I'll just see you at the end...


-104-

Adrenaline courses through my veins, unbidden. I had been preparing for this for months now. The evidence had been gathered, the timeline established, the motive discovered. I had seen all I needed to see about Miss Isabella Swan.

Now, if only I could convince my heart of that.

It doesn't matter that she's beautiful, kind, sweet, and funny. It doesn't matter that she spends so much time doing charity work and helping friends in any way she can.

It doesn't matter that she stole my heart like a thief in the night. That she made me happier than I've ever been and fucked me better than I'd ever been fucked, or that she made me laugh harder than I've ever laughed before.

It was all a mask.

A farce.

But I can't make myself believe that. Not fully, at least.

And it was the whole reason I got into this career, to begin with; to save lives people like her planned to end.

Except hers is the only life that matters to me right now.

Weber takes my flank, following close behind as I make my way up the stairs to her apartment.

The same apartment I've spent so many nights wrapped around her in every way...

I grip the frigid steel of my gun with both hands, arms straight, and eyes alert. The building has been quietly evacuated, she's the only one left, and she has no idea we're coming for her.

The hallway blurs, and I make it to her door before I know it. This is it. The moment that changes everything.

It's sitting ajar, just a tiny bit, and my blood runs cold. Did he get to her first?

I'll kill him.

I lean my shoulder into the dilapidated door, the hinges creaking to announce my arrival. Turning to Weber, I jerk my head to signal her to follow, her answering nod all I need to enter the apartment.

I'm expecting a bloodbath; her body spread in a macabre scene, riddled with bruises and stab wounds. Or his body, even.

I'm not expecting a small wisp of a girl sunk into a bean bag chair, wearing only a thin T-shirt and a pair of white cotton panties with mother fucking flowers on him, slurping Ramen noodles from a saucepan without a care in the world.

Without a care, that is, until she sees us.

Her eyes triple in size, bigger and much more innocent than they seemed when I was watching her. Noodles hang like a strange waterfall, and she gasps, sputtering on them as she drops her fork.

It's a little gross.

And a lot fucking adorable.

"On your feet, now. Hands up," Weber demands sharply, her shouts more like a drill Sergeant than you would ever imagine at first glance.

Isabella, for I refuse to call her by her preferred moniker of Bella anymore, jumps up immediately and shoots her hands high in the air.

I can't help it. It's unprofessional as fuck, but my eyes dart down to the thin line of flat stomach exposed between the hem of her shirt and the waistband of her panties.

The same spot I've showered with kisses before moving lower, traced my fingers over while I slipped into her from behind in the early morning light.

Weber holsters her gun and steps forward to pat her down, and I'm so caught off guard by how badly I wish it were me.

What the fuck. Why am I doing this? I need to find a way to get her out of this mess.

"You're under arrest for Conspiracy to Commit Murder—"

"What?" Isabella squeaks, visibly shaking as Weber guides her wrists behind her back.

"Anything you say can and will be—"

"No, no, this is a mistake! I could never, I would never—" she rambles then pauses, her face lighting up like the light bulb going off in her head.

And then she bursts out laughing.

"Very funny, Edward. I know I've been ignoring you, but you don't have to pull pranks on me to get my attention," she laughs, tossing her head back to look at me.

I shake my head.

"Bel- Isabella, this isn't a prank. I'm so sorry, but we know what you're planning to do."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Hurt colors her features, and I make sure to keep my gun pointed to the ground. We all know I don't have it in me to shoot her.

"Cullen, shut up," Weber snaps, glaring at me.

I do as I'm told and let Weber Mirandize my girlfriend, and right when we're about to leave, I do one last thing I shouldn't.

"Ang, can we at least let her put some pants on?"

Weber sighs but nods reluctantly, maneuvering Bella into her bedroom.

And then we leave the apartment, my heart laying on the floor behind me when we go.

Our men come in behind us to perform a search of the apartment while Bella silently cries in the back seat of a cop car. I have to shut my emotions down. I don't have it in me to look at her, or I'll fall apart.

Nothing is found except for the notebook we already know to exist, though. Not even the alleged bone saw. And against my better judgment, that gives me a little bit of hope.

At the very least, it means the cuffs can be removed from Bella's wrists, and since she agrees to come with us willingly, Angela is able to have her ride with her in her Escalade.

No matter what comes from this, though, things have changed permanently today.


We made it full circle, huh? Let's all just...take a deep breath. This sucks for our favorite couple, but it will all be okay! HEA always from me, okay? ALL THE LOVE TO YOU ALL!

Extra thanks to Jill, Ariel and Pearly for helping me pull this off!