Sorry loves, but it's back to Edward first on this one ; ) We'll catch up with Bella ASAP.
Brief note, in case you're confused later- the italicized portions of the chapter are little flashbacks. I think it's clear but I'm running on nothing but fumes at this point so I could very easily be wrong.
… …
Edward Cullen
"Does the name Aro Volturi ring any bells?" Jasper asked, shuffling a few papers in front of him.
"Uh, yeah actually," I replied. "There's an hour blocked out for him on Mr. Hunter's schedule every week. But I've never actually seen him."
"Any idea what that would be about?"
"No," I said honestly, shaking my head. "I've never seen any paperwork about it or typed up any minutes or anything."
Jasper nodded, looking pensive. "Well, this is Aro Volturi," he said, sliding a picture over to me.
A picture of James Hunter.
"You lost me," I said, shaking my head. "What are you saying?"
"We're not actually 100% sure what's going on here, or which one is his real name," Jasper admitted. "But we know he has two identities. Hunter has all the business connections, obviously, but the Volturi name is linked to a few…unsavory ties. I told my guy to stop poking around after he found out about this," he gestured to the picture, "for fear of getting involved in something serious. We have reason to believe that if this guy isn't actually in the mob, Edward, he's tied up in it. Hunter, Volturi…whatever name he's going by, it's the same. Bad news."
"How has this never been revealed before? James Hunter is a big deal," I asked, my mind reeling.
"Maybe it has," Jasper replied with a shrug. "And those people just aren't in a position to talk anymore."
Getting his hint, I swallowed thickly. He was right. This was bad. What had I gotten myself into?
"I can't believe this. How…"
"He's slick," Jasper interjected. "He uses 'Volturi' for name only, and only in certain circles. Hunter is the name that goes with his appearance, the name that is actually tied to his success. But like I said…either way, this is trouble. Edward, you have to get yourself out of there."
I shook my head, barely even considering it. "Bella," I said quietly. "I can't just leave her there, with him."
"She's already caught up in it, Edward," Jasper reminded me. "For all you know…she knows. And she could be involved."
"No," I said. "I know her."
"I hope you're right," Jasper said with a sigh, raising his hands. "For both your sakes."
… …
I didn't go into work that day, sending a quick email saying that I was feeling under the weather to Mr. Hunter…or was it Mr. Volturi?
Not knowing what to think, I collapsed into my bed. My mind was going a million miles a minute, and through the confusing jumble of thoughts in my head, I could only make out one thing.
Bella.
I had to believe in the good in her, that she didn't know what was really going on. Maybe it wouldn't make a difference even if she did know, but I hoped that she wouldn't keep me in the dark about something so serious, something that could be harmful to us both. I thought back to how she felt in my arms after I had finally gotten the nerve up to kiss her, and I decided right then and there that I wasn't going to walk away.
Maybe it was foolish of me. But my heart was telling me that Bella really was innocent in this, and I couldn't leave her and the baby with him for any longer than necessary. My mind played back to all the special moments we had shared together, and I knew that this was something I had to do.
… …
"You're my best friend," Bella said simply, reaching over and placing her hand over mine. "I hope you know that. I hope I'm not silly for saying so, either."
"You're not," I replied quickly, feeling my cheeks flush slightly. "You're my best friend, too."
… …
"I know you said he had the name picked out already…but what names did you have in mind?" I asked, peeking over at her as we folded baby clothes. The amount of clothes crammed into the drawers in the nursery was incredible, but I knew from experience with my nephew that babies went through an extraordinary amount of clothes.
"It doesn't really matter now," Bella replied with a shrug. "He told me to forget it. Not to mention it again."
"Bella…" I said quietly. "I'm not him."
She gazed up at me, her brow furrowed. "I know that," she said finally. "I know."
I nodded, and we continued our work in silence for a few more minutes. I didn't mind the silence, though. It was comfortable, and just being in the same room with her made my heart beat faster.
"I liked the name Lucas," Bella said finally, not looking at me. "Lucas…Edward."
I glanced up at her in surprise, but she still wasn't looking at me.
Reaching out, I gently grasped her chin and turned her head towards me. "Bella," I said again, reverently this time. "Thank you."
Her deep brown eyes looked so sad, but there was still so much beauty there. It almost hurt to look her in the eye, because her eyes were so expressive that I could practically feel her pain.
… …
"Where is someplace you've always wanted to go?" I asked, lazily spinning the globe in my office.
