A/N...Hey, guys! I hope everyone had a safe holiday weekend, and for those of you out of the States, you could've celebrated with us... we don't mind. Any excuse to get drunk and light fireworks... LOL :D (which is a combination fit for You Tube)
Okay...so this is where things start to get tough. Please trust me, this is how I saw the sequel going from the very beginning. Strap yourselves in... Hold on tight... There will be turbulence.
On with it...
CHAPTER 4
EDWARD
"What do you mean she's killed before?" I snapped, my pacing stopping at the foot of Rose's bed and my hand gripping my hair.
"She means exactly that," Bella stated from the doorway, and I spun to look at her. "Lilith has...hurt people. Badly."
Bethy was in her arms, so the conversation was on hold, and I was totally busted, because from the look on my wife's face, she'd heard everything.
Bella kissed Bethy's temple. "Go ask Aunt Alice if she's about ready to go home. You've got school tomorrow, pretty girl," she told her, setting her on her feet.
"Okay, Mommy," Bethy sang, taking off down the hall.
Bella's eyes landed on Rose, and then me. She took a deep breath. "Ashley wasn't Lilith's only child. She had another little girl – Bree. Bree was two years younger than Ashley, and Lilith let her drown in the bathtub, because a telephone call was more important than a toddler splashing around in a soapy, slippery tub."
My wife's nostrils flared as she stated these things, but she paused for a moment.
"It was how Lilith lost custody of Ashley to the state to begin with," Rose explained, wincing up at me when Bella wasn't looking.
"That would be her first victim," my girl sighed, shaking her head. "Her second was at Shady Glen. She beat a nurse so badly that they had to put her on a machine to breathe. Her family eventually shut it off. I blame myself for that one," she stated, turning to the window.
"Bella, you didn't know," Rose countered. "You were upset...and with every right."
"I was...beyond upset, Rose," Bella huffed bitterly. "I was livid." She spun around to glare at me. "It was my fault the Greenes were out that night. They were meeting me for dinner. They wouldn't have been at that corner if they hadn't just left the restaurant."
"Bella, that wasn't your fault," I stated firmly, placing my hands on her shoulders. "You had no way of knowing that a guy was going to drink himself fucking stupid and get behind the wheel of his car. That was not your fault, sweetness," I reiterated to her.
"Maybe," she sighed, shrugging a bit. "But the woman at Shady Glen...that was my fault. I sent Lilith in to a psychotic episode."
If I knew my Bella, then she really let the woman have it, but I couldn't imagine her taking the blame for the whole thing. Lilith was sick. The emotions flying around the whole situation would have been at an all time high. "What did you say to her, love?" I asked, because the curiosity was killing me.
Unfortunately, she couldn't answer, because we were interrupted.
"Yo, Eddie," Emmett called, ducking through the doorway, because he had my daughter firmly planted on his broad shoulders. "Rosie gets to go home tomorrow, so can you drop that rocking chair off?"
I winced, looking to Bella, because I was actually considering going with her and Bethy on that field trip to Lafayette's Farm. I'd thought it the minute Rose had said to up security, not to mention that my little sweetness would be seeing something new. Something about that farm set back in the woods didn't feel right to me. Not that I didn't trust the school, or even old man Lafayette, but I just didn't trust this Lilith bitch. If she found us at the wedding, then she could find us again.
"We'll be fine, Edward," Bella told me, giving me a nod, but even she didn't sound so sure.
"Em, why don't we let Jasper bring it over," Rose suggested, her eyes flickering from mine to Bella's, finally landing on Emmett's confused face. "Or at least wait until Bethy's out of school."
"Naw, Ed's got to show me how to work the crib he built, babe," Emmett countered. "You may know, but what if you're sleepin'?"
"We'll see, Em," I sighed, not promising him shit at this point. "I've got something I need to look into, man. Okay?"
"Sure, dude," Emmett said, his brow wrinkling as he turned to Rose, setting Bethy down onto her feet. She immediately ran to me, and I scooped her up. "What's going on?"
By now, everyone was in the room. I was sure they were all about to bid Rose a good night, but they were all frozen with Emmett's question.
"Fine," Rose sighed, shaking her head and breaking the silence. "I'll say it. We've got a problem. Lilith Laray is out of the mental facility that she was committed to, and we need to stay sharp. Her hatred for Bella will be an issue." Since Bella wasn't giving the command, Rose would, and without shame. "Alice, Mack...get everyone up to speed on exactly what that woman is capable of. Alec, don't take any protection charges for now. Em, you stay with me, and I'll tell you all about it." She turned to Bella with a raised eyebrow, daring her to say differently. Then Rose's sharp blue, but very tired eyes fell to mine. "And you... Go tomorrow...if you let them go at all. Make it a freakin' family day, okay?"
As everyone agreed and told Rose and Emmett goodbye for the night, Bethy turned my face to hers. "You're going to the farm wif us tomorrow, D-Daddy?"
"I was thinking about it," I chuckled at her, because her eyes were bright and happy. "Would you like that?"
She grinned, nodding vehemently as I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Yeah."
