Chapter 30 – Renee and Her Threat
JACOB
Uncle Royce said he wanted to see me and asked that I met him at cabin in Forks. Why the hell Forks was beyond me. He also told me to be there in four hours. The bastard owed me the ferry and toll fees. Sure, I had been picking up the odd shift here in there to ensure I had funds, but I didn't make much and only got a small percentage of each girls' tips. I hated being a busboy.
The drive was hell. When I arrived Uncle Royce was nowhere to be found, instead some woman who looked very much like Bella was waiting on the stoop. She had childlike blue eyes and subtle hints of laugh lines.
"Who the hell are you?" I demanded, showing no respect for her.
"Renee Swan, Bella's mother," she snapped as she stood, stalking toward me. "You must be the idiot who let her slip from you grasp."
Her hand came up and then forward, slapping me hard. My head snapped back.
"I told Felix you weren't the boy for the job. Sure, you got her in your bed and maybe, just maybe, knocked her up."
I spluttered as my vision cleared. "I'm trying to find her."
"I've heard," Renee mocked. "Yet, you haven't managed."
Getting right up into her face, nose-to-nose, I said through clenched teeth, "I found her once, I'll find her again."
She took a couple of steps back, eying me. "Yes, I believe you can. You have time, fortunately. If she is with child, I estimate she's due around Easter next year."
Squinting, I thought about that. "It might be better to have back under my control before then. Why do you want her?"
A maniacal laugh escaped Renee. "I don't want her, idiot. I want the child she carries. Not just to build the army Felix–"
"He goes by Royce now and has since you went to prison. Afraid you would turn state's evidence on his operation. Or, so I've been told." I turned and started walking away.
"You little whelp. I would never betray the cause. Billy, Felix, and I started creating the army long before you were born. My ex-husband was someone I thought could be swayed to join us, but hell no. He filed police reports and CPS reports. He took my daughter from me." She laughed maniacally again. "Accused me of trying to kill Isabella. It was a godsend I recognized her when she started working at Palisade. Had Royce"–she smirked at me–"get you to ask her out."
"I know. You did a piss poor job training her."
Out of nowhere her hand made contact with me face, and in the same damn place as the first time. "You don't get to know everything, imbecile. It was all part of the plan."
"Sure, sure. So, can I go? I do have your daughter to find."
She grabbed my by the collar. "You fail to get her under your loving care before she gives birth."
"And if I can't."
Her free hand moved to my balls and squeezed. "Ensure she doesn't have it at all. Or you'll wish you never met me." Her grip tightened as she twisted her hand and I yelped. "You understand?"
"Yes," I squeaked out as pain shot through me and tears leaked from the corners of my eyes.
"Good," she said, releasing me. "I would hate to have to do something to you that would prevent you from helping to build the army."
Her hand made to grip me again. I jumped out of her reach.
Walking as fast as I could, I got in my car, driving away in search of ice.
Renee was one scary bitch and one I didn't want to disappoint out of fear of what she would do to me.
