CHAPTER ELEVEN

Cal wasn't set to meet up with his contact until nightfall. I told the Mercers if they made a peep, I would come down and rip out one of their throats as an example for the other. So far, there had hardly been a sound.

We stayed near the house but not inside. There was still another girl staying there who was completely unaware of our nighttime shenanigans. To say we had some time to kill was a bit of an understatement.

Emmett was throwing sticks as hard as he could at trees to see if he could get them to lodge in the bark. Jasper was spending his time in quiet contemplation. Mostly, I was waiting and wondering what tonight would bring and attempting to go over every scenario in my head, so we would be fully prepared for what we might find.

As the sun passed through the sky, I began to think about Bella, wondering how she was handling the family. Finally, I gave in and decided to call her.

"Hey, Edward. I didn't know you'd have any signal. Having fun?" she answered. Her voice, her words, they were simple, and yet, just hearing her speak stirred something inside me. I took a breath and began to reply with a dopey smile on my face.

"I'm not sure fun would be the right word, but this hunt has certainly been a challenge. How are you holding up? Is my family treating you okay? Have they driven you crazy yet?"

"Of course not," she scoffed. "In fact, Alice has been a great help to me."

Oh great…

"She found this junior college down in Oregon. They have a program for young single mothers. They'd provide daycare, while I attended classes and worked. It's perfect. Once I obtain my AA, they feed into the University, and there are a lot of scholarships that provide housing for people like me. This might be it. I can start as early as February and finally be out of your hair."

Every word she said was like a dagger to my heart. By the time she was finished, I could feel my blood boiling and something else. What was this feeling? Fear.

She was going to leave. So soon. February was only six weeks away. She and Evie would be out of my life in six weeks!

I couldn't help a nervous little laugh escaping, as I tried hard to remain passive.

"Bella? A junior college? You were on your way to Princeton…" I replied, flabbergasted.

"Well, I know, but this is what I can afford, and it really is the best option for someone like me."

"Someone like you? You can't let your past define who you're going to be in the future. You deserve more. Evie certainly deserves more. You really want to stick her in some daycare that's probably run by pimple-faced, sixteen-year-old kids making minimum wage who are probably going to be staring at their phones all day instead of your daughter? This doesn't make any sense. You're smarter than this," I unloaded on her. I shouldn't have said that.

"Maybe I'm not. Maybe I'm just some stupid girl who hasn't figured out any other option. This is what I have, and I was pretty damn excited about it."

"Excited for what? Some shitty student housing with cockroaches running over the floors Evie is going to learn to crawl on?" I barked.

"I don't remember asking for your opinion," she snapped. "I wish I could go to Princeton, but that ship has sailed. I have a child to think about, and unfortunately, the options for her whore of a mommy are slim unless I go back to blowjobs on the street for fifty a pop. I thought this was a better option, and I'm just trying to do what I can to get out and move on, so you can all return to your lives. Yes, Edward, I may not have super special hearing, but your conversations in the foyer tend to echo."

She hung up the phone before I could reply, but it was probably best, since I didn't have one word to say. She had heard me, and if it were possible, I was not sure if I had ever felt worse in my life.

I closed my phone, and I could see out of the corner of my eye Emmett and Jasper cringing and attempting to keep their faces hidden from my view.

My body felt heavy, as I dropped down onto the nearest boulder, trying to figure out what to do. I began to chew on one of my fingernails…a bad habit I had picked up from watching Bella when she would get nervous.

"What am I going to do?" I whispered.

"Let her go," Emmett replied.

"Emmett…" Jasper began.

"No, that was the plan. You made it quite clear that she was to be out sooner rather than later. You said you wanted her to have a better life…one that didn't include you. You don't get to have a say in how she spends that life. If she goes off and runs into trouble, or god forbid, Evie runs into trouble, you made this decision. You chose to get her out of your life."

I wanted to run and charge him into the nearest tree, but I knew Emmett could kill me.

"Harsh, man," Jasper told him.

"What? He needed to hear it. I know we all have to tippy-toe around Edward and his fragile ego, but bro's gotta grow up sometime."

