Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Its been a while. And if you're reading this, thank you because this author's note is IMPORTANT. I'm glad if your eyes caught the capitalized words before you started reading. If not, you'll get there.
The important news is that I will be updating one chapter of this story around the end of the week every week. If you have questions, ask. Email me and so on.
I'm not giving up on my other story, just using this time to try and finish it up and tie up the loose ends. So there. haha
Enjoy your reading and I'll see you next week (I'll try and do the updates either Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday)
Chapter Song:
Apologize - OneRepublic
I'm holding on a rope
Got me ten feet off the ground
I'm hearing what you say
But I just can't make a sound
You tell me that you need me
Then you go and cut me down
But wait!
You tell me that you're sorry
Didn't think I'd turn around and say
That it's too late to apologize
Chapter 8:
It had been three weeks since Edward and I first made love after William and Anthony were born. The boys got bigger and bigger every day, maturing and laughing. They were about four months old and completely adored by Edward and our family.
"Mommy's hungry, Anthony. I need to go and eat." I mumbled sleepily as he tried to wake me by patting my cheek.
He giggled as I grabbed his small chubby hand in mine, kissing it.
"Where's William?" I whispered as I sat up from the floor where I'd fallen asleep on the rug with William and Anthony curled into my sides. I didn't expect him to answer but he turned towards the opened door of the nursery as if to answer me.
I quickly picked him up and ran through the hall, spotting William immediately by the bathroom, pouting as he sat just across the stairs that were barred by the safety gate in case this ever happened and the babies tried to climb down the stairs.
"William, my little trouble maker, what are you doing here? Are you trying to give mommy a heart attack?" I whispered teasingly to him as I picked him up in my arms.
He giggled when I kissed his cheek loudly, turning to link hands with Anthony behind my back as I slowly began to descend the stairs.
"... can't do this!" an oddly familiar voice shouted, echoing throughout the house and making me freeze at the bottom of the stairs.
"Shh," I whispered, sitting down at the bottom of the stairs as my boys giggled while playing with my hair, tugging strands out of its pony tail.
"Where is he?" Edward's voice demanded and I was startled by its cold tone. I frowned, standing up carefully and walking warily past the kitchen. I was startled to be met by Tyler and Thomas who were guarding the extra living room that connected to Edward's office.
"Mrs. Cullen," they whispered tensely, obviously not wanting me to go further.
"Here," I said and quickly placed William in Tyler's arms before shifting Anthony in Thomas's arms before kissing my boys on their foreheads and walking past their uncertain caretakers. "Take them to the kitchen. I want to talk to Edward."
"But Mrs. Cullen-"
"I didn't ask," I said sternly and they exchanged a glance before nodding curtly and walking towards the kitchen with William and Anthony fidgeting in their strong arms.
"I don't know, okay? I don't know! No, please!" the familiar voice shouted and screamed out in pain when the muffled sound of a gun went off. I sighed, and walked in the room ready to reprimand Edward on carrying out his executions in the house where the boys could easily hear everything.
"Edward, what-" I began to say but felt my voice die out when I saw his victim.
"Bella! Bella, hon, what are you doing here?" Charlie asked me as he clutched his bleeding hand to his chest.
"Bella, go back. Where are Thomas and Tyler?" Edward asked me tensely.
"They're... in the kitchen. Might I ask what the hell you are doing?" I asked him, finally regaining my voice.
"I'm protecting you," Edward said it as if it were obvious. But it wasn't obvious. Even though I still resented Charlie for all that he'd put me through, I had cut my ties. And I'd moved on as best as I could.
"By killing Charlie?" I asked him with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes," he said resolutely. "But I need some answers from him first."
"What answers?" I asked him angrily.
"Please just go back, Bella." Edward sighed, looking at me with exasperation. "Where are the boys?"
"What answers?" I repeated.
"I need to know where James is," he said finally and nodded towards the three guards that were holding Charlie down. "Take him down to the lower levels."
"What? No! Please!" Charlie began to plead, helpless against the guards who dragged him away... leaving behind a trail of blood as his legs dragged oddly on the floor behind him.
"Bella, where are the boys?" Edward asked me tensely.
"They're in the kitchen. Can you not do this again?" I asked him, knowing that I couldn't ask him to let Charlie go. When Edward made a decision, he was stubborn and resolute and didn't change his mind.
"What?" he asked me as he walked with me towards the kitchen where Thomas and Tyler were entertaining the boys as best they could.
"Don't do this in the house. The boys can hear and I don't want them exposed to this side of our lives at such a young age." I whispered anxiously and he nodded in resignation, kissing me chastely before walking forward to kiss William and Anthony on their foreheads.
They giggled, reaching up for him. I watched as he looked at himself hesitantly, noticing the blood on his suit for the first time. I sighed when he shook his head at them and told Thomas and Tyler to hand the boys over to me while they finished with business.
I set the boys in their high chairs, moving around the island in the kitchen to get their milk ready. I grabbed the bottles of breast milk that I'd prepped for them and heated them up, making sure that they were warm enough before handing over the bottles to both boys.
