I own nothing.
Chapter 35
EPOV
As Demetri drove me to the office I left another message for Dr. Luke's service. Bella was freaked out about Anthony's behavior from the night before and I couldn't say I didn't feel the same way. He was just acting different, off. He's not a fussy child and is generally good natured so last night was just plain weird. I thought about the tired smile Bella gave me when I left this morning and the dark circles that had formed under her eyes and prayed they were both okay.
By the time I was at the office I had my coffee and was trying to focus on my meeting with Andrei. Any other person I would have canceled on, but Andrei flew in from Russia just for this meeting. I had a huge shipment of diamonds I needed to get rid of and Andrei was the master at transferring, re-documenting, and distributing diamonds. If I canceled on him, I'd have to fly to Russia myself and I wasn't about to leave my family right now.
Jessica greeted me politely with a print out of my schedule for the day and let me know Andrei was already in my office. He was a nice enough guy, respected my Family and seemed to be happy as long as he had a good deal. It was a relief to work with him considering other members of the Russian mafia were not so easily handled.
We got down to business quickly making arrangements for the shipment and transfer of funds. I showed him a small sample of the product I kept in my safe and he was pleased. Little did he know I was saving the best stone in the bunch for another heart diamond for Bella's necklace to represent Anthony. I knew she would accept it without a fuss because of the meaning behind it.
I was also making a huge profit up in the multi millions from the transaction and I was having all of it transferred to an offshore account for Bella and Anthony. It made me happy to make sure they were taken care of. Granted, they already had enough legitimate funds set up for a few lifetimes, but I wanted to make sure they never had a care in the world.
"So now that we have the diamond deal squared away, what are your thoughts on exotic cars?" Andrei asked.
"It's something I dabble in a little. Why do you ask?" I was always looking for new opportunities to expand my businesses.
"I have an associate, a friend actually, he works with some guys in Eastern Europe. He's looking for a new contact in the states to locate and acquire merchandise."
"Have him give me a call. We'll see what we can work out." I nodded in understanding at Andrei since he called the guy a friend, therefore letting me know I could trust him. I appreciated the sentiment, but everyone I deal with is checked out by my own people before I get involved at all.
"Well, it's been a pleasure as always Cullen." Andrei stood and extended his hand. I shook it and couldn't help but agree.
"Likewise. Anything I can arrange for you while you're still in town?"
"No. I'm leaving now. My pilot is waiting, my wife hates my traveling. But I always shut her up with diamonds." He laughed. We finished up our conversation and I walked Andrei out to find Jessica arguing with Lauren Mallory at the reception desk. Lauren was a hooker who worked in the champagne rooms on the floors below. She was wearing a silk robe and fighting with my secretary until she saw us approach. The entire scene made me cringe inwardly. I shot them both a stern look and walked Andrei to the elevator.
"Have fun with your handful Cullen." Andrei laughed and then stepped onto the elevator. Now I was slightly pissed.
"What the hell is going on?" I looked at the two women and couldn't help but sigh.
"Miss Mallory thinks she can just barge into your office and talk to you whenever she sees fit." Jessica sneered out while looking at Lauren in disgust. Odd how the two women were so much alike yet Jessica was the only one who was completely judgmental.
"Edward, I have to talk to you. It's important." Lauren said and left her sexy attitude behind. She seemed genuine and that peaked my interest. Every time I saw Lauren she was trying to get on my cock so her change in attitude swayed me.
"Come in, you have two minutes." I motioned for her to follow me into the office as I took a seat behind the desk.
"What's going on?" Lauren closed her robe tighter around herself and looked down. "I don't have all day."
"Well, I took care of a client last night. Carlos something. He was really creepy." Her voice was low and she wouldn't look at me. I started to feel a little bad for my harsh attitude towards her.
"Lauren, if he hurt you then we'll take care of it. But you know to talk to Demetri about that." Her head shot up and she smiled a little.
"He didn't hurt me. But, I know how protective you are of Mrs. Cullen. I thought maybe if I helped you out you could-"
"What does this have to do with my wife?" I shouted losing my patience with the situation.
"He was talking in his sleep. He kept saying Mrs. Cullen's name and how some redheaded bitch was going to get him killed." I shot up in my seat and looked at Lauren. If she had information I needed it now.
