SM owns all

EPOV 24

The car ride back was subdued. We were each lost in our own minds. Mine was going over all the details I had learned about Bella in the last few days. I also had lots of question for and about her. Some I wanted answers to, while others I just wanted to figure out on my own. When we stopped for a red light I needed to touch her. The constant whirling of warmth that always seemed to surround us was somehow stronger in this confined space. Bella's eyes were still swollen, so I lightly touched the skin just underneath. Zap, a shot of electric heat started at my finger tips then bolted up my arm. I had to know if she was okay and she said she would be fine, I'm not sure I believed her though. She looked wore out, completely drained and absolutely enticing. I grazed my fingers down her lovely face. The heat that I felt before in my fingers and arm was now more of a rousing wattage that traveled all through me. The horn gave me a jump but the sound of Bella's giggle made me happy.

Once we got back, Emmett handed out the beers and I knew they would now answer at least some of my questions. Bella gave the go ahead, but then before I could ask she had one more thing to add. Her statement made me more inquisitive, but I could be patient if I had to. I wanted to know about Jacob's question first, sealed records were not an easy thing to come by, so that's where I started. Bella told me the story.

"Just before Emmett and I turned 5 we were kidnapped and held for more than a week. The people that took us wanted money, and lots of it. They knew our family was rich, but that, as it turned out, wasn't their real motivation because they never got the money. Em and I don't even know the whole story because only the two men that snatched us were captured when we were finally found. There was a third man, but he was never caught, and I was the only one to ever see him or hear him talk and still he was never found. The two men that held us never gave him up either. It is entirely possible that they would have but they were both killed in jail 2 days after their capture. The person who was behind the whole thing got away scott free. I never heard them call him by name, so I really wasn't much help in that aspect of things, but I will never forget his eyes."

Well, that explained a few things, the chips made sense now but I just wanted to be positive. Now I was but, 'any of them?' For shit sake, their whole family? My next question came out before I could stop it. Since 98', what happened then? The questions kept mounting, however Bella squashed my inquiry though by going to bed. I looked over at Emmett but couldn't say anything simply because I didn't know where to begin.

"Go ahead Edward, ask away."

"I..I can't Emmett. I need to think."

"Take your time man, no rush. Bella must really trust you wholeheartedly though, because we never speak about it. Don't break that trust... ever."

"I won't, promise."

"Do not, hurt her either cause I'll have to kill you then."

"Why would I hurt her? I'm not sure what you mean?"

"I see the way you look at her, Edward, and its different than the way I see others look at her. Bella is a gorgeous woman and most men look at her like she's something to eat or some kind of trophy or prize to win. Which by the way she totally would be a prize. I should be so lucky to one day find someone like her, myself. But you, Edward, are unique. When I watch you, it's like you see Bella, the real Bella, and only her. I have seen that look before so I know what I am talking about. My grandparents had it, my aunts and uncles have it and my parents still look at each other like they are the only two people in the room. It's the same for Bella you know. Just please be careful with her."

"I will" That ended our conversation and we also headed to bed. Emmett had shown me the room I would be staying in when we came home from that disaster of a meeting. He called it the blue room and once I saw it I understood why it was decorated in all shades of blue, even the carpet was blue. My favorite thing about it was that Bella's room was right across the hall from mine. I couldn't hear any noise coming from her room so I closed my door and sat on the bed.

I tried to process everything, and it wasn't working out so well for me at the moment. They have given me too much information, and not enough at the same time. I was still confused about their records because for them to be nonexistent is beyond the FBI, or CIA for that matter. No, this was as high up as one could go and only with the right connections and it still would be nearly impossible to accomplish. This had to have come straight from the President himself, but which one? I mean there have been 4 since they were 5years old.

Again I ask, how important is this family? I am hoping to get at least some of my questions answered before we leave for L.A., but that may not work out for me. Bella and Emmett will be busy trying to get ready to head out of here and may not have time for my question. I think I have done enough thinking for tonight; well this morning, so I stripped out of my clothes, fell onto the bed and went straight to sleep.

A/N next chapter on Sat. Check out 'Figure Eight' by tufano79 and Eclectic by Chatterbox33