EPOV
I don't think I had ever seen Peter look so nervous since I met him. But the man sitting beside me, skillfully weaving the truck through traffic as we chase the ambulances, was on edge. I didn't know what was going to happen when we stopped this truck. What if it wasn't good news? And what would happen without Jasper being here? I didn't know what to do. I was worried too, but Peter was a second away from losing it and I was afraid of what would happen if he did.
If I didn't want to believe that he was far from calm, his mumbling to himself was a dead giveaway that he wasn't.
"I can't believe this is happening," he said more to himself than me. "Why? What did Char do to him? No. It's because she's connected to us. She's a part of the team and she's Jasper's sister-in-law. She was drawing close to Edward too. That could be it. Yeah. That was it."
I wanted to be included in the conversation. I wanted to know where they were going to take Scout.
I knew what was happening but I still couldn't believe it. The person Peter was muttering about, was it Caius? Did he really hate me so much or wanted me so much he was willing to hurt everything that meant something to me? What lengths would Cas go?
I shouldn't even ask that with what happened to me in Milan hours ago. Caius was evil. My friend wasn't my friend at all. After all this time, he was my enemy.
I shouldn't be asking dumb questions but I braved it and asked Peter. "Peter? Are you talking about Caius?"
He glared at me before looking back at the road. "Yes." He sneered.
"I'm sorry," I said softly.
Peter sighed. "I don't…I don't want it to seem like I'm blaming you, but this is my wife we're talking about here and someone…"
"Cas."
"Yeah, him. He tried to have her killed! He hurt your dog!" Peter yelled. "The guy is sick! So you've got to understand what I'm going through here." He tried to explain.
"I do!" I jumped and said. "I mean, why did that girl do this to Char and Scout and those guys we left there? I want to believe Cas wouldn't do something like this but I'm beginning to think I have been wrong about a lot of things when it comes to him."
Peter agreed with me. "We're going to get him, Edward. We're not going to let him win. He's gonna pay for doing this to us, you understand me?"
"I do and I agree with you."
I wholeheartedly did. I couldn't believe Cas would do this to me but it was all true. The truth was screaming in my face.
It had been him all along. My stalker. It was Caius Volturi. My so called best friend.
Peter didn't lose the ambulances and when they stopped at the medical center, we parked our truck and jumped out. We ran after the gurneys the EMTs had unloaded from the back. They went through the emergency doors and we caught glimpses of Char on one bed and my dog on another.
There was a small commotion at the front about where to take Scout and soon I was been escorted with my dog to the nearest animal center for treatment. I wasn't alone. Peter sent about six guys with me to keep me and Scout safe while he stayed with Char. I was equally worried her and the baby, but Peter promised to let me know what happened.
I needed Jasper so badly right now.
I missed him so much.
My phone was vibrating but every time I went to get it, I was distracted by something happening with Scout. He had been shot twice in the stomach and the veterinarian had told me that things didn't look good, but I had faith. Scout was going to make it. He had to.
I couldn't lose my best friend. Scout was my buddy. He was family. He was everything to me.
They went into surgery while I prayed he survived. I sat in the waiting room surrounded by my guards, rocking back and forth as I willed my best friend to live. I swore I would get him anything he wanted if he just lived. I would pay more attention to him if I wasn't paying him enough. I swore I'd be there to play fetch with him as much as I could. I swore it would be a better life if he just came back to me.
There would be no more Caius coming around and upsetting him so he didn't have to get angry or bark a lot if he didn't want to. I swore I would be a better friend and family to him if he thought I was a douche. And I promised I wouldn't be so jealous of him liking Jasper too.
Okay, I might be a little jealous. But I swore I would try to hide better.
I just wanted Scout to live.
My phone buzzed again but I was crying and I doubt the person on the other end would understand a word I was saying if I answered it now.
One of the guys got me a bottle of water and told me it would be okay. I thanked him and didn't even think of making any crude remarks. Being an asshole was the last thing on my mind.