"What's his name?" I shouted at her.
"Carlos something."
"Is he Hispanic?" I needed answers from her and they weren't coming fast enough.
"I don't know. But I think he's Mexican." Any other time I would have laughed at her stupidity but I just brushed it off trying to gather as much information as I could. "I just thought maybe if I helped you out…" She trailed on but I wasn't listening at this point. If she has the right info, she'd be well taken care of.
"What else can you tell me Lauren?" That made her smile nice and big.
"He's still downstairs." I jumped up from my chair so fast it toppled over and I started running for the door. This was my chance. "What room?"
"Four." I heard her yell back. I ran into the hall and shouted for Demetri. He appeared from another office and rushed towards me as I jumped in the elevator to head to the suite.
"Call Emmett and Jasper. Have them meet us at the warehouse. We're taking someone there." We got off on the floor that held all the champagne rooms and I found suite four. An average sized Mexican man was sprawled out on the bed in only his boxers. He had an angry looking scar up his back and a mirror full of cocaine and a gun on the nightstand. Demetri ran for the gun as I grabbed the guy by his arm and flipped him over.
"What the fuck?" He shouted and then looked up at me. I could tell he recognized me immediately.
"What is Victoria planning?" I shouted the anger taking over as I pushed him against the headboard.
"No hablo ingles!" He mumbled and I laughed at him before I punched him in the face and he slumped forward. Odd that he could ask me "what the fuck" but he couldn't speak English.
Demetri and I shoved Carlos in the trunk of Demetri's car and headed toward the warehouse. Emmett and Jasper were waiting and helped us retrieve a kicking Carlos from the trunk. We got him inside and tied up with a bit of a struggle.
"I'll ask again. What is Victoria planning?" Carlos looked up at me and tried to spit on me. I stepped out of the way and laughed at him.
"We're not fucking around here." Emmett shouted as he punched the guy in the stomach.
"I want nothing to do with her. Miguel sent me. I left the group last night. The bitch is crazy and I'm not doing it."
"Who's Miguel?" Jasper questioned in his calm manner. I just stood back and let him take over because he was damn good at interrogations.
"My boss. He's fucking the red head."
"What does Victoria want with Mrs. Cullen?" Jasper leaned forward. "Just answer me and if you're not a part of it we might not kill you." Jasper held his hands out in an inviting manner and waited for Carlos to answer him. He didn't have to wait long.
"She said an Isabella killed her brother because he got her pregnant. She wants Isabella gone and she wants to take her nephew."
Emmett started punching the guy and shouting that Smarty B would never do that. I had to smile a little to myself but then my phone suddenly rang and I immediately answered it when I saw it was Christopher. Emmett was still shouting and I waived for him to let Jasper continue. Jasper just looked up at me and the phone.
"Boss, we were ambushed at the doctor's office. Johnny's down. The others are handling the situation." Christopher shouted out. Every thought I had immediately stopped and focused on Christopher's words.
"What?" That couldn't be possible. Ambushed? We had the guy right here. My head was spinning with the possibilities.
"I have Mrs. C and the little one in the guardian. They're okay." Christopher's words rang in my head. They shot at my wife and child. Actually shot at them. My stomach dropped and I had to grip the phone tighter to control it with my trembling hands.
"Jesus. Bella? Bella?" I shouted needing to hear for myself that she was okay. I was desperate to hear her voice.
"I'm here. We're okay." I could hear the fear in her voice and my heart fucking broke but at least I knew she was okay. "They're shooting at us Edward." I thought I was going to break down. My wife and child.
"Take them to the penthouse. Bella, I'll meet you there. Stay close to Christopher." I hung up as I heard a gunshot and looked around to see Jasper grabbing his arm and blood raining to the ground.
"Fuck." Jasper shouted as Emmett pushed over the table and we scrambled behind it. Emmett started shooting.
"How many of them are there?" I yelled to the still tied up Carlos.
"They'll kill me. You have to help and I'll tell you anything." Carlos was shouting in fear of his former friends because he'd abandoned them. Little did he know he didn't have much of a chance with me.
"Cover me." I said to Demetri and Emmett and then jumped up and pulled Carlos down from the chair and behind the table. I gripped him by his head and got in his face.
"How many?" I asked again.