"It's so easy for you. You didn't have a choice. And I'd bet if Rosalie really thought about it, she wouldn't have asked to change you," I snapped.

"Take it back!" Emmett poked me in the shoulder.

"NO!"

"Take it back before I throw you through that tree!" Emmett threatened.

"Now, who's the fragile one?" I taunted.

"STOP IT!" Jasper yelled, getting in between us two and throwing enough calm in our direction to tranquilize a full-sized elephant. "Emmett, leave him alone. Edward, figure out what the hell you want and stop taking your poor decision-making out on everyone else. It's almost time for this meetup, and we need to have our heads in the game and be united."

I folded my arms across my chest and fumed silently, probably in need of another dose of calm. Emmett relaxed and took a step back.

"Sorry," he muttered.

I nodded, replying, "Me, too."

Not another word was said. We waited for the right hour and then went to the house to wait for the pick-up car. A dark-paneled van rolled up to the house at 9:00 p.m. on the dot.

It sat idle for a few minutes before a tall, skinny man stepped out. The moonlight reflected off his shiny, greasy hair. He had his cell phone out, and we could hear him barking into the receiver for Cal to hurry up and get his ass out.

Finally, when Cal didn't come out, the man slammed his palm on the rear door of the van before sliding back in and putting the car in reverse to leave.

"Let's go," I said.

Emmett, Jasper, and I took off running down different pathways, so we wouldn't be on top of one another and could make sure we wouldn't accidentally lose the van. It traveled for over a half hour to the outskirts of Seattle, back into a densely wooded area. This was ideal, as it was far easier to remain concealed in the woods than in the city.

The van came to a stop in front of two tall iron gates that were heavily guarded and had surveillance cameras to boot. We weren't worried about either. Jasper ran the perimeter and came back around to tell us the best way to infiltrate their defenses.

We jumped up and over the wall with ease. Once on the other side, we had to run about a mile further to get to the main structure. I was expecting a house, but what was laid out before us looked more like a medical facility. It was a two-story-tall, rectangular structure with thick, clear paneled tinted glass. Two guards were roaming the perimeter, and another guard was at the door, with a computerized panel that needed a code to open.

"Well, what do you think?" Emmett asked.

"From what I can hear, I'd say there are probably thirty more people inside. Although, it's weird. It seems like most of them are sleeping. Their thoughts are completely scattered and translucent, like when humans sleep. The minute we come in, I'm sure they'll sound the alarm, and we'll be surrounded."

"Ha! They're humans. I can't wait to see them try to take us," Emmett boasted.

"It's not that easy. There could be innocent bystanders in there. We need to be careful. Get your masks ready."

We each pulled out a black ski mask. We couldn't risk these people knowing who we were, and with the number of cameras on site, we didn't want them to catch our faces. As it was, we needed to keep the supernatural stuff to a minimum. No speed running or fast moves. We couldn't be sure we could get ahold of their recording equipment.

Once our masks were on, Emmett went first and took out the two perimeter guards. He put them to sleep…not killed them, just in case you were wondering. Jasper dismantled the panel by the front door and snapped off the wires to the cameras so they wouldn't work.

The moment we were through the door, the alarms began sounding.

"Jasper, you're on cameras. Emmett, take down as many as you can find. I'll search the premises for any girls."

We worked like a perfectly synced team, clearing room after room. Emmett was so quick no guns were even fired. Jasper cleared room after room from cameras, so they would not be able to catch us. I was able to hear all their thoughts, so I gave my brothers a heads up when I knew someone was coming and what direction they were coming from. Finally, we reached the last room.

All the men, about seven in total, were tied up and unconscious, the greaseball with the van being one of our last.

I could tell from the sounds of the many mental thoughts that the last room held a lot of people. What I thought were villains, though, were captives. The whole takedown didn't bother me nearly as much as what could be behind this door. What would we find? I wasn't sure, and not knowing unnerved me the most.

Jasper pushed open the door, and we walked inside. My mouth dropped open.

"Holy shit," Emmett whispered.

All three of us stared in disbelief.

Thirty-two beds filled the massive room. In each bed was a girl. Every girl was sedated and hooked up to machines, and they were all pregnant.

