Chapter Twenty Eight

Rose

Emmett and I had heard everything and felt so sorry for Bella. We hadn't known the full story of Bella and Kat but now I was glad Jazz had killed the bastard, he deserved far worse but it was over and Bella was so brave to go through everything and still have the strength to fight for Kat. When Jazz came back in I could see he was relieved but scared too. He shrugged on his jacket and I stared,

"Just where the hell do you think you are going?"

"Out for a walk. There's nothing I can do now but wait Rose, Bella will either tell me she wants me or she'll say goodbye. She's hurting and I think she'll sleep for a while so I thought I'd go for a walk."

"I'll come with you Jazz"

Emmett got up grabbing his own jacket from the back of the door,

"It's OK Em I don't need a nurse maid"

"I know that but I'm going...just to ensure you get your ass back here when Bella wakes up. You have to face her you know that."

"Yes I do, I promised her I'd never vanish again without a word and now I have to keep that promise. I will come back Em"

"Yeah you will, now where are we going?"

Realising he wasn't going to shrug Emmett off he waited until Em had his boots on before the pair left walking out into the softly falling snow. I didn't know what Bella would decide but I had my fingers crossed. I thought she loved my brother, but did she love him enough to excuse murder?

Emmett

At first I thought we were just out for a run but then I saw the direction we were headed,

"Town? What are you up to Jazz?"

He looked at me innocently and I knew he was up to something,

"I just thought I might have a quiet word with Bella's work colleague."

"Are you sure that's a good idea? You don't know how Bella will feel about you killing the guy she worked with."

"I have no intention of killing him Em, I just want him to understand that causing trouble for someone who can't defend themselves isn't a good idea."

"OK I'm in"

We made our way to the store Bella had worked in and stood outside watching the assistants at work.

"Is he there?"

Jazz shook his head but continued watching until a girl came out,

"If you're looking for Clive he'll be in soon. He parks up round the back...oh yes and give him one for me, he's a real scumbag"

Jazz nodded at her request and she disappeared back inside.

"I take it she doesn't like this guy any more than Bella did?"

"It seems that way Emmett. Let's wait round back shall we?"

Jasper

We sauntered slowly round the back of the store and I looked around for surveillance cameras but there was only one and it was directed at the rear entrance. The rest of the back including the parking area wasn't covered which was good for us. I didn't want any witnesses but I didn't want to use vampire speed either, this Clive needed to feel the pain I was about to inflict on him so the lesson would sink in and never be forgotten. Em and I waited in the shelter of the huge dumpster which was full to overflowing and waiting to be emptied. An hour later a car pulled in and I recognised the guy from the store.

We waited until he'd locked his car then appeared behind him, just out of sight of the camera.

"Clive?"

He jumped then looked at us apprehensively,

"Yes."

He peered at me and I saw recognition in his eyes as he edged towards the door and safety.

"I'd like a few words with you."

"Did Bella send you? I didn't mean to get her fired, I just told the truth, she had been slacking and I was sick of covering for her"

"Bella doesn't know we're here but lying to us wont win you any brownie points Clive and you wouldn't cover for anyone. You just like causing trouble."

"You touch me and I'll call the police"

He was squeezed between the wall, Emmett, and myself by now.

"Oh I don't think so, not when you've heard what I have to say."

He tried to run but Emmett held him fast against the wall by his throat,

"You should listen to my brother, he hates bad manners"

Clive swallowed convulsively and tried to speak but his words were choked off by Emmett's hand around his wind pipe.

"Bella is a really sweet person and she would never try for revenge but getting her the sack was a low blow. She has a child and she needs the money, you should have tried to help her, that would have been the manly thing to do. So, I'm giving you a lesson in manners, that way you wont do the same thing again. Keep your mouth shut and in future if a woman needs help that's what you'll give her... help."

As I said this I took his hand in mine and bent the fingers back until they snapped one by one. He would have screamed but with no air in his lungs it proved impossible.

"Now if you tell anyone what really happened here I'll be back but next time it will be your arms and legs, maybe even your spine. Do you understand me?"

His eyes were wide with shock as he cradled his damaged hand with the other.

"I didn't hear an answer Clive"

He gurgled something incomprehensible and I signalled to Emmett to release him. As he did so, none too gently, Clive sank gasping and choking to his knees. He took a few painful breaths before he attempted an answer.

"Yes, yes, I understand"

"Are you quite sure because there's nothing that pisses me off more than having to make a repeat visit and Emmett's temper is even shorter than mine"

Emmett glared at the crumpled figure trying to get up without jarring his broken fingers and Clive nodded, tears of pain rolling down his cheeks.

"Good, then I think we've finished. You should be more careful on the ice, you took a nasty tumble there. It's a good job Emmett was around to pick you up"

I lashed out with my foot and he went backwards into the snow that was piled up against the wall and we left as he tried to stagger back to his feet. Emmett looked back at him,

"You think hell keep his mouth shut?"

"Yeah, he's a coward at heart Emmett that's why he preys on women. Right I guess we should get back and see if Bella's awake.