AWoC ch14

A/n: I think that this chapter might just answer a few questions for all of you…and stir up the pot a little more.

I don't feel that I've warned you all enough about the slow burn and/or the absolute 'chaos' of this world I've written. Yes, they are all messed up…there isn't 'sunshine and rainbows' to be had, AT THE MOMENT. BUT, I promise you there will be an HEA, far, far, far down the line. I wouldn't put you all through this hell for nothing, I PROMISE!

I set out to write something COMPLETELY OOC…I warned of that in the beginning. And, yes, some of you have voiced that you dislike the multiple POV's. For that, I can't say I'm sorry because ALL of the characters have a part to play in this fic and they ALL deserved to be heard in some way or another.

I marked this angst for a reason, all I will say is that is has to get worse, much worse before it can even start to get better. So, if what you've read so far is too much for you, I fear that as we get deeper into this, it might be way too much for you to handle.

Plain and simple: These families, these individuals are completely and totally FUCKED UP! So, you've been warned.

Now…much love to my beta, A Jasper For Me. She's amazing. However, I did some changing and tweaking AFTER her greatness, so all errors are mine.

I couldn't function w/out my pre-readers; Eternally Edward's girl, Grnidgirl and Cutestkidsmom. They simply held my hand and make it all better when I need it to be. I LOVE YOU ALL!

NOW, let's check in on Charlie…

Charlie POV

I turned the cruiser down the block and noticed that Cullen boy's car parked a few rows down from the house. I hoped he wasn't spending his time with my daughter. Unfortunately, I couldn't take the chance of removing anything out of the house tonight, even if he wasn't there.

But I knew I'd have to deal with that situation sooner rather than later. I couldn't have my daughter going around with that crazy boy. Sure, he'd stayed out of trouble the past couple of months, but that didn't mean I was going to let him influence Bella in any way.

The Cullen's were nice enough people, but they had some serious issues of their own. Besides, Bella had her own problems to deal with; Renee being the biggest problem for both of us. She had gone and gotten herself into almost two hundred thousand dollars' worth of debt, some of which she'd put in Bella's name. Now it was up to me to clear up the whole mess without Bella finding out. I didn't want this to affect her chances of getting into a good college or her credit further down the line.

So, I did something I never thought I could, I became a dirty cop. I was the Chief of Police therefore no one would suspect me of doing anything less than honorable. However, it also meant if I were discovered I'd have tarnished my reputation and ruined what was left of my life. My career would be over and I would be a disgrace in my daughter's eyes.

I had to make sure my baby girl was taken care of, which is something I should have done years ago when Renee took her away from me. I could have gone to court and gotten custody but I thought a little girl should be with her mother. Besides, I worked all the time and I was single, what would I have done with a small child?

I drove back to the station and parked the car just as I started to get out, my cell phone rang. I knew it was that punk and I knew what he wanted.

"Chief Swan," I answered the phone.

There was a sarcastic laugh on the other end, "Just who I was looking for. You making a drop tonight? I'm running low."

"Not tonight, it'll have to be tomorrow afternoon." I said and waited for the argument to begin.

"Fuck, that wasn't the agreement. This delay will cost you at least two grand, you realize that?" He said and I sighed.

"Yeah, but I didn't have access tonight, so tomorrow will have to work. Take it or leave it." Somehow I knew he'd take it but I'd still get shorted on my cut.

"Fine, but if this is a regular thing, then I'll have to go back to the original dealer." The voice on the phone was annoyed.

"No, you know some circumstances have changed for me. There wasn't any way around it tonight." I hated having to divulge anything to this creep.

"Ah yes, the prodigal daughter has returned to town. How is that darling daughter of yours?" He said with a hint of malcontent.

I instantly grew angry, "Stay away from my daughter."

"Tsk, Tsk, Tsk, so demanding. She's a child anyway. Stay on schedule or I might have to ask her out." The laughter on the other end of the phone sent a shiver of fear down my spine. I knew he was serious. I didn't want him anywhere near Bella. I'd send her out with Cullen before I let this low-life get his hands anywhere near my child.

I hung up the phone and went into the station to sit out the rest of the night.

