Sorry for the wait. I got a little distracted the last few weeks. But at least I didn't disappear again.

This chapter had quite a bit of language and violence. You have been warned.

Chapter 14 - Bugs, Blood, Bombs

Approximately 20 miles outside New Orleans

11:58pm CST

EPOV

Thankfully, there was a total lack of moonlight tonight. All that could be seen out in the bayou were shadows of cypress trees, tall grass, and the faint outline of the building before us.

Intel showed that the building was used by Aro as a holding facility for his heroin supply that was later distributed to dealers from Pensacola all the way to Galveston. Lucky for us, someone had even been able to dig up a blue print of the facility. I hoped someone gave that guy a raise. Maybe even a cake.

I slid on my belly across the moist ground, keeping an eye out not only for guards, but gators and water moccasins as well. The numerous mosquitoes buzzing around my face we annoying the hell out of me. Thank you Bella for having the foresight to spray us all down with bug spray so at least they weren't biting the shit out of me. I was really getting sick of the critters that liked these moist, warm places. Maybe I should request a mission in the mountains. Fuck, I'll even take Siberia at this point.

I glanced to my right and left. Even though I knew Bella and Jasper were close by, it was too dark and they were too skilled to spot. Alice and Jacob should be entering from the other side of the island about now to set the charges that would blow everything to hell after we were all out. Garrett had getaway duty and would park the boat a little ways away in an alcove we spotted on the way, until we radioed him in.

I crept forward a few more feet and froze. Coming up at an angle from my right was a guard. I gave a quick click to my radio to alert the others and burrowed myself a bit into the mud and froze, clutching my k-bar tightly in my hand.

He continued past me, but stopped about fifteen feet away and cocked his head slightly as if listening for something. Suddenly, Jasper rose up from the ground like a phantom and dragged his knife across the guards throat. He jumped back from the arterial spray and dropped back down into position while the guard made a sickening gurgling sound before he toppled to the ground. Quick and silent, good boy.

I briefly spotted the whites of Jasper's eyes as he looked at me. I gave two clicks to my radio that signaled us to move on.

Ten minutes later, we made it to the side of the building without further incident. I sat with my back against the building and watched as Jasper and Bella came up on either side of me. I took stock of the surroundings to make sure we were all clear before I gave Bella a nod. She flashed me a thumbs up before she skirted around the building to begin her part of the mission.

Bella was going to go in through a back window that was closest to the area where Anthony was most likely being held. I hated sending her in alone, but she was the only one besides Alice that would be able to fit though the window, and Alice was needed elsewhere.

I leaned my head back against the side of the building as I waited for the clicks that would alert us to her progress. One click, she was in. Two clicks, she couldn't get in.

I waited. Finally…click. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Next would be the guards. One click, need help. Two clicks, guards removed. Three clicks, no guards. Four clicks, abort.

Two minutes and forty six seconds later…click, click.

I swore my heart froze as I waited for what would be the last set. One click, Anthony was dead. Two click, she couldn't find him. Three clicks, hurt but alive. Four clicks, Anthony fine, waiting for signal to evac.

One minute and eighteen seconds…click, click, click, click.

Thank god. Who would have ever thought that my whole world would center on a series of radio clicks.

Time for phase two.

I signaled to Jasper and we took up positions on either side of the door. With luck, the door should open into a side hallway that was rarely used.

I held my gun a the ready as Jasper pulled open the door. I came up about where Jasper was crouched and checked the area with my gun before me. Hallway and empty, yay. We stepped inside and began making our way silently through the hallways.

Two rights and a left turn later, we heard voices. One was definitely Aro Volturi. We crept up the hallway till we came to an open office door. I pressed myself up against the wall and used a mirror to peek around.

Aro was sitting at his desk looking prim, proper, and smug as shit. Leaning up against the bookcase to the right was a tall, built man with dreads. I recognized him as Laurent. A South African orphan Aro had taken under his wing about twenty years back and one brutal and sadistic bastard.

Jasper was peering over my shoulder to see the mirror. I used my hands to signal what to do and he nodded. It was time to end this once and for all.

