Chapter Twenty-One—Wash Away

Jason's words echoed in my head, causing my heart to pound in my chest. "What happened?" I hissed, moving away from the conference table and Tanya. "Where is she? Is she hurt?"

"She's…b-back with B-Brad and her mother," Jason replied, breathing harshly.

"What are you doing? You should be with her!"

"I'm running after him!"

"What the hell are you doing talking to me?"

I ended the call and started another, turning toward Angela, my assistant. "Have my plane ready in an hour. I'm going to Virginia as soon as possible. And then get the Commissioner on the phone." She nodded as the call to Bella went to voicemail.

I tried another number, and James answered my call after one ring. "I have Brad on the other line, Edward."

"What the fuck happened?" I hardly allowed my control to unravel enough to curse in front of my employees. I had reached a point where I hardly cared about it. Someone hurt Bella again.

"According to Brad, they were stationed down the street from the restaurant where Bella and Renee had lunch. When they came out, they passed an alley and the asshole came out of nowhere. Once they realized he was holding a knife they were already making their way toward her. She gave her attacker her purse immediately, trying to back away from him along with her mother. The asshole smacked her, and tried to pull her into the alley."

"Jason better apprehend the bastard, and call the police, even if Bella doesn't want to press charges."

"Don't worry, she will," James stated as a door slammed in the background. "I'm heading out there, and will probably pick up Charlie on the way. Shit, Jason is on the line." He ended the call as I expected, and I tried Bella again, but it went straight to voicemail.

"What's going on?" Tanya asked, looking concerned.

Angela handed me her phone with Carlie on the line. "Bella was mugged outside of a restaurant while out with her mother." I winced when I heard Charlie cursing. "I'm sorry to cut this short, excuse me." I turned away as Angela gave the usual speech to Tanya when I dismissed someone. "Charlie."

"What the hell is going on, Masen?"

"I'm trying to find out myself."

"Since she started seeing you, she's been poisoned and now mugged. This can't be a coincidence." I was afraid he'd come to the same conclusion I already had. "I thought you said you'd have her watched while she was away."

"And she was, sir. However, Bella had made it clear she didn't want someone watching her every move after what happened at the gala. My men watched from down the street from where she was with her mother. James is on the way to pick you up. I was hoping you'd talk to the police there."

"Of course," he replied, expelling a sharp exhale. "Will you be joining us?"

"I should already be there by the time you arrive." Would Bella want me there? Of course she would, I realized.

"Good, good," I heard his sigh of relief. "I'll see you two soon."

I tried Bella's number after ending the call with Charlie, but it went straight to voicemail. I searched my directory and found Renee's cell phone number, only to have the same thing happen. For once I cursed my overactive imagination. Had she'd been hurt and couldn't answer? It was obvious I wouldn't be able to concentrate on work any longer, and decided to head up to my room to pack.

I hated waiting.

My cell phone started to ring in my hands after zipping up my bag. I didn't recognize the number but I answered. "Edward," Bella said, her voice soft and slightly out of breath.

"What's going on? Are you all right? Are you hurt?"

"I'll be okay," she said softly. "I'm at the hospital with Jason and Brad."

The questions tumbled out of me. "I thought you said you were okay. Why are you at the hospital? What happened?"

"We had a late lunch like I told you we planned, Phil stayed back at the house with Logan, thank God, and when we came out a man jumped out from behind a trash bin and asked for my purse at knife point. My mom was with me, Edward. I couldn't risk her or else I would've taken the bastard down."

I could hear the anger in her voice. Of all the things she was upset about, it was not being able to fight back.

"We didn't fight him, we gave him our purses, but he grabbed me by the elbow, trying to pull me away from my mother. By then I knew he wasn't only after money. God, he smelled terrible. When I realized I had no choice but defend myself, I kicked his groin, but he anticipated it and all I got was his thigh. He brought up his arm with the knife up and he cut—"

"What!" It hurt to breathe and my head spun. "What?"

Her voice was distant.

"Edward, Edward, calm down." Her voice sounded too far away. "Is Angela there with him? I think he's having a panic attack. Someone needs to get in there."

It wasn't long before I realized she was talking about me, I allowed myself to slide down against a wall, dizzy due to my labored breathing.

"I'm fine."

I placed my head between my bent knees, trying to calm down. Damn, the last time I had an attack was shortly after my mother died, feeling alone in the world.

"Tell me," I hissed, barely able to say the words. "Tell me the rest."

"He cut my arm," I heard her cry. "Edward, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Bella," I stated as calmly as possible. She didn't need to worry about me. "I need to know, please tell me."

"I kicked his ass, love," she said. "After he cut my arm, I smashed my fist into his face and managed to get away. He lunged after me, and I fell against the wall. Jason and Brad got to me by then and Jason went after him."

"Did Jason get him?" Feeling better, I leaned my head back against the wall. "Keep talking, Bella. I need to hear your voice."

