Chapter Twenty One – Aftermath

Edward

What the hell?

Bella's tone said it all as she jumped up from her chair, she looked angry. Mom gasped beside me as I rose from my seat. We watched in horror as Bella stood up, her hands in fists at her side. Jasper and Emmett closed in on her, trying to pull her back. But she wouldn't let them.

"Pretty smart," she said in a deceptively calm voice. Only the clench of her jaw betrayed her anger. "You decided to make an appearance in public, knowing the police, FBI or my guards wouldn't risk everyone else."

Others near James started to back away, even as they clamored for his attention from a safe distance. Damn reporters would risk about anything for a good story.

Jasper pulled out his weapon as had the FBI agent that headed the press conference. More agents started to file into the room from all sides, stalking closer to James as Bella continued. "And unarmed, knowing they can't shoot. I take it I'll be seeing you again."

James smirked, one of his eyebrows arching high. "Of course," he replied. He saluted her, bowing before running at top speed toward an exit, agents running after him. The camera moved around the room as chaos erupted. Bella was approached from all sides. Emmett and Jasper grabbed her from the looks of it, and moved her toward another exit.

A reporter came into view before the camera. "Ms. Swan has been taken away by her bodyguards and FBI agents are in pursuit of the suspect James Connors, also known as The Lady Killer. A killer who has made actress Isabella Swan his main target in a game of cat and mouse? But who's chasing who? More on this story as it develops."

Dad turned off the television and sighed, Mom was on the verge of tears. I was damn numb, unsure of what I had seen had been real. The sound of my cell phone ringing startled all of us. Without another word, I stalked out of the room, and answered Bella's call.

"Edward," her voice a hoarse whisper. It was enough for him to know that she had put on a show for James and inside she'd been terrified.

I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling better after hearing her voice. "Are you all right?" I asked through gritted teeth, wishing I was there with her.

"Yes," she replied softly, muffled by background noise. "Jasper has sent me in a helicopter. I'll be there in about ten minutes. I'm so sorry. I should've never called for the press conference."

"We'll talk about it when you get here," I said, hanging up soon after. I headed out the helicopter pad and paced. I was nervous and angry. Angry because I was pretty sure that James had gotten away. There was no way he'd risk something like that without having contingency plans. I was nervous because he threatened the both of us.

Would she walk away to protect me? I asked myself. Damn, I hoped not. I'd fight for her, even it was against Bella herself. I shook those negative thoughts away.

Bella stood up to her would be killer and calmly taunted him. Everything she did surprised me. My thoughts were put to a stop as I heard the helicopter approach. It touched down, opening the door. Bella threw herself into my arms, she grabbed my face, kissing me all over.

"I'm so glad you're okay," she whispered in between kisses. I lifted her, wrapping her legs around my waist and carrying her inside the house. Once inside the living room, I sat down with her on my lap.

"Why would you think I wouldn't be all right?" I asked her when she pulled away.

"He threatened you," she said, resting her head on my shoulder. "I thought maybe he was using the press conference as a distraction and did something to you and your family."

"I can't believe he showed up there."

"I had a feeling he would," she whispered tentatively. "But I didn't expect him to actually make that bold of a move. He may have only reacted that way, because I reminded him of my father catching him and that we'd catch him again."

"You had a feeling that he was going to show up there?" My body still beneath hers, my tone tense.

"Yes, it makes sense that he'd be watching," she said sheepishly. "That's why there were agents everywhere."

"From now on, where you go, I go," I stated firmly.

"No! Out of the question!" She jumped from my lap, stepping away from me. "As long as he's out there, we're not going anywhere together. Do you understand me?"

I stood up and closed the distance between us. "No. I don't understand. You're not leaving this house without me anymore! Anywhere you are, I am, too." I was inches from her, my breath harsh as my voice rose.

Her eyes narrowed as she stood before me defensively. "I'm not exposing you to his insanity," she said through clenched teeth. "Do you have any idea what it's like to be tortured for three weeks? Do you!"

I flinched, shaking my head, watching as she stepped back from me further.

Don't pull away, baby.

"Do you know how it feels to want to scream so badly, but having to hold it in, because if you let go, it would get worse? Have you been electrocuted with a car battery over and over again?"

I grimaced, that shit wasn't in the movie. I had no idea and couldn't help picturing her, younger, a child really, going through what she described.

"Have you had your ribs broken from someone kicking you in the gut to the point of passing out? Have you?" she asked hoarsely, her body shaking violently. Tears started to run down her face. I tried to hold her, pull her closer, but she cringed and turned away.

