All the usual Disclaimers… I don't own Twilight, no copyright infringement intended.
Beta'd by SUNFLOWER3759 Thank you! **Mistakes are always my own**

I know you've been anxious for this update so ... Enjoy!

Chapter 11

BPOV

I haven't been inside of a church in years.

I went a few times with Edward, and a few times alone in Paris, but I just can't get past the idea of an all-powerful, and merciful God. If there was such a man, why would he have allowed children to grow up the way I did? And why would he allow so many others to be caught in similar situations who weren't as lucky as I was?

Thinking of myself as lucky is laughable.

I should have died many times over by now, but no, I live to hurt another day.

If there is a heaven, those that ended up there are the lucky ones. I've got a one way ticket to hell once I'm done living this hell-on-earth I'm living in now. People like Aro and my parents had drugs to escape their personal hell.

I had nothing.

Then I had Edward.

Then, I had the hope of being with Edward again.

Now, I have neither.

I'm lost … with no direction ... no purpose.

My old life, my new life ... neither make sense anymore.

People pray at times like these.

The disbeliever in me has nothing left to lose.

So I take a knee in front of this grand altar… before a God I don't understand, and whoever else listens to the prayers of the lost and forsaken like me.

I silently ask for forgiveness and direction.

I confess my sins and wait for some sort of sign-some epiphany-or weight to be lifted off my shoulders.

I get a response ... but it's not exactly what I was expecting. It comes in the form of six, maybe seven pairs of shoes toward the front of the church behind my kneeling form. I don't move my head, but I open my eyes to peek up through my lashes at the statue before me.

He must be fucking with me right now.

… Mocking me at this very moment.

If this is your way of telling me my time is up, you have another thing coming.

I think, and hope that someone up there is watching out for me because the hell I know is better than the hell I don't.

I'm not dying in your house today, and I'm not apologizing for the mess I'm going to make either.

I subtlety retrieve the small knife strapped to my ankle. It's small, but it's deadly sharp. I never leave home without it.

Old habits never die.

The church is quiet.

With no one else around you could hear a pin drop. So it's funny these goons think they can sneak up on me. That fact alone tells me I'm dealing with low men, which is probably why there are so many.

They have guns; I hear the all too familiar clicks and cocks.

I'm not too concerned though. If they wanted me dead, they would have fired already. There are seven of them, and they want to take me alive … over my dead body.

I haven't had this much adrenaline pumping through my veins in ten years. Gearing up this way feels fucking amazing and ironically comforting.

I clear my mind and focus on their footsteps, their breathing, and their nervous twitches.

You can hear a lot when you actually listen.

I dissect their behavior and methodically plan my attack.

Isabella is back, and I'm eager to play.

There are three closing in quickly behind me and the other four are farther out, flanking them in the wings. The men flanking left are nervous. They are slowly taking their cues from the more eager. They'll hesitate just long enough, which means they'll be last.

The three behind me are more deliberate, rushing in closer ...

Closer ... I grip my knife tight, blade out.

Forgive me Father for I'm about to sin…

With that thought, I swiftly stand and swing the knife right through the necks of my first and second victims. It easily slices through both carotid arteries like warm butter. Vic one drops his gun to grab his neck in an attempt to stop the gush of blood. I catch it with my left hand effortlessly positioning my finger on the trigger and fire off a couple rounds into the right wing as my knife continues on its current trajectory, only managing to nick victim number three.

The bullets hit dead on, killing vic four. Vic three is bringing his gun down on my head, and as I sidestep out of the way the asshole in the right wing fires his gun, missing me and hitting vic three. I fire three more rounds in his direction, but I'm off balance and miss, only grazing his shoulder and pissing him off. He's yelling profanities as he charges at me. I check the left wing briefly to see what my nervous nellies are doing … hesitating, watching.

Perfect.

Right wing asshole is throwing punches, but he's bulky and clumsy, lacks the finesse and agility of a boxer. I'm much smaller in comparison, and he must think his size gives him an advantage or he's just really fucking dumb. I humor him, let him take a few more swings and give our audience a minute to wet themselves. He's frustrated and already out of breath, so I put him out of his misery. He takes a final, feeble swing, and I duck down and punch his junk with as much force as I could throw. He falls to his knees, hunched over, cupping his crotch trying to cry out in agony, but he barely lets out a whisper.

I walk around him, grab a fist full of hair and pull his head back exposing his neck.