Just before dawn, my relief showed up so I headed home. After I showered, I went to my room to get the stuff from the box so I could go make the drop after Bella left for school. I wanted to get it out of here as quickly as possible.

Once I had the box on the bed and opened it, I noticed something wasn't right. The pot was considerably underweight. Nothing else had been touched but one of the bags of pot had been messed with.

Surely my daughter wasn't stealing drugs out of here. Bella wouldn't do drugs, right?

Fuck. How do I even start to explain this box? Or how do I even confront her?

She knew her mother was an addict and she had to know that shit was hereditary. I couldn't believe she'd be that foolish. It had to be that Cullen boy, he was a known user. Maybe she'd confided in him she found it and he'd convinced her to steal it for him.

That had to be it. I just couldn't see Isabella getting herself mixed up in something that risky. She was a smart girl, quiet, reserved, she knew better.

I knew I'd have to find a new place to stash this box now I couldn't take any more chances. As it was I going to be short from what had been taken and unfortunately there wasn't anything I could currently replace it with.

But I would find that little shit, Edward Cullen, and give him the scare of his fucking life, that shit was for sure.

I packed up my stuff, went down to the kitchen and waited for Bella to get up and ready for school.

I'd head to PA and make the drop then hit the bank so I could deposit the money to pay off some bills then finally get some sleep.

I was getting too old for all this shit. But I had to make this right for my daughter, whether she knew it or not.

Once Renee got out of that fucking rehab, we were going to sit and have a nice long chat about why I should arrest her for identity theft. Hell, at this rate, the bitch deserved to rot in a cell for a few years. But I couldn't do that to Bella. She'd tried as hard as she could to keep Renee in line far longer than any child should have had too.

I'll always feel guilty for that.

And I'd do whatever it took to make things right for Bella. She deserved nothing less.

Two hours later, I drove into Port Angeles and parked my car at the local grocery store before I walked across the street with the duffle bag. I was in street clothes and a ball cap, trying to conceal as much of my identity as possible.

I didn't need to be found out, especially here where my good friend, Harry was the Sheriff.

I went around back of the warehouse and knocked. I had to wait for a few minutes until that punk, Riley, opened the door for me.

"I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me." He said with a scowl as he opened the door to let me in.

We moved into a center office where I laid all the drugs out on the desk. He began to weigh it all and count it up.

"You're short." He announced as if I didn't know.

"I know, just take out the difference." I replied with a nod at the half empty bag of pot. I mean seriously, it was short two pounds out of the almost fifty-grand worth of other drugs he had before him.

He snuffed then sat down to open a safe where he kept his cash.

He began to count out the money and I fought the anger inside of myself at the situation I found myself in at the moment.

All the years I'd let Bella suffer. All the years I'd let Renee continue to live with her addictions.

I was paying for it right now as he slid the ten-grand into my sweaty palms.

"Let's hope the next drop isn't short. I saw that sweet daughter of yours today. She's a hot piece of ass for sure." Riley sneered at me and I wished I'd had my gun on me, because I could have easily put a bullet in his brain.

"Stay away from my daughter, Biers, I mean it." I gritted at him as he just sat and smirked at me.

"We'll see," and with that he dismissed me.

I was fucked and now I had to make sure I kept Bella as far away from Port Angeles as possible.

I was so damn tired all of the sudden.

A/N: Poor Charlie…so blind by his love for Bella, he doesn't see the obvious. And, shame on him for not doing more to protect Bella from Renee.

But, he loves his daughter and is doing what he can to right his wrong. Is it right? Who am I to judge…but, what do you think? What would you do to protect your child?

Recs:

Repeat Rec but it's complete now…and simply AMAZING!

Barefoot in Texas by planetblue – Edward's road to discovery leads him in a completely different direction than he thought…especially after he meets the free-spirited Bella. Can she save him? Or will he have to save himself? It is a beautifully written first story by a new author that I can't wait to hear from again. Check it out!

Salacious by Cutestkidsmom – A mysterious society, a demanding Edward and a curious Bella…it's delicious and it won FIC OF THE WEEK on TLS last week. Worth reading, I promise!

See ya on Friday;)

Kyla