"Please," I said gravely, a lump stuck at my throat. It hurt so much to see her that way. "Let me help you. Let me be with you. That's all I want."

I pleaded with her, approaching her slowly. However, before she could respond, a door nearby slammed closed, a few seconds after, Jasper approached us, livid.

"What the hell was that, Bella?" he asked, towering over her. "You knew it was him and couldn't let us know. We could've had him."

"Don't you start with me!" she hissed, stepping away from him. "I'd didn't know that reporter was him until he started to come closer. Besides, none of you know what he's capable of. If you would've shot him, you would go to jail because he was unarmed. The most he did was resist arrest. Remember he hasn't actually threatened to kill me yet. The agents only hesitated, because he was unarmed. He may be a serial killer, but the police and FBI have to follow things by the rules. James knew that they wouldn't open fire in the public and on camera."

She leveled him and me a glare, plopping down on the sofa. Resting her head on the back, she closed her eyes for a few moments.

Jasper nor I said a word, only watched her carefully.

"What happened after I left?" she asked, covering her face with her hands after another minute.

I tentatively sat beside her, hoping she wouldn't push me away again. She gave me a small, apologetic smile, resting her head on my shoulder.

"The guy is a freak," Jasper said, the fight leaving him – mostly. "The agents said that he literally jumped from surface to surface all the way up a side of a building to the roof when they chased him down the alley."

"That's how he got away the last time," Bella said thoughtfully, leaning more fully against me. "How about the press? James just announced to the world that I have a boyfriend. Was there any speculation about that?"

"I think the press was more concerned about your reaction," Jasper indicated, shaking his head. "They're speculating that you're going to crack under all the pressure, considering all of your projects and now this thing with a serial killer."

"That's not all they're doing," Dad said as he entered the room with Mom. In his hands was his laptop, placing it on the coffee table in front of us. Jasper took a seat beside Bella for a better view. "This video was leaked all over the internet and went viral a few minutes ago."

On the screen was Bella and me, sitting on a lounge chair by the pool, the video footage faded to show us in a sexy, hot, and heavy kiss. For a few seconds it showed us, swimming in the pool. The scene faded to a beach where Bella and I were kissing on a beach towel, my lips kissing down to her the swell of her breast before it faded to black with a white bloody rose in the center of the screen.

He'd been there all along, watching us. I shudder moved down my spine, both chilling and angering me.

Bella sighed and shook her head, pale white face. "At least he stopped the video there, uh…that's sick to know that he was watching. The video footage from the pool area looks like it could be from one of the video cameras here." Jasper wiped his mouth, nodding. By the grim look on his face he was disturbed by that news.

"He's tapped into the surveillance footage here," Bella said through gritted teeth. "I advise that you have someone trusted to check that out, Jasper. Let's see what people are saying about the footage." She scrolled down to the comments section of the website.

Baby Cullen is scoring with Isabella! I wish I could tap that.

Isn't she like 30? That's so gross.

This stalker is sick. He was watching them. What makes her so special?

Is she living with him?

It's obvious that this is all just publicity.

It didn't look like a publicity stunt when her bodyguard was ready to kill TLK.

I don't care if she's 30 she's hot.

So is he and he has sex hair like all the time.

"Sex hair huh?" Bella laughed and typed something, opening up her email. "It looks like he decided to send me a message, too."

It was pleasant to see you again, Isabella. I wish that it wasn't for such a short time. Next time I'll want to spend a little more time with you.

J

She looked to Jasper again. "Can you have Ben try to track the email again?" Jasper nodded. "Well Carlisle and Esme, you've seen how close he has gotten. I'll understand if you don't want us here."

I read between the words. I understand if you don't want me around your son.

If she left, I'd damn follow and she knew that. If she didn't, I would make sure she understood.

"Bella," Dad said, taking Mom's hand. "We've been through this. We want you and your friends to stay. With more security, it is still the best and safest place for you to be." Mom nodded, taking Bella in her arms.

"Thank you," she whispered against Mom's shoulder. After a moment, she pulled away and she stood from the couch. "If you all excuse me, I have a headache and would like to lie down for a while before lunch."

She gave me a look as she walked past me, holding out her hand behind her. An invitation. I took it immediately, following her upstairs. In her room, on her bed, we laid close, our foreheads touching.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you," she whispered, skimming a hand over my jaw. "There was just so much emotion flowing through me that fear and anger have taken over. I don't want to run away, and I don't want to let him get to me. But the idea of him touching you or anyone here would kill me. It's too dangerous. I know that he isn't just going to kill me. He wants to torture me, to finish what he started. But first he wants to scare me. He's going to use the ones that I love to do it."

