I don't own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.
Cheryl and Gabby, thank you for pre-reading, and April, thank you for editing. Any mistakes left are my own.
Ch. 12 EPOV
I paced in my father's study, pulling at my hair. It had been twenty-four hours since Bella went missing, and I was worried sick about her. I cursed Garrett again in my mind. He was supposed to watch out for her. But then he couldn't keep Katrina safe, so maybe I was a fool to expect he could keep Bella from harm.
A few months ago, he approached our family for help to take down the Costas. My father and Uncle Peter jumped at the chance. Taking down a trafficking ring run by a powerful mafia family was big time. Bigger than anything we'd ever done before, so we needed to train and prepare. It was shortly into our investigation when one of their associate's names stuck out to me like a sore thumb.
Phillip Fucking Dwyer.
Bella's mother's new husband. At first, I wasn't immediately concerned, thinking Bella was at U-Dub, far away. That was until Uncle Carlisle informed me that Bella was going to school in Florida and living with her mother to save money. It was then I made Garrett promise he would watch out for her.
I don't know which call was worse—the one where Garrett informed us that Afton was going to sell Bella so he was bringing her to us, or the one when she never showed up to meet him.
"Alice, tell me you found something," I begged the computer screen.
"I'm sorry. I've hacked every video cam and computer system I can think of. The last image I have of her, she was leaving the Dwyer estate at four-fifteen in the morning of January first. There's a plane ticket for New York but she never checked in," Alice answered.
"Have you tried Sea-Tac?" I figured she would run to her dad, but a small police station would be out of their league fighting off a mob family.
"Yes. It was the first place I tried."
"Try Portland's airport. Bella might be smart enough to know not to fly straight to Washington," Jasper suggested.
"On it."
I grabbed my unloaded gun and pulled the trigger, taking aim at a portrait. I imagined the figure in the painting to be Phil Dwyer. When I found him, he was getting a bullet between the eyes.
"Maybe we should call Chief Swan ourselves. She's been missing for a while now. He should know," Jasper advised, watching me with a wary look.
"Anthony and Jasper, I need you in the front hall!" Emmett rushed by the door.
Jasper stood from the couch and left the room. "What now?"
I started to follow him when my phone rang. I kept my gun ready since Emmett made it sound like an issue had come up.
"Garrett, tell me you have good news," I snapped.
"Partial. My uncle doesn't have her. The word around the club is she went looking at grad schools. Columbia—I think," Garrett explained.
"She's not in New York," I barked, continuing to the front hall.
"Anthony, I'm—"
I lost my temper. "How could you lose her? I fucking trusted you and you failed. I'm going to kill you!" I hung up and spun to look for my cousin. "Emmett, what the hell was so important—"
I froze as my eyes fell on a small, huddled form, standing over Emmett, who was laid out on the floor. "Bella?"
I reached out for her and her eyes widened in fear. She stumbled back, tripping over Emmett. She fell backward and her head hit the doorknob with a sickening thwack. Emmett rolled quickly and caught her before she hit the floor.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Put that away," Emmett ordered as he lowered her to the ground.
I suddenly realized I was still holding my Glock in the hand I had used to reach out to her.
"Fuck! You're the one who made it sound like there was an emergency," I muttered, shoving it in the back of my pants. No wonder she was looking at me in fear—I pointed a gun at her.
I knelt down beside her. She was even more beautiful than I remembered. I picked up her hand and gave it a squeeze. I cupped her cheek with my other palm, and her skin felt ice cold to me.
"Bella, please wake up," I begged.
"She hit her head pretty hard." Emmett frowned. "Jasper, go get my dad."
I felt the back of her head and found a huge knot had already formed. I glanced at my fingers and was relieved not to see any blood. Her breathing also looked steady.
"Hey, there's a bright side to this. Bella is here and she is safe," Emmett said encouragingly.
"I guess." I wasn't too relieved since she was hurt. "How did she even get here?"
Emmett pointed to my dad's card. "She had that on her. Maybe her mom?"
"Hmmm," I grumbled. Bella's mom wasn't on my good side. This marked twice she'd put Bella in harm's way.
"Another plus, you can finally tell her the truth about everything. And maybe you two crazy kids can get back on track," he hinted.
"Bella doesn't belong in our world. It's too dangerous," I said flatly.
The broken look in her eyes the last day I saw her still haunted me. It gutted me she thought our relationship was fake—to me it wasn't. My vacations at the lake were my escape from my real life, the only time I was free from my father's expectations. My days with her were carefree and happy. I never wanted to hurt her, only protect her. I loved her so much that I was willing to be without her. I was determined she wouldn't end up like my mom or Aunt Charlotte.
Emmett placed his hand on my shoulder. "You know what, cuz? I learned from experience, taking that choice away doesn't end well. Look how long it took me and Rosie to figure things out. Bella is one strong chick, so don't go around underestimating her. If you walked in here a few seconds earlier, you would've seen her elbow me in the gut and flip me like I was a rag doll."
"She was that angry to see you? Or did you do something stupid?" I questioned.
"Well…Dad, perfect timing." Emmett stood to give him room.
