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I could still hear the cop cars, banging closed and footsteps in the yard. In the kitchen though I could hear the cluttering sound of utensils and I cringed just thinking of the multiple ways they could kill Edward with them. Trust me, I would know.
Instead of sitting here like a submissive hostage, I stood from the couch I was sitting on and went to the recliner. Pulling the black lever at the side of the chair, the foot rest popped up with a little click. I glanced back in the direction of the kitchen to ensure no one was looking and bent down so I was crouching, I felt along the underside of the footrest till I touched a cold metal object.
I pulled out the gun and took it off safety mode.
It had been a while since I'd used one but there was no forgetting how. It was like riding a bike. I sighed looking at the gun not looking forward to killing anyone, it was the reason why I stopped. Why we both did. Although I had my suspicions that Edward did go out and rough a couple of people up from the mysterious stains I'd seen splattered on his clothing.
Edward and I used to deal with some illegal activity that I'm not so proud of, there was a team of us. All seeking justice for those who never got it, police would call us vigilantes, we preferred to see ourselves as underground help. My dad Charlie eventually found out what we were doing because we became carless, leaving trails behind. He was the leading officer in our investigation, he didn't really have enough proof that it really was us but he did suspect. Eventually he asked me straight out and I told him, he made us promise to stop, and I did. I got tired of it. Tired of hiding from the cops even though they never knew who we were, they only knew our stage names.
I understood my dad's concern and once Bree died during one of our missions, I realised that it wasn't a good way to live, at least not for the rest of our lives. Over the years of doing this we were bound to gain some enemies. We did, one of them being Aro, it was the main reason we kept in close contact with him, even if I despised him and his wife. The multiple things they've done to people who got on their bad side was just unforgivable.
Despite not actively finding and getting rid of these bad guys we dropped hints to the police, files will appear randomly on their desks and new cases were opened. We just gave them the extra push they needed to capture the scum.
Killing a person does something to your soul, it gets destroyed and even though it was for a good cause it still wasn't the way to handle things.
I heard a groan of pain from the kitchen and readied myself, I wouldn't let them hurt Edward. He was my life. With the gun positioned behind my back to take them by surprise I approached them. Edward was bound to a dining room chair, his hair plastered to his face with the small trickle of blood from his left temple. He was glaring at James with pure hatred and I knew he was thinking the same thing as me.
The other four men stood in a loose circle around him and I thought how badly planned this was. First they left me alone by myself meaning I would've easily gotten outside safely away from them, if I were the one doing this I wouldn't let anyone out of my sight. I paused thinking, this might be a trap, and they might know who we are. If my suspicions are correct they could have someone watching me secretly to see how I would behave away from the gaze of the others.
I cursed myself for not thoroughly checking, I've obviously lost my touch.
I looked behind me and saw no one, if there really was some other person they wouldn't be able to see me from this angle because of the wall structure.
I heard a fist smacking on skin then a loud grunt of pain so I turned my attention back to Edward and the men in the kitchen. Edward was breathing hard and his lip was cracked allowing a small flow of blood to drip down his chin. I winced feeling his pain, straightening up I slipped the gun into my boxers relieved that they had a good elastic grip otherwise the gun would fall to the floor.
My plan was simple. I would be the scared wife they believed me to be then spring on them at the last minute hopefully catching them off guard.
I put my game face on of the frightened and concerned wife of the man they tied up to the chair. It wasn't that hard to do considering I was worried about him.
Just as James was about to land another blow I yelled.
"Stop!" I ran in front of Edward forcing James to take a step back. "Please, don't hurt him anymore." My voice was thick and hoarse like I was about to cry.
"What are you doing here?" he snarled, his face contorting in anger "I told you to stay put."
I scrambled to come up with a reason.
"I could hear you hurting him, please just stop and leave us alone." I begged.
He reached out snatching my hair and yanking me back, I pushed my hips away from him not wanting James to feel the gun. I was now facing Edward who looked extremely tired and
"You see this Edward." He pulled my head back again painfully so I yelped. "All of this because you wouldn't accept the offer."
"I gave Aro a really good deal," Edward said straining against the rope. "It was an investment that certainly would have made him a lot of money. I wouldn't give up Twilight Technology for a couple of million."
"You know this isn't just about that Edward." James said, his tone patronising. "Does your wife know that you've been busy playing around with people in the mafia?" he asked.
My eyes shot to Edward, I had no idea he was making deals with anyone in the mafia. We had agreed together that we would stop messing around in the underground business but clearly he hadn't.
Edward avoided my gaze looking ashamed.
"So you didn't tell her." James said, out of the corner of my eye I could see him smiling. "How else do you think your husband could afford all of this?" He gestured to the house in general. "He needed some start-up money for his company a couple of year ago, I'm not here only on the behalf of Aro but Marcus too."