Jasper walked up to one of the beds and pulled the clipboard off the foot of the bed.

"Subject number twelve. Twenty-four weeks. Fetus, male. Third gestational cycle. C-section scheduled for March 24th. Termination scheduled for March 25th," Jasper read.

"Subject number twenty-two. Fifteen weeks. Fetus, male. Second gestational cycle. C-section scheduled for June 5th. Re-fertilization scheduled for August 10th," Emmett read.

"So, they're going to kill this girl?" I asked, looking down at Subject number twelve.

"Looks like it," Jasper replied.

I felt sick. I had seen some horrors in my day, but this exceeded all previous expectations. For a small second, I wished I had never met Evie, so I could dispatch every single person in this building. I would tear their throats out. I would have ripped their limbs off slowly, so they could feel utter pain before death.

"Edward, calm," Jasper said.

"Call it in. Now. These…these…pieces of shit have a reprieve. May they spend the rest of their lives rotting in prison for this."

Jasper walked out of the room, and I stood frozen, staring at the girls before me.

"Take a good look, Edward. This could've been Bella. God knows what they do to the babies. I can't even imagine."

"Emmett, don't," I begged for him to stop.

"Edward…a lot of these girls…they might not make it, even with medical attention. Some of them have been in here for years."

I swallowed the venom that threatened to come up.

"We have to find the camera footage and erase our footprint," I muttered.

"I can do that," Emmett said, patting me on the back. He went to leave, but he stopped at the door. "You did a good thing, Edward. Even if these women can't be saved…so many more will be saved now because of you. Bella would be proud."

I sighed and began to walk up and down the aisles of beds. Without names, there was no way to tell if any of them were Bella's friend.

We waited until the police were on their way. We opened the iron gates so they could get in, and Jasper told them to bring lots of ambulances, as there were many women needing medical attention. They would need a lot of medical attention, but our part was done.

We waited up high in the trees to watch, as they walked out all the people responsible for this operation. News vans began showing up, as I was sure this would be one of the biggest trafficking busts in Washington history. Before we left, we made sure to leave papers with the Mercers' names and location smack dab in the middle of the offices. I wasn't sure how long it would take for them to send out a unit to the house, but I wasn't too worried about the Mercers' lack of food or water.

As much as I wanted to leave them in the basement, Jasper said we needed to see this through, so much to my dismay, we spent the night back outside St. Gianna, waiting for the police to show up.

Before they came, however, I wanted one last talk with the Mercers.

Cal and Regina's hearts raced the minute I walked down the wooden steps into their basement.

"You'll be happy to know that you'll be freed very soon. The people who ran the operation you fed poor, defenseless girls to has been exterminated. Here's the deal I'm prepared to make with you. When the police show up, you'll confess. You'll plead guilty, because the longer you remain behind bars, the safer you'll be from me. If, at any time, you try to cop a plea or tell anyone about me, I'll find you, and no amount of bricks or bars will keep me from ensuring you meet a very painful end to your lives. Are we clear?"

They both nodded their heads. Regina's face was full of tears.

It only took two more hours before the police came, and not only did they come, but they also brought SWAT teams and raided the house. It was satisfying to see the Mercers taken out in cuffs. I wished I had taken a photo for Bella, but I was just anxious for the whole thing to be over, so I could hurry back home.

The time away had changed me. There had been so many things I had thought I'd wanted. Wanted for Bella. Wanted for Evie. But Emmett was right. There were so many horrors in this world. I knew better than anyone the kinds of monsters that came out at night. The fiends that preyed on the innocent. If anything should ever happen to the ones I loved, it would be the end of me.

I knew I was selfish. I told myself that I would stay with Bella because I needed to know she would remain safe, but a larger part of me wanted to stay with Bella because I knew she was the one. Even without Alice's visions telling me so, I think I'd always known.

I drove the Volvo back towards Ravensdale. The whole trip, I was deep in contemplation over what I would say to Bella when I returned. Obviously, I would need to apologize. I was prepared to have Bella and Evie stay with me, and I could offer her far more than a community college. She could go to whatever school her heart desired. I could take care of Evie. No need for silly strangers to watch Evie when I was the better option.

