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Chapter Forty

"Okay. Are you ready?" I heard Emmett's voice as I walked into my parents house. "Now. Shake, shake, shake," he sang. "Shake, shake, shake..."

"Shake your booty!" Emma squealed as she attempted the dance Emmett was teaching her.

Jasper stood off to the side, laughing his ass off. "You're corrupting my child."

"Hey!" I fake yelled. "Get your filthy paws off my niece!"

"Uncle Eddie!" Emma squealed and ran to jump into my arms.

I held her in my arms and walked out of the room.

"She was just getting the hang of it!" Emmett yelled after me.

"No way in H-E-double hockey sticks am I going to stand by and allow you to corrupt my poor niece," I explained with a smirk, still holding Emma as she waved bye to Emmett and Jasper.

Emma smiled at me as we walked into the kitchen. "He was teaching me a dance!"

"Yeah. So I see." I grinned, her smile infectious. "Where is everyone?"

"Backyard."

My jaw tensed and I walked through the sliding glass doors.

After I put Emma down, she started shaking her booty and said, "Uncle Eddie saved me from Uncle Em!"

"Uncle Eddie has a complex, doesn't he?" Alice quipped, smiling innocently at Emma.

"Alice?" I glared. "Can I have a word with you?"

Esme looked between us and said, "Emma, why don't you come inside and help me set the table. You want to be my big girl helper?"

"Yes!"

Waiting until they were out of earshot, I started with the obvious.

"You were incredibly rude yesterday."

Alice crossed her arms. "Rude?"

"Don't act as if you are ignorant. You know what I'm talking about." I shook my head furiously. "Does this have to do with Kate?"

Alice laughed bitterly. "No."

"Then what is your problem with Bella?" I questioned.

"Look, Edward. What you do with your...time is your own business. I'm just thinking it would be wise for you to watch out for yourself."

I stared in shock. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Alice dropped her arms and sighed loudly, looking all too bothered. "I know you're knew to this whole landlord thing, but you need to be careful of people taking advantage of you."

"Who is taking advantage of me? Stop being cryptic and just tell me why you're acting like a snob."

"Let's just say I checked up on your little Bella and her mother. Let's just say I found out from their past landlords that they have move quite frequently. Without thirty days notice. Without paying for any damage done to the property."

I swallowed, suddenly feeling as if the wind had been knocked from me.

I thought back to my first meeting with Renee. She claimed to have forgotten her wallet and offered to send me a check for the security deposit the following week. I never did receive the security deposit.

I thought back to Bella's license and the fact that her state was listed as Texas.

I thought back to Bella's admittance about her mother.

I thought back to all signs pointing to Renee being bipolar.

And I thought back to Bella's lips as I kissed her goodbye before dropping her off at home.

"You don't know what you're talking about, Alice," I said sternly. "Where did you get this information?"

"Oh, please," Alice hissed. "I know how to get the information you should have received before allowing them to move in. You're just too nice, Edward."

"I highly suggest you mind your own business," I demanded. "You know nothing."

"Well the way you're acting is obviously telling." Alice tapped her foot and I stormed inside the house.

I kissed Esme's cheek and mussed Emma's hair. "I have to go. We'll talk tomorrow," I said as I left the kitchen.

"Hey! What the hell?" Emmett yelled before I made it to the front door. "Chicken Marsala night, bro!"

Chicken Marsala could wait.

I needed to talk to Bella.

A/N: One more update later tonight. Thanks for reading.