"Six others and Victoria."
"What are they planning?"
"They were going to follow your wife and kill her and then take the baby back to Mexico." Carlos was spilling his guts thinking this was his only chance to live. Too bad the fucker was a part of a plan to hurt my wife and son. That's an automatic death sentence in my book.
"Anything else?" I asked. Carlos shook his head in the negative. I smiled and shot him in the head because he was no longer useful to me. If there were six, there had to be at least two at the doctor's office maybe more.
"There can't be many of them." I shouted to the guys and looked over at Jasper.
"Flesh wound. I'll be fine." He said and shrugged it off.
Demetri and Emmett were shooting and we joined in. I spotted two guys on the left and one on the right. I took out the one on the right and watched as Emmett and Demetri took out the two on the left. Quiet came over the warehouse.
"You think that's it?" Emmett questioned.
"I don't know. I have to get to the Penthouse. They ambushed Bella at the doctor's office. She's with Christopher. Johnny's dead." Emmett stood up and started stomping to the door with absolutely no fear.
"All's clear." He yelled and we raced over to the exit and loaded into Emmett's hummer. The minute I sat down the fear took over. They shot at my wife and child. Victoria was here and was out to kill Bella and take my son.
"Fucking drive faster." I shouted in frustration. I felt Jasper's hand come out and take my head and push it between my legs.
"Breathe. They're at the Penthouse Edward. They're safe right now."
I took some deep breaths and tried to pull my shit together. My hands were shaking as I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and called Michael.
"What the hell happened?"
"They ambushed the guardian boss. Johnny's dead. Christopher got away with Mrs. C and the little one. They did it in the fucking parking lot boss. I can already hear the sirens. We aren't going to have time to clean this shit up."
"How many?"
"Three."
"Stay there. Just be honest with the police. You're all licensed bodyguards and permitted to carry the weapons and respond to a threat. Just deal with it. Call Swan if you need to lawyer up." I instructed and watched as the car neared the Penthouse. Thank god Jenks had taken care of all the proper licensing to make sure everyone around Bella was legitimate. It was something he thought was unnecessary but I insisted on it. I didn't want anything illegal touching her. The boys acted in defense of others and shouldn't have a problem with the local police.
We bolted from the vehicle as it came to a stop and I saw the guardian sitting in a spot right out front. It was riddled with small marks, almost like paint chips, from the bullets and I thanked God for that car. They were just marks, not holes. Those animals weren't able to get to my family because of it. We rushed inside and I began shouting orders.
"Demetri, make sure the building is secure. Wait, where's Bobby?" I looked around and the doorman wasn't there. He's the only other person who has a key to the Penthouse. Emmett ran around the desk and started shouting.
"Shit Ed, they slit his throat." I ran over and saw my kindly doorman of many years lying in a pool of his own blood, his head barely attached to the rest of his body.
"I thought we had them all." Jasper whispered.
"Victoria. Oh fuck, she's up there." I pointed to Demetri. "The building." I shouted and ran for the elevators. The ride to the penthouse was excruciating. My rage was taking over but the fear was still there. This couldn't be happening. I'd made sure no one would come near them. I did everything I could. And it's been so peaceful around Bella. Not a single threat. How fucking crazy could Victoria be? To risk everything and come here? She had to have a death wish. The elevator dinged and I pulled my gun at the same time as Jasper and Emmett. We slowly made our way through the foyer and into the great room.
"I'll take the kitchen and guest rooms." Jasper whispered and crept off towards the kitchen. I cringed slightly when I saw a few drops of blood fall from his arm as he walked away. I had to get some help to him soon, but he and I both knew Bella and Anthony were the priorities right now.
I entered the great room with Emmett following and almost tripped beside the couch. I looked down and saw Christopher laying on his side, blood dripping from his stomach where a knife was lodge in rather deep.
"Shit." Emmett whispered as he leaned down to feel for a pulse. "He's alive, but barely."
Both our heads shot up as I heard a woman yelling. I couldn't make out what she was saying but I knew it wasn't Bella. I looked at Emmett and we started for the steps and then I heard it. A gun shot. Loud and clear coming from the bedroom. All the air left my lungs and my body froze in terror. I couldn't live without Bella. This couldn't be happening.
