Thank you so much to Mel!

CHAPTER TWO

Bella

"If used wildly all power is poison."

― Abhijit Naskar

The sun was above the horizon by the time my feet landed on solid ground again.

Edward had been busy with his team, discussing how the hell Charlie had managed to kidnap all of us without any resistance.

My body was still struggling to balance out the feelings of sheer terror and exhaustion from the past twenty-four hours, so I stayed curled up in my corner, trying hard not to fall apart completely.

Alice sat beside me, silent though seemingly curious as she listened to the conversation around her. I tried to pay attention, but lack of sleep combined with the ravaging my emotions had done on my nervous system had me near the point of collapsing.

I couldn't take anything else.

A hand moved to my back, and I flinched, looking up to find Edward. He'd changed at some point and was dressed in a black hoodie and sweatpants. Alice and I had been offered dry clothes as well, and I pulled my arms around myself, feeling lost in the foreign sweatsuit.

"Come on," Edward said softly, nudging me forward toward a black car.

"Where are we going?" I asked, my throat raspy.

Edward looked at me. "Japan."

I frowned. "Japan?"

Edward nodded his head. "My family owns it. It'll be safe."

My head spun as I tried to understand what that meant.

Edward guided me into the back seat of an SUV before he climbed in behind me. Alice, who had gone in before me, looked dead on her feet.

I managed to stay awake long enough to see the airport, but the moment we were on the plane, I passed out, my body shutting down and protesting at the stress it had been under.

When I woke again, I found that I was in another unfamiliar bed. I was groggy and disoriented, and on the nightstand I found a large glass of water and some aspirin. I leaned forward to take a drink then hesitated. That was how Charlie had drugged me last time. I couldn't trust anything.

My mouth dry, I shuffled to my feet, taking in the room. The interior was mostly white and modern, with no personality to indicate where I was or who might have me in their custody now. Strangely, there were no windows, and when I noticed this detail, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. What sort of place didn't have windows?

There were three doors in the room, and upon opening the first one, I found a large walk-in closet that was almost empty apart from a few outfits hung up on display. The next door led to a bathroom, and I rushed to the sink, turning on the faucet. I cupped my hand under the stream and bent down, drinking as much as I could. It left a metallic taste in my mouth, but I was grateful for any water at all.

When I was done, I wiped my mouth on a hand towel and took a second to look at myself in the mirror.

I took a moment to study my face. I looked pale with dark bruises surrounding my eyes. Charlie had said I had my mom's mouth, and I supposed the shape was the same, even though I'd never truly noticed before now. I attempted a smile, one of the bright wide ones my mom always wore, but my lips were chapped, and the tightness of my skin led to me looking more like a grinning skeleton than anything else.

I let the smile drop off my face and took in a deep breath. Would I look more like my mom if I'd spent time with her recently? I'd heard people who lived together tended to adopt one another's quirks and expressions.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I could hardly see any traces of my mom left.

Turning away from the vanity, I moved back into the bedroom, taking a breath before I tried the third door.

It was unlocked, and as I yanked it open, I was greeted by the sight of Edward filling the doorway on the other side.

I gasped and his eyes widened. "I'm sorry," he said, holding his hands out toward me. "I was just coming to see how you were doing."

I swallowed hard. "Where am I?"

Edward nodded. "A penthouse in Tokyo," he said. "It's one of my parents' properties."

My eyes widened. "So they know we're here?"

Edward sighed. "Yes. They're on their way."

My stomach simultaneously tightened and dropped at the thought.

"What the hell happened?" I asked, reaching a hand up to my head.

Edward sighed. "Come eat. I'll explain everything over food."

At the mention of sustenance, my stomach growled embarrassingly. I wrapped my arms around my waist and nodded, following Edward as he turned and walked down the hall.

He led me to a sleek living room with large windows that faced an unfamiliar skyline. It was dark out, and the bright neon lights of the city glowed up at us.

"How long was I asleep?" I croaked.

"We landed in Tokyo this morning just after ten. It's past midnight now," he explained.

Fourteen hours or so—not as long as I would have thought.

Edward motioned toward a small glass table set up by the windows. It was piled with different foods, some familiar and some foreign to me.

"Please eat, Bella," Edward said softly.

I glanced at him before picking up a plate and selecting a few items. When I was done, he guided me to the bright white sofas in the living area. I settled with my plate, my stomach growling fiendishly at the thought of food. When had I last eaten?