~oOo~
I smirked down at Bethy when she finally emerged from her room the next morning. She was wearing dark blue overalls and a long sleeve pink shirt, but what capped it all off, besides the two long braids that fell down either shoulder, was the bright pink high-top Chucks that peeked out from under the rolled up denim. I could have kissed her to death, because she was beyond cute.
"Did you pick this outfit? Or did Mommy?" I snickered, setting her on the counter to really get a good look at her.
"Mommy helped," she said, picking up a piece of toast and munching on it.
I chuckled, tugging one of her braids. "I figured as much," I muttered, kissing her forehead before swinging her down to a stool. "Eat, little sweetness."
"'Kay, Daddy," she sang, her little legs swinging as she moved on from toast to bacon.
I found Bella in our room, and I leaned against the doorway, watching her. She was dressed similarly to me today: jeans, hiking boots, a thermal shirt with a plaid shirt over it. It was technically summer in the Pacific Northwest, but that didn't mean that mornings weren't chilly.
Bella smiled, looking up at me. "She knew the field trip was to a farm. She insisted on overalls, like she wears at Aunt Kate's. I had to girly her up somehow."
I laughed and nodded. "It seems to suit her personality."
"I know, right?" She giggled, rolling her eyes as she made our bed and stowed a few things in a bag. "She's...just so...animated."
I grinned, reaching out just as my wife walked by, tugging her quickly to me. I couldn't help it. I just needed to kiss her. I heard the bag thump to the floor and felt her hands glide up my chest and around my neck, as my mouth covered hers. She tasted like toothpaste when my tongue slipped along hers, twisting erotically enough to make the two of us moan wantonly.
"I love you," I whispered as I nipped her lips, down her jaw, finally planting an open mouthed suckling kiss to her neck.
"And I love you," she sighed, pulling back to look up at me. "Mmm, coffee," she hummed, closing her eyes and licking her lips. "I want some."
I chuckled, bending down to grab the bag she'd dropped and tossing it and Bella over my shoulder. The bag was silent, but my girl squealed, much to our daughter's delight. I set her down next to a giggly Bethy, before walking around the counter and making Bella a cup of coffee.
I leaned on the counter on my elbows, looking at both of my beautiful girls. "I have rules today, sweetnesses."
Bella's eyes snapped up to mine, but Bethy simply tilted her head at me curiously.
"No one goes anywhere without Mommy or Daddy with them," I told Bethy specifically. "Okay?"
"Okay, Daddy," she answered quickly, taking a huge bite of eggs.
"That means the bathroom, the barn, not even with Mrs. Cope, Bethy. I want one of us with you all day...at all times, okay?"
"We're suh-posed to have a b-buddy today, D-Daddy," Bethy told me excitedly. "We're suh-posed to hold hands wif them when we're at the f-farm."
"Well, that's fine, little sweetness, but your buddy will be with us, too," I countered, thinking one extra little girl wouldn't make a difference.
"Abby is my best friend," she mumbled around her bite of bacon.
"Don't talk with your mouth full," both Bella and I chided softly.
I turned to Bella. "And we'll need to get into the safe before we leave," I stated, raising an eyebrow at her, because I intended to be armed, despite the fact that it was a fucking preschool field trip. When Bella started to argue, I held up my hand. "Wait, and I'll tell you why. That farm is situated on the outskirts of town. It's surrounded by thick woods, and not far from it, there's an old camp grounds that have long since been shut down. Old man Lafayette may still have his fences up around most of the perimeter, but not along those back woods. I should know, because he asked me to fly over his place when he lost those three cows last year."
"All done, Daddy," Bethy stated proudly, pushing her plate away.
"Good girl," I crooned, setting her on her feet. "Go get your jacket, brush your teeth, and we'll get going."
"Yay," she cheered, padding down the hallway.
I turned back to Bella. "If this Lilith woman recognized you from all the hoopla that wedding brought about, then she can track our name," I started, raising another eyebrow at her.
Despite the fact that my house was hidden on paper, our names were all over that small ass town. Bethy was registered at school and the pediatrician's office. Our names were on accounts at the florist, the bookstore, the pharmacy, and the fucking hardware store, not to mention the goddamn library. I knew from Alice that anyone could be found, if you knew where to look.
"She's not big, but if she did something to the drunk driver, then she's not working alone, because he wasn't exactly a small man. I'm not taking any fucking chances, Bella. I can't." The last two sentences came out in a hiss, because I tried my damnedest not to curse in front of Bethy, but my nerves were inexplicably on edge, and my daughter's feet were thumping down the hallway.
Bella silently studied my face, taking her last sip of coffee, before standing up with a nod. "Fine. I'll go out to the safe. You get her in the car."
"Yes, ma'am," I told her, looking down when a tiny pink jacket was being forced up at me. "Come here, pretty girl," I grunted, grabbing her overall straps and hoisting Bethy up from the floor to the counter as Bella went outside to Gravity's office.
"Daddy!" Bethy giggled, trying to wrest my hands off of her clothes, but her laughter was too out of control for her to even accomplish anything.
"Okay, okay," I sighed dramatically, rolling my eyes at her. "Right arm out!" I commanded, and she stuck it out immediately so I could slip her jacket on. "Left arm out," I chuckled, tugging tiny fingers through and pulling her braids out.
