Chapter Twenty-Five – The Esteemed Mayor

After Bella and Edward checked in with a quick phone call, Charlie and Carlisle continued to discuss their options, trying to come up with a plan. It had to work out so it would send all the key players to prison and allow their families to leave town.

"What's keeping you here, Charlie?" Carlisle asked. He was watching a man he always would consider a friend, immediately construct a wall between them. "You can tell me the truth. You owe me that much."

Charlie glanced toward Esme, reluctantly nodding in agreement. "Harry should be moved into a home in the next week or so. The Council agreed to help Sue, but only because Harry had been a valuable and well-respected member. I'd pack up everything we wanted to take, including Sue, Leah, Bella, and Seth and be gone the following day."

"Why? Give me a reason why you'd stay."

"He made it real clear that if I tried to leave he'd put a hefty price on our heads."

Carlisle cursed and rubbed his hands over his face. He felt as if he aged twenty years since the accident, likely before then, too. Being on the run, always looking over your shoulder, was no way to live. "Why is it important to keep you here?"

"Do you think it's a coincidence that he chose to move his base of operations here? They can't afford for an outsider to be transferred to my position, and we both know Mark ain't Chief material."

Carlisle understood, and it made sense. "They're already aware there are a few federal agencies who would love to bring the organization down, and they could easily put an agent into a new opening at the local Sheriff's station."

"Exactly. The asshole knows if I'm still acting Chief, holding Bella's well-being over my head, he's safe. And that's why my brother hasn't moved in on the organization like he wants. Marcus would never come in guns blazing with us in the crossfire and without more proof."

Carlisle wanted to hit something. "We know exactly what he's done. How can you not have proof by now?"

Charlie shook his head. "You know it, I know it, but it doesn't mean anything can be proved. I have eyes on me always, and anytime I tried to stakeout an area after receiving a tip, they were there to greet me and insist I leave. The prick loves reminding me of the arrangement."

Charlie tugged on his hair, reminiscent of their Army days. "He knows I'll look the other way if I catch any of his people doing something illegal. It's the price I'm paying to keep my daughter safe."

His dignity, his pride, his morals, Charlie compromised it all to protect his child.

Carlisle looked over to his wife and felt an unbelievable pressure on his chest; an ache he couldn't blame a heart condition on. She didn't deserve to pay for their past mistakes. Neither did Charlie's children nor his own son.

"Your daughter needs to get out of town, Charlie." Carlisle had to stop to sip on some water, suddenly parched. Between the stress of the situation, his wife, and the pain medications, he didn't feel like himself. "We know they won't touch Sue and her kids on the reservation; they're too well protected there. Get her out, and I'll do the same with my family, then we can bring them down without worrying about those we love the most."

"Charles is aware of his place here, Carlisle." The voice at the door was deeper than expected; the new visitor had his hands clasped behind his back. Dressed in a fancy three-piece suit, he commanded respect the second he stepped into a room. He lost their respect the day he had cost the lives of their brothers-in-arms for greed and power.

"Mayor Stanley." Charlie's words so filled with hate they practically dripped from his lips like black tar. "What are you doing here?"

The Mayor grinned what Carlisle would consider a car salesman smile, a touch arrogant and slimy. His dark brown hair was perfectly styled, peppered with grays throughout. His blue eyes were as cold as steel; they didn't hold a trace of warmth.

Once a upon a time, Carlisle and Charlie had admired the sonuvabitch, and thought having the man's deadly look on their side would prove useful against their enemies. Instead, he used his position and commanding stare to make himself an exorbitantly rich man, at the cost of many lives. Other than The Seniors, Charlie, and Carlisle, no one knew he was the one calling the shots from the top, and he had been from the very beginning.

The Mayor stepped fully inside the room, as if he'd been invited, pulling out his cell phone to text something, keeping them waiting. In an almost bored tone, he finally continued without looking up. "I dropped by to pay a visit to our esteemed new doctor, of course."

The Mayor walked closer to the foot of the bed, finally meeting Carlisle's gaze. "And his lovely wife, Esme. How is she doing? Well, I hope." The practiced words fell flat, and turned ugly the second his lips twitched into a sinister snarl.

"As well as you'd expect, considering the accident we were in."

The Mayor tsked, as if speaking to a child or even an insubordinate. "Carlisle, I had hoped we could come to an understanding now. You help my people, play doctor to the hicks of this town during the day, but at night, if I should need your expertise, you come like the obedient little solider you are."

Charlie was on his feet, his hand on his gun holstered to his hip. "Back off." His dark gaze was on Stanley's hand resting on Carlisle's cast. "Now."

The Mayor tutted disapprovingly, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "I see. Then let me make something clear, Carlisle. If you're not working for me, I expect you to stay out of the way. Anything other than complete compliance and I'll make your lives miserable."

