Chapter 23

Songs:

No Way, Pearl Jam
Cross to Bear, Staind
Weak, Seether

*Link to YouTube playlist in chapter one!

**For a chance to win to win a One Shot written by me for you, see details below.

Bella

"Bella!" Edward shouts from the bedroom.

"Yeah?" I flip through the stack of mail Buzz brought by from my place this morning. The bills have been piling up during the week I've spent at Edward's. They need to be paid, but I'm hardly in the mood to deal with it right now.

"Did you wash my clothes?" He walks into the kitchen in just his boxers, and I'm kind of struck dumb by the sight of him.

"Huh?" I ask, my eyes trained on his bare chest and the trail of hair leading down toward—

"Hey. Eyes up here," he says, snapping his fingers in front of my face.

"Sorry," I mumble, my cheeks suddenly feeling hot. "What did you need?"

"I'm down to sweatpants and cargo shorts in my drawers, and my hamper's empty. I asked if you did my laundry. I need jeans."

"Oh, yeah." I walk through the kitchen and into the utility room, grabbing the basket of folded jeans off the top of the dryer. "If you were digging through the hamper, does that mean you were going to wear dirty jeans? Because that's gross." I turn and hand it to him. "Here."

His brow furrows as he looks at the stack of folded denim. "When did you wash these and ... why? You know I'm perfectly capable of washing my own clothes."

"I know. And I started them once you turned off the shower last night and tossed them in the dryer when I got up to make coffee." I shrug a shoulder. "It's no big deal."

"It is to me. Thank you." He leans forward to kiss me, and I return it wholeheartedly.

I follow him as he walks back into the bedroom. "So," I begin, sitting cross-legged on his bed, watching him dress for the day, "has the sheriff's department been by the shop to question anyone yet?"

"No, but if they're gonna do it, it'll be soon. We'll see them before the weekend, I'm sure."

I nod, absentmindedly chewing on the side of my thumb.

"Hey, stop," he says softly, pulling the abused digit from my mouth. "You'll hurt yourself if you keep it up." He kisses me, making me momentarily forget what I was worried about just a moment ago. Then he pulls away and reaches for a clean t-shirt. "What time will you be off today?"

I breathe deeply and blow it out, trying to focus, which is hard, considering the view. "Probably later than yesterday. Leaving early the last few days means I have a lot to get caught up on. But I shouldn't be later than six. Do you want me to cook for us again?"

"I think we should cook outside tonight. It's a little cooler than yesterday, and there are still a couple steaks Mom brought over in the fridge."

Apparently, my internal grunt at the mention of his mother isn't quite so internal.

"What was that sound for?"

"What sound?"

"I don't know," he says, motioning his hand in a circle in my direction. "That grunt you just made."

"I'd really rather you not talk about your mother right now."

"Are you ever going to tell me what she said to you the other day?" He sits down on the bed beside me, taking my hand. "I don't want any secrets between us, Bella. I've been honest with you about every damn thing, so I'd appreciate it if you did the same."

I scowl up at him, knowing he's right, the damn, beautiful bastard. "She wasn't happy I was here."

"No shit," he says with a chuckle.

"I think she's going to make things difficult for us."

"She's going to try. But I'm not going to let her interfere, Bella."

I look into his earnest eyes, and I know I need to tell him what she said to me.

Sensing there's more, he reaches out and cups my face in his hand. "What did she say?"

I huff a laugh, but there's nothing funny about this situation. "She actually asked me if I'd leave town if she wrote me a check."

Edward's entire body tenses, his nostrils flare, and his hold on my cheek tightens infinitesimally.

"She actually asked you that?" he grinds out.

"She did. But I didn't have the chance to tell her to take her checkbook and shove it up her ass before you walked back into the room."

His stance relaxes slightly, but I can still see he's hurt by his mother's suggestion. "If she's writing any checks, it'll be to me for all the therapy I should have gotten over the years."

"You know I'd never—"

"I know. It still pisses me the fuck off that she'd even suggest shit like that."

I climb off the bed and open the dresser drawer he emptied and filled with my things a few days ago, looking for clean panties so I can shower. "Honestly, I'm surprised she didn't try to shove cash in my pocket." I close the drawer and turn around. "Your mother isn't going to be easily convinced to back off."

He rises from the bed and walks toward me, pulling the panties from my hand and wrapping an arm around my waist. "You leave my mother to me. But in the meantime"—he pulls me tighter against him—"why don't we get you showered and ready for work?"

I smile against his lips. "We?"

He nods, his smile wide. "We."

"You already had a shower last night."

"But I'm a dirty, dirty boy." He walks me backward toward his bathroom. "I think I need another one."

"You'll be late for work," I insist as he pulls my shirt over my head.

He tosses the shirt into the corner of the bathroom before pulling off his own. "I'm the boss's son. Hell, my name's on the building. I can get away with it."

He opens the shower door and turns on the water, all while keeping me held against him. And when he drags me under the still-warming spray, I squeal and laugh. But the laughter soon changes to something else entirely when he pins me against the wall.