My mind was reeling, I heard those names a couple of times while we still did work. They were often connected to many of the cases we solved but we never knew who they were or where to find them. Clearly Edward was holding back in his information, he knew a lot more than he let on. I suddenly felt betrayed. All this time I thought we were on the same page but he'd gone behind my back and did his own thing, he knew just as well as I did that these men were dangerous.
Edward set his business up four year ago, he's been lying to me for four years and I didn't suspect a thing. I couldn't believe it, I thought I knew him so well but clearly I was wrong.
James laughed breaking me out of my haze and released my hair.
"Just do as you're told Edward and no one will get hurt. This right here" he gestured to me then Edward "is all your fault. Just follow the rules and you'll do fine."
James and his men began to file out of the kitchen door, but before James left he looked back at us.
"I'll be seeing you soon, this wasn't the last time." He stepped out into the night and vanished.
I didn't realise I was breathing so hard until I collapsed onto the floor. I had been in situations like this before but I was never on the receiving end, I hate to admit it but I was scared to night.
"I'm sorry." I heard Edward say from his seat.
I turned to look at him not knowing what to think of him. Instead of answering I pulled out the gun and phone placing them on the floor.
"They're going to ask us questions." I began "We need to have a story, they clearly didn't steal anything,-"
"We'll tell them the truth. Just an abridged account."
I nodded "Okay."
I picked up the phone and called my dad, I knew his phone was probably bugged now. After the second dial tone he picked up.
"Hello," his voice was gruff and I had to smile at that.
"It's me dad."
"Bella, are you okay? What part of the house are you in?" His voice sounded relived.
"They're gone." I told him that they went out the back and I heard him send some men out back.
I head the front door open and a few police men shouting as they cleared the rooms. Finally my dad reached us taking in the scene, Edward was still tied up just like James left him. I hadn't bothered to untie him.
He came to crouch next to me on the floor checking me for any visible signs of abuse before pulling me tight into his embrace. We stayed like that for a few moments before he pulled me up, a few policemen and a paramedic surrounded Edward tending to his wounds.
I looked away, he was being cared for and that's all that mattered at the moment. I still however wasn't happy about what he did, he put our lives in danger.
Later on that evening after going to the hospital with Edward while he got some x-rays and stitches I watched the news. Our home was on national television as breaking news, the scene of us exiting the house with the help of my dad and some paramedics. Apparently when you own a large business and are held hostage for a temporary amount of time it needs to be told to the world.
As soon as we had to leave we were escorted to the police station so file an official report and give our statements, most of the story was true, we just didn't tell them that the situation was provoked by Edwards association with the mafia.
We weren't allowed back home but so we were going to stay with Edwards parents, my dad's house wasn't big enough for the two of us.
"Thanks Charlie." Edward said shaking hands with my dad as we got out of the police cruiser.
"No problem, just take care of my baby girl." He said taking our bags out of the trunk.
Carlisle came out of the big white house with a smile, Esmé following close behind. She wrapped me up in a hug as soon as she got to me whispering words of comfort before giving Edward a hug.
"I'm so glad you guys are safe," Carlisle said hugging me "when we saw you on the news we panicked."
His eyes flickered to Edward and I knew something was off.
"Well, come on in." Esmé said completely oblivious.
….
Edward and I were unpacking our stuff in the wardrobes of the guest room that used to be his when he lived here in silence. We hadn't said a word to each other since being inside the house.
"Are you going to ignore me forever?" Edward asked breaking the silence as I grabbed my stuff to take to the shower.
"No," I threw back as I closed the bathroom door behind me. It was true, I wouldn't but right now it sucked to be left out of the loop to his great master plan.
I peeled of my clothes and stepped into the shower enjoying how the warm water felt against my skin. My head was slightly tender from the painful manhandling I received from James, I heard the door click and I knew Edward was in here with me.
There was a rustling of clothes and the sound of them hitting the ground, he pulled back the shower curtain and stepped in behind me. I felt his hands on my shoulders which trailed down to my sides. He pressed a light kiss to the nape of my neck.
"I'm so sorry I didn't tell you. For going against what we agreed, I just felt like I had to do something. I caught wind of what was going on just before we called quits and I couldn't let it go. I thought I was being careful but obviously not, I ruined your dreams of not being in the crossfire." He said holding me as if his life depends on it.
"I just wish you could have told me, that's the thing I hate the most about this." I leaned back into his chest. "I tell you everything, I thought you did the same."
I heard him sigh, he rested his chin on my head. The shower was still going but we just stood there for a while, just reconnecting and enjoying the warmth of the soothing water. I turned around and touched his face lightly tracing the gash on his temple, he already had a scar above his right eyebrow which dipped dangerously low to his eye. He had another one above his lip but it was so faint you had to be really looking to see it.
"Just don't lie to me like that again."
"I promise."
I stared into his eyes as he looked back at me.
"We're in this together." He murmured.
I smiled remembering those were the first words he said that brought us together.
"Together." I repeated.
I hope this chapter gave you some insight to who this Bella and Edward are and that you're enjoying the story.
Tell me what you think!