With one last look around the house, I tossed her over my shoulder, grabbed the bag Bella wanted to take, and set the alarm at the front door.
~oOo~
BELLA
I sat down on a bale of hay, watching Bethy and Abby climb over and around a haystack along with two other kids from their class. There were maybe twenty-five kids at the farm. Mrs. Cope and Mr. Lafayette had coordinated with the other two preschools in the area to make it a pretty big event. He enjoyed having the little ones on his property and made it an annual thing.
He'd set up a petting zoo, with goats, ducks, rabbits, and even a deer that had wandered up on his property ages ago and never left. He blocked off one paddock to give pony rides on his two oldest mares, and the amazing smell of barbecue wafted over the whole property.
"I wonder if any kid has figured out that the food on the grill used to be a cow in the back field," Edward mused, falling down next to me.
"Shut up!" I laughed, shaking my head. "I hope not, but don't start them thinking."
He chuckled, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and kissing my forehead. "I'm just curious. Aunt Kate let me figure that shit out the hard way."
"Awww," I groaned, cupping his face and kissing his cheek. "Don't tell me she let you fatten the damn thing up all summer..."
"Yup...Steve," he sighed, his face almost too sad not to be funny.
"Steve? Really?"
"What? Steve's a good name..."
"Edward, I swear..." I giggled, still shaking my head at him. Sometimes, he was as silly as they got. And other times – like this morning at breakfast – I knew he meant complete business.
"Daddy!" Bethy called him, and his head snapped around. "We want to ride..." She pointed to the pony paddock, and we both nodded and stood up.
We'd really just been shadowing her all day...well, her and Abby. They could pass for sisters, the two of them. Both had dark hair, fair skin, and were just about the same height. Abby and Bethy had bright smiles and sweet, secretive giggles. But Abby had dimples and dark – almost black – eyes, where Bethy had a few freckles over her nose and cheeks and bright green eyes. However, they were both dressed similarly, except Abby's overalls was a little jumper dress, instead of jeans.
Edward and I leaned on the paddock fence, waiting for Abby and Bethy as they stood in line. I couldn't help but smile when they talked with the girls behind them excitedly. Abby's little giggle reminded me of Ashley's, and I sighed, leaning my head on Edward's shoulder.
"You would have liked the Greenes," I told him softly, starting out of the blue, but if I didn't, I'd never get the story out. "They were fun, easy going, and Ashley loved them instantly. She...wanted to be adopted by them." I looked up and saw patience and understanding gazing right back at me, and I nodded.
"They really were out meeting me for dinner. I always blamed myself, but you were right...what you said yesterday. I didn't make Chris Douglas drink...or get into his car. But I just needed to blame someone," I whispered the last sentence, "so I blamed Lilith."
I felt a hand on the top of my head and Edward's lips press to my forehead.
"God, Edward. I've never hated someone like I hated her. Never. She'd wasted...everything," I told him, because it was the truth. "She'd allowed her addictions and men and everything else in her life to come before her two beautiful girls. She'd already lost Ashley to the state and Bree to death, and then, to have Ashley die, too... The day of the Greenes' funerals, I just...lost it. Caskets shouldn't be made so small," I mumbled, looking over at the little line of girls and boys waiting with Bethy. "They just...shouldn't."
"I know, baby," he sighed, placing another soft kiss to my temple.
"I drove to Shady Glen, because I just knew they hadn't told Lilith," I whispered, looking up at him. "Fuck, it was cruel what I did, Edward...I told her what happened. I told her that she'd now lost both her children, that it was her fault. Had she done what a normal parent would do, she'd still have them both..." I shook my head, and Edward casually wiped the tears away with his thumbs. "She was sick, baby...and I just dumped it all on her, to make myself feel better."
"I'm not saying you weren't wrong, love," Edward said, soothing me with sweet touches to my face, "but..."
"No, no, no!" we heard behind us, and I'd recognize Bethy's voice anywhere.
Edward and I turned to see that the man running the pony ride was trying to pick her up and put her in the saddle, but she wasn't having any part of it. The pure anger, the tentative steps away from the man were not like her at all.
"No!" she huffed, backing up again and glaring up at him.
"Look, kid...you can't ride if I can't get you up there," the man told her, but her eyes were black fire as she turned to us.
"Daddy," she huffed, looking up at him with frustration and a nervous glance to the farm worker, even when her dad knelt in front of her. "He's scary," she whispered to Edward.
"Okay, well, do you still want to ride, little sweetness?" he asked her, smiling when she nodded frantically. He stood, scooping her up and swinging her into the saddle. Once Edward was sure she was okay, he turned to the guy. "When it's over, I'lltake her down. Got me?" he practically growled in the man's face, because whatever made her unhappy, made her father unhappy.
"Yeah, man. Whatever you say," he conceded, but the small smile that he gave Edward did not meet his eyes, and I kind of understood what Bethy meant. The guy was a little unnerving, especially when his eyes landed on what my husband was concealing at the small of his back in his waistband.
Edward walked back to me, his face still a little dark. "You ever see her react like that?"
"No," I told him, shaking my head. "And I can't blame her. He's creepy...and he totally knows you're carrying."
