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Chapter Forty-Five

When Riley called my cell, I jumped to grab it, hoping I'd get to it before it woke up Bella.

No dice.

She stirred and yawned, her eyelids fluttering open while I answered the phone.

"Yo!" he said.

"What's up?" I cleared my throat.

"I'll be by your crib in thirty. Be ready."

"All right." The night before I was instructed to bring a change of clothes, maybe a bar of soap if I was inclined.

Ending the call, I turned to Bella. "You gonna be okay?"

She nodded. "Yeah…I think so."

I narrowed my eyes, studying her.

"Honest, Edward, I feel better already."

"Good." I kept my tone hushed. "You call me if you need anything—if anything comes up. Even if you just wanna say hi. Okay?"

"I will," she promised.

I touched her chin with my knuckle before I went to the bathroom.

After a quick shower and getting dressed, I grabbed my toothbrush and another pair of jeans and a shirt to throw into a shopping bag.

Seeing as Jake's nine was fully loaded, I threw that shit into the bag, too, keeping mine at my waist and placing the silencer in my pocket.

Bella watched me as I moved about the room.

"What?" I asked.

She shook her head, a shy grin on her face. "Nothing…I have a knapsack you can borrow. It's in the coat closet."

I nodded. "Thanks…I should go wait downstairs."

"Oh…I didn't set the pot." She went to get up.

"It's okay," I laughed, stopping her. "I'll see you in a few days."

She fisted my shirt. "Please, be careful."

"I promise," I said, bending to place a kiss on her forehead and again in her hair. And I hope she doesn't mind, since it's been a challenge to keep my lips to myself. "I'll call you."

Bella made to get up, but I stopped her once more.

"Just stay in here." I threw the blanket over her head.

"Edward!" She slapped it away, a smile in her tone.

"I gotta make sure you don't get away." I chuckled.

She giggled as I proceeded to tuck her back in—making sure she couldn't escape.

"You're all set," I whispered. "You're a Bella Burrito."

She beamed at me.

And I . . . I smiled back, finally feeling warm inside, like I was home, like I finally had a home . . . a place in this world.

Maybe that's why I had to come back? Maybe I was meant to take care of Bella? Be with Bella?

I used to be jealous of all the guys in my unit who had girls waiting for them at home...

Who knew I had one all along?

I wasn't sure, but that's what it felt like.

And it felt so good to be here…at her side.

I fucking hated to leave.

Of all times...

But everything was going to be okay . . . in time.

"Be good." I pushed her hair away from her face. "You got nothing to worry about. You hear me?"

Even in the dim light, I saw the color leave her face. "Okay." She rasped. "Good."

"Hmm?" I hummed, staring at her.

"I'm fine." She nodded. "You got to, to him first? You, um, you killed him?" she whispered.

I hated that I couldn't tell her, verbally confirm. "You have nothing to worry about. You'll never see Jake again."

"Good." If she was hiding, wearing a brave mask, I couldn't tell. Her face remained stoic while I waited for tears, shock, or…maybe a smile.

"Never again," I repeated.

Bella let out a slow breath, tears welling up in her eyes. "I-I'm free." She said it so low, I didn't catch it.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Nothing." She squeezed my hand. "Go…you shouldn't keep Riley waiting."

I didn't want to fucking leave, but I heaved myself off the bed. "You call me."

"I will." She wiped her eyes. "Thank you. Edward, I—" She reached for me.

I sat down next to her again. "Talk to me."

Her eyes trailed away from me. "I'll be fine. I promise."

"Okay." With one final kiss to her cheek, I left the bedroom to switch bags before leaving the house . . .

Bella neglected to tell me that her backpack was purple, but I used it anyway.

True to his word, Riley pulled up to the curb, and I hopped into his whip.


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