"Go Ed." Emmett pushed me forward and I regained control of myself and ran up the stairs. I dashed into the bedroom and saw Bella. Her small body was shaking and relief flooded every fiber of my being when I looked down and saw her holding a gun. I searched the room and didn't see Anthony.
I looked over and saw Victoria. She had stopped moving and looked down at her bleeding thigh. She grabbed it in one hand and started shouting while waiving a knife in the other. I could immediately tell she was completely coked out of her mind and intent on hurting my wife.
"Edward!" Bella shouted and looked at me but in doing so she dropped the gun. "Edward!" She shouted again as if in relief but I saw movement in my peripheral. It was Victoria. She was rushing across the room towards Bella. I didn't think I just reacted as I lunged across the room toward her as she reached Bella who flew backwards into the nightstand. I saw Victoria move to stab Bella and I pulled Victoria off her and gripped her head in between my hands. Victoria's arms flailed around stabbing me in the thigh with the knife. The pain rushed through my body and I twisted the head in between my hands until I could hear bones braking and I felt Victoria's body go limp in my fingers. She was dead. Finally. I tossed her aside and rush to Bella.
"Bella. Stay with me Bella. Where are you hurt?" I began searching her body for wounds. Pieces of glass were stuck to her head and she was bleeding down the side of her face. She had a stab wound in her arm that was bleeding heavily but it didn't look like it hit an artery. No bullet wounds. I looked around in a panic. Where was Anthony?
Emmett came rushing in the room. "Edward, he's not in the nursery." Where was Anthony?
"Emmett, call an ambulance. Bella! Bella." Her eyes fluttered open for just a minute and I kept shouting for her. She mumbled something and I went to move her onto the bed. "We have to find Anthony!" I shouted to everyone and no one. I started to pick Bella up but was stopped.
"Don't move her. You don't know what's wrong." Jasper stated and I stilled and laid my head down next to her.
"Bella, please Bella. Stay with me. Bella. Where's Anthony?" I was crying at this point and still trying to keep it all together but the fear was overwhelming. It was too much. Too close. Too much blood. And too little Anthony. I looked down at my wife as she squeezed my hand ever so lightly.
"Alec." She whispered.
"Alec! Oh thank god. She left him with Alec. Jasper call him and make sure Anthony's okay. Where's the fucking ambulance?"
I tried with a new vigor to assess the damages to my wife and found more nasty bruises on her sides but my biggest concern was the wound to her head and the gash in her arm. I pulled a blanket from the bed and started applying pressure. I cupped her cheek with my hands and kissed her forehead.
"You're gonna be okay Bella. Help is coming."
"Alec's got Anthony downstairs. He said he's been sleeping the whole time. Bella dropped him off in a panic saying she had to keep him safe and away from her. Smart move considering." I looked up at Jasper and couldn't hold back the tears.
"She's so fucking selfless. I can't lose her Jasper."
"You won't Edward. You won't."
I continued to watch over her wanting nothing more than to pull her into my arms but Jasper was right, I didn't know what was injured and I didn't want to risk anything. I heard the paramedics downstairs working on Christopher and it was only a few moments later more entered the room and began working on Bella.
"Alec is going to meet us in the lobby. Jasper, Alec and I will take Anthony in the guardian and meet you at the hospital." I just nodded at Emmett as I watched my wife being loaded onto a stretcher. One of the paramedics came over and tried to sit me down to take a look at the wound to my leg.
"No. Just take care of my wife. Please." I pushed him off me.
"We are Mr. Cullen. But you're losing a lot of blood. We have to get this under control."
"Just take care of my wife!" I shouted.
"She has a head wound, definitely a concussion, and we're going to need to stitch up her arm. Are you riding with us?" Another paramedic asked in a kindly tone.
"Yes. I'm not leaving her."
I sat in the back of the ambulance as someone tried to take a look at the stab wound in my thigh. The entire situation was a nightmare and I almost laughed at the irony of how many times Bella's been rushed to the ER because of me.
"Edward." Her voice was soft and fragile but she was awake and looking around at me.
"Bella, I'm here. Anthony is okay. I promise." She nodded her head and closed her eyes.
"Bella, stay with me please. Please!" I begged. She squeezed my hand and opened her eyes as the paramedic started assessing her vitals.