By the time we reached the house, it was well into the afternoon. Before my brothers ran off to meet with their mates, I was sure to thank them for their time.

"I can never repay you for everything you did this weekend…"

"Yeah, yeah. You love us. We know," Emmett joked.

I rolled my eyes.

"Save your breath. You're going to need it for someone else, I think," Jasper said, sliding out the car door.

They left, and I was standing outside on one of the few good days Washington offered. The sun peeked through the clouds, to cascade down over the trees, and I could actually feel the warmth, which was very rare in the month of December.

I took in one deep breath and marched up the steps to go and find Bella. Her heart was its very own homing device. When I ascertained where she was, I nearly missed a step. She was in my bedroom. What was she doing in there?

I slowly walked in and found her reading while sitting on a bed that had never been there before.

She caught sight of me and immediately stood up and placed her book down.

"I'm sorry. Alice said it'd be better for me to sleep in here, so the baby wouldn't wake me up. I was planning on having your sheets washed by the time you returned. I didn't know…"

I held out my hand to stop her rambling.

"It's okay. Please…you don't need to do anything," I replied, but she was already pulling the sheets and comforter off.

"Bella," I said to stop her.

She pulled the sheets to her chest and looked down.

"I'm sorry, Edward."

"I don't care about the bed or using my room."

She sighed and began to put the sheets down.

"No, I mean…I'm sorry for what I said. How I said it. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. You've done so much for us, and I was rude," she apologized.

I walked into the room to try and close the gap.

"No, I'm sorry. I never should've said what I did. If you want to seek higher education, I fully support that decision. In fact, I wanted to tell you, I want you to stay. I want you and Evie to stay as long as you'd like."

She looked down and bit her lip. Her hair fell forward, and she slowly sat down on the bed.

"Thank you…but I'm going to have to decline," she began.

"If this is about what I said to my family…"

"No," she dared to look up at me. "This is…" she sighed and looked around, "…your family…they're wonderful. They love you, Edward. They miss you. I need to go and do the whole silly community college thing. That's where I'm meant to be. And you should go and be with…"

"What? My own kind?" I sneered.

"Your family," she corrected.

I huffed and turned away from her. I couldn't bear to look at her. It caused me too much pain. I felt her gentle hand on my back.

"Edward, please, don't be mad."

I turned back to her. "Please, don't leave. If you want me to go back with my family, I'll go, but say you'll come, too. They like you…probably more than me," I begged.

"Yep," Rosalie thought.

"You can go to school, and there'd be a whole host of people lining up to watch Evie, and they wouldn't be strangers. You'd never have to worry if she were safe. You know what we're capable of. You know there'd be no safer place."

I had lived with her long enough to read her, even with her mind being silent to me. She was contemplating my offer. If she were thinking about it, I knew I could make a compelling argument to get her to stay.

"Actually, there's something I've been meaning to ask you." She took me by the hand, a very brave move on her part, and brought me over to the bed. "I've been thinking a lot. Even before you went. After what happened at the mall, there was something I wanted to ask you."

I waited in anticipation.

"If something happens to me…"

"Nothing is going to happen to you," I cut her off.

"Edward, please?" she asked for my patience. "If something happens to me, will you promise to look after Evie? Make sure she's kept safe and doesn't feel alone? If something happens to me, she'll have no one, and I think just the thought of what could happen…her lost in some foster care system…" she began to cry.

"It'll never happen. Nothing is going to happen to you, Bella. I'll make sure of it."

"You don't know that, Edward. What if I get into a car accident?" she asked.

"I always drive. It wouldn't happen."

She huffed and rubbed her head. "What if I get struck by lightning?"

"I'm faster than lightning. I could get you out of the path in time," I countered.

"What if I die of old age?" she asked, and I immediately faltered. "Someday, I'll die. I don't care how old Evie is when I do, I just want to know she'll have someone she can turn to."

I deflated, feeling sorrow for the possibility that, one day, Bella would leave this earth. Leave me.

"You don't want to promise me, do you?" she asked softly.

I scrunched my eyes and looked away.

