Hello guys... Once again. Thankyou everyone for supporting me. ...
Bella's POV:
I heard his quick intake of breath and sounds of him hurrying. I knew Edward would be here. I fleetingly thought I should give him the address to my office. But there's no need I guess. It was Edward. I doubt there was anything he did not know. I placed my phone on the couch and tried taking my eyes off the sight in front of me.
But it was like one of those situations where you could not ,even if you wanted to. The box lay open in front of me. It was about the size of a book. The metallic scent wafted to my nose as I gagged. The inside of the box was filled with photos. A lot of photos. Most of it wasn't clear as there was blood spilled over it. But from what I could see of the contents inside,it seems to be my pictures. Taken, obviously from a little distance away.
There was pictures of me getting out of the car Carlisle had sent last week. Pictures of me hugging Edward. Us kissing in front of his house. It didn't end there. No... There were photos of me entering my work building, me getting out, me with Angela while we were having lunch outside. There was one thing though. One pattern I noticed. All these photos, they were after I met Edward. After I went to his house last Saturday. And it didn't take a genius to figure out why I was being targeted.
I thought to the first time I saw Edward. It's hardly been a month. The first time I saw him... He was covered in bruises and blood.
And for a person like him, it was nothing. "It's just a minor wound Bella." He'd told me when I made a "fuss" about him walking without help, and wandering up and about instead of taking a rest. He had been severely injured from what I knew. And only a week after, he stared walking without help as if it was nothing. Apparently it's not good for a Mob boss like him to show weakness. And it made me scared out of my wits to know that this wasn't the first time it had happened. But I really didn't know how one could get used to these "minor wounds" as Edward would call them.
It never did hit me fully, now that I think about it. The fact that he was the top leader of one of the biggest criminal organizations in the world. In the little time that I've known Edward, which was almost a month, he had never exposed me to his other part. I always knew he was scared that I might run away. But now as I looked at the bloody sight in front of me it made me realise something. This... This wasn't anything that anybody could get used to. And it didn't help that I jumped into this relationship head first without giving it much time. Not that I regretted my decision of being his.
On the contrary it only made me the happiest that I've ever been. The only problem was that in the hustle and bustle of this new love, we never stopped to think for a minute. Because let's face it, I wasn't just being his girlfriend. I was being the target to a million enemies he might have. And I never really thought about how to react in such unusual circumstances, like the one right now. He needed a strong woman, one who would not only stand by his side, but fight by his side too. One who could stand in gunpoint and still be cool as a cucumber. One who could see the bloody sight in front of me and still be calm and collected. And what was I being right now? Oh wait... Thats right.. Scared. Scared out of my mind.
I had told Edward millions of times that I knew what I was getting into and that I would love him no matter what. But one incident and I'm shaking like a leaf. And for the first time today, I felt disappointment towards myself.
I heard sound of my doors being opened. I had no time to look who it was, as I was enveloped by a warm body. Edward's sweet, natural scent was all around me and for the first time since I opened that box I felt safe.
"Bella , baby are you alright?" Edward asked holding me such that he could see my face. I looked upto his wonderful eyes shining with worry and concern.
"I am now" With that I buried my face into his chest and took a deep breath. Call me weird, but his scent helped me calm down. His hand tightened around me and for a second, I wished things were easier. I wished it would just be me and him.
From behind me I heard Carlisle telling Edward about the contents of the box. Huh I didn't hear him getting in. I really should be more careful of my surroundings from now on... Edward's body tensed in response to what Carlisle was saying. Sigh... Now what? I hope he doesn't go into a frenzy. I looked up to his face again, and saw that his face was stormy. There was barely concealed rage on his face and his eyes were dark. I gulped. This Edward was scary and terrifying. I hate to think about the person on the receiving end of Edward's wrath.
"... Blood... Human... Can't just..." Carlisle's voice was muted suddenly as Edward covered me more with his body encasing me in his arms, my safe haven. Briefly I heard Carlisle again, saying that he would take care if the box. So I assume it was just us now. We were enveloped in a thick blanket of silence and I dare not break it. For now... Being in Edward's arms felt like heaven. And I would remain so until he'd break it.
Slowly ... So slowly as if he was scared I would break, he lifted my face upto his. And as our eyes met, I saw a myriad of emotions in his eyes. His eyes had a slight hazel color to his emerald ones now that I looked close. And they were gazing at me with such concern that it took my breath away.
" For the first time in my life... I'm scared Bella... " he whispered. Right then, I saw a man who's broken inside. Seeing him like this, had me in tears. I took his face in my hands and slightly brushed his cheeks.
"Don't be Edward. I'm right here. We're alright. We are safe. I love you.. " I then kissed his forehead and stayed there for a minute or two.