We pulled up to the hospital and Bella was rushed to have a CAT scan while Carlisle instructed me I was unable to join her and had to have my leg looked at. Instead I searched for Alec. I found him sitting in the waiting room holding my son who was cooing happily.
"Mr. Cullen, I believe this one belongs to you." Alec joked while handing Anthony over to me. "How is Mrs. Cullen?"
"I don't know yet. She has a head wound, but she's conscious. They took her for a CAT scan." I looked down at Anthony and back up at Alec. "Alec, I can't thank you enough. I can't even think about what might have happened if Bella kept Anthony with her."
Alec patted my shoulder, "Then don't. That woman of yours is smart as a whip and tough as nails. She did the right thing. And I'm sure she's going to be just fine. You all will be." Alec handed me the diaper bag. "I'll leave you to it. Please tell Bella I'll visit soon. You guys need some private time and the rest of your family is showing up." Alec pointed to the entrance where I saw everyone coming in. Even Renee. "And get that leg taken care of. You're bleeding all over the hospital boss."
Carlisle grabbed me by the arm and I handed Anthony over to Esme as he led me to a room to patch up my leg.
"What happened son?"
"Remember Riley Biers? From the Hamptons?" Recognition flashed across Carlisle's face as he remembered stitching up the bullet hole in my side.
"His girlfriend came after Bella."
"Where is she now?" Carlisle asked while finishing up the stitching on my thigh.
"Dead in my Penthouse." I shrugged but the relief in my voice was evident.
"She'll be alright Edward." Carlisle commented as he handed me a fresh pair of scrubs to change into. I did and he walked me out to my waiting family.
"Thanks Carlisle. You think you could take a look at Jasper's shoulder? Quietly?" Carlisle nodded and pulled Jasper aside to go stich him up.
I went to Esme to retrieve Anthony. He was my connection to Bella and I needed his comfort until I was allowed to see her again. The nurse came over shortly after and took me to see my wife who was now in a room. I rushed alongside the nurse who told me Bella was in fact doing well, she had multiple stitched in her arm and head and had a nasty concussion.
I reached Bella's room and found her laying in the bed. She looked up and the biggest smile broke out across her face. And then the tears started.
"You're both okay. You're both okay." I took Anthony over and handed him to her and sat on the bed and pulled her into my arms as she continued to sob. I knew they were tears of fear and of relief and I let her get it all out. After all that happened, it's what she needed.
"We're okay baby."
"I was so worried about you. I heard shooting from the phone. And I didn't know what to do. I couldn't keep him with me. I was so scared Edward. They shot at us. They killed Johnny." I rubbed her cheek and just thanked god my family was okay. She pulled her free hand up and wiped the tears off my face. "She was so crazy Edward. She kept saying Anthony was Riley's son and that she was going to take him. All of this, all because I worked there for a few months. And now I've killed someone." The sobs came harder as her tiny body shook inside my arms.
"No Bella, you didn't kill Victoria, I did."
"But I shot her." Bella looked confused and through her tears I could see the despair in her eyes. No matter who the enemy was or what the circumstances were, I knew it would hurt my innocent little Bella to have to take another life. She might not regret it, but she'd definitely feel guilty.
"You only got her in the leg and then she jumped you and stabbed you. I pulled her off and broke her neck baby. You didn't kill anyone. And I'm so fucking proud of you for defending yourself. And god Bella, I can only imagine how hard it must have been for you to leave Anthony with Alec but I'm so fucking thankful you did."
Bella looked up at me and knew I was telling her the truth. Her eyes crossed over my body and I could sense the confusion on her face.
"Why are you in scrubs?"
"She nicked me in the leg baby. Carlisle already took care of it. Please, don't worry about it." Bella's grip on me tightened and she quietly nodded her head.
"She had his picture. The one from the paper. She kept saying she was going to take him." Bella began sobbing and clutched Anthony to her.
"You did the right thing Bella. Don't question that."
"I just can't believe I brought them into our lives." Bella looked up at me while tears traveled down her cheeks and I dried them with my fingers. "Please don't send me away Edward. I know you're thinking that and I won't go. You can't break up our family. This wasn't even related to your life. And if it hadn't been for everything you insisted on for our protection, we wouldn't have made it." Her words were coming out in a jumbled mess and I had to calm her down. I knew it wasn't Bella's fault Victoria and Riley were in our lives. They were crazy and dead now and that's all that mattered. I also knew I could never send her away although each time something happens I try to consider it. The fact is I'd die without her and Anthony in my life. It was no longer a possibility for me. It may be selfish, but I knew she couldn't make it without me either.