"It's okay," she whispered. She pushed herself away from me on the bed, believing I didn't want Evie.

"No," I said quickly. "Of course, I promise. I just…don't want to imagine a world where you no longer exist. I'll always make sure you're safe. That Evie and her children and her children's children are safe. I promise you nothing or no one will get in my way."

Bella opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Once again, she bit on her lip and thought through what she wanted to say before saying it. Something I would need to learn to do if I were going to be with her. She flummoxed me, turned me into a stuttering imbecile. She was always so controlled and thoughtful. Over one hundred years old and I had been unable to accomplish what she had mastered in only a few short years.

"Where were you this weekend?" she asked.

My mouth dropped open this time, but I paused. What should I tell her? If I wanted any kind of a future with her, I knew what she wanted to hear.

"The truth?" I asked.

"Please."

I sighed and stood up, hoping to place some distance between us, afraid of what she would say or do.

"I went to make sure the Mercers would never hurt another soul again."

"Oh, Edward, please tell me you didn't…" she trailed off.

"Please, Bella, if I'd wanted to kill them, it would've only taken an afternoon, and I wouldn't have needed to bring my brothers along. I wanted to. I've never wanted to hurt someone more, especially…" I stopped myself. She didn't need to know the horrors I had witnessed. "We put the fear of God in them. They confessed to the police, and I have a feeling they'll never taste the air of freedom again."

"You're sure? We're free?" she asked.

"Free and safe."

She nodded her head. It occurred to me then that maybe now that she knew the Mercers wouldn't be a problem, maybe she wouldn't feel the need to stay, or need me. I began to panic.

"Thank you, Edward. You shouldn't have, but I really appreciate it. It means the world to me."

I nodded, afraid if I answered, I would begin blubbering and begging.

"So…will you stay?" I finally asked, unable to keep wondering.

She shrugged. "Are you sure? You're sure you want us? We're not cramping your style?"

I laughed and shook my head. "I'm sure."

Bella began to smile, and it was a sight. I felt my chest warm from it.

"Okay. For as long as you can handle us, we'll stay."

I began to back out of the room, so incredibly excited that I felt the need to go and run off some energy.

"You won't regret it, I promise. We'll move in with my family, and Evie will just be the happiest little girl. She'll be cared for, and we can be happy. I'm going to go and tell my family."

I didn't need to tell them. They already knew, but I wanted to get out of there before I embarrassed myself further. I was sure my face already gave me away.

Suddenly, Bella crossed the room and threw her arms around me.

"Thank you, Edward. Thank you," she said, squeezing me with all her might.

I gently patted her back, but otherwise, I froze like an idiot, unaware of what else I should do. She let go and stepped back, and I nodded and backed out of the room. My feet sailed down the steps and out the front door. The leaves flew up into the air, as I raced through the trees, pushing harder and faster than I had ever gone before, up to the top of the closest mountain. I reached the summit and let out a roar so loud the birds flew away, and nearby animals scattered.

Never in my life had I felt this way before. I felt happy. I felt indescribable bliss. It was only one step, but a big one. I had found her. I had all but given up, but now, Bella was here, and she was mine...

I had been so naive. I would look back and realize that it wasn't that simple. Just because she had agreed to live with me hadn't meant she would automatically be mine. I had been so stupid to not realize that now was when the real work would begin.

AN: Thank you for reading and reviewing. I really do appreciate all the support for this story and for me that you have shown me for the past eight years. In March, I celebrate eight years since I posted my first story. I have grown so much since the first. As a person and as a writer. To see the same readers come back story after story warms my heart. For any new reader, I am happy to have your attention, I hope you will search out my other stories and see if they are to your liking. I will warn you, not all may be your cup of tea.

Next week, I will not be posting a new chapter for Redemption. I have a new chapter finished for Time Changer so, that will be the posting of the week. I will see you back here by the twenty-fifth for this story.

Thank you as always to DOLLYBIGMOMMA for editing!

If you are in the US, I pray you be safe as next week will bring a lot of uncertainty. Stay home and away from all major cities just in case.

STORY IS MINE. CHARACTERS BELONG TO STEPHANIE MEYER.