"Good," he sneered, but turned back to me. "What happened at Shady Glen, baby?"
"Oh, um... Well, Lilith snapped. She blamed everything on me, told me that Ashley would still be alive if I hadn't taken her away. She said if she ever got her hands on me again, she'd kill me," I said with a grimace. "To be honest, I hadn't thought she'd ever get better. And there was a part of me that thought she was right – that if I hadn't taken the case, Ashley would have been found by someone else, and they'd all still be alive."
"Well, now we have a problem, sweetness. She's out, and she obviously intends to carry through with her threat, because it wasn't coincidence that she talked to me. What do we do?" he asked, looking up when Bethy called for us, and we both waved at her.
"I think we'd better talk to Benny and Wes," I guessed, shrugging one shoulder. "You know, handle this the right way..."
Edward stared down at me, took a deep breath, and nodded. "Okay, we'll call them."
When the ride was over, we went to get her and Abby down from the saddles.
"What's next, baby?" I asked her, as she, Abby, and I giggled into hysterics when Edward picked Bethy up by the back of her overalls, using her straps like a handle.
"She feels awful light to me," Edward noted, pulling her up and letting her back down. He was doing curls with our daughter, who was loving every second of it. "I vote something to eat."
"Daddy, put me down!" she commanded, sounding just like him.
He pulled her up to his face. "Tell me you love me first," he bargained, wearing my favorite crooked smile.
"Love you!" she practically screamed, her little legs kicking behind her.
"Good girl," he chuckled, setting her on her feet as we approached the picnic tables.
I fixed both girls a plate, letting them sit with their friends and Mrs. Cope, while Edward and I sat off to the side, sharing a piece of cake.
"What if..." I mumbled, snickering when Edward kissed away a crumb of chocolate cake. "What if Lilith wasn't supposed to be released?" I asked him. "I mean, what if somehow she fooled them? I've seen that happen. Or if she was somehow able to buy her way out..." My voice trailed off, because I wasn't sure what I was trying to prove, or if I was even the right one to deal with Lilith. I was biased against her beyond comprehension.
"Do you really want to do this?" he countered, his brow wrinkling. "I mean, if she comes at us, we could just call Benny, but to actually investigate her?"
"I don't know," I told him honestly. "I can handle anything she throws at me, and you can handle yourself, but Bethy..." I said, pointing across the table. "She's innocent in this. I'll lose my mind if Lilith tries to...make shit even."
The darkest of looks crossed Edward's face, but he nodded. "Okay," he sighed with one single nod, but it all faded into sweet love when Bethy walked up to us.
"I have to potty, Mommy," she whispered, her little cheeks tinging pink.
"Okay," I whispered back. "What about Miss Abby? Her, too?"
Bethy nodded, waving Abby over.
Edward chuckled, kissing mine and Bethy's temple. "Bathroom break it is," he said with a sweet smile. "I'll call Benny and Alice while you're in there. See what they both say. I'll have Alice and Mack start looking into Shady Glen, love. Will that make you feel better?"
"Thank you, baby," I sighed, loving that he always had my back.
"Anything for you, sweetness," he chuckled, rolling his eyes, because that sounded trivial, but he meant every word.
As Edward stood up from the picnic table, pulling out his phone, I took each girl's hand and walked to Mrs. Cope.
"Bathroom?" she guessed with a warm smile, and I nodded. "They said to use the farmer's facilities in the barn. It was easier for Mrs. Lafayette not to have little ones traipsing through her house."
"Okay, gotcha," I chuckled, wondering how much longer the little old couple could actually run a full time farm. "All right, girls, the barn it is..."
We walked across the farm yard into the barn, which was large, although not as big as Aunt Kate's, which made me think to call her. She was up in Alaska, living mostly with just her and Tom, Obie's brother, when Obie and Mickey were down visiting us. Of all the safe houses that Edward and Carlisle had taken me to, Aunt Kate's had been one of my favorites. I'd never felt safer there. Not to mention, the woman told the best stories about Edward as a kid.
"Here you go, ladies," I told them, holding the bathroom door so that we could all go in.
It wasn't the grandest of bathrooms, but for the potty emergency that we were having, it would do. It seemed to be all wood, with a toilet, sink, and a fiberglass shower – the latter of which looked fairly recent or refurbished.
Both girls did what they had to do, and I stood behind them at the sink, helping them wash their hands. I saw the movement out of the corner of my eye – the shower curtain – but before I could open the door and get the girls out, a sweet smelling cloth wrapped around my face, covering my mouth and nose.
I heard the girls scream, before everything went black.
~oOo~
EDWARD
"Edward, you ugly thing! How are my girls?" Benny laughed over the phone.
"Gorgeous, as always," I answered honestly, watching as my wife talked to Mrs. Cope, before taking off across the property towards the barn. "Listen, you skinny ass, I need you to look into something for me. I think we may have a problem. A legit problem."
"Talk to me, bro. Let me hear it," he said, completely doing a one-eighty from playful and teasing to all FBI agent.
