Chapter 12

"Where are we meeting your dad?"

I watched as Edward's leg bounced up and down while he sat in the passenger seat. "There's this diner that he likes near Pike Place. It's his lunch break, and I figured it would look less suspicious than meeting him at the station. Just in case anyone decides to follow us." I put my hand on his knee, hoping to calm him. "Why are you so nervous?"

He glanced at me, his eyebrows raised. "Bella, I'm meeting with a fuckin' cop. A cop who's daughter I'm fucking. A cop who would probably love to find a reason to put me back in prison just so I'd leave you alone."

I rolled my eyes at him. "You make my dad sound like a terrible person. Yeah, he's a policeman, but he's not as narrow-minded as you think."

He snorted. "Keep telling yourself that, mami.There ain't a fuckin' sapo out there that wouldn't want to put my ass back behind bars for just lookin' at you."

I pulled into the parking lot, cutting the engine. "You can't go in there thinking like that, Edward. And don't you dare call him a fucking sapo to his face."

"I'm not stupid, Bella."

"That's yet to be seen," I threw back at him with a smirk before climbing out of the car. "Let's go."

—

We walked into the diner, spotting my dad quickly. I grabbed Edward's hand, pulling him with me.

Dad stood from the booth as we approached, wrapping an arm around me. "It's good to see you, Bells." I watched as he eyed Edward carefully, and I knew he was trying to place him.

"It's good to see you too, Dad. This is—"

"Edward Cullen. I know who he is, Bella. The question is, however, why is he here with you? Is this who you're dating?"

Before I could open my mouth to speak, Edward stepped up. My heart was in my throat as he began to speak. "Officer Swan, I can understand your hesitation at me spending time with your daughter. But, as you know, she's a smart girl who doesn't make decisions lightly. I did my time for a stupid mistake, and I'd like it if you'd give me the chance to prove myself to you, just as Bella has."

I stared at him wide-eyed as he glanced over at me, a small smirk on his lips. I knew Dad wasn't stupid, nor would he be turned so easily. But it couldn't hurt that Edward was being polite, if not going a little overboard.

Dad scoffed. "You're right that Bella is able to make her own choices; me, though? I know your kind. You so much as step a toe out of line—"

"Dad, enough," I cut him off. "Look, I wanted to introduce you to Edward because I care about him a lot, and he's going to be in my life for a long time. Can we please just try to have a nice lunch together?"

Charlie grunted his response before sitting back down. I took it as a sign that he was at least going to try. "Edward, what are you doing now that you're out?"

I sighed at the question, but Edward was taking it in stride even with his anxiety. He answered Charlie with confidence. "I'm working for Emmett McCarty at his garage. It's decent work."

Dad nodded, actually seeming pleased with his response. "Emmett McCarty is a good man. It's a shame what happened to his wife a few years back. He's helped quite a few young men like you." He sat back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest. "Must've seen something in you. It's been a few years since he's taken someone new on. Don't waste your chance."

"I don't plan to. I enjoy working for him. I'm just going to grab a smoke before our food gets here." He stood from his seat, a quick look passing between us. We'd discussed the night before how Charlie would be less suspicious and more willing to talk if it was just me asking the questions.

"Edward Cullen? Really, Isabella? A felon?"

"What's the point of sending someone to prison if it's not in the hopes they learn their lesson and reform, Dad? He's had a hard life. You know that. He's trying to do better."

He sighed heavily, but I could see his resolve soften a little. Dad was a hardass most of the time, but I knew he had a soft spot for people in circumstances such as Edward's. While Edward's childhood was a good one, Charlie's was not. His father died young, and his mother took up drinking shortly after. From the stories he'd shared over the years, it was amazing he'd turned out as well as he had.

"Fine, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt because you have, but the moment he steps out of line…"

"Got it." I rolled my eyes. "Can I ask you something? I only know a little, and he won't talk to me about it very much. What happened to his dad, Carlisle? I know he tried to save Emmett's wife and was shot shortly after. It just seems... odd."

Charlie hummed quietly, glancing at the entrance. Edward was standing outside, leaning with his back against the window, taking his time with his cigarette.

"You know, I always thought you should have gone into law. It is odd; I've thought so myself for years, now. Carlisle conveyed to the detectives at the scene that the last thing that ever left Emmett McCarty's wife's lips was the word 'King'. Naturally, we rounded up and brought in Royce King and the rest of his gang. Got a few for drugs, things like that, but everyone, including King himself, checked out when it came to the murder.

They even brought in King's brother, Alistair. Mrs. McCarty dated him in high school. He'd started off like his brother; stealing, drugs, things like that, but he'd cleaned up, and Emmett even hired him at his wife's request. Good guy, pretty sure he still works there. Now, as for Carlisle, I'm still not convinced it wasn't King himself. If he thought Carlisle knew anything, he would have taken him out. But with no evidence—"

Edward walked back in then, but I'd gotten enough information. It seemed maybe Alistair was our key to figuring this whole thing out.

—

Edward paced back and forth in my living room. We'd gone over every detail Charlie told me.

"What if you talked to Alistair—"

"No."

"What do you mean, no? He's Royce's brother, he's got to know something!"

He stopped his pacing and sat down beside me. "Sí, mami, and that's exactly the problem. I know you trust your dad, but I know un poco más about this."

"Well, then, explain it to me."

"Family is family. You think Royce just decided to start a gang one day? No, the Kings have been around for decades, and a King is always at the head. Maybe he's gone straight, but if Alistair catches on that we're sniffing around, you better believe he's going to his brother. No es un tonto."

"So this whole day was a fucking waste."

"Not a total waste. There's one other person who might have some information. He hates these hijueputas as much as I do." He sighed heavily. "I think I need to talk to Demetri."

Spanish:

un poco más - a little more

No es un tonto - he's not dumb

Hijueputas - Colombian slang for son of a bitch.