately, he’s on the take. Zion got to him through a student at CalTech who’s related to the Zaytsevs. They’re holding his father in an Iraqi prison, which, let me tell you, is an ugly place to be. They bargained to release Jamal’s father in return for information on this bomb.”

“So, if they knew where it was, why did they make us find it?” Edward folded his hands on the table, leaning forward to look Holden in the eye. “It makes no sense.”

“They don't make sense, I’ll give you that. All I know is they want a scapegoat to do their dirty work. If they can make you miserable while they play this game with you, all the better for them. They can’t steal it, I’ll tell you that. They don't have any clue how hard it would be to get into that system.”

Ben scoffed. “I could.”

“No, but Dara Cullen could.”

They stared at Holden in silence for several seconds.

“Wait, so my sister-in-law is better at hacking than Ben here?” Seamus asked.

“Yes, that’s what I’m saying. However, she would have run out of time.”

“Huh.” Seamus scratched his head. “So we were on the right track, but the timer would have run out before we could make the fake deal with Zion.”

“And we can't have that. So, I’ll give you the bomb to borrow”—he used air quotes—“and we’ll come up with a plan together to fool them.”

“It still sounds too dangerous.” Rose knotted her fingers together until Emmett covered them with one of his palms. “Seriously, I don't even like being away from my kids for this amount of time. Anything could happen while we’re gone.”

“I have men watching your house, if that eases your mind.”

“I’m not sure it does.”

“I don’t blame you for that sentiment. However, I have learned over the years that a platoon of men isn't enough to stop evil.”

“Evil doesn't sleep,” Bella murmured, sifting through the photos. “It merely bides its time.”

“All we can do alone is move the bomb, but we know they’ll keep trying. What I don't want is for them to find another way to end the world. They have brilliant men in their employ working on everything from hacking satellites to boring holes in the ground to hide their equipment in. Eventually, they’ll slip past us, and I can’t have that.”

“Do you think Heidi told him to pick us?” Rose asked.

“I do,” Edward said. “Her lifestyle was severely hampered when Laurent and Diego died. There was no one left to continue their business, and she and her daughter had to make do.”

“The apple doesn't fall far from the freak tree, that’s for sure.” Seamus rubbed his stubble. “You had the chance to marry that and didn't take it? I’m shocked, I tell ya.”

Emmett snorted.

“You and your family are merely a byproduct of their insanity. They plan to kill us all anyway, so it’s almost a moot point.”

Bella raised her head, glaring at Holden. “I don't appreciate your cavalier attitude. We’ve been frantically trying to figure out how to stop a terrorist in his tracks while you play computer games.”

Holden looked at Edward, then back to Bella. “I get it now.”

“Get what?” she snapped.

“Why he married you.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Because I can kill you before you can so much as blink?”

“As much fun as it would be to let you try, we have to solidify our plan to take down Zion. One thing you were damn smart about was having all your meetings in the basement. We truly couldn't listen in.”

Edward practically felt the steam rising off Bella. Under the table, he gripped her hand. “We were going to access the bomb, attach a tracker, hand it off to them, then steal it back from them once we found their location.”

“That might work. We have trackers they won't be able to detect.”

“So do we,” Ben said with a smirk.

“I see. Well, if that works, then who will go in to steal it back?”

“We haven't nailed it down that far,” Seamus responded. “We were more worried about finding the bomb in the first place and liberating it from its current cage.”

“I have a man, redhead with a decent County Cork accent. Kiernan O’Byrne. He’ll act as one of your many cousins to help guide you in the field.”

“And we’re supposed to trust this fooker because you say so?”

“Yes, Seamus,” Holden said patiently.

“Are we done for now?” Bella was clearly tired and possibly had something to say she didn't want Holden to hear.

“For now. There’s a van waiting for you out front. I’ll meet you at your hotel for breakfast.”

Edward didn't bother asking if he knew which hotel they were at because the answer was obvious. The six of them stood, leaving through the same door they entered.

“That was surreal.” Emmett stretched before tucking his thumbs in the straps of his vest.

“We need to get back to Seattle and update everyone.”

“You may be right, Ben, but we have to stay at least one more night.” Edward wasn't sure how he felt about being someone else’s bitch, but he also knew the alliance was their only real hope of saving the world.

Bella was silent as they drove. Apprehension settled over Edward’s shoulders as he thought about her changing attitude over the course of the meeting. She’d gotten Holden to open up, but she hadn't seemed happy with what he had to say.

Once they finally parted ways in the hotel hallway, Edward let them into their suite. They’d barely had time to enjoy anything about the place since they’d arrived, but maybe he could convince her to relax in a hot bath.

“I despise him.”

Or not.

“Why, in particular?” Edward opened the suitcase on the bed, pulling out gray sweatpants and a white t-shirt.

“He’s arrogant, rude, and assuming.”

“And can undoubtedly hear you.”

“Good. Fuck you, James Holden!”

“Bella.” Edward dropped the clothes and enveloped her in his arms. “What’s wrong?”

She remained stiff in his embrace. “They could have done this themselves. They could have fixed this before it ever reached our doorstep.”

“He said they needed us.”

“No, they didn't. That agency has more power than anyone else, but I’m supposed to believe they need our help?”

Propping his chin on her head, he rubbed circles over her back. “I believe him. He said they’re always a step behind, so maybe Zion discusses their top secret crap behind impenetrable walls too.”

“He sounded like it was no big deal to him that our children have feared for their lives. All of our children.”

“I understand.”

Finally, she sank against him, digging her fingers into his shirt. “I’ve been so on edge, thinking everyone will suddenly blow up with no warning. Wondering if this is the day my babies die. Now, or ten minutes from now? Or tomorrow or next week. I know it’s coming, and that’s the worst type of anticipation.”

Her shuddered breath echoed throughout his bones. Horrendous terror had them all in its clutches, the type which stole their breath and fogged their minds. Relief wasn't instantaneous, especially not knowing whether their plan would actually work. What if they were still one step behind?

“All we can do is work the plan, angel. Trust in each other and not let anything else get in the way.”

Rising up, she pressed her lips to his, and he tasted the salt of her tears. Her urgency spurred him on, and soon he scooped her up and placed her on the bed.

“Nothing will happen to you or the kids, Bella. I swear it.”

Unwilling to see the doubt in her eyes, he moved down to pull off her clothes. If she stopped believing in him—in them—then Zion had already done their job.

Long fingers found their way to her buttons and hems. Arching and moaning, Bella curled her toes as though she already felt the wave of heat he planned to bring her. The quiet moments were the most enduring, when he and his angel were alone together. When he could show her what words failed to express.

And touching the sensitive spot behind her knee with his tongue, he blazed a trail of desire up her thigh to kiss her navel. Her hips rose, begging him to fill her; he stopped only long enough to undress. Their connection brought a sharp cry tripping from Bella’s lips, drowning out the thundering of his heart. Looking down at her face, he silently asked her to open her eyes. He needed to know what she thought, what she felt. Desperately, he thrust in and out, wishing he could read her mind.

“My world begins and ends with you.”

Finally, she graced him with deep whiskey eyes. Love and passion warred within, and he nearly wept with gratitude that it wasn't some other emotion staring back at him.

Lost in her, he circled her clit until she sobbed, calling his name as she shivered and clamped down on him. Gazes locked, he pumped his hips and filled her with everything he had inside.

“I love you so much,” she said in the quiet aftermath.

“I love you, too, Bella. Always.”