I gave him the rundown, telling him to call over to Gravity to get the files sent to him. I explained the entire situation that had started this shit, how Lilith had just shown up at the wedding reception. He was shocked that Makenna hadn't recognized her, but even more shocked at what the woman had done back in the day to set off my wife.
"Can't say that I blame Bella," he mumbled, typing away on his computer. "So you think...maybe she's carrying out an old threat?"
"I don't know." I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I paced slowly away from everyone. "I do know that Bella thinks maybe this bitch wasn't supposed to get out. I was going to have my crew look into it."
"Go ahead," he conceded. "In fact, I'll set up a restraining order now, just in case... and as a fucking favor."
I grinned, shaking my head at him.
"Let's do this," he said, and the phone beeped once. "Let's three-way this call to Alice."
The phone rang once, before someone answered it.
"Gravity," Makenna chirped cheerfully.
"Hey, Mack, it's Benny and Edward," Benny stated. "I need Alice, please."
"Hey," she sang. "Okay, hang on."
"How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?" Alice answered strangely.
"Alice," both Benny and I sighed.
"No seriously. I'm actually running this experiment," she giggled, but I could hear her crunching on the other end.
"It won't fucking work if you bite into it, pixie," I snorted.
"Oh, yeah, damn," she sighed, tsking to herself. "Oh well, what can I do for you?"
Benny proceeded to tell her that what he was going to do on his end of the Lilith situation, and gave Alice her own instructions to send him everything she had on the woman and the old Gravity case file.
"You're sure that it was Lilith Laray?" he asked, after she had told him about using the facial recognition software.
"Yup, yup, yup," she chimed three times.
"Okay, well...here it goes," Benny stated, typing away, but he sighed deeply. "God, I haven't been out to Shady Glen in years. It's a state run facility, but the FBI has studied some of its...more dangerous residents. It's basically an asylum for the criminally insane, and a poorly run operation. It's the low end of the nursing jobs, where the head doctor is just this shy of having his license pulled. Dr. Ross Vernon.
"Give me some time, Ed," he continued. "I'll run a background on everyone at Shady Glen. And I'll also work on Lilith...see what therapy sessions she's had. Alice, if I have that facility send you a visitors list for the last few years, would you and Mack go through it? Flag anyone suspicious?"
"Definitely," both girls answered over the phone that was now on speaker.
And that was why I loved the skinny shit. Benny had plenty of people he could ask to do this, but he trusted mine and Bella's crew explicitly.
"And where's Bells, 'cause I'd like to ask her a few questions?" Benny asked.
"Oh, um...she was taking Bethy to the restroom," I stated, walking towards the barn, "but she should be out by now. Hang on; I'll walk over there."
I walked into the barn, seeing a small crowd of people gathered at the end of the building.
Mrs. Cope rushed to me. "Oh, God, Edward...we were just about to go find you..." The older woman's face was pale, not an ounce of blood in it to be found. She was scared shitless.
I didn't wait for her to finish, but brushed past her, finding my wife on the floor. "Bella?" I gasped, cupping her face, but keeping my phone at my ear. "Baby, wake up..."
My wife squeezed her eyes closed, finally squinting up at me. When my hand came out from behind her head, my fingers were covered in blood. When she'd fallen, she must have smacked the piss out of her head.
"Baby, where's Bethy? And Abby?" I asked her, looking around.
"Oh fuck!" she gasped, trying to sit up, but blanched when she got about halfway up. "Edward, there was someone in here...they...they knocked me out with something..."
My head swam and my breathing stopped as I stood up. "Bethy?" I called out.
"Edward, talk to me," Benny growled over the phone. "Did I hear her right? Did someone knock her out? And Bethy's not there?"
"Yeah... Bethy!" I yelled, running to the end of the building and looking out towards the woods. My heart was truly in my fucking throat.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck," Alice hissed over the phone. I could hear her order instructions to call not only Emmett, but Alec and Jasper, too. "Call Jazz first; he's closer. He can get on the ATVs and haul ass over to the Lafayette farm. Now, Mack!"
"Hang on," I said, spinning when Bella vomited behind me. I rushed to her. "Bella, baby...you're sure someone was in here..."
"Yes," she sobbed, squeezing her eyes closed, but when she swayed on her feet, I made her sit back down.
"Don't move," I ordered, and then into the phone, I yelled, "I'm tracking the fucking woods. I need...everyone... Someone took her, Ben," I breathed, trying not to lose it, trying my fucking damnedest to stay focused.
"You've got it," Benny said soothingly. "We'll be there, man. We'll do a perimeter search, and we'll even get you in the air, okay?" he asked, but I didn't answer him.
My eyes were scanning the entire farm. I turned to Mrs. Cope. "I need every child accounted for and in one spot. Now! We've got two girls missing...so far."
"Dear Jesus," she prayed, running off to do exactly what I said. Her destination was the picnic tables.
"Edward!" Alice yelled. "Jasper is en route to you through the old trails, he said to tell you. Emmett was already heading this way, and even Mickey and Obie were close by. Alec was here, so he went with Jasper...you'll have everyone soon."
"Ed, I've got two units heading your way, complete with search dogs. They'll answer to Wes until I can get to you, got me?"