Edward settled across from me, a tumbler of clear liquid pinched between his long fingers. He watched me silently, and after a moment I realized he was waiting for me to eat. Slowly I picked up a piece of toast, bringing it to my mouth. The bread was fluffy and light, unlike any white bread I'd ever had before.

As soon as Edward saw me chewing, he let out a breath and leaned back in his chair.

"Where do you want me to start?" he asked.

I frowned, thinking as I swallowed. "What happened with Charlie and your parents?"

Edward nodded, wincing. "As I understand it, Charlie met with them while we were still being held on his yacht. His plan was to force them into relinquishing their control on a number of assets." He shook his head. "If they don't kill me for being captured, I'm definitely going to be cut off." His eyes flicked toward me. "I'll be able to maintain enough to keep us both safe, but shit is going to get so much harder without the Sixteen resources."

I frowned. If he was cut off, would our marriage still be needed? Couldn't we just go our separate ways?

"Will you tell me about the Sixteen?" I asked, picking up a strawberry.

"What do you mean? I told you our history."

I shook my head. "No, I mean …" I paused, waving my hand in front of my face. "Like, who are they? Tell me how this is all structured."

Edward frowned, one hand reaching up to scratch at his jaw. "After the rift split the families into two groups, new families surfaced as top dogs," he said slowly. "My dad's family, the Cullens, were like third or fourth in the old hierarchy, but after the split, the Cullens rose up as leaders."

"What makes a family more powerful than another?" I asked, interrupting him.

Edward shrugged. "A lot of different things. Wealth and assets tend to be some of the highest factors."

A memory tickled at the back of my head and I frowned. "You said your family owns Japan?"

Edward nodded. "The Cullens do."

"But, you can't own a country," I protested.

Edward snorted with a laugh. "Oh?"

His question made me pause. Was such a thing possible? It seemed outrageous, impossible even. "Edward, the world isn't a game of Monopoly. You can't just buy whatever you land on."

Edward shook his head. "You can for the right price," he argued.

My mouth snapped shut, and I leaned back, stunned.

Edward took a sip of his drink. "Every inch of this earth is owned by one of the Sixteen families," he said. "Land, ocean, air—we own it all."

"But how do you own a country?" I asked. "It's not like they are just for sale."

"They are though," he argued. "Countries put themselves for sale to the highest bidder all the time. It's called capitalism."

My mouth went dry as I tried to understand what he was saying. Edward watched me patiently. He was talking about ownership the likes of which I couldn't fathom. Every time he told me about the Sixteen, they sounded more and more improbable. People couldn't do all these things. No one could wield this much power.

"Can I continue?" Edward asked after a minute.

I blinked and let out a breath, motioning for him to carry on. I wasn't sure I could even speak yet.

"As I was saying, the Cullens lead one of the factions of the families," he said. "But since my parents' marriage, my mom's family, the Platts, have also risen to that rank. Their resources pooled together are what makes them so formidable. No one can go against them. Together, they have twice as much as anyone else."

I nodded, feeling a headache coming on. "That's why their marriage is against your rules," I said, understanding. He tipped his head in agreement. "But now our marriage …" I said slowly.

Edward let out a strangled grunt. "Is a fuck off to the nth degree," he agreed. "Charlie has named you his heir, which means you'll get everything the Bourgault family owns and controls." He shook his head. "And because of the way we wrote our marriage contract, you'd also have unlimited access to the Cullen and Platt assets."

I blinked in surprise. "Won't you have access to Charlie's?"

Edward shook his head. "We thought you were no one with nothing. We didn't write it in as a provision in the contract."

I gaped at him. Seemingly overnight, I'd been given 3/16ths of the world's power. It was more than one person should ever wield.

"Who are the other families?" I asked, trying to push away my thoughts to process later when I was alone.

Edward sighed. "The Cullens and Platts are first seat, so to speak. In our faction, the Whitlocks are second, followed by the Hales, McCartys, Madriagas, and the Newtons." At the last name, Edward sneered, and briefly I recalled the smarmy guy who had tried to propose to me at the Academy.

"And on the other side?"

"Bourgaults are the first," he said. "The last I knew, the Vanderbilts, Albrechts, O'Neils, Waltons, Barillias, Wentworths, and Livingstons were in line behind him."