Both of us pulled out our .45 calibers and at the same time rushed into the room. Before either men could react, Jasper fired a single shot that hit Laurent right between the eyes. Blood and brain matter splattered the bookcase, wall, desk, and Aro.

Aro looked at me in the strangest manner I had ever seen. Like I had just stepped in for a cup of fucking tea. I had a gun trained on his face, he was covered and gore, and the son of a bitch looked happy to see me.

"Captain Cullen, what a surprise! I wasn't expecting to see you until the morning," he said cheerfully.

What. The. Fuck. I was suddenly struck with the sinking feeling that he knew something I didn't. I hated it when someone knew something I didn't.

"I'm guessing you sent Miss Swan to collect your son. You don't really think one stupid little girl could take out three of my best men, do you?"

I cocked my eyebrow at him. It was a well know fact that Aro didn't think very highly of women. He would never believe that a woman could take on a man, let alone three. Obviously, he never met my Bella.

I gave him my most charming smile. "Actually, I do."

His face dropped all it's pretenses and he glared at me. "Oh, all the things I'm going to do to that little fucking slut of…"

He didn't get to finish his threat. I fired one shot right into his abdomen. Aro's rolling desk chair flew back into the wall and tipped, dumping Aro on to the floor.

"You little bastard," he choked.

I just smiled at him again and put another bullet in his left knee so that he wouldn't go anywhere. He let out a blood curling scream, but I felt no pity. "You just stay right there and bleed for awhile," I said.

I turned on my heel and walked out of the office with Jasper tailing me. I pulled the radio off my belt and pressed the button. "Bella, are you two okay?"

A soft click sounded before I heard her voice. "Were good. Are you okay?"

I closed my eyes briefly in relief. Even though I trusted in Bella and her abilities, Aro's words had still left me a bit worried. I had never been more glad to hear her soft voice. "I'm fine. Job's done. Let's go home."

"On my way," she replied.

"Alice, Jacob, you two all set?" I asked.

"Ready to blow," Jacob answered.

"Garrett?"

"On my way."

"Everyone meet at the dock."

I clipped my radio back on my belt just as Bella came around the corner. Her face, hair, and black clothes were streaked with mud and she carried and equally filthy Anthony in her arms. He had his legs wrapped around her waist while his tiny arms clung to her shoulders. His face was firmly buried in her dirty hair as if he could hide from the world in there. It was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen.

I ran forward and pulled both of them into my arms, not even caring about the tears that were streaking down my face.

A muffled "Daddy?" came from between us.

"Yeah, it me."

Anthony pulled his face out from Bella's hair and looked at me before he threw his arms around me. I had to tug a bit before he unlocked his legs from around Bella and wrapped them around my own waist. I breathed in his scent before I locked my eyes with Bella's wet brown ones.

Supporting Anthony with my right arm, I took Bella's hand with my left one and walked towards the door, trusting Jasper to keep an eye out for any guards still straggling about.

When we approached the dock, I saw Alice and Jacob already there with Garrett in the boat behind them. Alice was bouncing on her toes with the remote in her hand.

"Are we all clear?" she asked.

"Go ahead," I answered.

Alice flashed me a smile before she pushed the button. Two seconds later the ground shook slightly as the building was engulfed in flames. Aro Volturi along with it. I hoped that evil asshole enjoyed his trip to whatever hell he had earned.

For a few moments, we all watched the place burn before I turned and got on the boat, pulling Bella behind me. Alice and Jacob followed and Garrett started the boat and pulled away from the dock. It would take us about and hour and a half to get back to the road were we had parked the van.

I sat down with Anthony curled up on my lap. Bella sat beside me with her head on my shoulder. It wasn't long before we heard Anthony start to snore softly. Bella's hand reached up and brushed his blond hair back from his face. I pulled my arms tighter around both of them. And for the first time in years, allowed myself to drift off to sleep without a single worry on my mind.

There will be one, possibly two more chapters left. There might be an epilogue if I feel one is warranted. I won't really know until I start typing it. Sometimes, I drift from my notes.

I got a much better response on the last chapter. Thank you. Can we do it again?