Chapter Fifty Five
Bella
The meeting broke up soon after that and Jazz and I went back to our room. I wanted as much time with him as possible before he had to leave, selfish as that might seem. Once inside I threw my arms around him holding on tightly.
"Bella believe me, I will be fine, I'm good at what I do, or did, and I will be careful. Once I know what Caius is up to I'll get out of there. Remember he wants you dead too and that I will not allow, you are mine and I will protect you. Now lets not talk about it tonight. I'm sure I can take your mind off tomorrow."
I smiled at the truth in his words and he lifted me up and dropped me on the bed.
"This time it's every man, or woman, for himself."
He tumbled down on top of me and started kissing my face and neck while his hands were busy taking my clothes off, eager fingers popping buttons and breaking zippers. The way things were going I was going to need a new wardrobe but I certainly wasn't going to complain, I was too busy ripping his clothes off in return.
We spent the night lost in each other, first he took me and then when I got my breath back it was my turn. Every time we made love was different, more pleasurable, and left me wanting yet more. The thought I wouldn't have his naked body lying at my side for days, maybe weeks was enough to bring tears to my eyes and make me feel desolate. He held me close and kissed the tears away with no explanations needed and no words exchanged and I slowly fell asleep hugging him tightly and trying to fix this moment in my mind for the future when I would be alone.
By the time I woke the sun was up, the threatened rain hadn't materialized and it felt wrong that violence should be on its way on such a beautiful day. They had decided to move the boat out of the marina for the next couple of nights to avoid the chance of any humans becoming entangled in the fighting. The Volturi would be careful but they had their orders and if it meant coming in the night and killing a few humans who might be witnesses they wouldn't hesitate to do so. Hunter had moved the boat before so it wasn't something out of the ordinary and wouldn't have alarm bells ringing. I had breakfast while Jazz sat with Hunter and Darius and I knew the moment that danger approached. They all stood simultaneously and Charlotte took my arm.
"Ready for your big moment Bella?"
I nodded running to Jasper and hugging him tightly before allowing Charlotte to lead me off the boat and into the woods until we reached the small clearing where I sat on the rug she'd brought with her and opened my book knowing I wouldn't read a word of it as I waited.
Jasper
I hated the waiting but more than that I hated the fact that Bella was sitting alone in the clearing waiting for Jane Volturi to hunt her down and kill her. At best she would know a few seconds of agonising pain and if anything went wrong I could even lose her, something that didn't bear contemplating. Darius named the Volturi attacking party for us, Jane, Felix, Demetri, Santiago and three unnamed guards. We were fairly certain that Felix would accompany Jane which meant while I knocked Jane out and destroyed her with Charlotte's help Peter would be alone against Felix until either we or the others were free to help. I knew Peter could hold his own against the huge guard but whether he could finish him off or not was another matter. For that reason I had Jay hiding in the woods too, at a further distance, only to be deployed if absolutely necessary, he was our ace in the hole.
I heard from Darius,
"They've split up, Felix is with Jane as we suspected but he's got a guard with him. The others are closing in on the boat. Do you want me to call Jay in?"
"No, we'll manage. As soon as you and Hunter finish with Demetri and the others get over here, we're gonna need you."
I warned Peter who, now danger was close had lost his usual humour, just grunted,
"Fucking great, the more the merrier."
I waited knowing Jane would scent me before she saw Bella but would be confident of Felix's ability to take me out and keep coming.
She did just as I expected and I saw Bella stiffen as I threw everything at her knocking her to the ground but I shouldn't have been in time to stop her attack so why hadn't Bella screamed and fallen? She still sat on the rug looking at Jane's fallen body with surprise. Not having time to ask questions I leapt on Jane as she started to wake and wrenched her head backwards sinking my teeth into the hard flesh to help decapitate her while I heard crashing and grunts behind me coming from Peter who was taking on both Felix and the guard. Bella screamed as I tore Jane's head from her body throwing it to the other side of the clearing and looking over to see Peter wrestling with Felix while the other guard stalked Bella smiling, he was enjoying himself way too much and didn't see Jay and Charlotte until it was too late. As his head joined Jane's the last expression on the face was that of incomprehension, he had seen two Majors but wouldn't live to tell the tale.
Peter finally got a hold on Felix but he was far too strong to overpower alone and Peters left arm hung uselessly by a strip of flesh. Jay picked Bella up and ran with her away to the safe place we had agreed on while I helped Peter and Charlotte, who had joined us once Bella was safely away, finish off Felix just as the others appeared. Darius collected up the heads while Hunter and Edward dragged the bodies of those they had killed to make a funeral pyre.
"Did you get what we need Edward?"
He looked at me and nodded,
"Is Bella OK?"
I bristled at his question, how dare he ask if I had let my mate be harmed? But Charlotte touched my arm,
"Remember we're all fond of Bella Major."
I forced myself to be calm,
"Yes Jay took her away, she's fine and you were correct, Jane didn't touch her. So what did you find out?"
"You were right in a way. Jane is to report back to Aro but Demetri was supposed to let Caius know the outcome first. We did get a stroke of luck though. They aren't headed back to Volterra but to carry on their mission to find and neutralize Sergio and a couple of other troublemakers so they won't be missed for sometime."
"Good, lets hope it gives us long enough to find out what Caius is up to."
"We could help things along a little if Demetri were killed during the fight, Jane could say there were too many of us and some were killed. She could also say the only two who survived herself and one of the guards are being pursued. When Aro doesn't hear from them again he'll think she's dead."
"No, he'll send more guard to find her or her killers. Charlotte can go along with the first part of your story then keep sending reports as if she and the guard are still looking for the renegades. It gives us more time...unless of course Aro calls her back to Volterra but I doubt that, he knows Jane can take care of herself."
"Major you need to get your ass to Death Valley and meet Maria because we have no idea where Caius is or how long it will take him to arrange the handover."
Before I could answer Hunter Edward interrupted again,
"Actually I heard Demetri's thoughts. Caius is supposed to be meeting up with them, he likes a little action now and again so Aro isn't suspicious. He's already on his way from Italy so you've got about eight hours."
Darius whistled then nodded,
"It's gonna be tight but I've got a private jet waiting at O'Hare so you'll make it."