He walked toward the exit, turning his back on them, entirely aware they could do nothing since hospital staff watched them outside the glass wall of the room.

"You know what I'm capable of, Charlie." At the door, he faced them once again, smirking. The discoloration of the whites of his eyes made him look every bit the predator. "And now you know, Carlisle. Stay out of my way."

The Mayor left quickly, moving confidently down the hall, waving and stopping to greet the locals.

"Fuck." Carlisle felt sucker-punched, his mouth agape, his eyes wide with surprise.

"What is it?" Charlie calmed down enough to settle back in a chair.

"He's dying."

Charlie cursed, demanding an explanation, whistling when Carlisle answered, "All I know is his time's limited."

"I'm scared to think what a dying man like him would do if he gets angry." Charlie shook his head.

Anything, to go out with a boom, Carlisle thought. "Exactly."

Marcus McCarty stared at his phone, willing it to ring. Jared was over two hours late in checking in. Thankfully, a second agent had already confirmed Bella and her boyfriend were safe at her house. He called the agent again and cursed when it went straight to voice mail.

The agents he had watching his "too smart for her own good" niece around the clock all said the same thing about her. She kept them on their toes, always slipping past them or fucking with their phones or such.

Marcus dialed the agent watching his brother's house.

"Sir." The agent cleared his throat. His eyes remained on the two-story house, watching as the two teens carefully checked every room before settling to watch television in the living room. Smart fucking kids, too smart. The girl could end up six feet under if she continued to play games with the organization they were working hard to topple.

"My brother is on the way home, go check on the last location Jared checked in from..." Marcus repeated the last known coordinates. "Are you sure the kids are inside?"

"Yeah, they're watching television, and I heard them ordering a pizza."

"Then go. They should be safe."

Mike Newton watched as a gold Toyota pulled away from the curb down the street from Bella's house. It was all lit up, but he had a feeling Bella and Edward weren't in the house any longer. If they were intending to meet him, they were on a trail leading from Bella's backyard to a creek.

He lifted his phone to his ear, wishing he didn't need to make the call. "They're waiting for me."

"Good job, Son." His father chuckled, a chilling sound. "I never thought you'd have the balls to do it. You were always such a pussy. Then again, there are lives on the line. That's why you agreed to do this."

"You've given me no choice!" Mike pounded on his steering wheel, hating his father to the point he pictured killing him a thousand and one ways.

It was only a scare; that was it. Mike had to remind himself of that, because if he hadn't complied with his father's request, Bella or her father would end up in the hospital, fighting for their life. He couldn't allow that to happen.

They're only scaring her, he reminded himself again.

"Enough, Michael! As agreed, my men will only scare them, enough to keep them from causing any trouble."

Besides defending herself against Garrett and Eric, she had done nothing that they were aware of; Mike had made sure of that. Why was his old man so determined to hurt Bella?

The call ended without another word, causing blood to rage through Mike, fast enough to make him dizzy. More than ever, Mike was determined to make sure his father and the rest of the organization burned in hell, including the illustrious ringleader, The Mayor.

They honestly thought no one knew the truth. It would be their downfall.

"I'm happy you can listen to reason." Edward's fingers tightened around Bella's for a moment. They left a lot of lights on in the house, including the living room television, hoping they wouldn't be followed by Bella's protection detail.

"I don't trust Mike and you're right, we should take some precaution."

"What was that? Can you repeat that? I was r…"

She shoved him playfully, making him laugh. "As I was saying, leaving a note for my dad was a good idea. We need to hurry though; your dad is expecting you at the hospital."

Edward helped Bella over a log blocking the trail. "Let's hope whatever Mike has to say will be worth this bullshit." He fingered the hole in his jacket created by a wayward branch.

"Aw, is my boyfriend not used to roughing it?" Her voice was all tease with a touch of snickering thrown in, not at all like the breathy quality it had when his mouth was on her.

A part of Edward felt like a complete dick for taking her in the back of her truck; the other liked that it was spur of the moment. Up until the last few weeks, his life was planned down to the minute. Not so much anymore. Bella had never been something he could've planned for, even now. Whatever happened with the bullshit in this town, he hoped they'd be together.

"Boyfriend?"

One word was all it took to silence Bella's laughter. He didn't have to look at her to know she was probably blushing, something rather rare. Before he could ease her worry, she tugged on his hand until they came to a stop and motioned to be quiet. Had she heard something?

"What is it?"

She shushed him, just as Edward heard a breaking twig far off to the right of where they stood. The moment they stopped, so did the sound of someone following them. Instinct told Edward they were no longer alone.

Was it Mike? Why would he sneak up on them?

Edward watched as Bella pulled out a gun; her eyes locked on his, as she eased off the safety.

Chicago was looking a hundred times safer. Despite that, Edward wanted to be by Bella's side.