Sorry folks, I posted the wrong chapter yesterday so I'm swapping them around. You still get a new chapter and hopefully it will make more sense now. Jules xx
Chapter Fifteen
Jasper
Emmett had left Bella's 'boyfriend' in the dark in the wine cellar and when we opened the door he was waiting and tried to charge out between us. Needless to say, his bid for freedom was not successful and he found himself carried by his jacket lapels back down into the cellar where Emmett set him down none too gently onto one of the stone shelves that ran around the walls of the room.
Although Patrick couldn't see us properly in the dim light that filtered down from the open door we had no such problem seeing the fear on his face.
"Look, I don't know what's going on here but there's been some kind of mistake. If you're holding me for a ransom you're out of luck. My family isn't rich enough to make that worthwhile. Perhaps we can come to some arrangement. You obviously made a mistake so if you just let me go I promise I won't say anything about this mix-up."
Emmett turned to me, "Are you sure I shouldn't just kill him now?"
Patrick stiffened and shrank back against the wall, "Kill me? Whoa! Listen, there's been a huge mistake here. You've got the wrong man."
"No, Patrick, we've got the right man and right now my friend's idea holds a certain appeal. Let's see if you can persuade me differently."
He was peering through the semi-darkness but I knew he couldn't see well enough to recognize me and that was fine by me.
"Care to tell us what happened earlier?"
"Earlier? When? I don't know what you're talking about."
"Shall I jog his memory?"
Emmett towered over our prisoner and Patrick gave out a squeak of fear, "No, please. Wh..when?"
"How did you end up in the E.R, Patrick?"
He hesitated and I knew he was weighing up how much we knew and what we were trying to find out.
"I...I had a fender bender on the highway. Was it your truck I hit? Look, I'm sorry. My father will be only too happy to pay for the damage. It was an accident. I was waiting for the cops to speak to my fiancée. She...I mean, we were arguing and she became hysterical. She grabbed the wheel and I swerved into your truck. Seriously, she's a little unbalanced at times."
I could see Emmett's muscles tense as did my own. If only Patrick knew just how close he was to being taken apart by us.
"Your fiancée? And did they speak to her?"
"No, I mean I don't know. She was freaking out so I went to find a doctor and the next thing I knew she'd made a run for it. I told you she was unstable. I went outside to look for her and that's when I ran into… I met you."
"So, your girlfriend caused the accident?"
"My girl…? My fiancee yes. But I'm willing to take responsibility and as I say pay for any damage caused."
"It doesn't look like you were hurt much in the accident."
"No, I was lucky. I'm fine. Just shaken up."
"Right."
"The cops said the driver of the truck wasn't hurt either so nothing to worry about now is there?"
"Then why were you in the E.R?"
"Oh right. Bella, my fiancée, she got bumped, hit her head, but she's fine too. The doctor just wanted to look her over. No need to worry about her."
"Well, you sure as hell aren't, now are you. Patrick?"
He was trying to creep away from us along the shelf but Emmett grabbed his arm making him shriek.
"Hey be careful, that hurts. Who are you? What do you want? I already said I'd pay for any damage."
I leaned close and whispered in his ear, "I'm your worst fucking nightmare, and this is my psycho brother. You lied. Bella didn't freak out, you did. You caused that accident and she got hurt. Bella ran from the E.R. to get away from you. She wasn't going to lie to save your sorry ass. And just for the record, she's not your fiancée and never will be. Do you understand?"
His courage hiccuped and he tried to bluster, "How do you know? Are you friends of Bella's? Listen, she's fine really. Just a few cuts and bruises. Do you know where she is? If she told you any different then she's a lia...confused."
Emmett growled in his throat and one huge hand grabbed Patrick by the jaw turning his head so Emmett was looking right into his face, "Listen to me you little weasel. Bella happens to be very dear to us and we will do whatever it takes to keep her safe from vermin like you. So, would you like to rethink your story? Or shall I start by breaking your jaw?"