A throat clearing interrupted us from our little world. I looked towards my door and saw Carlisle standing there with a little smile on his face at the scene in front of him. I blushed instantly in true Bella fashion.
"I'm sorry to break up this little love fest but we should get going. I took care of the... Uhm.. Contents of the box. Bella, if you can take a leave today that would be really useful. We really need to get to the bottom of this."
I nodded and smiled at him, not having the strength to say anything else. He winked at me and went out again gesturing us to follow him. I untangled myself from Edward, he was reluctant to leave me. I smiled at him and looked at the door gesturing that we should follow Carlisle. For some reason words left him as he kept staring without saying anything. Then slowly, as if waking up from a dream, he collected himself together and put his hands around my waist, heading out the door.
...
"...and of course the Volturi won't be any less innocent in this matter, those motherfuckers!" Emmet boomed.
"Em! Language!" Esme chimed scoldingly.
" Sorry Mama Es." He gave out his signature smile with dimples that had Esme punching his cheeks as if he was a little kid.
One word stood out among all this. One word that, for some unexplainable reason, had me shivering with cold dread. Volturi...
Now where have I heard that word before... I wracked brain for the word. From the seriousness in these people's face one thing was quite clear. Whoever they were, it seems the Cullen's were quite uneasy about them. And the only thing that would scare them was... Oh! Of course. THE Volturi. I remember reading about one Marcus Volturi a couple of years ago. Something related to a murder case in which, of course he was let free. The initial Judge had, then died suspiciously, which caused quite a stir in the political world. There were a lot of protests from the public for the arrest of this man, though there was a curious lack of proofs all of a sudden. Everyone knew what had happened though there wasn't anybody brave enough to outright point a finger at him.
Once again, I was overwhelmed at the magnanimity of all this. I looked across the room and saw Edward pacing back and forth arguing to someone over phone. He's been at it for more than an hour and I wondered who the unlucky one at the other end was. Because from the looks if it, Edward was ripping him a new one.
This went on for another ten minutes until he locked him eyes with me. There was steel resolve in his eyes, as he cut the call and headed straight towards me. He sat down in the couch I was sitting, in the Cullen's living room, and put his hands around me.
"I will not let anything happen to you, Bella" he whispered.
"I know you won't, Edward." I smiled tearing up. At this point I was more concerned at seeing the man like this, than what happened today.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw the rest of the Cullen's smile at us. Even Jasper was here, quite banged up might I add, smiling at us. He was supposed to be on full rest. But the stubborn streak ran through the entire organization, I guess. He was up and about, with a little help from little Alice.
"You would be assigned a bodyguard, love. He would shadow you from afar. At this point I'm not taking anything for granted and I want you protected at all costs." Edward said.
What?! They can't be serious! A bodyguard? For me?! How am I going to explain that in my office? It had been difficult enough, asking them for a leave as soon as I got into work. And now this? They would be suspicious. No matter how "afar" this guy would be, I'm sure somebody is bound to notice.
"Please Edward. You can't be serious! Everybody would notice if I came office everyday with a hundred pound hulk!" I cried out.
Hearing my statement, everybody laughed out loud, causing me to drown in confusion.
"What did I say, guys?" I asked
Emmet was, by now,rolling in the floor laughing and saying 'hundred pound hulk' over and over. Even Edward had his shoulders shaking in silent laughter.
I tied my hands and huffed out. I knew I must have looked like a kid at the moment, but I didn't care.
Still chuckling, Edward put his hands on my shoulders.
"Well, let me put your cute lil mind out of misery. When I was calling somebody for the past one hour and a half I was actually setting things up so it wouldn't look suspicious. And no, there isn't going to ba a hundred pound hulk. Your bodyguard, she would be here any moment. And she would be joining tomorrow as the new staff in your office."
"She?" I asked.
"Yep. She."
On cue we heard the purr of an engine outside. It died down and we heard a set of heels clicking. The door opened and in walked a figure that looked like she came straight out of Vogue's cover. The blond walked right over to Edward and as he stood up to greet the strawberry blond, I noticed with jealousy, the jubilant smile on Edward's face.
She then straightened up and looked at me. We stared for some seconds , as I refused to back down from her penetrating gaze. Somebody in the background cleared their throat and that's when she blinked her eyes. Her face lit up with a perfect smile and with a tinkling voice she said...
" I'm Tanya Denali, Edward's cousin. I like you very much Isabella Swan, and something tells me we are gonna get along really good. " I could only stare at her in shock...
Well there you go people. The next chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it. I am sorry for the delay but I hope you guys forgive me. As always your comments make my day. I love you people!
-blooms at night.