"Okay. My phone broke during the struggle and so did my mom's. I'm sorry I couldn't call you right away."

"It's all right. Did Jason get him?" Was she purposely avoiding the question?

"No, he didn't get him."

"What the fuck do I pay these men for if they can't keep you from damn harm?"

"You should've told me you had others watching me, I think I broke Brad's nose. I thought he was another attacker."

"You made it clear how you felt about bodyguards. It sounds like Brad deserved it."

"Edward, you had them follow me around but from afar. It all happened so fast, less than ninety seconds."

"Eighty-nine too many," I replied stiffly. "I'll be there in a few hours."

"I wanted to come to you."

"What? You want to leave Logan?"

"I don't think I have much of a choice," she said softly. "I'm banged up pretty badly. I don't want him to see me this way."

"I'll make the arrangements." I was too selfish to deny her, though deep inside I knew I should've insisted she stay in Virginia and for me to fly out. Logan wouldn't handle Bella being hurt very well, I had witnessed his reactions to her stubbing her toe. A bruised arm or face would be a hundred times worse.

"Thank you."

"You better call your father. He may be on the way there."

"Why? It's not really necessary."

"Maybe, but this is all too coincidental."

She was silent for several moments. "He smelled like a distillery and yesterday's trash," she said. "Do you seriously think this was another attempt on my life because of our relationship?"

I matched her clipped words. "Did you not just tell me he anticipated your move?"

"He's probably been living on the streets for years, of course he anticipated it."

"Bella."

"I think the whole thing at the gala was only to see how much I meant to you. You found out about my peanut allergy through the records you obtained and had to have known I always carried an epi-pen. They likely have the same background information, too."

"Today's incident could've been an attempt to kidnap you because they know you mean a lot to me."

"Edward."

"We'll talk about this when you arrive. I won't be able to pick you up myself. The hotel has informed me there are reporters downstairs."

It had only been thirty minutes and the media was swarming.

"Yeah, Jason warned me some locals are here, too. I need to get stitched up, I should go. I look like hell and I can't even say good-bye to my son."

The anger was easily heard, but there was longing and pain, too.

I had to help her calm down, comfort her in some way. "I'm sorry. He'll miss you. Do you know what you'll tell him?"

"I hate lying to him, but the last time I got hurt at home he made himself sick with worry."

I knew the feeling.

"Jason wants to talk to you. I have to let them stitch my cut." Even though I couldn't see her, I could tell she was pouting.

"Let them take care of you, and Bella?"

"Yes."

"Come back to me."

"I will. Love you."

She had the last word as I heard her hand off the phone to Jason. "Sir, let me go into another room."

"Make sure Brad remains with her."

"He will."

I waited until he returned to the call. "How did he get away?"

"I ran after him, and managed to stay with him for almost two blocks. He was fast even as he started to throw off layers of clothes. He aimed a gun at me twice and missed. I managed two shots, too. I clipped his shoulder. Sir, he had a car waiting for him."

Sometimes I hated being right.

"James is on the way. He'll be taking care of police along with Bella's father. I want this asshole found. Get a sketch artist in there if you need to, send Brad along with Bella. She's flying to New York as soon as she's allowed."

"She'll be wanted for questioning."

She could be held up for hours. Damn it. I needed her with me. My skin felt too tight, stretched and taut over coiled muscles. I should've insisted on flying out to her.

"I want her here tonight."

"Yes, sir."

.

.

.

I called Emmett up to my room. He'd been with my security team for last two years and had been highly recommended, and was a former Special Forces solider.

"What do you want me to do, sir?" he asked, standing across the room from me. He stood at almost two inches shorter than my six-three height, but was considerably bulkier. His dark hair was kept military short, a tattoo peaked from beneath the cuff of his t-shirt, along his neck and right arm. His hands were clasped together at the small of his back as he awaited instructions.

"You are aware of both incidents involving Ms. Swan?"

"I was apprised of the situations, sir."

"Starting today you will be her permanent bodyguard. You will pick her up at the airport when her flight lands later today and keep her away from the damn media."

"I understand."

"If there is a need for violence, do so without a second thought if it will keep her safe."

"Are you allowing me to shoot first and ask questions later?"

I arched an eyebrow and he merely nodded in response. "I need you to find out who is doing this. When Bella was poisoned you were told you my suspicions, have you come up with anything?"

"Both parties you speak of could be responsible. But there is a connection between the real estate asshole Alec and Aro I was able to confirm today."

Interesting. "What is it?"

"They closed a deal about a year ago together. The land was surveyed as residential and suddenly it was rezoned as commercial."

"They'd been working together."

"It is possible Ms. Swan is working for one of them, or both."

My eyes narrowed, hating his perfect composure. I stood up with my heart on my sleeve, glaring at him. I knew my hair was a mess and my suit was disheveled from sitting on the floor, but we both knew I was in charge.

"The chances of her working for them is worse than hell freezing over. She hates her ex and she said she got a strange vibe around Aro."