Emmett's hand flexed and Patrick groaned, a trickle of blood running down his chin where he'd bitten his lip.
"I'll take it from here. You get some fresh air."
I was keen to get Emmett away from the scent of fresh blood but he just clamped his jaw shut and shook his head. He wasn't going anywhere. And I had a feeling neither was Patrick unless he changed his story and attitude pretty quickly. It was amazing, I was the one with feelings for Bella yet he was turning out to be the one with the short fuse.
"So, Patrick, here's what's going to happen. You are going to give us your word that you'll leave Bella alone. You won't try to see her, call her or contact her in any way. You are going to call the cops and tell them that you were responsible for the accident, not Bella and then you are going to forget that you ever met her. Is that clear?"
He was shaking with fear but like most bullies, he wasn't prepared to submit unless he knew he had no way out. He just looked at us in silence.
"I didn't hear that? Did you understand what I said?"
"Maybe I should break a few bones. Just to jog his memory."
As Emmett grabbed one of Patrick's hands and squeezed he struggled screaming out through the pain, "OK, OK. I heard you. I heard."
"Good. but do you agree?"
Again he hesitated then nodded in panic as Emmett began to squeeze again.
"OK. OK. I agree. Can I go now?"
"There's just one more thing. Don't try going back on your word because that would really piss us off and you don't want to meet us when we're angry. I promise you."
"No. I gave my word. Can I go? Please?"
He was almost in tears cradling a badly bruised hand and wiping blood from his chin.
"You got off lightly because it's Christmas and Bella's soft-hearted. Next time, she won't even know we spoke. Oh, and don't think you can run or hide because we will find you."
Emmett towered over him menacingly again, "Yeah, and that would be a really bad move on your part. You don't want to even think about what we'll do to you then."
I smelt ammonia and realized that Patrick had pissed himself with fear. He wouldn't be talking to anyone about Bella nor would he contact her again.
"Right. Well, now that's cleared up let's get you home."
I pulled my punch hitting him on the hinge of the jaw and knocking him clean out. He wouldn't be able to eat or talk much for a few days but that was no bad thing. Best of all he had no idea where he'd been taken or who we were.
"Time to take the garbage out I think."
Emmett swung Patrick over his shoulder managing to crack his head against a wooden shelf as he did so. He patted Patricks thigh, "Whoops! Sorry man."
Emmett took Patrick's unconscious body out to the garage and bundled it into the trunk of the car while I went to tell Rose that we were taking him 'home'.
"Oh no, you're not, Jasper Hale. You are staying right here with Bella, where you belong. I'll go with Emmett. You two have had all the fun so far. Now go."
She pushed me towards the stairs just as the front door opened and Esme swept in looking concerned.
"Oh, Jasper. I thought I might be too late but I couldn't get away any sooner. I'm so glad you're still here. Rose, what is going on? It smells like Christmas punch in here."
Rose smiled sweetly, "Jasper will explain. Emmett and I have a small errand to run. Bye, Esme."
As she turned to leave she gave me a wicked grin and then was gone.
Esme took off her coat and draped it over the bannisters, "What's all that about?"
I glanced up the stairs then grimaced, "It's a long story, Esme. Tell you what. Come with me, I've got something to show you."
Downstairs again a few minutes later I noticed that Esme was beaming.
She saw my look of incomprehension and gestured for me to join her on the couch.
"I told you that Bella wouldn't stand you up. Here she is and I know you two have spoken. I can see you looking far happier than you have for a very long time. Bella's going to be fine but she will need looking after for a while and that's perfect. It looks like I'm going to get my family Christmas after all."
"Esme, just because Bella is here doesn't mean…"
She put a finger to my lips, "Jasper, give in gracefully. You two were meant for each other. I just hope Emmett and Rose haven't gone out to find Patrick."
"Ah, no. Not exactly."
I told her what had happened and she nodded her approval, "Well done. I think you two have put him in his place. I think I'll call Rose and ask her to bring some of Bella's things here for her."
We heard Bella stir and I went up to see if she was OK leaving Esme to speak to Rose.
