Mafia Princess

Chapter One-Hundred Eighty-Two

Twilight...not mine (sigh).

Chapter 182

BPOV

Two and half months have passed since our date and our promises to each other. Two months of healing, grueling physical therapy and growing as a couple, attending couples therapy and reclaiming me. Edward and I were definitely a strong couple now. Probably stronger than we were before. We worked through Edward's feeling of guilt and remorse for letting Riley get me (despite the fact that he was bleeding and unconscious by my hand). I worked through my trust issues along with my fear of intimacy. Physical intimacy. We were one of those nauseating, always-have-to-be-touching couples. But, we'd yet to broach the topic of sex. Making out was great. Touching each other over the clothes was okay, but once any part of my skin was touched, I'd freak out. We were working on that slowly. It was ironic that the man who had a fear of touch was now helping me getting over my own fear. It was slow-going. My face, hands, arms and back were fair game. My chest, specifically my breasts, belly and hips were definitely off limits. Our make out sessions were leaving me wanting more and neither one of us could do anything about it because of my anxiety.

It was my brain's way of protecting me. In a way, I was okay with that. I felt horrifically ugly from my ordeal. My body was littered with scars and wounds. I'm surprised Edward still wants me.

Stop it, Bella. He loves you.

It was just after Thanksgiving, which we spent with Edward's adoptive parents. Esme was still a bit cold towards me but I understood why she was. I'd screwed over her son numerous times and I had a lot of groveling to do. Hell, I was still groveling to Edward. We were improving but he was still wary of my intentions. He had every right to be and it was my own damn fault.

The trial was starting in a matter of days against Aro Volturi. I was one of the star witnesses. So was Edward. I was terrified of going on the stand, but I had to do it to put it behind me. I needed to show Aro, the no-balled freak, that he didn't ruin me. Every day I got stronger, both physically and mentally. I was without a cast but I still had a limp at the end of the day. I was down to therapy sessions on Mondays and Thursdays. Mondays were with Irina for me. Thursdays was couple's therapy for Edward and me with a colleague of Dr. Molina's, Dr. Kampf.

In regards to the trial, Edward had been prepping me for what was going to happen. We had used the conference room in the federal building to do our prep. The U.S. Attorney, Phil Dwyer, worked with me, acting as the prosecuting attorney in our preps. Edward was acting as the defense.

My man was fucking scary, let me tell you. But in a good way. He was going to kick ass when was a practicing lawyer.

I loved Edward immensely but damn, he nearly made me pee my pants with his rapid-fire questions and cold demeanor. As soon as the exercise was done, the façade dropped and my sweet boyfriend was back, but the fact that he could turn it on and off like that was unusual, to say the least.

I was going to be sequestered from the trial until I was called. Thankfully, so was Edward and the rest of the witnesses. I don't know if I could handle seeing Aro in that courtroom for days leading up to my testimony. The trial was taking place in Seattle and due to the sensitive nature of the case, I needed to be in protective custody. This was one of the last duties Edward had to do before he was officially done with the FBI. In January, he was going to fly to Boston and take his final two classes at Harvard Law. I hated that he had to go so far away, but he had to take the required classes at Harvard, plus complete an internship at a local law firm in Boston. He'd be back in June. I already planned out a couple of trips to Beantown with Edward's blessing.

Edward, along with Carlisle and Jasper, were my personal bodyguards for the duration of the trial. I couldn't even stay in my own home. I was staying in an undisclosed location for fear of retaliation from the Volturi family. I was not in witness protection. Just protective custody. If the case went the way that Phil Dwyer believed, Aro, along with his brothers and co-conspirators, would be dead in less than a year.

I was packing a bag for two weeks for the safe house. Edward was going to pick me up and drive us to one location, swap cars and drive us to the safe house. Knowing that, I was freaking out. There was a real danger for me despite Aro's incarceration. My phone rang in the kitchen. I hobbled to pick it up, leg still stiff from my physical therapy session with Kate. "Hello?"

"Miss del Cigno, Special Agent Edward Cullen is here," the security guard said in his gruff tone.

"Send him up," I replied. "Thank you!" I busied myself in finishing my packing until I heard a quiet knock on the door. I looked through the peep hole. A lavender rose was in the way. I giggled, opening up the door. Edward was standing outside, wearing one of his many suits and twirling the gorgeous flower. I wrapped my arms around his body, snuggling against his warm chest. "Hi," I breathed.

"Hey yourself," he said, kissing my forehead. "For you, Little One." He handed me the thornless lavender rose. I held it up to my nose, inhaling deeply before reaching up for a kiss from him. He tenderly complied, pressing his soft lips against mine before smiling. "You ready to go?"

"Just putting finishing touches. Carmen and Eleazar picked up Carino just after lunch," I said, pulling him into my condo. "Do you know how long it's going to take to get where we're going?"

"An hour or so. I do apologize for this but Phil is adamant that you are away from the city in case Aro tries something," Edward blushed. "You told Irina and Kate, right?"

"Yeah, they know. I have my list of exercises to do along with my homework," I said, holding up a packet from both of them before tucking it into my messenger bag. Edward rolled my suitcase into the foyer of my condo while slipped on my coat. Offering me his arm, I latched on and we went down to the garage of my building. Parked by the exit was a large SUV with Carlisle behind the wheel and Jasper in the passenger seat. Stowing my bags in the back of the SUV, Edward helped me in first and then followed immediately.

"You ready, Bella?" Carlisle asked.

"I'm ready for this chapter of my life to be closed, Carlisle," I answered.

"I think we all are," Edward smiled, pulling me to his side. He kissed my temple and we were off to the safe house.

A/N: Up next will be the trial...or rather part of it. Edward first, then Bella. Leave me some!!

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