Chapter Thirty Eight

Garrett

When Darius got in touch to tell us we could stand down I was glad because we hadn't got a sniff of a vampire since we got here except for Emmett and Rose who had joined us with the news that Carlisle and Esme were going to Rio to join Edward who hadn't been snatched although it seemed that was something of a shock to poor Esme. I was surprised because I'd always found Carlisle to be an honourable man who loved his family. Hiding Edward I could understand maybe but not telling Esme so she would continue to think her "son" captured was something I didn't like one bit. Molly was bored and when she got bored she was likely to just take off although she always made her way back again within a couple of weeks but this time she left before I got the second call and it was one I bet she would be spitting nails when she found out she'd missed it. I didn't like the Romanians any more than the Volturi and if anyone had told me I'd be throwing in my lot with either I would have laughed in their face but strange things happen sometimes and this was one of those occasions.

"You and the others are going to protect the Volturi? Tell me this is a joke Major, you hate them as much as I do"

He explained the situation and I could see his point, I didn't want the Romanians back in charge, I'd heard enough about their reign to know it wouldn't work these days so the Volturi were the lesser of two evils.

"I've invited Amun and Zafrina to join us but neither seemed at all interested in the proposal."

"I wonder why Major, I'm amazed you bothered."

"Well they were targeted by the Romanians and I thought they might feel like getting their own back but I think their hatred of the Volturi runs too deep. But you're in I take it?"

"Yes along with Emmett and Rose and they've gone to make sure Esme did leave with Carlisle, if not I think she'll be joining us. Anyone else?"

"Darius has graciously agreed to join the party and I think Luca, Makenna, and Charles are coming."

"Yeah well we all know Luca is a fan of the Volturi so that's not exactly a surprise, besides Renata will be in danger if the Romanians take the Volturi and he wont leave his family in danger I guess."

"Is it going to be a problem for you Garrett?"

"No, I'm just saying. I'm not a fan of Luca but then I'm not a fan of the Volturi either and I'm still coming to the party. I'll be fine Major."

When Emmett and Rose got back with Esme I told them the plan and Esme as expected was in. We would fly to Pisa and meet up with the rest before making our way to a small wooded area close to Volterra to make final arrangements. We had no idea exactly when the Romanian mercenaries planned to attack so we wanted to be ready as soon as possible. During the flight Esme explained what had happened with Carlisle and I saw how upset she was by his betrayal of trust.

"I could hardly believe it Garrett, I know you are a friend of Carlisle's but to let me think Edward had been snatched by Victoria or her friends and let me worry when he knew Edward was safe in Rio? How could he?"

I found myself unable to defend my friends actions, I agreed with Esme that it was wrong at every level.

"Have you heard from him since he left?"

"He rang once to talk but what could I say Garrett? What could he say that would make things right? I trusted him to look after us all, to be open and honest with us and he wasn't. I told him I couldn't talk to him yet I was too angry and he told me he would come home as soon as the danger was past but until then he would stay with Edward. He doesn't care about my safety does he? I told him I would help Bella and Jasper as much as I could and he tried to persuade me to stay out of it, as if I could. Garrett I never thought I would say this of my mate but he's a coward, not just a pacifist but an actual coward and I'm ashamed of him. Edward too, he could be a great help to us but he's hiding in Rio instead of being where he's needed."

"Well I guess we all see things differently Esme but I agree, Carlisle's actions have shocked me too. Edward? Well you know I never thought very highly of him"

"It seems you were right Garrett I'm ashamed to say."

I half expected Carlisle to be there when we landed in Italy but the only people waiting for us were Darius and Peter. I looked round for The Major but he was nowhere in sight.

"He's with the others at our base camp. Fucking base camp! Its a couple of tents in the woods."

"And its nice to see you too Peter."

He looked at me then glanced behind,

"Where is she then?"

"Who?"

"Mad Molly. Don't say you fought free of her at last?"

"No, she got bored baby sitting and left. She'll find me when she's ready."

"Bad luck mate. Still now the gangs all here we can get going. I have to show you the latest toys Darius came up with. I thought the rocket launcher was the mutts nuts but now I've seen it all. A toy fucking helicopter that carries bombs. Its fucking great."

Esme glanced disapprovingly at his language but that was Peter, love it or hate it he wasn't going to change for anyone.

"I hear you have a new mate. I'm glad Peter although I thought there could only be one brain dead vampire crazy enough to get tied up with you"

"Yeah me too but I found another and she is absolutely fucking great. Its Bella's mother too so that makes me her step dad, try wrapping the grey cells round that one."

"I can't wait to meet these two remarkable women."

We drove out of Pisa and using back roads as much as possible made our way to the woods close to the bottom of the mountain below Volterra. There were two tents, one housed the weaponry Darius had provided, among which was the helicopter Peter was so keen to show me and the other all the high tech equipment Darius used complete with its own ultra quiet generator and solar array. I greeted The Major warmly, it had been some time since we had last met and he introduced Bella and Renee.

"Luca and the others will be here by tonight. Darius is watching for the Romanians and their mercenaries but there's no sign of any movement so far. He's watching flight manifests too but thinks either they are coming over lands or by private plane."

"My money would be overland and probably the mercenaries are native, weapons aren't easy to smuggle across borders these days."

"My sentiments exactly but we can't afford to miss anything"

I nodded to Darius and he carried on into his tent followed by Emmett while Rose and Esme were chatting to Bella and Renee.

"So, we're relying on those two are we?"

"Between them they're pretty fucking formidable."

"Lets hope its enough then because we are going to be outnumbered and we can't rely on the black cloaks sticking their noses out the door until they know we're winning.

There was one figure there who was a stranger to me although he seemed to be accepted by the others.

"Who's the stranger?"

"That's Joe, a friend of Peter, he lives at the ranch and helps look after the horses, he's the reason I don't worry about Peter too much. He and Joe met at a rodeo about twenty years ago and they found they had something in common."

"Please tell me its not their attitude, one Peter is bearable. Two? I couldn't cope."

"Actually I have no idea, Joe's mute but he's one hell of a fighter."

"Mute?"

"Yeah, Peters asked him about it I understand but he doesn't want to discuss it so I guess it must have been quite a traumatic experience. Anyway Peter rang to tell him what he was doing and the next thing we knew he turned up at the camp ready to fight."

"You sure he can be trusted?"

"Peter trusts him and that's enough for me Garrett."

"Fine. I'll go introduce myself."

I went over to Joe who stood watching the women talking then turned to me and held out his hand with a grin and I knew he'd heard my question.

"Hello Joe, I'm Garrett. Welcome to The majors Madness"

He nodded then winked and strode over to join his friend, a strange companion for a guy who never stopped talking, bitching mostly, but if he helped Peter cope with the loss of Charlotte then he was OK by me.