Bella was sitting up and looked a little better than she had done when I first saw her.
"Can I get you anything?"
"A glass of water and some pain meds if you have any. Oh, stupid question, sorry."
"Not at all. Rose already thought of that. Just a minute."
I was back with a glass of water and some Tylenol in seconds and held the glass for her to steady it.
"Did I hear Esme's voice? Or did I dream it? I should apologize for getting you all involved but I didn't know what else to do. There was no one else I could turn to."
"Esme is already arranging for Rose to bring some things from your apartment for you. She's looking forward to you being here. We all are. I'm just sorry I wasn't there when you needed protection. I guess I stopped watching over you too soon."
She looked at me shyly then took my hand, "You've always been there for me when I needed you. Even when I didn't know about it. Thank you, Jasper."
I lifted her hand carefully to my lips and kissed it, "It was my honor, Bella."
Shifting slightly to make herself more comfortable she became agitated, "What if Patrick follows me here? I don't want to cause trouble for you or the others. I should never have involved you."
Shaking my head I put a hand on her shoulder, "You lay back and relax. Patrick won't be troubling you again, Emmett and I saw to that and don't worry…"
She was looking anxious now, "We didn't kill him. Just gave him a good scare. Besides, you'll have trouble getting past Esme and Rose if you decide to try and leave. Not to mention Emmett and me."
Smiling, she settled back, "Thank you. Oh, but I must call Renee. She'll be worried if she doesn't hear from me and it's Christmas Eve. It is Christmas Eve isn't it?"
"Yeah, just. First thing in the morning you can call your mom. For now just rest. Carlisle will be here tomorrow too and if you'll allow him I'd like him to check you over. Just to be safe."
"Just Carlisle? I mean, are the others coming too?"
"You mean Edward and his wife? Not as far as I know. Esme is hoping he and Sasha have found somewhere else to spend the festive season."
"That doesn't sound like Esme."
"No, it doesn't. I think Sasha has the unfortunate gift for making people uneasy around her. I can't say for sure as I've never met her."
Bella's eyes were closing once more, " I'll let you sleep now. Tomorrow will be a new day for all of us."
She was almost asleep already and I helped her with a gentle nudge. She may say that she was OK but she had been in a crash and lost consciousness. After a beating like that she must be hurting and suffering from mild shock at the very least.
When I got back downstairs I found Emmett and Rose were back and Esme was quizzing them about where they had left Patrick.
"No sweat, Esme. We left him he was sleeping like a baby in his condo. That'll give him something to think about when he wakes up."
"Do you think he'll go looking for Bella?"
"Nah, I think the bruise on his jaw will remind him of our little chat. Besides, I made a quick call to the cops, anonymously, and told them that Patrick was responsible for the accident. That should keep him busy for a while."
"I think he was supposed to go to the mountains with the family for Christmas. That might get put on hold. It will serve him right. Anyway enough of that, it's almost Christmas and we're all together. Can we please open the windows for a while and get rid of some of these smells. Then in the morning, we'll finish decorating outside. I want everything to be perfect this year."
Esme left Emmett to open the windows and dispel the cloying odors while she took Bella's things upstairs and put them away for her. I would have offered but she was so happy to have Bella here and mother her that I didn't want to spoil it.
"You look like the cat that ate the cream brother."
I glanced at Rose who was eying me over her magazine.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"I hope you aren't going to keep us all in suspense too long, Bella either. It's plain that you are madly in love with the girl. So, just ask her."
"Look, I've only just started talking to Bella. I can hardly jump in with such an important question this early."
"Sure you can. When two people belong together it shows and they both know it. If you don't pop the question soon then I'll do it for you."
I glared at my 'sister', "You are going to stay quiet. I don't need any help, thank you."
"We'll see." she disappeared behind her magazine once more but I could hear her laughing softly. It seemed that everyone in the house was waiting for me to make a move, everyone except Bella. I wasn't entirely sure what she was expecting. A dance was one thing, a proposal another entirely.