They sucked greedily and I moved around the kitchen, getting dinner ready for Edward for when he was finished. I sighed and shook the pitiful thoughts out of my head. There was no way that I would have pity for the one man that had single handedly ruined my life.
"We're eating in the kitchen again?" Edward asked me with a raised eyebrow. I sighed as I realized that he was covered in blood.
"Yes. Now go and change. The blood in the halls has already been cleaned up and you still need to say good morning to me," I muttered and he chuckled before murmuring a good morning to me and leaving the room, knowing that I wouldn't let him come near me with all of that blood.
It wasn't that I was disgusted so much as that I wanted to reassure myself that Edward wasn't hurt himself. It didn't matter to me that he had blood on his clothes as long as he was fine himself.
The sound of the doorbell ringing startled me. Edward hadn't told me anything about having any visitors. I huffed, annoyed, and rushed to get the door. Tyler passed me on the way and I quickly told him to watch the boys and make sure they didn't get in any trouble.
William was good at doing that.
"Coming!" I called and was startled to see our butler, Gerry, talking with a man and woman standing outside the door. "Gerry, I've got it. Thank you," I said smiling at him and he nodded before departing, no doubt to alert Edward and the guards that there were two strangers at the front door.
"May I help you?" I asked them, knowing almost immediately that they weren't friends of Edward's from the mafia business side of his job.
"Mrs. Cullen?" the man asked me and I nodded politely. "Hello, I'm Agent Romero and this is my partner Agent Hawkens; we're with the FBI."
I raised my eyebrows, not knowing where they were going with their introductions. I slowly raised my hand along the doorframe, hitting a small button to alert Edward. It was something that Tyler and Thomas had drilled into me if there was ever a time that we had suspicious visitors.
"We are doing an investigation on your husband," Hawkens said finally as the button retreated into the doorframe, hiding itself from view after I pressed it.
I raised my eyebrows at her bluntness and looked at them expectantly.
"Is something wrong with Edward?" I asked them.
"We wanted to know if your husband has ever hurt you? Abused you?" Hawkens asked me and I looked at her stunned before shaking my head with laughter.
"Edward? My Edward?" I asked with a smile. "No. Edward has never raised his hand against me. Is something the matter?"
"Yes, well we're investigating some disappearances and homicides that seem to always include your husband. Brutal stuff, Mrs. Cullen." Romero muttered and I looked at him warily.
"Mrs. Cullen," Thomas appeared, holding out a fidgeting Anthony to me, "it seems that William and he were fighting over their bottles."
I sighed and took my son into my arms, cooing softly to him.
"You can come in," I told the police officers quietly and told Thomas to call Edward to come downstairs. "When did these homicides begin?" I asked them as I led them to the closest living room, ignoring how their eyes scanned the antiques and decorations.
"They seemed to start about six months ago or so," Romero said, giving me the month and I frowned at him.
"Well, I don't think its possible for Edward to have even been involved," I said as I cradled Anthony in my arms, knowing that William would soon be brought in by one of the guards.
"Mrs. Cullen, we understand your need to protect your husband but the evidence clearly states-" Romero began to say calmly, talking down to me and making me irritated.
"I'm not saying this to protect him. I'm telling you the truth. Edward hadn't left my side since about eight months ago. He hardly leaves the house. And the possibility of him leaving the house when you say these disappearances and murders started is slim to none." I said firmly.
"And why is that?" Romero demanded, just as annoyed and irritated.
"Because we were dealing with the grief of my miscarriage. Edward didn't leave my side for weeks if not months," I said, feeling my eyes well with tears of the painful memories.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Cullen." Hawkens apologized quietly.
"Yes, well we have our little miracles here now," I muttered, brushing Anthony's hair aside from his forehead.
"Bella, where are you?" Edward called from down the hall, trying to raise his voice over William's obviously distressed cries. "Oh. Hello," Edward said politely to the Agents before rushing towards me with a squirming William in his arms. "I'll trade you," he pled quietly, looking distressed himself.
I chuckled and pulled William into my arms and letting Anthony be taken by Edward. He sighed in relief and William settled down as I hugged him close to me. I knew that Edward was very well capable of taking care of both William and Anthony by himself but he wanted to pay attention to the Agents.
"Might I ask what the occasion of your visit is, Officers?" Edward asked them politely.
"We are running an investigation right now and we needed an alibi of yours but your wife has seemed to clear that up for us," Romero said quietly as he observed Edward silently.
"What alibi?" Edward asked, turning to look at me questioningly. As if he didn't already know. There were cameras everywhere in the house except for our bedroom. Those were private moments.
"Your wife's miscarriage." Hawkens said and I watched Edward's face harden.
"Oh," he said simply. "It had been a difficult time for us," he nodded in agreement, grabbing Anthony's hands to still them from choking him because he kept on tugging on Edward's tie.
"Were you going somewhere?" Romero asked us, noticing our clothes.
"Dinner. I was just serving dinner when you rang the doorbell, Mr. Romero." I said and he nodded, looking impish with his apologetic smile.