"What happened?" Uncle Carlisle asked, kneeling.
Emmett explained, leaving out that I pointed a gun toward her. Uncle Carlisle examined her and determined that we could treat her here without rushing her to the hospital. He suggested Emmett carry her upstairs to the guest room.
"I've got her," I insisted, slipping my arms under her body to cradle her to me.
"Be careful you don't jostle her around," Uncle Carlisle advised. "I'm going to grab what I need to set up an I.V. and I'll meet you there."
I slowly carried her up the stairs, passing a scowling Rosalie on my way. I didn't have time to deal with her drama. Bella's head rested against my chest and she looked so peaceful. As I laid her on the bed, she mumbled my name. I paused, thinking she was waking, but her breathing deepened.
"Don't worry, Bella, I love you, and I'm going to do everything I can to protect you." I quickly kissed her forehead.
Days
"Anthony, dear, you didn't eat much at dinner. Are you feeling okay?" Mom asked in concern.
"Yes. My mind was preoccupied," I told her.
"Esme told me the girl that arrived here today is your Bella," she pressed.
"She's not my Bella anymore. I messed that up long ago," I told her.
She sighed and wheeled her chair over to the counter. "Sometimes, you're too much like your father. You both focus too much on the negative and let it eat away at you. I wish you'd look more at the positives."
"I fail to see any good out of the situation she is currently in," I said.
My mother didn't look at me as she pried open a tray of brownies. "She is here and safe. And who knows, maybe you have a chance to fix things between you."
"I don't think she can forgive me for all the lies," I admitted.
"Well, at the very least you owe her the truth. The complete truth." She gave me a pointed look before handing me a brownie. "I don't think the door is completely shut. Esme told me she was wearing the necklace I helped you buy for her."
"She was?" I hadn't noticed.
Mom held out the treat. "Take this to her. Maybe it will get you through the door."
I leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Thank you, Mom."
Days
Right before I reached Bella's room, Tanya stepped out into the hall and blocked my path.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm bringing this brownie to Bella as a peace offering. Not that it's any of your business," I told her as I tried to side-step around her.
"She doesn't want to see you. I'll take it to her." Tanya held out her hand.
It was getting on my nerves that she and Rosalie were suddenly acting like Bella's unofficial guardians. They'd always been rude to her, and now they were acting as if it never happened.
"And you think she wants to see you?" I scoffed.
"She's not here," Rosalie stated from behind me.
I spun around to face her. "What do you mean, she's not here?"
Rosalie gave me a smug look and crossed her arms. "That's what I said, Sherlock."
"This isn't funny, Rose. Tell me where she is," I demanded. I squeezed my fist, crumbling the brownie.
Rose took a step back and hid behind Emmett, who had come out into the hall as we were arguing. He looked as clueless as I was.
"She wanted to leave, so I helped her." She gave me a challenging look.
"Rosie, please, tell me you're lying." Emmett turned and frowned; he kept his position between us.
She gave him an incredulous look. "Why are you getting all pissed off with me? I gave her the same help we've always given to women escaping their abusive boyfriends. And in this case, their controlling exes, too." She tossed me a nasty look.
"You've put her in danger," I shouted.
"Stop being so melodramatic. She has the right to decide her own life. Your plan to marry her sucked." She rolled her eyes.
I lost what little temper I had left. "You have—"
"Ed…Anthony, please. Rosie's pregnant, let me talk to her," Emmett pleaded. I took a deep breath and stepped away from them, trying to rein in my anger.
"Emmett, I wasn't ready to share the news. It's bad luck to say anything before the second trimester," Rosalie complained.
"Rosie, I'm sorry, but this is important. Where is Bella?" Emmett said in calm but authoritative voice.
Rose looked at him in shock and shook her head. "I'm not telling you so he can drag her back here."
"Bella is in danger. She's not running from an abusive boyfriend. Her stepfather is in bed with the Costa family. They want to sell her to the highest bidder. We have to find her before they do. She can't fight them off by herself," Emmett explained.
"Oh my God!" Tanya mumbled from behind me.
Rose turned white and glared at me. "Costa? As in the same family Heidi's grandfather works for? Why didn't you tell me?"
Emmett grimaced. "That's my fault, not his. I didn't want to worry you while you were pregnant."
"Please, Rose, tell us where she went. I'm not going to force her to marry me. But I do love her and want to protect her," I begged.
"I don't know where she is. I gave her a ride when I went for oil. I did tell her that she was safer with us, but if she wanted to go, I would drive her to the airport or bus station. She was gone from the car when I got back from the store. The fake I.D. and birth certificate I gave her says Marie Brandon," Rose confessed.
"Jasper?" I looked over her shoulder to where he was standing.
"On it." He disappeared into his room.
"I'm sorry, Anthony. I was only trying to make amends and help her. Not make things worse." Rose looked apologetic.
"I've done my fair share of screw-ups too," I admitted.
"Found her." Jasper came out of his room.
"That was quick," Emmett commented.
"What can I say, Alice is good. Bella is flying into Portland, Oregon," Jasper announced.