"You're not going anywhere Bella. I can't be without you two." I whispered into her ear and her crying quieted down.
"Oh my god, where's Christopher?" Bella shouted a little too loud through her panic.
"He's in surgery baby. He's hanging on but it doesn't look good." Bella started crying even harder.
"I just can't believe all this." She whimpered.
There was as knock on the door and Charlie and Renee came walking in. Renee at least had the good sense to look a little ashamed. But then I remembered what Bella told me about Victoria having the picture and I completely lost my temper. Too bad Bella beat me to it.
"NO. You get out of here." She was pointing to Renee and shouting so loud and Anthony woke up and began crying. Renee paid no attention to the state her daughter and grandson were in and kept approaching the bed.
"Bella darling, you're my daughter, I need to make sure you're okay."
"No Renee. I don't want you in here. Get out now." Bella pointed to the door as she tried to sooth Anthony.
I stood up and grabbed Renee's arm a little too hard and pulled her out of the room. Charlie was following and yelling at me to let his wife go. I did but then I let her have it.
"You stay away from Bella. She doesn't want to see you and frankly, I don't want you around my family anymore." Renee just stood there with her mouth open.
"Edward, watch how you're talking to my wife." Charlie scolded.
"No Charlie. She's in there because of the both of you. It was Victoria Charlie. Victoria Thomas, Riley Biers' crazy girlfriend." I watched as Charlie's face drained of all its color.
"Well, that has nothing to do with me." Renee argued with her fucking flippant attitude.
"Seriously Renee? Because she had a picture of my son. A picture you sent to the press. She was there to take him. And you're attitude about this entire situation makes me sick. She's your daughter. You don't respect her, and you use our son like a fucking fashion accessory to try and impress those cold nasty bitches you hang out with. I swear to you, the only reason you're even alive is because my wife is a good woman and wouldn't permit me to do what I want to do. So stay the fuck. Away. From. My. Family!" I had enough and started walking back into the room. Charlie stopped me.
"Edward-"
"I'm sorry Charlie. I didn't mean it was your fault. You couldn't have known. I'm just, I'm angry at the situation." It was true, Charlie couldn't have known and a more rational me would have realized it wasn't Renee's fault either, but I'd have enough of her. Her attitude toward Bella drove me insane and I didn't want it poisoning my son.
"I'm going to take Renee home. Please, please tell Bella I love her."
"I will. I'm sorry Charlie. I'll call you soon." I walked back into the hospital room and looked at my wife.
"Thank you Edward." I shook my head because the last person I needed thanks from was Bella but the look on her face told me she'd heard everything.
"I'm sorry baby, I just can't stand-" I felt Bella's small hand come up and touch my cheek.
"I know Edward, I know."
The doctor came in eventually and gave us a rundown of Bella's condition. She complained that she wanted to go home but they, and I, insisted she stay for observation. She also wasn't allowed to breastfeed because of the pain meds and antibiotics they gave her to deal with her wounds. After more tears over not being able to provide for her son, Esme came in with a warm bottle and handed it to Bella. The family had already been in to visit and I thought they had all gone so Esme's presence surprised me yet warmed my heart.
"It's just for a week dear. He won't even remember." Esme whispered into Bella's ear as she patted her on her good arm. "And you saved his life today. You should be nothing but proud. I know I am." Esme gave me a warm hug and quietly left the room. Bella fed Antony and I climbed into the bed with my wife and son basking in the simple task of giving a bottle to a baby.
"I thought I was going to lose you both." It was a simple statement but when I made it Bella looked up at me and I knew she understood exactly what I meant. It was written all over her face. She thought the same thing. She questioned her actions. And most importantly, she would do anything for her family.
Anthony eventually tired and he snuggled in between us as Bella and I lay on our sides and held each other's hands. We eventually drifted off to sleep.
It was dusk when a throat clearing woke me out of my sleep. I looked up to see a Native American looking man in a suit with a police badge hanging from his neck standing at the foot of the hospital bed.