"Well, thank you for your time Mr. and Mrs. Cullen," Hawkens smiled at me as she stood up and announced that they were departing.
Gerry went to escort them out while Edward and I walked back towards the kitchen in silence.
"I wanted to go out later." I sighed and he looked at me questioningly. "You can hold down the fort in the meantime, right?" I asked him with a teasing smile.
"This fort was mine from the beginning. I know the ins and outs of it all," he exclaimed proudly and I giggled in response, smiling when William and Anthony laughed at the sound of my giggles.
"Where will you be going?" he asked me quietly as we began to eat.
"The store." I said and looked at him sternly when he opened his mouth to protest. "No, I don't want someone else going to shop for me. I want to get out of the house at some point, Edward. Please, tell me you understand."
"Yes," he sighed and I smiled, leaning over the island to kiss his cheek.
"Can I have a real kiss?" he pouted and I rolled my eyes, pretending to be indignant before reaching over to kiss him on the lips. "Mmm," he moaned against my lips. I giggled and glared at him playfully as I pulled away.
"Now, don't encourage William's troublemaking behavior. And listen to Anthony because he seems to know just when William is going to do something bad," I told him later as I grabbed my bag and tried to prep Edward for staying alone with our boys.
"Love, I can do this. Trust me," he murmured, leaning forward to kiss me quickly. I sighed and nodded.
"And don't forget their afternoon bottles!" I called and he chuckled, waving my worries away.
"Be careful!" he called after me and I smiled, knowing that I was perfectly safe with Tyler as my shadow. Which he was whenever I left the house on random outings.
Tyler drove us to Hollywood, parking quickly and following me along with the rest of the guards as I entered and exited stores, looking for nothing in particular. Edward had refused to let me work, telling me that he would provide whatever I wanted. When I'd refused, he'd practically shoved a black card into my hands.
The black card had an insane amount of money inside and the employees went insane once they realized that I had such a card.
"A frapuccino, please." I smiled at the employee at Starbucks as I ordered my drink.
"Which one?" he asked me and I shrugged.
"Whichever one's fine." I shrugged and he nodded before giving me the price. I slid the card and he handed me the receipt with wary eyes. I walked over to where Tyler sat outside, startled to be intercepted by a large figure.
"Excuse me," I muttered and was startled when a hand closed around my wrist. I turned to glare up at the guy angrily but was shocked to find myself staring back into familiar dark brown eyes.
"Jake?" I asked, uncertain.
"Yeah. Hey," he said, smiling at me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him confused.
"I wanted to-" he began to say but was cut off by Tyler's strained voice.
"Don't touch her," Tyler snapped and I was shoved behind him, almost crashing into another table. "Mr. Black, I suggest that you leave. You were warned to not make contact with Mrs. Cullen."
"Who the hell are you?" Jake demanded, looking furious at my body guard's sudden appearance.
"What? Whoa! Tyler call them off," I snapped, finding myself quickly being dragged away from my ex-fiance and body guard by Tyler's men. "Get off of me. What the fuck?!" I shouted angrily and huffed when I was unceremoniously shoved into the truck before we were speeding off.
"What the hell, Tyler?!" I snapped at him angrily.
"You are not to talk to Jacob Black," he said sternly and I gaped at him, suddenly enraged.
"What the fuck? Are you ordering me around now?" I demanded angrily.
"They are the orders of Mr. Cullen, Mrs. Cullen." he informed me and I stared at him in disbelief.
"Wait, what are you-" I began to demand but was startled when the truck came to an abrupt stop and I was yanked out of the truck and hauled into the mansion where Edward was pacing at the entrance of the living room.
"How dare you?" he shouted at me, raising his voice for the first time in months at me.
"What?" I asked, appalled. "Me? What the fuck, Edward?"
"Yes, you! You met up with him, didn't you? That's why you wanted to leave the house!" he shouted at me, looking furious. I stared at him in angered disbelief, refusing to recoil from his angered form.
"I did no such thing!" I shouted back. "I didn't even-"
A sharp stinging rang through my cheek and my head snapped to the left suddenly. I reached up in shock to nurse my right cheek as I stared in disbelief at Edward.
"If you ever try and betray me-" he began to say but I quickly interrupted him as tears streamed down my face with hurt and anger.
"I didn't do anything, Edward." I choked back on a sob. "I ordered my frapuccino because I was thirsty and then I was walking back to Tyler when I crashed into Jake. We barely even got to exchange greetings and I barely even managed to ask him why he was there before I was being hauled away by your stupid guards without anything being explained to me! I don't have a reason to betray you or hurt you, Edward. I have a family and life with you. I love you and you... I thought you loved me too."
I pushed him back angrily when he tried to apologize and hug me.
"I can't Edward. Not now," I shook my head at him before leaving the room to trudge up the stairs as I tried to wipe my tears away.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed it. I could feel her frustration when I wrote this. Geez, sometimes I get so into my writing haha. You know what to do, drop your opinion in the box below
- Eli
