Chapter 19

EPOV

She placed one hand on her belly as she closed her eyes tightly. "You come back to us, papi."Her voice was barely a whisper.

I covered her hand with mine, still in awe that my baby was in there. "Te prometo. You keep that bebecito in there safe, sí?"I gripped her face between my hands, my gaze meeting hers. "It's gonna be okay; you're gonna be okay, mami. There are two unmarked cars outside the building keeping an eye on you. But, por favor,you need to remember; you keep that door locked no matter what. You don't open it for anyone, unless they tell you the password we decided. You hear me?"

I watched as her bottom lip quivered, tears pooling in her eyes. We both knew the gravity of the situation. "Yes. I promise, papi,"she choked out.

I leaned down, pressing my lips to hers. "I gotta go now, mamita. I'll see you soon."

—

"There'll be a taxi with an undercover driver about three blocks from here. They'll take you to the meeting spot. We'll be out back near the loading dock, watching the feed the whole time. If anything goes wrong, we'll get you out of there. Do you understand everything we've explained to you?" Detective Crowley asked as we sat in the back of the surveillance van.

I nodded. "Yeah, get Royce to spill his fucking guts somehow."

"Cullen—"

"I know, I know. Listen, if something does happen, if you gotta get me outta there, then what? They'll know I'm a fucking chismoso. I'll be better off dead."

"You'll have the option of going into WITSEC."

"What about Bella? Thing is—she's, uh, she's pregnant," I whispered.

Crowley's eyes widened. "Since she's so closely related to all of this, she'd be offered protection, as well. We wouldn't leave her—them,"he corrected himself. "In danger."

It wasn't the option I wanted, but at least I knew if shit went down and I didn't make it back, she'd be protected. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I had some hope that this would go well; the camera was no bigger than a button. Even if they patted me down, the chances of them finding it was slim.

"Okay. Well, let's get this party started then, I guess."

—

The car stopped about two blocks from where we were meeting.

"Van is already in place," the driver assured me. I nodded to him, tossing a few bills on his seat as I'd been instructed. I climbed out, shoving my hands in my pockets and starting my walk toward Vicky's Diner.

I went around the back and was met with a steel door that I'd entered and exited so many times prior. I used to think nothing of it. I knocked four times and waited a moment. Slowly, it swung open, and I was met by Wolf's sneer. "Jaws! Long time no see, brother. Bet that dime piece been keeping you busy, huh?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Yeah. She was. Esa perra se volvio loca. You know what I'm sayin'?" I grinned at him. He threw his head back and laughed.

"Yeah, I got you. So, what are you doin' comin' round here?"

"Like I said. Bitch went crazy. Tried to sell me out to her daddy. You were right. I know Royce been wantin' to talk to me, so here I am. I gotta get back in the game."

"Right, right. He knows you're comin', then?"

"Yeah, I spoke to him la semana pasada. Told him I'd be droppin' by."

He stepped aside to let me through, finally. "Well, you know where to find the fucker, then."

"Thanks, man," I said as I bumped shoulders with him. My heart raced in my chest with every step I took toward Royce's office. I sure as hell hoped I could continue to play my part. I raised my hand to knock, but before I could, it swung open and there he was. Royce King; the motherfucker who killed my father. The bitch who took away the last decade of my life.

"Cullen." His smile was easy, but his eyes were dark. Menacing, even. "It's good to have you back." He stepped aside, gesturing for me to walk through. He closed the door behind us, twisting the lock as he did. "Have a seat. It's been a while. I'm sure we have a lot to catch up on, don't we?"

"You know how it is. Gotta lie low after getting out."

He nodded as if he understood. "I'll give you that. Is dating a cop's daughter part of lying low, too? Riley did say that she's an excellent teacher; quite a looker, too." He raised an eyebrow.

I knew he was just trying to get under my skin; trying to make me snap. I schooled my features to the best of my ability, but the thought that Riley the Reaperhad been sitting in on Bella's classes made my stomach churn.

"Don't matter anymore." I played it off the same way I had with Wolf. "Bitch is crazy."

"Aren't they all?" He laughed for a moment before stopping abruptly. "I don't know though, Jaws.I smell a rat. What do you think, brother?"

My head snapped toward the sound of a door on the other side of the room opening as Alistair strode in. I knew there was something not right about him. There was no way he could be blood related to the Kings and not be involved.

"Oh, I don't know. Give the kid a break, Roy." The grin on his face was sinister. "He's young. He lost his daddy before he could teach him any better." His tone was mocking.

I sat up a little taller. It was two against one, now, something I hadn't been expecting. If I wanted to walk out of here, I needed to do better. I couldn't let these hijueputas get the best of me. "You really think I'm gonna fuck with sapos? I did your bidding. I went to prison for you. Never said a word. You know me."

"Yeah, all that is true, but you gotta admit, kid," Alistair said. "You have been fucking with the cops, by association if nothing else. We don't know what you've told them, what you've told her. Can't trust you anymore. You know what happens to punks we can't trust anymore. Get up,"he snarled.

I stood, then doubled over as Alistair's fist landed on my diaphragm. It wasn't worth fighting back. I just prayed the cops would get here in time.

"At least you'll get to see your daddy soon, huh? I was there. I watched as Hunter pulled the trigger. I told him to pull the trigger." Royce laughed as he landed a blow to my head.

I dropped down to my knees and covered my face. The room was spinning as I tried to catch my breath.

"He couldn't just leave it alone, could he?" Alistair growled, kicking me in the back and causing me to crumple further to the ground. "Carlisle just had to be a fucking hero. She wanted it; she wanted me, but then she changed her mind. No one says no to me, especially not a bitch like Rosalie Hale. Oh, right, McCarty. What a stupid fucking prick he is. She put in a good word for me, begged him to hire me. She led me on." He took the chance to kick me in the balls hard enough to force out any air left in my lungs. "And then daddy Cullen stumbled upon her. He shoulda just kept walking."

As I lay there, bruised and bleeding while both of them took turns kicking at me, I finally heard it. The chaotic sound of pounding feet and shots fired.

I remembered the door busting open. I remembered Charlie crouching down beside me. But, I couldn't make out his words before my world went dark.

—

Spanish:

Bebecito - baby

Te prometo - I promise

Por favor- please

Chismoso - snitch

Esa perra se volvio loca - That bitch went crazy

La semana pasada - Last week

A/N: Just two more regular chapters to go and then an epilogue.