"Yeah," I breathed, darting outside of the barn, but I could barely see straight, because my baby was nowhere to be found. "And an ambulance, Benny," I muttered. "I don't know what they did to Bella..."
"Sure, man," he replied.
"I'm switching to radio," I told them, ending the call and trading my phone for the earpiece that Bella had gotten out of the safe that morning when she grabbed our guns.
I shoved the earpiece in my ear, punching it on. "Who've I got?" I growled, finding the entry point at the edge of the woods where a branch was broken off.
"I'm here," Jasper said, checking in.
"Me, too, kid," Alec stated, and I could hear the engines of Jasper's ATVs in the background.
"You two...come around the west side. Jasper, head through the campground. I'll try to work the trail that way."
"Sir," they both replied.
"Edward, Benny said Wes is ten minutes to you," Alice stated.
"I haven't fucking got ten minutes, Alice!" I snapped, finding a recently used trail. "In ten minutes, I could lose them..."
I ran for a few more yards, finding a purple hair ribbon hanging from a bush. It was Abby's. "Fuck. Why would they take them both?" I panted, turning in one spot, but the noise in my ear was killing me. "Radio silence..." I ordered, closing my eyes so that I could hear everything – every noise, every gust of wind through the trees, and the snap of a dry twig in the distance.
A muffled cry sounded from my left, and I took off towards it.
"I've got sounds from the northwest," I panted over the ear piece, pushing my legs as hard as I could, considering the uneven terrain.
Tree branches snagged at my clothes, and my boots squelched down in mud as I followed not only the sound, but the trail the assholes had left behind. If I knew my Bethy and she was aware of what was happening, she was most likely fighting like hell. I found a few footprints through the mud and continued to follow the trail of snapped off twigs. The fuckers didn't seem to give a shit about covering their tracks.
"Edward," Makenna stated. "It's only the two of them missing, according to Mrs. Cope. I just checked in with Bella...sweetie, she's a mess. She thinks it was Chloroform they got her with, but she's got a helluva bump on her noggin'. She's sick, but fucking determined to help you."
"Tell her to sit tight," I whispered, wanting my presence to stay a secret. "If she can't fucking stand up, then she'll be useless out here."
"'Kay," Makenna mumbled.
"Edward," Alice growled. "I've got thermal on you. There are...three entities moving about forty yards from your location, but they aren't heading in the direction of the campground. More towards the 101. And it looks like they've got a party waiting on them. Emmett...what's your location?"
"I'm on the 101," he growled. "Eddie, keep pushing them that way. Alice, switch to satellite image and give me a make and model of that waiting party. And tell Wes and Benny to keep the cops off my speeding ass!"
"Looks like a Ford...Expedition," Alice stated. "It's dark in color. I can't tell if it's black, blue, or what, but it's on the shoulder...the same side of the road you'll be on."
"Gotcha!" Emmett stated.
"Eddie!" Jasper called. "I'm at the campgrounds...they were here. There are signs of what looks like a handful of people staying in these old ass cabins. Alice, report it to Wes, get a crew up here!"
"Okay, okay, okay," she chanted. "Edward, go straight from where you are for about four yards, and then turn north towards the 101. You may be able to split the distance with a diagonal line to them. Go!"
"Ten-four," I muttered, trusting wholeheartedly in what she said, because at that point, she was my only eyes in the sky.
As I ran, I focused on my feet, not my nerves, not the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I turned north when Alice told me to, pushing myself faster and harder.
"Shit, fuck!" Emmett growled. "Ed, I'm trapped. I've got a pile up on the 101. Who's got him? Answer me!"
"My ETA is five from the farm," Mickey answered, suddenly on the radio with us. "Hang in there, pretty boy."
"I need air support," Wes ordered. "I need someone in the air...yesterday! Goddammit! Edward, I'm pulling through Forks now, man. I've got a crew unloading on the 101 and an ambulance that should already be pulling in."
I had no energy to talk and keep running, so I stayed quiet. To my left, I heard the rumble of four wheelers, and I knew that Jasper and Alec were racing up the old trail not far from me. The sound of traffic met my ears about the same time that the forest fell away.
Shots pinged off of the tree trunk next to my head, and I dove for the ground, pulling my weapon out. I could see the SUV that Alice had described sitting on the side of the highway.
"I've got visual!" I panted, barely able to speak. "I've got two men...one behind the wheel."
"Cooper, talk to me," Wes ordered, "because I know you're right there."
I lifted my head to see a black sedan screech to a halt on the opposite side of the highway, and four Feds piled out, guns raising, hammers clicking back, the bastards getting ready to fire.
"Don't fucking shoot!" I yelled. "My daughter's in that car! Have you lost your fucking minds!"
"Hold your fire!" Wes ordered. "Follow Edward's lead on this shit, Cooper."
I stood up, planting my back against the tree next to me, peering around towards the SUV. A young man with a scruffy face had a gun pointed to Abby's head.
"Don't do it, asshole!" he yelled. "She won't see Santa Claus this Christmas...I promise you."
A twig snapped to my right, and Alec put a finger to his lips as he crept closer to the edge of the tree line. His gun was drawn, his eyes sharp as he assessed the situation.
"Keep him talking, Edward," Wes urged.