A girl could get used to starting her days like this.

"Bella, you've got a visitor," Rose says, knocking on my office door.

I look up from my computer screen and look past my boss. I'm met with familiar brown eyes, and my stomach tightens. I haven't seen him since the day of Masen's funeral, and even then, he never approached me. "Chief Swan."

"Is that any way to say hello to your father?" Charlie says, his hands resting on his hips in a familiar stance.

"You gonna be okay?" Rose asks as she walks closer. "Do I need to stick around?"

I smile at her concern but shake my head. "No, I'll be fine. But maybe leave my door open?"

She sees herself out but leaves the office door open as I asked. I turn my attention back to the man responsible for knocking up my mother twenty-seven years ago. "What can I do for you, Chief Swan?"

"So, that's how it's going to be?"

I fold my hands on my desk and straighten my back, unwilling to offer him any more than basic politeness.

"I guess some things never change." He sighs before pointing to the chair across from my desk. "Mind if I ..."

"Not at all." I watch as he settles into the chair, and I just can't help myself. "But I can't guarantee someone's naked ass hasn't sat in it recently. I'm sure you can understand that, McCarty Adult Films being the business it is."

He purses his lips. "I'm up to date on my vaccinations, so I'm pretty sure I'll be okay."

"You still haven't said what brings you by this morning."

"I need to ask you a few questions, Bella."

I lean back in my chair and smooth out my shirt, buying a few moments to calm my heart that seems to be racing its way up my throat. "And what questions would those be?"

"I need to know where you were on Sunday night. Your neighbors said you haven't been home for several days."

I lift my chin and straighten my back, ignoring the trembling of my insides. "I've been staying with Edward."

His eyes tighten. "You're staying with Cullen?"

"I have been."

"Have you been staying there since your husband died?" he asks, his tone accusing. "I'm sure Cullen just jumped at the chance to offer that. What about your boy? What does Sam think about shacking up with his uncle?"

I swallow, ignoring his insinuation. "No, Charlie. I've been staying with Edward for about a week. Sam is out of town with his cousin on vacation, if you must know, and I didn't want to be home alone."

He pulls a notepad from his shirt pocket, withdrawing a small pen from the spiral binding. "Do you know Edward's whereabouts that night?" He's poised to write my incriminating confession, I'm sure, but I smile, knowing he's not going to get that from me.

"He was home."

"But can you confirm he didn't leave the house all night?"

"I can."

"How?"

I take a deep breath and blow it out, steadying myself to confess an upside-down version of the truth. "Because I spent the entire night in his bed."

"Damnit, Bella," he mutters, slapping the small notebook down on his thigh. He looks me up and down, his disgust for me written all over his face. "Do you know how much of a whore that makes you?"

His words sting, but they're not unexpected. "I'm sorry you feel that way, Chief. But I really don't give a shit about your opinion of me."

"You should have gotten out years ago, but those people keep dragging you back in."

My pulse races, and I can feel the anger I have for this worthless excuse for a man seated across from me grow. "And I'm sure the kickbacks the club gives you for information and connections aren't keeping you chained to them like their bitch, hmm?"

"Watch it, Bella, I—"

"You what? You've been in their pocket for more years than I've even known any of them, so don't come to me and spout bullshit about how I should get out. If you were that concerned, you would have sent me to school after I graduated, or hell, I don't know, given a shit about me. I own my decisions, Charlie, but you didn't exactly make it easy for me to make a better life for myself. So, who I choose to spend my time with, in any capacity, is none of your fucking business ... Chief."

We sit in a silent standoff, the music from the set echoing down the hall. If not for the death stare Charlie is currently giving me, it would be comical.

"I'm sure Pima County will want to have a word with you," he finally says as he rises from his seat. He takes a few steps toward the door but stops and turns to face me. "Look, Bella, I know I messed up with you, and it's something I've always regretted, but I was only looking out for your best interests."

"As a mother, I can appreciate that." There's no use in saying more. Every argument I've ever had with this man over the years ends the same way. He insists he was doing what was best for me. It's not worth the wasted breath.

"And as a mother, you have to see that if you stay, your son will walk the same path his father did, get into the same shit his uncle and grandfather are in. Is that the kind of life you want for Sam?"

I remain silent, biting the inside of my cheek to stop myself from telling him to get the fuck out of my office.

"I know Masen loved Sam, and I have to wonder if he'd want this life for his son."

"You have no idea what Masen wanted for Sam," I say through gritted teeth. "He wanted him to have a family—something neither of us had as kids. And as for Masen, the club was his family. So, don't come to me and presume you know the first goddamn thing about what he wanted for his son."

"It's not a life I wanted for you, Bella. It's why I tried to keep you away from it back then. But you're finally free to go. You should get out of here while you can. Take your son and leave town before it's too late."

He pauses, considering his next words. "You know," he finally says, "it's not just Masen who lost his life because of the club. There have been others who died because they got too close to the Outcasts. Just remember, I may have been a shit father, but I only ever wanted what was best for you."