I find the last two in the wings and hold their gaze as I slit asshole's throat.

One takes off running.

If he's smart and leaves, he will be the first to have ever seen my face and live to tell about it.

Five of whom I presume are Aro's men are dead. I took them out barely stretching any muscles. I'm a little disappointed and frankly insulted. Someone obviously sent amateurs-babies. Just because I've been out of the business, doesn't mean I've stopped training. I've had nothing but time to hone my skills.

No one was going to catch me off guard … no one except him ... my kryptonite.

I heard shuffling again and immediately was on guard.

I'm looking at my last victim, when Edward and Tanya are dragged in-cuffed.

I lock eyes with Edward-slightly beaten and angry.

I don't budge.

Fuck, this isn't good.

Keeping the left-wing man in my periphery and quickly weighing my options, I remember that I have one bullet left and three goons with guns.

I could escape on my own easily, but what happens to them?

If I stay I could probably save one but ... which one?

I can't let them kill Edward, and I can't let Edward suffer the loss of Tanya.

I won't do that to him again.

One of these bastards will shoot, and there is nothing I can do about it.

"We only came for you, Isabella." Goon number one says.

"We don't have to hurt them but we will." He emphasizes by tightening his arm around Edward's neck to which Edward responded by jabbing him in the gut with his elbow.

He may not be able to best me, but he can sure as hell take on those two. The fact that he's been cuffed and ruffed up only means they must have gotten Tanya first and used her against him, just as they are using him against me.

I've trained some with Edward; he's every bit the fighter I am.

The rage in his eyes matches mine, which only solidifies my earlier assumption. Tanya was a bargaining chip, and he folded. I can see his concern as he glances at her. Not that I needed his concern, but it would have been nice.

"We'll let them go. Aro just wants you ... alive." Goon number two pipes up.

Aro's alive?

Of course, he is.

This shouldn't actually surprise either Edward or me but now we both know there's a narc on the squad.

I don't have to think.

I already know what I have to do.

As furious as I am about it, I have to stand down.

I need to get to Aro.

I'm not delusional to think I stand a chance at making it out of this alive, but if I don't go Edward and Tanya's days are numbered. Hell they may already be numbered regardless, but if I can manage to take out Aro, then they stand a chance.

All I need is one lucky swipe or hit.

I should have taken Aro's life when I had the chance instead of cooperating to save myself.

"Okay, but we are doing this my way." I order with finality.

"NO! Don't y ..." Edward yells before he's choked again.

"Enough!" I yell ... I can hear Edward struggling against the hold, but I don't dare look him in the eye.

It's too late to worry about me now. He has to know that this is the only option. He has Tanya now; he's going to be happy again. Just like he was before I arrived and messed up his life a second time.

The goons obviously share a brain, looking to each other before agreeing. They may be taking me, but I'm calling the shots.

"Cuff them to each other and toss me the keys."

They do as I say, like good little minions. I don't want Edward following, and I don't want him here all night in handcuffs. He probably needs a doctor. I'm sure Tanya will make that happen.

"Bella stop ..." Edward weakly tries to get my attention. With keys in hand, I toss them up onto the second level. That will give us a big enough head start. We have to move quickly, Charlie will be here any minute, and I can't risk him getting in the way.

So without a parting glance I leave with Aro's minions right behind me.

I have sins to atone for, and it's time to meet my maker.

A/N

I'm hiding behind my hands, peeking through my fingers, too scared to read the reviews, but absolutely dying to know what everyone thought … Sunflower says it's the best so far; was she right?

Last chapter was the most reviews for any one chapter and we are now 33 reviews away from 200! I'm so thrilled that you take the time to read please tell me your thoughts too.

Thirty-Three isn't a lot … you can smash that easy, lol!

Loved it; I want to know.

Hated it … ya, I still want to know.

Want to see B with some hot Parisian lover, lol, yes you, I want to know that too!

Next Chapter will be EPOV! It's never long enough but you get a taste of what's going on in his head.

Also, I will be entering my first contest … TLS Angst Contest … didn't think I'd have something worth entering but I'm excited and nervous to throw my hat in. Wish me luck; I'm sure I'll need it.

Put me on author alert if you want new story updates. I have another story already written just needs some fine tuning and Sunflower magic.

Thank you all again for following, lurking, reading, and reviewing!

It only takes a second to do something that means so much to every writer but especially to new ones…

Phew … that was a long one!

Thank You!