I brushed my fingers through her silky hair. "I understand that you want to make sure that we're okay, but that's what I'm trying to do, too. I want to be with you, because if we aren't together all I'll think about is 'today is the day he will get her.' I can't live with that day after day, hour after hour. It would hurt too much."

I maintained my gaze, watching her beautiful face, hoping that what I said would sink in.

"You're right, if we're separated for too long it would drive me crazy until I could see you again," she said after a few moments. "We'll have to have Rose and Carlisle to see about working our schedules out so I can be with you when you're working and you're with me when I'm working. You're going to be so bored."

I scoffed, "I doubt it. As long as I'm with you, life can never be boring."

"We do live a fast paced life, don't we?"

"We do, but maybe we should take a break soon," I suggested.

"I like the sound of that, but it won't be for a while," she said softly, kissing my lips just as gently.

God, I loved her so damn much. It shouldn't have been possible, to fall so quickly, but it had been effortless – at least for me.

"We start filming in ten weeks for two months," she continued. "After that I'll be still working and editing my book for release this time next year. That of course leads to my book tour for a few months. So, maybe next fall?"

"Next fall it is," I said as I chuckled. She was right. We both had very busy lives but we'd make sure it would work out that we spent time together.

~oOo~

The weeks after the press conference were spent mostly at home. Neither of us made any public appearances. Rosalie and Dad had made a statement that we were seeing each other and living together, but no other details were given. Bella mostly worked from her laptop from home. I had no projects until we started filming She Knows, so I was lucky enough to get to be with her.

James seemed to vanish just as quickly as he appeared. There had been no emails, video footage or roses since that day of the press conference. The last time he was spotted he was somewhere in Canada. I wanted to feel relieved, and to believe that the worst was over. But that feeling that trouble and danger was right around the corner, never left me.

Emmett and Rosalie moved out and into their newly renovated house. We were able to join them for a house warming party, but were rushed out when paparazzi showed up outside, trying to get pictures of us.

Bella had worked with a trainer and teacher three times a week. I watched with awe as her body became leaner and toned. Sexy as hell. Our nights together in bed were eye opening and perfect, a learning experience for us. I knew her body like the back of my hand, knew exactly where to touch her to bring the most pleasure. And she knew exactly how to push my buttons so that I had no choice but to get her up in our room.

One afternoon we both met up with David Warner to start training for two weeks before we started filming. We had to train some of the martial arts and fighting techniques we'd use on set, including cable work for the special effects. The three of us were excited since it was the first time for all of us.

Bella, David and I were put in cables and taught how to flip, dip, fall, jump and how to be thrown without injury. It was a lot of fun and harder than excepted. I was sore by the time we arrived home most days. We went to training every day for four hours until we were comfortable with it.

On our last days of training, I watched Bella as she leaped in the air from one foot her arms spread out her body. She looked amazing.

"I feel stupid," she said, shaking her head. "I hope I can pull this off. I feel so inadequate playing Vanessa."

"Don't be ridiculous. If you had wings you'd look like an angel," I said my eyes still wide, she looked beautiful.

"That wasn't what I was going for," she grumbled. "I'm supposed to look menacing when Vanessa flies."

David laughed as he flipped high in the air and landed softly on the mat. "Bella, you have nothing to worry about. You're doing great. I'm really glad I signed up for this movie. This is the first time doing these types of stunts." He grinned, giving Bella a one armed hug. She rolled her eyes.

Some crew members helped us out of our gear. David said as he left, "Well, I'll see you two tomorrow first day of filming."

"See you tomorrow," I called after him with a wave. He did seem like a good man, and I could see why Bella had pictured him as Malcolm when she wrote the book. The following day was not going to be an easy day for me.

One of the first scenes we were filming was when Vanessa discovered that Malcolm was Eli's uncle. The scene would take a turn, tension would be high, with a lot of cable work, green screen and Bella in black eye contacts. The studio seemed to want these scenes first to use for teasers and trailers since demand was high on the website.

"What are you thinking about?" Bella asked, taking my hand.

"Tomorrow I guess," I replied. "We're going to be working together. I guess I'm just looking forward to it." I shrugged and wrapped my arms around her waist, kissing her cheek. She smiled up at me.

A crew member walked over to us, and said, "Ms. Swan, you have a flower delivery.

"Oh God, no," Bella gasped. Had he somehow gotten on set and left another bloody delivery?