"What do you want, motherfucker?" I yelled, stepping from the trees, my gun out to my side in a sign of surrender.
"I've got what I came for," he chuckled, shrugging one shoulder. "Call them off," he stated, pointing across the road towards the Feds, "or this could get real ugly, real quick. You have to let us go. We'll kill them, quicker than you can get to us, and you know it." He shifted his hand, placing the muzzle of the gun just under Abby's chin. "Are you willing to bet their lives with those odds?"
The back door of the SUV was open. I couldn't see what the driver looked like, but I could see Bethy's profile, a revolver pointed directly at her forehead.
"Back them off, Wes," I begged. "I can see inside the car. The driver's got a gun at Bethy, his partner on Abby."
"Fuck, Ed...what do you want to do?" Alec asked softly.
I ran a hand through my hair, finally meeting his gaze. "I can't...I don't... I fucking know who this is," I eventually sputtered.
"Well, if you know, then we can find them," he said soothingly. "They obviously don't want to kill the girls, because they need them. We'll call everyone in. Benny's on his way from Seattle. Wes just got to the farm. We can find them," he said again, raising his eyebrow at me. "If it's a money thing, we've got that, too." He looked across the grassy area at the asshole with the gun pointed at a three year old's head. "Their days are numbered, kid, but if you fight now...you may lose. I know it's killing you, but look at them. These fuckers aren't in charge. They're just the peons. They're pick up and delivery men."
I couldn't see the driver, but I could see what Alec was trying to say. The shifty eyes of the guy on the outside said it all. He knew going in that there was a real possibility that he could get caught. He stood like a thief, not a military man. He radiated defense, not offense. But he had no problems taking out a three year old child in order to get away.
Tears of anger and frustration, of heartbreak and worry filled my eyes as I thought it over. I dropped my gun to the ground, pointing to the asshole leaning against the SUV.
"You...will die," I promised him. "You've just made the biggest fucking mistake you've ever made, cocksucker."
He grinned, cocky and bold. "Whatever you say, Dad. I'm sure we'll be in...touch. But if they follow us, I will throw these girls out of this truck while we're going sixty down this fucking highway."
"Daddy!" I heard from the SUV, and it was all I could do – along with Alec's help – not to run to my daughter.
"Back off!" I told the officers across the street. "Let them go."
It was the hardest words I'd ever spoken in my life. The most important thing I'd ever had a part in was just about to drive away with people she didn't know. My heart shattered when the asshole shoved a sobbing Abby into the back seat, crawling in behind her. I felt like a part of my soul just broke off and fell to the ground, withering away to nothing, as I watched the SUV crank up and drive away, taking my Bethy with it.
"Come on, kid," Alec said, placing a hand on my shoulder when my knees gave out and I sank to the ground. "Let's go see about Bellissima, yeah?"
I nodded, but I had nothing left, letting him lead me to the four-wheeler that was parked next to Jasper, who was talking on his phone.
Alec pulled out his own phone, speaking urgently, but quietly. "Sam, you need to get me Carlisle...ASAP! No, man...now!"
~oOo~
BELLA
I gagged again when the EMTs moved me from the floor of the bathroom to the gurney. I wasn't sure if it was my head injury, the chemical that had been used on me, or just my nerves that were wracking my frame with nausea and lightheadedness, but whatever it was made me dizzy.
"Let me see," the young woman said softly, lifting my head gently to look at the spot where I was hurting the most...physically. "Looks like they slammed you back into the shower when they knocked you out."
I nodded, and then shrugged, tears welling up with the movement and the ache in my heart.
"I don't think you need stitches, honey," she stated, "but you need to sit up for me. Stay awake, okay? If it's a concussion, then sleeping would result in further damage."
"I'm okay," I sighed, sitting up on the edge of the gurney as she cleaned my wound and walked back to the ambulance.
I looked up when several Federal vehicles pulled into the farm's driveway. Wes was out of his car and kneeling before me before I could blink, as his officers walked to the picnic tables that was filled with worried teachers, parents, and fidgety kids.
"Talk to me, Bella," he said softly, taking my hands. His face radiated worry and just plain anger, because he'd become a true friend since he helped us take down Royce King – not to mention he was crazy about my Makenna.
"She took them," I said, the sob I'd been holding back escaping out of my chest just a bit. "She's got my baby... Edward's tracking them."
"Lilith," he verified, and I nodded, swiping at my tears. "Benny's on his way, but...Edward...he um...he had to let them go, Bells. He had no choice," he soothed when my sobs, my ability to breathe, became harder. "Sweetie, they had a gun to those girls' heads. They would have killed them before we could blink. They told him they'd be in touch. I've got someone following them at a safe distance, but too far back and we could lose them."
My phone rang in my pocket, and thinking it would be Edward, I answered it. "Bells," Rose sighed. "Talk to me, sweet-pea..."
"Rose, she's gone," I sobbed, my control slipping a little more. "They took her and her friend, Abby, and they're gone!"
She hissed a string of curses, but took a deep breath. "Where's Edward, Bellsy?"
"He chased them, but...he couldn't...he didn't..." I heaved a deep breath trying to get myself under control. "It's my fault, Ro. I didn't check the shower...I just took them in..."