I just wanted Scout and Char and the baby to be okay. I wanted Peter to be able to breathe easy, and most of all, I wanted Jasper here. I didn't even know if Mom and Dad had gotten him out of jail in Milan. I felt bad for letting him talk me into leaving him like that. But I didn't doubt my parents. I shouldn't. Mom especially. She will get it done. She was going to get Jasper out.
I felt like I was waiting forever. But that could be good, right? I didn't know. I didn't like it. The longer I waited, the more worried I became.
Peter called to check on me. He was fine and Char was going to be fine. A huge weight fell off my shoulders after hearing say that. I don't know what I would have done if it had been worse news.
Apparently, the bullet had only grazed her shoulder, but she was in labor and that was why they had to rush her to the hospital. Someone was calling him and I told him to go. He promised to call back after the baby was born.
So Scout was the worse of the two of them.
I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. I was desperately trying not to worry now but the longer the doctor took, the worse I felt.
Finally, I see Scout's doctor coming toward me and I almost breathed a sigh of relief until I took in his grime expression as he approached. I backed away. I got up out of my chair and I started to back away from him. I didn't want to hear what he had to say if he was going to say what I thought he was going to say. I didn't want to hear the words.
"No...No...No..." I said as I backed away from the doctor walking toward me.
"No, Mr. Cullen," he said solemnly. "I mean, Scout is alive but…"
I hated hearing 'but'. "But what? You said he was alive. So he's going to be fine?" I asked. I still hated the sad look on his face. He said Scout was alive so why was he so sad?
"Mr. Cullen…" He started. "Scout had been shot twice in the abdomen and he's lost a lot of blood. He's very weak and I fear things don't look too good."
"Did you take out the bullets?"
"Yes," he replied. "We removed the bullets but as I said, he is very weak and I…at this time, I highly doubt a strong survival rate."
"Are you saying that my dog is dying?"
He didn't answer verbally. He nodded. "I'm very sorry."
I don't know what came over me but suddenly I was angry. "Don't be sorry," I seethed at the doctor though I was on the verge of breaking down. "Just go back in there and save him!"
The doctor nodded and walked away. I collapsed and dissolved into tears. I didn't care that there was a whole bunch of guys around me watching me cry. I was losing my family. I was losing my best pal.
I needed Jasper and if I couldn't have him maybe I could at least hear his voice so I dialed his number and was surprised when his panicked voice came on. I cried harder and told him what was happening. I think I did. I wasn't sure. I was crying so hard.
He said he was coming home.
"I'm coming, baby. I'm coming home." Jasper told me.
"Hurry up," I told him while sobbing.
We hung up and I continued to wait.
Peter called back and I told him that Scout was dying. He told me he was the father of a baby boy and he was sorry to hear about Scout.
Scout liked Peter as much as he liked Jasper.
I didn't want to lose him. I couldn't.
"I don't want him to die, Peter." I cried.
"I know," he said with sympathy lacing his tone. "I know how much you love him. I could see it. He's a great dog. Char said he was shot for being her hero. He jumped in the path of the bullets when the girl fired at her. Scout got shot protecting my wife and child. I'm so sorry, Edward. I don't know how I'll ever repay you and Scout. I can only pray he makes it through. Don't give up on him yet. It's not over. He's still in there. He's a brave dog. Don't give up on him just yet. Just wait a little longer. Tell those doctors to try harder. Save him."
Peter's words were so encouraging, my tears stopping flowing. I felt brave and ready to fight for my friend.
"I won't let them," I told Peter.
I told him I spoke to Jasper and he said Jasper was out and he was heading home.
Thank you, Mom.
"Thank you," I said to Peter.
"Anytime. And Edward?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm gonna make Caius pay for this," he said.
"I know."
I agreed with him.
Caius needed to pay dearly for everything he had done to me.
