I do not own Twilight, SM lucky ass does, but I can play around for a bit.

Chapter 24

BPOV

At my outburst, Edward stormed into the kitchen, just as Demetri and Felix burst into the back door with Erin in tow. Tanya, who was sitting in the living room watching television, was last in. Somehow, Alex had beaten them all to the kitchen. I didn't even see him enter the room.

My right hand was still clutching my cell phone. Everyone was looking at me in alarm.

I gulped and answered their unspoken question. "The dread head just called my cell phone."

Alex swore under his breath. He immediately took my phone right out of my hand, plugged it into his laptop, and begin to fiddle around with it.

"What did he say, B?" Tanya almost screamed. I gave her a pointed look before glancing over at Erin, who was watching the whole scene closely.

"Erin, sweetie, go up to your room for a bit, OK? She pouted, but dragged Bandit behind her as she reluctantly left. As soon as she was out of ear shot, I filled everyone in. "He asked me if I really thought you guys could keep me safe, and to tell my friend he owes him. And then he hung up. He, uhmm, he called me little one."

Felix and Alex exchanged a glance, and they both had weird expression on their faces. "What?" I asked them. Felix looked at Demetri before speaking slowly.

"We can now X out guns for hire, and I'm pretty sure that Charlie has nothing to do with this." Demetri frowned at him. Felix shook his head at him and scoffed. "D, I know you're all domesticated now, but I know you haven't forgotten everything, bro. When has a hired gun ever, and I mean ever, called their hit to taunt them? It's strictly business for them, a check - nothing more, nothing less. They get in quick, do the job, and get out. You know this, Dem. But that fucking call was personal. He nicknamed her, for fuck's sake! I have a feeling we are looking at all the wrong angles here."

Alex was staring at me intently before he quietly spoke to me. "Bella, is there anyone else, other than your father, that may hold a grudge? I'm not saying this can't be related to your father, but I don't think it is your father. Anyone from Forks? Anyone in Trinity? Have you lived anywhere else? Because Felix is right. This is personal, which makes this a whole new ball game."

"I don't have any enemies. I mean, I was bullied a bit in school, but I never pressed charges, and until I moved here and met Tanya, I really kept my circle small. I was a bit shy from everything in high school. I've never wronged anyone, not enough for anyone to want me dead. I don't know why anyone would want to hurt me." My voice trembled and I felt Edward's arms close around me. "I mean, really? I work in marketing. And the worst thing I've done is allowed Dem and Erin to play practical jokes on our neighbors."

Alex was unnerving me with his stare. "That's not exactly true, Bella." I felt Edward stiffen.

I bristled at the accusation in his voice and frowned at him. "I don't know what you mean." I felt defensive for some reason.

"I mean Edward. Didn't you lie to him when you first met? Didn't it cause a huge backlash when the truth came out? Were there any other guys you may have dated before him?" He held my gaze steady, but I felt sucker punched.

"What the hell does that have to do with anything?" Edward gritted out between clinched teeth. I could tell he was trying to keep his temper in check. "Bella and I worked that out just fine, as you can see."

"Yeah," he drawled out slowly "But what about others? Didn't several people lose their jobs after your interview? I know that the staff members that spilled the secret to Alice and Rosalie were all fired for violating HIPPA. Once a person does something like that, it's almost impossible for them to get another job in that field. A hospital or clinic wouldn't take a risk like that on someone who has proven not to follow HIPPA. They wouldn't risk the lawsuits."

This was news to me, and it took me by surprise. "I…I didn't know that. I didn't sue the hospital or even issue a complaint. I was paid for my interview and left town. I was being threatened by Edward's family members, and I just wanted to be left alone." I didn't like having this conversation. I felt like a bug under a microscope, like Alex and Felix were judging me. I knew they weren't, but I couldn't help but feel that way.

Alec started typing away on his laptop as he talked at the same time. "Three employees were fired from the clinic you visited for a checkup. Two nurses and a receptionist were implicated in leaking personal information about you. You see, after your story came out, the local news did some digging and apparently found that people were discussing it on Facebook before the program even aired. Text messages were discovered between some clinic staff and Alice Cullen, and they were fired immediately." He turned his laptop around and showed me pictures of three women. I recognized them immediately - they all attended high school with me. Sienna Marshall, Irina Weathers, and Kebi Williams.

"I attended High school with all of them, so they definitely knew me before," I informed him.

"Sienna moved away and luckily found a job at another clinic. She took a significant pay cut, but since her license wasn't taken away, she got lucky. She was recently married and is pregnant with a kid. Kebi was the receptionist and she simply found another job." He paused for a brief moment. "Irina, however, didn't come out as lucky as her friends. She was hit the hardest. Her nursing license was suspended because the Facebook post was on her page, and the text messages thread originated from her phone. She put it all in motion. She was currently in a custody battle for her daughter, Bree, with her child's father, which she lost after she was canned. Her house was foreclosed on, and she had to quit medical school. She had recently started going back to become a doctor. She is currently working as a secretary at a low paying job."

Tanya snorted, "I can't say I feel sorry for her, at all. They all deserve far worse. But do you think any of them would seriously be angry enough to want to hurt Bella?"