Without another word, he walks through the door, leaving me to think about his parting words.

The rest of the day, I have a hard time concentrating. The numbers on orders don't make sense, and vendors' calls about distribution and shipments go unanswered because I can't focus on anything important. I finally give up trying and let Rose know I'm ducking out early.

"I'll come back in the morning and get a jump start, okay?" I ask her.

"It's fine," she says with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Take whatever time you need."

I kiss her cheek and wrap her in a hug. "Thanks. You're the best."

She laughs. "Don't thank me yet. You'll probably have a new stack of invoices to process tomorrow. Mac got in touch with a chain out east that wants to distribute for us."

"I'll be sure to bring extra coffee." I gather my bag and make my way outside, my constant shadow, Buzz, trailing right behind me.

I unlock the car door and toss my shit on the passenger seat. "I'm going to stop at the grocery on the way back to the house, Buzz," I shout over the roof of the Nova.

"You got it, Bella."

The store is nearly empty at this time of day, and I take my time perusing the produce. Esme may have brought over steaks and enough canned and boxed shit to fill Edward's cabinets, but she didn't bring much in the way of fresh food, and I'm craving a salad to go with the beef we're going to grill tonight.

I load my small basket with some vegetables alongside the bottle of wine and scented bath bomb I want to try tonight. When I look up, I catch sight of someone I could have lived a lifetime without seeing again. But in a small town like this, I know it's inevitable.

What I don't expect is for Mike Newton to practically trip over himself to get out the door when he sees me. It would be funny if he weren't crashing into unsuspecting customers during his clumsy escape.

I have a feeling Edward might know why the asshole is practically breaking his neck to get away from me.

I shake my head, turning back to my search for salad ingredients. I reach for a decent-looking tomato near the top of the pyramid of fruit, and a much larger, longer arm than my own reaches past me.

"Is this the one you want?" The deep voice is too close to my ear, and the overpowering smell of cologne burns my nose.

I whip around to face him. "Deputy Black." I take a step back, trying to put as much space between us as I can, but he closes the distance.

"How have you been, Bella? I haven't seen you around much since your husband's funeral."

"I've been good." I step around a display, putting a pile of avocados between us. "How have you been?"

"Oh, you know. Same old same old. Not much changes in this town."

I nod, pushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear and completely at a loss for words. I've never been very good with small talk, and the way Jacob Black is looking at me is enough to put me on edge.

"Your father tells me you've been staying with Edward Cullen," he says, curiosity in his tone. "Is there something going on I should know about?"

My brows draw together. "Something you should know about? I'm sorry, but what—"

"Has someone threatened you? Is that why you're staying with your brother-in-law?"

"That's a pretty big leap to make, Jacob. Why would you think someone's threatened me?"

"Because most of the men who are probably responsible for your husband's death were found dead all over Tucson Sunday night. My gut tells me you're staying with the club's VP because it's safer for you. Not to mention the shadow you've had for the last few weeks," he says, pointing out the store window where Buzz waits patiently on his bike next to Edward's car.

Jacob turns back to me. "If someone's threatened you, not only is it your civic duty to report it, but also it's for your own safety. We want to make sure the ones responsible are put away, not shot full of bullets and found on the side of desert highways."

I can't stop the laugh that bubbles out of me. "You're making assumptions that have zero basis in reality. My safety isn't in question. But my father-in-law and brother-in-law might be a bit paranoid these days, since whoever is responsible for Masen's death still hasn't been caught," I retort. "So, I guess you could say they're being a bit overprotective. No one has made any threats against me, but if they had, you are the last person I would contact." I tighten my grip on the basket and walk around the produce display. "You're just Chief Swan's deputy after all."

I push past him and walk toward the registers. I'm wound tight, and I'm sure I look like I could spit nails. The cashier is uneasy as I approach and offers me little in the way of pleasantries as he rings me up.

Pissed off and not in the mood to deal with anyone else, I stomp outside and get in the car, not even bothering to acknowledge Buzz. I'm sure he's already called Edward to let him know Deputy Black crossed my path. He's probably either pacing a hole through the shop floor or he's already rushing home to check on me. And for reasons I can't explain, the thought only pisses me off more.

A/N: How are feeling? Are you a little more confident about how Edward is going to handle his mother? Do you think Bella's backbone is getting a little stronger? Do we all still hate Charlie? I'm thinking there's no need to ask that. Lol. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one.

***If you'll remember the fundraiser I mentioned last week, I forgot to mention I'll be raffling off a One Shot to one of the attendees of my Zoom session on July 18 at 8pm EST. For your chance to chat with me and be entered in the One Shot raffle, see the Facebook group, Author's 411, for more details. A schedule listing the participating authors and times should be posted in the group soon.

Remember, you can come chat with me in my Facebook group, Sunshine Fics. I also share teasers and chapter pics there every week. And you can follow me on Twitter at CSunshine1220, and on my blog sited in chapter 1. Thanks so much for reading!

Be kind.
Stay safe.
Stay well.

Lots of love
~Sunshine