"Him being Charlie?" I asked.

Edward nodded. "As far as I know, he's the only Bourgault left. Well, the only one and you."

I shook my head. There were so many names flying at me and none of them meant anything to me and on top of that, I was getting nauseous thinking of being claimed by Charlie as an heir. "Wait, that's only fifteen," I pointed out.

Edward let out a breath. "The Moroni family were wiped out."

My eyes widened. "Completely?" He nodded and I gulped. "When?"

"I don't know the specifics. It was about the time of the rift, so I had to assume that was part of the reason," he said with a shrug.

"So what happens to their assets?"

"In the event one of the family lines is wiped out, their holdings are held frozen for thirty years. If no bloodline heir can claim them in that time, they are divided amongst the rest of us."

"How long has it been?" I asked.

"Almost thirty years."

I thought about that. How was it possible for an entire family to be wiped off the map? How often had this happened? Did there used to be more than Sixteen families in this organization?

I wondered what Charlie's role in this had been. Would he swoop in like a great white shark and take a chunk of the newly available assets? Would those become mine one day?

I felt sick at the thought.

I shifted on the sofa and winced when I became aware of the tight feeling of my skin. "Why do I feel so itchy?" I asked, mostly to the air.

"It might be the salt," Edward said. "From the ocean."

I swallowed hard, fear reigniting in me at the memory. "I'd never been in the ocean before," I said, my voice a near whisper.

Edward's eyes widened. "Why didn't you tell me?"

I shrugged. "It didn't matter. We had to escape."

Edward looked annoyed, and I turned from him to eye my still mostly full plate. Despite my hunger, my stomach was too twisted up in knots to eat.

"Can I go shower?" I asked, setting the plate on the coffee table in front of me.

"You've hardly eaten," Edward protested.

"I'll eat," I assured him. "I just need to get this feeling off me first."

Edward took a breath and nodded. I stood from the sofa and looked at him.

"Thank you, Edward," I said slowly. "For saving me, again."

He just nodded, his eyes dark and impossible to read.

I let him be in the living room as I made my way back to my room to shower and hopefully shed the memories of the last day.

…

By the time I was out of the shower and dressed in new clean clothes, I felt considerably better. Everything in life was still beyond fucked up, but at least I was clean.

I was dressed in a cream long sleeve blouse with tiny gold buttons and black slacks. It wasn't an outfit I'd ever select for myself, but I was grateful for it all the same. I was nervous enough to meet Edward's parents without worrying about being horrendously underdressed.

I slipped on a pair of black heels with the clothes and made sure my hair was styled to the best of my abilities—which was admittedly limited—before I headed out of the room again and made my way to the living room.

My heart thumped anxiously in my chest when I picked up on voices.

They were here.

Taking a deep breath to try to bolster my courage, I entered the room, my eyes scanning until they fell on a stunning couple.

The man who I presumed to be Mr. Cullen was tall, like his son, and lean, with thick blond hair and bright blue eyes. I knew he was in his forties, but had I seen him on the street, I would have guessed him to be closer to his twenties.

Beside him was who I guessed was his wife. She had Edward's coppery bronze hair and green eyes, but her features were softer, verging on sweet. She was sitting, so it was hard to estimate her height, but she seemed like she would be one of those tall women who was so proportional, she looked tiny without any sort of reference.

Both Edward's parents were unbelievably good looking, and it made sense how someone as stunning as Edward had come to be.

What a fucking gene pool.

Edward's gaze lifted to me as I entered, and I saw his shoulders tense slightly as he motioned me to his side.

I felt all eyes land on me as I approached.

"Bella, these are my parents, Esme Platt and Carlisle Cullen," he said, gesturing toward them with one hand while his other landed on my back. "Mother, Father," Edward said, turning to them. "This is Isabella Swan, my wife."

I saw the fury in his parents' eyes as he spoke, and I took a deep breath to steady myself. "It's a pleasure to meet you both," I said softly.

"Edward, what the fuck is this about?" Carlisle asked, ignoring me.

I looked at Edward anxiously. Didn't they know about me yet? How could they not?

Edward looked just as stunned. "Didn't Charlie tell you?" he asked, sounding uncertain.

"Tell us what?" Esme snapped. "Edward, you are already in a precarious enough position as it is," she said. "We don't care who you fuck around with, but now is a time for business. Put your toy away." She motioned toward me casually and I took a step back, stunned.