Emmett merely cocked an eyebrow. "It's still a possibility, the setup is the perfect ploy."

"She is not involved with them. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir." He understood it was closed subject, but I had no doubt he'd make sure I was right.

"Will your questionable suspicions stop you from protecting her?"

"I am only stating all the possibilities, sir. I wouldn't let my concerns come in the way of my work. You can count on me."

"Get in touch with the others. Find out what time she'll arrive. I need space to think."

"Think?"

I sat down on a chair in the darkened corner, watching him. "Emmett, are you a firm believer revenge is best served cold?"

A corner of Emmett's mouth twitched. "Hell no, sir. I would go in guns blazing."

It was crude, yet honest.

He did match my thoughts on the subject though, I shouldn't have waited until I received more information on Alec and Aro. Bella had been hurt again because of waiting. No more.

One end of my mouth lifted higher. "I think we can make this work after all."

.

.

.

Waiting for Bella was the worst I had ever experienced. I received constant updates from James and Charlie, even Bella had called after James bought her a new phone. I breathed easier once I received a message that was safe aboard the jet.

I never felt so useless. Even as my mother slowly died from her cancer, I did things. I made sure she had the best care. The apartment was clean and the bills were paid on time. I held her hand when she needed me. Bella was probably scared, angry and hurt, and made me feel as I couldn't do enough to help her.

Emmett had left for the airport to meet Bella and the others an hour earlier. I had hoped to join them, but the reporters outside the hotel had doubled. They knew Bella had left Virginia and was on the way somewhere, and they were expecting her to make an appearance soon. The media was relentless in their pursuit for gossip. Due to her past, I worked hard to ensure her privacy. None of it mattered at the moment, only her.

No one had given me straight answers about Bella's injuries, which made the waiting unbearable. Worrying was such a useless thing to do, but I couldn't help it in this situation.

Almost three hours after her flight was scheduled to leave, I heard voices in the hallway from my suite. I sat in a chair facing the door and heard the was a soft click of the lock before the door swung open. A small foot, clad in a sandal stepped through, and slowly my eyes traced up along sun-kissed calves, a bandaged knee, and the lacy hem to her summer dress in soft lavender, before finally settling on her face.

Her bottom lip quivered slightly, but she bit it to hold herself together. She was always so strong, my Bella.

I was off the chair and across the room before the door closed behind her. I had her in my arms, my nose taking in the sweet floral scent of her hair, and felt the quickening pace of her heart against my chest.

"I went straight to the airport after I was done," she whispered after a couple of minutes. "I need to shower now." I led her toward the bathroom, turning on the shower. It wasn't long before it warmed, steam billowing out of the shower enclosure. I pulled her back in my arms and held her again.

"Please, I need to shower," she murmured, her body trembling within my hold. Overwhelmed and at a loss on what to do, I closed my eyes. I heard victims of assault having to scrub and wash away the touch of their attacker. I pulled away, only slightly, she didn't seem to want me to move too far.

I undid the tiny row of buttons on her dress along her back, watched it pool at her feet. She stepped out from its hold, kicking off her sandals, too. My fingers moved quickly through her hair, removing the pins holding up her barely tamed curls. They plinked against the sink behind her, it was the only sound in the room besides the drumming beat of the water and our breathing. Her fingers clenched and unclenched in my shirt, her eyes closed as tears slipped from under tightly clenched eyes.

My hands dug through her hair, massaging her scalp, her body relaxing only slightly under my touch. Her head tipped back and I could see the myriad of colors already forming along one side of her face. My breath caught at the sight, my trembling fingers moved over her skin.

"Can you stay…with me?" she asked softly, still not meeting my eyes.

"Yes."

I slipped her underwear off, quickly removing my clothing. I lifted her in my arms, under no protests and walked inside the enclosed shower. Multiple shower heads doused us with water and warmth, a cleansing she desperately seemed to need. She kept her injured arm out of the water and asked for my help with a simple whisper.

I washed her slowly, taking inventory of her injuries. She explained each one to me, how they happened. The bruise on her face would be darker by morning, the scratches along her elbow and one leg would color, too. She said it was when she felt against the wall. The bruise on her jaw and cheek was a combination of when he first hit her when she refused to allow herself to be pulled into the alley and when she fell.

I touched her and washed away her fear. Soon, her body softened under my hands. My heart hammered in my chest as she turned off the water, my mind went blank as she dried me as I did the same for her.

She pulled me on top of her once we climbed into bed, her hair fanning across the hotel sheets. Something inside me burned. I knew I had to hold back the raw need to know she was alive and well. Words would not be enough to do it. Even as she lay below me, it wasn't enough. I needed to feel her—everywhere.

She needed soft and slow. However, under the biting hold of her hands and fingers, my control was unraveling.

"I'm fine, Edward, but I need you."

I groaned and kissed her, hard and desperate. Breathlessly, I replied, "I need you, too."