"Shit. She is going to Chief Swan." I rubbed my forehead. "Emmett, go find your father and get him up to date and ask him to call the chief. Jasper, there's a small airport near Forks…I can't remember the name."
"In Port Angeles?" He smirked. "Flight plans are in the process of being made and a we will also have a car ready for us by the time we land."
"Show off," Emmett mumbled, heading for the stairs.
"Wait, all three of you are leaving?" Tanya asked.
"Uncle Anthony and Peter are arriving tomorrow. Dad will be here, and I'm sure you girls can handle yourselves for a couple of hours," Emmett answered before disappearing.
"Of course, we can," Rose agreed.
The expression on her face told me how stressed and worried she was. One of her hands was rubbing her flat stomach. I knew she hated this life, like me, she wanted out but felt stuck.
"Rose," I called, and she lifted her eyes to meet mine. "Is it too early to say congratulations?"
She gave me a weak smile. "Thank you."
Days
We arrived in Port Angeles a few hours later. Emmett checked in with Chief Swan while Jasper and I landed and loaded the car with our bags.
"Crap, can you tell him?" Emmett frowned. "Yeah…okay. We'll head there and let you know." He hung up and joined us.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Well, Bella, isn't in Forks, and Chief Swan has noticed a suspicious dark car hanging around his house and town."
"Then let's get there and help him." Jasper slammed the trunk shut.
"Hold on. He thinks he knows where Bella might have gone, and he wants us to go there first to check it out. He's afraid if he drives out there, he'll lead them straight to her," Emmett explained.
"Where?" I gestured with my hands to hurry up. Emmett raised an eyebrow and smirked.
The location registered in my mind like a lightening bolt. "The lake."
"We have a long drive ahead of us." Emmett sighed.
Emmett drove since he managed to sleep on the plane. Meanwhile, Jasper took his turn for a nap in the backseat. I stared out the window and watched the sky lighten as dawn broke. I subconsciously pushed my foot against the floorboard until Emmett gave me a look, telling me to quit it. We only stopped once for breakfast sandwiches and coffee.
"I don't know, man, there aren't any tracks in the snow," Emmett frowned as we turned down the camp road.
"The snow looks fresh," I disagreed. "Let's go straight to the Swan's."
It was hard to look around at the area. There were too many happy memories that I managed to tarnish. We pulled into the driveway, and I spotted footprints in the snow.
"Bingo." Emmett shifted the car into park. "Those look too small to be from a man, and they're headed to the lake. I didn't see her on the beach, so perhaps she's on the path."
"Great. I'll go this way. You two start from the beach and head here." I hurried to the trunk to get my Glock.
"Do really think we're going to need our weapons?" Emmett asked while he stretched.
"Do you really want to take the chance to get caught off guard by the Costas? If they found Chief Swan in Forks, it's only a matter of time before they know he has a place here," I pointed out.
"Edward's right." Jasper agreed. "Just don't go pointing that at her this time."
"I forgot it was in my hand," I mumbled.
"That makes it worse, cuz." Emmett snickered as he shoved his gun in the back of his waistband.
I headed down the path in a jog, following what hopefully were her footprints. They went past our secret spot—I admit I was bit disappointed she wasn't there. Several feet later, I could see purple ahead of me. I broke into a run and burst through the brush to find Bella, standing tense, looking at me wide-eyed.
"Bella, thank god. Do you have any idea how worried I've been? Why the hell did you run?" I called out to her.
A tree branch snapped, and we both turned to see Emmett and Jasper had caught up to us. Bella took a backward step and looked over her shoulder. Behind her was a steep embankment and the ice-covered lake.
"The ice isn't safe. I can see open water from here," Emmett warned her.
Bella turned around with a determined look on her face. "It looks a lot safer than three guys trying to trap me. If I wasn't afraid of being shot, I could easily outrun the three of you."
"Why would you think we would shoot you? We're trying to protect you from the Costa family," I said incredulously.
"Seriously, how is one mafia family better than the other?" She raised an eyebrow.
"You think we're the mob?" Emmett started snickering.
"Aren't you? You kill people and have this big secret life you don't want anybody to know about. Seems like the puzzles pieces fit to me." Bella gave me a dirty look.
"Tommy, you got it all wrong. We're not the mob, we're like vigilantes, more or less." Emmett grinned.
"So you go around pretending you're Batman, Shrek?" Bella snorted.
Jasper started laughing. "Not quite, though Edward fits the mold."
"Edward? Is that the name you're going by today?" Bella narrowed her eyes at me.
"Bella, will please come back to the house so I can explain everything to you?" I pleaded.
Bella frowned. "Why should I? How would I know if anything you tell me is the truth? I don't trust you."
We stood in a stand off, and I knew I was going to have my work cut out for me.
A/N: Another small twist, more of a revelation. Edward isn't in the mob. But what he does isn't exactly legal either. Next chapter Edward will get his chance to explain everything. Many pointed out it was silly for Bella to go there, because she could be found. Her reason will come up.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.
Additional notes: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words is having a Halloween image edition. You can find the rules in Facebook group: groups/ 460094101314978