"Calm down for me, Bells," she soothed on the other end, and I could hear the murmurs and coos from Caleb on the other end. The sound was my undoing, because it only reminded me that she had her baby, and mine was...gone. My tears couldn't be stopped; they coursed down my face unhindered.
A sound of pure anguish met my ears, and Wes and I looked across the farm to see a woman being held up by one of Wes' men.
I grimaced, understanding her pain. "Mrs. Carmichael," I told Wes. "Abby's mother."
He nodded, rubbing my hands. "I wouldn't mention a thing about what you know around her. Best let her think that you're in the same boat she is. It could get ugly if she thinks your work brought this on her child."
I nodded in agreement, and even Rose muttered to me, "That's not a bad idea, Bells."
Wes' phone beeped with a call, and he answered it quietly. "Benny..." he said, but just listened for a few moments, nodding in agreement. "Got it. I'll call her now, Ben. Just get here soon. I'm going to need all the help I can get on this one... No, I tried to have them follow at a pretty far distance, but they lost them. I couldn't risk them... Yeah, I know." He paused again, his eyebrows raising high into his hairline. "No shit?" he asked, turning away from me slightly. "Okay, so I know that they...right..." he sighed, shaking his head. "This won't be pretty, then. Will he..." Wes sighed again. "Hell, fuck...no, I don't blame him... Fine, Benny." He ended the call, walking away when one of his officers called him, but put his phone back up to his ear. "Alice, what've you got for me?" he asked, his voice trailing away the farther he got from me.
"Bells, talk to me, sweetie," Rose urged in my ear. "Take a breath and focus. Are you hurt?"
"Not really," I sniffled. "They knocked me out, bumping my head on the side of the shower."
"Okay, well, it's not your fault," she stated, "and we've got everyone coming to you. Emmett should be pulling in any minute, Obie and Mickey were in Oregon, but turned around, and Alec and Jasper were tracking with Edward. I've talked to Alice, sweetie...she's working with Benny and Wes to track the SUV and..."
I head shot up when the rumble of ATVs pulled up in front of the barn. Alec, Jasper, and Edward stepped off of them, walking my way.
"Rose, Edward's back," I breathed, tears filling my eyes.
"Go, Bellsy, and call me back when you know something..."
I ended the call, leaving the phone on the gurney and standing up. "Edward," I sobbed, "what happened?"
I'd never seen the light, the fire, extinguished out of my husband's eyes, but when I looked at him, there was just...nothing. He looked haunted and defeated and about five seconds from breaking something. He was a wreck, with his shirt torn, his shoes muddy, and his hair sticking up in every direction, despite the fact that he'd just gotten it cut before Carlisle and Esme's wedding.
"Easy, baby," Edward said, his voice rough, but he eased me back down onto the bed. "I had to let her go," he whispered, and when his voice cracked and his eyes filled with tears, the dam didn't just burst on my emotions, it completely disintegrated. "I'm sorry," he chanted over and over, but caught me in strong arms, which were still shaking.
"What do we do?" I ranted, gripping the front of his shirt. "We have to get her back, Edward. I didn't know someone was in there. I'm sorry..." I locked eyes with his. "I need my baby back...I can't...breathe...without her."
"We. Will. Fucking. Get. Her. Back," he snapped, his hand gripping my shirt. "They..."
He was cut off when my phone rang, and I picked it up, answering it quickly. "Hello..."
There was a pause on the other end, until I heard, "Mommy, Daddy!"
"Jesus, Bethy," I breathed, my hand flying to my heart, because my baby sounded scared.
Edward snatched the phone from me, turning the speakerphone on.
"Bella Swan...Cullen," a voice on the other end started. It was neither male nor female. In fact, it sounded filtered. "Do I have your attention now, bitch?"
A/N...Everyone take a deep breath...let it out slowly. I will admit that this was the cruelest of cliffies I've ever left you with. And I'm sure a fair amount of you are upset with me. Some of you guessed this would happen. And it happened while both parents were on duty...circumstances against them, it seems.
I will PROMISE you, because some of you are worried just how cruel this may get, that there won't be any physical or sexual abuse towards those kids. I'll promise that, because I know that you remember Bella's captivity in B&G, and I wouldn't do that to an innocent child...
I can't write angst for long, and most of you that know me are pretty used to that, but those that don't, understand that the emotions will be rough for a few and then take a turn.
I need to thank JenRar for telling me that readers will chew me up and spit me out...just to chew me up again over this chapter. I'm pretty sure she's right. Thanks to Goober_Lou for helping with the small details in the chase through the woods. And to MedusaInNY for the amazing job she does on my blog...and one of the few that may not yell at me over this chapter, but I am expecting to have to dodge her poor aim of heavy objects. ;)
I have a fantabulous weekend off coming up. I will be off starting Saturday, going back to work Wednesday. And the next posting is looking like Saturday... Yes, early, because I know you'll be threatening me by that point. Ohhh... I KNOW that you have something to say now, so let me have it. My bomb shelter is complete and well stocked. I'll be hiding in there until Sat... Remember...HEA, HEA, HEA... Okay? Until then... Love you and Later...