Bella laughed quietly, shrugging her shoulders. "Anywhere," she replied. "I haven't been much of anywhere. We travelled a little bit in the early days of our marriage, but…"
"I want to go to South America," I said, cutting in as she trailed off. "I went to Europe with some friends in college, and it was incredible, but something about South America is so appealing to me. Argentina, maybe, or Brazil. But anywhere is probably better than here, huh?"
"That sounds like an adventure," Bella remarked. "South America, I mean. I think I'd like that, too."
"Yeah? Maybe I'll take you one day."
She smiled. "Maybe I'll take you."
… …
"Tell me about your life," I implored, watching as Bella iced the small cake in front of her.
She looked up at me with a frown, a little bit of icing smeared in one of her eyebrows. "What?"
"Your life," I repeated. "Anything you want to tell me, tell me. I'd love to hear it."
"I…I don't really like talking about it," she said with a shrug. "I tried to leave that life behind."
"Anything," I repeated. "It doesn't have to be specific. Tell me some of your memories; see if you can turn them into happier ones."
She smiled then, but her hands didn't stop their work.
"It was my eleventh birthday, and my mom had scrounged up enough money for buy a box of cake mix," she recalled. "But she forgot that you needed eggs and oil, too, so…"
… …
"You were right, you know," Bella said, sidling up next to me. "Those stories I told you the other day? About growing up? I've been thinking about them and well…they don't seem so sad anymore. Now when I think of them, I think of you. And maybe one day I'll tell baby," she reached down and rubbed her stomach, "about them, and they'll get even better. Maybe I'll look back one day and those stories won't be sad at all, and I won't be so ashamed of where I come from."
"You can't help what you were born into, Bella," I reminded her. "And it's nothing to be ashamed of."
"I was in such a rush to get away from all of that," she continued, "that I didn't think about what I was getting into. But even if I had known what was ahead, I'm afraid that I would have done it anyway. Because I was stupid, and I didn't realize that there are worse things in life. But I wish things were different, I really do."
"Bella…"
"No, really. I wish that I had never married him. I wish that I wasn't sharing this baby with him. I wish it was…" she trailed off, shaking her head.
"Was what?" I asked.
"Was with you, instead."
… …
She had trusted in me, confided in me, and told me that she loved me. I couldn't give up on Bella, especially now.
At this point, I didn't really care how it happened. I didn't care if I came up with a genius plan, or even a good one. It just had to work. I couldn't let her continue to live the way she was, in fear for not only herself but also the baby she was carrying. I knew what had happened to end her first pregnancy, and even though she was nearly full term now, I wouldn't put anything past him. And once the baby was born…how long until he did something to light his father's fuse?
I used the term "father' loosely, but I was at a loss for the proper words to convey just how much of a father James Hunter would be. Because I suspected that even once the baby was old enough to take over the Hunter Empire, he wouldn't be treated with hugs and kisses and warm words.
And although I knew that Bella would be able to provide more than enough emotional support and love for her child, no one could deny that this house could be a very cold, lonely place. It wasn't a home, not with him here.
… …
The house was quiet.
It wasn't entirely unusual, but after missing the entire day yesterday, I had expected for there to be more of a commotion.
But there was none. I stopped in the kitchen on my way to my office for a cup of coffee, but it was mysteriously dark and quiet. The light was almost always on in here- Bella usually turned it on when she started the coffee and made herself breakfast, and left it on until later at night.
The sitting room was empty, too, and because I often found Bella sitting there in the mornings with a book, I was surprised. Sometimes she sat outside to do her reading, but it was dreary and chilly out, so I knew she wouldn't be sitting on the porch.
I unlocked the door to my office, mindlessly tossing my coat onto one of the chairs and sipping my coffee as my computer started up.
I tried to tell myself that Bella might be feeling under the weather, or taking advantage of the weather and stayed in bed a little later than usual.
But a loud thud sounded out suddenly, practically making the house shake. I paused, my fingers hovering over my keyboard for a moment.
And then there was a bang.
… …
"Choices" will update next, but it shouldn't be long. I have most of the next chapter written, but have to sit down and type it out before I revise and post. But the good news is that with that chapter mostly written, it shouldn't be too long before I can work on chapter 13 of this one.
How are you guys feeling? Were you expecting for there to be a little twist with James? And how do you think that will pan out? Will it change the plan for getting Bella away?
Thank you for reading, and please leave a review if you enjoyed!