"Mother, Bella's my wife," Edward said, his fist clenching against the small of my back.

"No marriage is real," Carlisle reminded him. "Not without a contract."

"We have one," Edward said, getting the attention of both his parents.

They stared at him, their mouths parted in shock. "What?"

Edward let out a breath and indicated for me to take a seat on the sofa facing his parents. I sank down, anxious when I felt their eyes on me.

Edward settled beside me and, from his jacket pocket, pulled out a familiar-looking contract. He handed it over to his parents.

Esme snatched it out of his hands, and she and Carlisle both bent over it, reading.

It didn't take long for them to process what Edward was trying to tell them.

"How fucking dare you?" Esme snarled, her eyes narrowing to slits. "You ungrateful little bastard!"

"Did you think you could fuck us over and walk away scot-free?" Carlisle demanded, throwing the contract down on the coffee table. "You're disowned."

Edward let out a breath, and even though I expected as much, I still winced on his behalf.

"Wait a moment," I said, unable to hold my tongue.

"You don't get to talk," Esme spat at me, her eyes burning with her fury. "You and your whore cunt have threatened the legacy of a dynasty you'll never be able to wrap your small mind around!"

Edward sat up, his face dark with a sudden fury, his lips parted in a sneer, but I pressed a hand to his chest, stopping him from speaking.

"Flinging insults at us won't solve any problems," I said, somehow managing to keep my voice calm. "Now, if you'd like to walk away from this meeting with more options instead of less, I suggest you shut up and listen."

Both Esme and Carlisle's mouths snapped shut, and they leaned back, looking stunned.

Beside me, Edward appeared just as shocked. I had no idea where this confidence was coming from, but now that I'd tapped into it, I had to keep it going.

"Edward and I are married with a contract that was created over a year ago," I said, motioning to the papers. "I know that makes our marriage irreversible." I took a breath. "I also know that the wording of the contract gives me unfettered access to any and all of his assets." At that, both Esme and Carlsile scowled, murder in their eyes. "However, when we wrote this contract, there was something neither of us were aware of."

I paused and glanced at Edward who nodded. I turned back to his parents. "I am the only child of Charlie Bourgault."

Carlisle made a choking sound and Esme's eyes bulged. "What?" she hissed.

"We didn't know until Charlie kidnapped us," I said, gesturing to Edward. "By then, it was too late to reverse our marriage."

Carlisle turned to Esme, who had a calculating look in her eyes. "If that is the case," she said, her voice low and thoughtful. "Then it is even more important to disown you, Edward." She glared at him. "Allowing Charlie access to the Platt and Cullen assets is unthinkable."

"I agree," Edward said slowly.

"What if," I said, interrupting them. All eyes turned to me. "We were to sign a postnuptial agreement?" Edward's brows furrowed, and I turned to his parents. "I'll agree to share the assets of the Bourgault dynasty with Edward on the condition that he is named sole heir to both of your families."

I wasn't actually sure it was the right thing to do. 3/16ths of the world's power split between us would be a hell of a strain to put on our marriage.

But compared to the alternative—that these megalomaniacs cut off and cast aside Edward who had proven himself to be far more reliable and trustworthy than anyone else in his world—it seemed the best bet.

Carlisle turned to his wife, who gave him a shrewd look.

They could still turn us down, name Edward's little brother as heir, but then Edward would forever be labeled as their adversary because of his connection to me.

Were they willing to make an enemy of someone who knew all their secrets?

"We already surrendered a significant amount of our power to get Edward back from Charlie," Carlisle said slowly.

"With this postnuptial agreement, it'll come right back to him," I pointed out.

Esme turned to glare at me. "It seems you have us cornered," she said, her lips pursing. "Fine, we'll concede to these terms."

I let out a tight breath and beside me, Edward cleared his throat.

"I want one more stipulation," I said, wondering if I was pushing my luck. Carlisle and Esme glared at me. "If either of us is murdered, your assets will immediately be forfeit. You will be stripped of all power completely."

Carlisle scowled. "We certainly cannot be held responsible for making sure the other Sixteen families don't kill you two."

"You can," I said. "I will hold you both personally responsible for our safety. You get nothing if either of us is killed."

Esme glared at me. "Very well," she said, glancing at her husband before looking at me. "We have an accord."