"Irina would be," Edward stated simply. "Do you know how devastating it would be to attend college, get your degree, and can't practice in your field because you broke a law? Not only that, but she lost her child, her home, and a future career as well. She could very well blame Bella for all her troubles despite the fact that she brought it all on herself." His forehead puckered slightly as he studied the picture. "I can almost swear…" His voice trailed off as he stared at the screen. Seconds later he snapped his fingers. "I've seen her before. After I came home from Italy, she came up to me at the grocery store and asked me was I angry at the queer. I knew she was referring to Bella, but I assumed she had heard the gossip like everyone else, and had formed a bigoted opinion. I tried to ignore her but she yelled after me that Bella should pay for the lives she ruined. I paid for my items and left. I never really thought much about it."

"That didn't strike you as fucking odd?" Tanya asked incredulously.

Edward huffed, "You have to remember, I had just returned home. The Headline interview hadn't aired yet, but Rosalie and Alice made sure that anybody with ears knew all about what happened. I just assumed it was just another narrow minded person and pushed it to the side." He rolled his eyes at a memory. "I was accosted a lot those first few weeks home. I lost a lot of friends because of stupid shit said to me about Bella. It's amazing that you know people almost all their lives and don't realize how racist or homophobic they are until something happens to shove their bigotry in your face."

"I'm sorry." I felt the need to apologize for my part in all of that. "If I had just told you, none of that …"

"No, Bella, no 'what ifs'. Mistakes were made and we've covered that. We've also suffered for it, so let it go." He pecked my lips.

I smiled softly at him, then turned back to Alex. "So, do you think Irina is actually involved? I mean, she was a bit of a bitch in school, but this seems pretty far-fetched."

"I don't put anything past anyone, Bella. People have psychotic breaks all the time, and some people can't handle when things get tough. And Irina lost a lot, so it's really possible." He continued typing before turning to face us. "I was able to pull the number that called you, it's a burner and it's bouncing off several cell towers. I don't have the best computer for tracing its location. But I can I have Liam pull Irina's phone records and see if she called this number at all." He jotted a few things down on paper before handing it to Felix, who immediately pulled out his phone and called Liam.

"Everyone just relax. That call was meant to unnerve you. I've set up surveillance on the roof and motion alarms on windows and doors that are loud as hell." He gave me a quick demonstration, and I swear those things could wake the dead. "They are all wired from the inside so they cannot be cut. You hear those alarms, you and Tanya grab Erin and go to the roof. After dinner, I'm going to show you how to get up there. There is a little crevice up there that is just big enough for the three of you to hide if it's dark out. As long as you aren't walking and they can't hear you moving around, the roof is the last place they expect you to be. It will keep you safe until we dispose of the threat." Alex was very quick and to the point with his instructions. No warm and fuzzy here. As if he was sensing my unease around, him he paused for a minute.

"I'm wasn't judging you, you know." He stated matter-of-factly. "I just need facts to be laid out. It's nothing personal. And I know my personality can be a bit cold, but it just helps for me to keep my head in the game, especially when I seem detached from those I'm protecting. It's simply how I operate. When overly emotional mistakes are made, that can cost lives. I already have a handicap with Dem and Felix, because this is very personal for them, so I have to keep a clear head and make sure we all stay alive."

I nodded my head, because I did understand what he meant.

I went about finishing dinner and this time around Edward joined me. I could tell he didn't want to leave my side as he hovered about as I finished cooking.

Tanya had left and come back with Erin, and the two of them played go fish at the table while dinner cooked.

As I sent Erin to clean her hands, Felix got a text and muttered, "Pay dirt." Looking up at everyone he smiled. "This may be over quicker than we thought. Irina is in constant contact with the dread head, and according to the location of her cell phone, she is two counties over. Liam is going to try and pinpoint her exact location."

Wow. I hadn't really expected her to be involved in this - the surprises just keep on coming.

Edward must've felt the same way, as his handsome face held a little shock. He sat back in his chair, ran his hands through his hair, and shook his head. I found myself missing his longer wilder hair, but at the same time this shorter style made him look more manly and rugged, not so 'pretty boy'. OK, who was I kidding? He was still pretty, just not so boyish. He caught me staring and grinned at me, as if he knew exactly where my mind had wandered.

I blushed and heard Tanya snicker and Demetri fake gag. I shot them a glare as I placed dinner on the table.

Just as we all begin digging in, someone started banging loudly on the front door.

AN: I apologize about the long wait, but my father has been deathly ill and I've been helping my mother with his care. Also, I've received a promotion at work and 3 employees quit, leaving me responsible for all their work as well as training new ones to take their place. My life has been crazy. Unfortunately my father passed away this past Monday evening at 10:05pm. We got to say goodbye but the hurt still remains. It's just easier to deal with rather than something you didn't see coming. We braced ourselves for the inevitable. He was tired and it was time. So I said goodbye to the man who taught me how to take vodka shots, how to play pool, scared off boyfriends, and encouraged me to live my life like there was no tomorrow. It is no secret that my father was adventurous and a thrill seeker, it's where I get it from. I love him and will miss him very much.