"Mr. Cullen, I'm Detective Sam Uley with the NYPD. I have a few questions for you sir." My eyes quickly adjusted to the light and I saw Bella and Anthony still sleeping in the bed with me.
"You'll have to come back another time. My family has been through enough for today." I gestured towards Bella and Anthony to prove my point. They were sleeping for fuck's sake.
"I understand that Mr. Cullen, but the sooner we talk-" He was interrupted by the sound of my wife calling my name.
"I'm right here Bella." She squirmed around in the bed instinctively staying away from Anthony and looked up at me.
"Hi." She whispered sweetly. Another throat clearing. Bella looked over at the detective in shock and automatically pulled the blankets up and closer around her body. I couldn't help but smile at my timid wife who also shot someone earlier in the day. She will never stop amazing me.
"Mrs. Cullen, good evening. As I was telling your husband, I'm Detective Sam Uley from the NYPD. I have a few questions for you both." The detective shifted his weight from foot to foot showing his nervousness with the situation.
"You have got to be kidding me. In a hospital room with a sleeping child? Have you no respect?" Bella spit out in disgust as the detective took a noticeable step back from the bed.
"All due respect ma'am, the child isn't supposed to be spending the night in the hospital." I chuckled to myself because the guy had just broken a cardinal rule with my wife. Anthony comes first, nothing was separating her from him. Carlisle had already received the third degree from her when he suggested Esme take Anthony home with them. The nickname Momma Bear wasn't a joke.
"He's serious?" Bella looked at me and questioned as I laughed and nodded my head in the affirmative. "You listen here officer, I don't care who you are or where you came from. There are two people laying in this bed with stab wounds and child that was nearly abducted today. So do yourself a favor and write your questions down so you don't forget them, and ask them at a more appropriate time."
"It's Detective, and I'm well within my duties to ask questions." Bella huffed and shook her head.
"Look Detective, come back in the morning and we'll talk."
"Mr. Cullen, I can't do that. I have a body count of six so far including a doorman and a woman. And from what I understand another person just out of surgery who doesn't look like he's going to make it. I need answers."
"Christopher?" Bella questioned with worry in her voice. The detective nodded and Bella turned to me. "Sweet old Bobby at the front door?" I grimly nodded also and I watched as Bella sank into the bed with a sigh of defeat.
"I understand you're problems detective, but I have my family to think about. Another time. Or you can discuss the matter with my lawyer." I smiled with a shit eating grin on my face knowing exactly what I was doing.
"I'll give him a call then." And as if on cue…
"Him!" Bella whispered/yelled careful not to wake Anthony. "I'm his lawyer you asshat, I see the NYPD does they're homework about as well as the FBI. Now get out of this hospital room before I call your superiors to file a complaint."
The next three things seemed to happen at once. The door burst open causing a loud banging noise. Anthony screamed from being startled awake. And Jacob fucking Black ran into the room followed by Charlie Swan. My head was spinning from the sudden activity but all I could focus on was my crying son and my wife trying to settle him down.
"I've got you Anthony, Mommy's here, ssh ssh." I listened to Bella calming Anthony down and it was amazing how her words helped to calm me down also because the only thoughts racing through my head at that point was to shoot a cop and an FBI agent out of pure irritation.
"I've got you by the balls now Cullen. A dead woman in your apartment. I'm taking you down." Black shouted out as if he'd won the lottery. "Arrest him." He demanded while looking at Detective Uley. They started bickering over questionings and statements as Agent Leah Clearwater quietly walked into the room and looked at me and then Bella.
"We're going to arrest him for this. We'll find something and make the charges stick. We have the bodies, you're a lawyer Bella, you know we can make our case." Leah spoke in such a soft and smooth tone everyone in the room was quiet. Except my wife. She reached over and pressed the button to call the nurse and started laughing.
"You people can't make shit out of manure. Get out. All of you. Whatever you need to discuss, talk to Charlie." Bella shouted and then ever so softly mouthed "thank you" to her father as he ushered the government agents out of the hospital room. I breathed a sigh of relief thankful the commotion was over and we could relax again as a family until I felt Bella's eyes on me.
"They don't have anything do they?" She asked and there was no other answer I could give her than a shrug. Do they?