Thank you for your happy reviews for the last chapter. Let us see how Bella's confession goes with the rest of the family.
Beta'ed by Fran.
All mistakes are mine.
Chapter-18
Should I have been mad at her?
I shook my head slowly. "I'm not mad at you, Bella. Disappointed, perhaps, that you didn't share all this with me before, but not mad. How can I be, knowing what you've gone through? You were scared, you didn't know me, and Anthony had specifically asked you not to reveal the truth. You did what was necessary for your safety, nothing more. I would have done the same in your place."
Rather than comfort her, my words seemed to upset her.
"Ed-" That was all she said, before she hid her face in her hands and began crying in earnest.
I scrambled on to the bed and hugged her carefully. "Bella, what is it? What have I said?"
"I—I'm so sorry," she sobbed out as her whole body shook in my arms.
"What are you sorry for?" I asked gently, trying to soothe her by running my fingers through her hair. "Bella, sweetheart, please, talk to me."
She looked up finally, her eyes still wet with tears. But there was an expression of wonder in them as well.
"You—and your family—are such good people, Edward. I feel so guilty about Anthony; for having involved him in my mess, and you are consoling me instead of yelling at me. How do you—if it wasn't for me—"
I took a deep breath. "Bella, I am not going to pretend the thought hasn't crossed my mind. However, the fact is that Anthony was a grown man and a cop. If he took you under his wing, he must have had a reason. Perhaps he was already investigating this person or this group—"
"But my being with him proved to be a huge risk to him, didn't it?"
I nodded twice, thinking aloud. "Perhaps, but who is to say he wasn't taking a risk before that? Bella, I know my brother. He had always been a risk-taker, a hell-raiser. He was never afraid of anything, could never say no to a challenge. Trust me, even if he was aware of being in danger from these drug-runners, he wasn't going to stop until he had uncovered every bit of evidence needed to put them behind bars. Maybe you being there escalated the situation, maybe it didn't. There's no use beating yourself up over it. Please, don't blame yourself for what happened."
Gradually, her sobs quietened and she stopped shaking. The softness and warmth of her body, combined with my lack of sleep and the easing of my mind from knowing that my feelings were reciprocated, caused me to doze off.
I was woken for the second time that morning by a knock on the door, this one not as hesitant as the earlier one. I opened my eyes to find Bella sleeping soundly beside me, her face more peaceful than I had ever seen. Carefully, without disturbing her, I slipped out of bed and went to open the door.
"Hi, big brother," chirped Alice. "I have been sent to fetch you sleepyheads for breakfast. Jasper is already there. I will go knock on Bella's door."
"Oh." I didn't know what else to say.
She tilted her head curiously. "Oh? Why do you look kind of…guilty?"
I looked back at my bed instinctively, then realized my mistake and whipped my head back to Alice, feeling my ears become warm.
Her eyes widened as she processed my action. Her mouth opened, closed and opened again, and she craned her neck as if it would allow her to see inside the room above my shoulder.
"Is…Bella here?" she whispered as if we were accomplices in crime.
I forced my throat to work.
"It's not what you think, Alice." She looked skeptical, so I rushed on to explain. "She came to me early in the morning, to tell me…well, I think you—and everyone else—should hear it from her. It's really important, and she was too scared to tell us before. Just…give us ten minutes and we'll be downstairs."
Alice nodded, looking sympathetic. I guess she believed me. I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, and went in to wake up Bella.
-Analogous-
The atmosphere at breakfast was…strange. Alice and Esme smiled at us encouragingly, whereas Carlisle and Jasper looked dubious. I wondered how much Alice had revealed. Hopefully, she had kept the part about Bella sleeping in my room to herself.
Even though we had done nothing wrong, it would be awkward at best to explain that.
"Breakfast first," Esme declared in a no-nonsense tone, with an almost-glare towards Carlisle and Jasper that dared them to speak a single word. Thankfully, they were smart enough to keep their mouths shut.
I couldn't eat much, relieved though I was to have some time to gather my thoughts. Neither did Bella, but that was usual for her. The others focused on finishing their meal quickly, so they could get to the important part.
Why did I feel like I was under interrogation, even though it was Bella who was to answer their questions?
As soon as the dishes had been cleared, we moved to the living room.
Without anyone prompting her, Bella began her story. Her voice quivered now and then, and she apologized to Esme and Carlisle for deceiving them when they had been so kind and generous to her. But she didn't stop until she had laid every bit of truth out on the table. Then she sat with her shoulders straight, as if facing a firing squad.
Before anyone could say a word, Esme got up and hugged her tightly, muttering my poor, darling girl again and again. I breathed easy. Even if Carlisle and Jasper were suspicious, they wouldn't openly antagonize Esme while she was in mama bear mode.
Alice had tears in her eyes and she was shaking her head. "Oh, Bella, how much you have gone through!"
Carlisle opened his mouth, sighed, and shut it again. Jasper was the only one who seemed impatient.
When Esme let Bella go, she looked up and asked, "Aren't you mad at me? I took advantage of your—"
Esme raised a finger. "You didn't take advantage of us. You were scared, and you did what Anthony had asked of you. Any sensible person would have done that." She raised a brow at Carlisle. "Don't you agree, dear?"
"Uh, yes, I suppose so." He cleared his throat. "However, I do have some questions."
"I will tell you anything," said Bella, her gaze unflinching.
I tensed, but I need not have. Carlisle's questions were merely to confirm some details from her past, and Bella answered them earnestly.
Jasper had only one question, something I had anticipated.
"Bella, I understand why Anthony asked you to hide the truth, and why you did it. But please, think back carefully on all the conversations you have had with him. Did he ever mention anyone by name, or even a nickname, anyone who might be associated with this drug cartel? It will be a great help to us." He folded his hands in front of him as if in supplication.
Bella looked genuinely puzzled at his query. "A name? No, he never mentioned anyone by name. Maybe he didn't know?"
Jasper looked crestfallen. "Are you sure of that? Think, Bella. It's important."
Bella got a look on her face that people do when they are concentrating hard. Then she shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Jasper, but nothing comes to mind. But…" she continued, frowning, "Jake once told me there was someone his contact had mentioned. It was just a letter, though—R."
"R? That's it?" Jasper looked understandably disappointed.
"I'm sorry I can't help you, but yes, that's all he knew. He did say he was a fearsome man, very cruel in his dealings."
Jasper shrugged. "I suppose I can check in the database, see if I can find anything. And you can let your guy know too."
I nodded. "I'll do that. Meanwhile, there's something we need to tell you." I included everyone except Jasper in my gaze.
They were understandably shocked by our information about the truck driver coming to Seattle and then being killed. Jasper and I assured them there was no present danger, and we would alert them if something else related to the case cropped up.
"Still, be alert and aware," I told Bella. "Just…you know, if you notice a stranger at your workplace, or anything happens that is out of ordinary." Then I looked at my aunt and uncle, and Alice. "That goes for you too. I am not asking you to be paranoid, but don't let anyone take you by surprise."
Everyone agreed on this, and then Jasper said he must leave for Seattle, where he was taking a flight to Chicago.
A.N. So, there we have it-everything Bella knows, and a remark from Jake. Do you think it might be important? And do you agree with Edward that Anthony might have been in danger anyway?
Thank you for reading!
