Hello everyone,
This is the chapter you all have been waiting on, and it is one of my very favorites. I hope you all enjoy it.
There will be 2 more chapters after this one. Trust me, you don't want to miss a second of it.
I want to thank Denise and Sassy for believing in the vision I saw for this story. While I lost one of the most important people to me this year, I have gained several more. Thanks, y'all for being a steady rock and support for this journey.
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Charlie left the cover of woods the next morning when he saw Winthrop's entourage pull out of the driveway. After receiving a call from Cullen, he walked nearly a mile through the thicket to reach the mansion to keep from being discovered. Jostling the weight of the girl's body over his shoulder, he grimaced, as he hurried to the back door.
He just needed to plant the body, throw some soup across the stove, and stash a burner cell next to the girl's body. Once he'd succeeded in setting up the scene, he'd be able to run back to his car and call for backup
Checking his watch and pulling his gloves tight, Charlie released a deep breath as he jimmied the lock on the patio door. When he felt the lock give, he slipped into the sunroom decorated in expensive furniture. He walked lightly over the tile and taking a wild guess, turned toward the staircase off the hallway he came to.
Charlie grumbled as he sought out the master bedroom. He really shouldn't be so annoyed at the situation he was in. He was lucky. Lucky to escape Cullen with his life, lucky to have the man there to protect his daughter, and even luckier to be released from the hell Winthrop had kept him locked in for the last decade.
His shoulder ached by the time he located the bedroom. Adjusting the body, he hurried to the bed, urgently heaving the weight into the center. As quickly as he could manage, he stripped the blonde of her clothes and tossed them about the room before pulling back the covers and settling her inside.
By the time her frozen form thawed and began to rot, he and his deputy would be back, searching the mayor's mansion. Charlie avoided looking at her face, he'd save that shock for the actual discovery. Retrieving the bottle of soup he'd saved from his pocket, he poured some on the pillows and floor.
Satisfied with his work, he quickly looked around. He collected the blanket she'd been wrapped in and went to the bedroom door. With one final glance around, he nodded.
Everything was going to plan. He'd set it up as good as he could get it. Rolling his shoulder, he rubbed at the ball of tension, hoping the knot would lessen. He was midway down the hallway when he heard a clanging sound. His heart jumped, and he dove for an open doorway. Hovering inside the threshold, he held his breath as he waited.
The sound rang through the silent mansion once again, and curiously he glanced around trying to decipher where it came from.
It sounded like someone banging on a pipe. Unfortunately, he didn't have long to look into the matter. He still needed to pour this soup on the stove and in the trash, perhaps he'd look when he came back with the deputies. Reaching the kitchen, Charlie splashed the liquid over the stove, pulled out a bowl and spoon, and splashed some soup on them as well, before putting them in the sink, and then dumped the rest into the bag before leaving the mansion, retracing his trek through the woods.
Fifteen minutes later, he climbed into his squad car and radioed in the distressed woman's call. In a matter of minutes, Charlie accompanied by his deputies barged into the mayor's residence. Deciding it would be better if someone else found the girl Edward had delivered, he nudged his rookie toward the stairs. "Head up there and take a look around. The girl didn't say where she was. I'm going to find the basement. Probably down there somewhere."
"I will radio you if I find anything," Riley nodded, jogging up the stairs.
Charlie waited for the kid to disappear before exploring the main level of the mansion. That weird clang was still echoing through the house. Curiosity getting the better of him, he followed the noise, turning to the cellar stairs where it seemed to be coming from.
When nothing immediately popped out at him, he turned to the staircase preparing to head back up when Riley's distressed call came through.
Clang, clang, clang.
Cautiously, he scoured every inch of the basement. This time when he heard the sound it seemed to be just beyond the basement walls. "Maybe I'm going insane." Smoothing the whiskers on his mustache, he stared at the wall at a loss when the noise came again. His brow wrinkled as he studied the smooth surface, and then he started looking for a way to get into that area.
Coming to a large bookcase, he stood there stupefied. "Sheriff Swan! You need to come up to the Master Bedroom right now. I have a body!"
Still, Charlie didn't respond to the call, perplexed as he studied the bookshelf. Feeling completely insane, he shoved at the empty shelf, staggering back when he heard a click, and the shelf vibrated before creaking open.
When a hallway appeared on the other side, Charlie cautiously wandered into the opening. Clang, clang, clang.
A tapestry was hanging in the center of the back wall, causing Charlie to cock his head as he studied it. Who would hang a tapestry right there where no one would ever see it? Unless they were trying to hide what was behind it.
Carefully, he pulled the picture away from the wall, his eyebrow lifting when he discovered a door. Two locks held the structure in place, but when he heard the resonating sound once again, he couldn't resist discovering what was beyond it. "Hello?"
"Help me! Help me!"
A chill swept down Charlie's spine, and with as much strength as he could muster, he slammed the structure with his shoulder. After hitting it as hard as he could the threshold around the locks cracked, and with another well-planted foot the door swung open.
The sight that greeted him nearly had him falling to his knees, tears springing to his eyes obstructing his view. His skin grew clammy and he suddenly felt overheated as the past came back in full swing to haunt him. "Holy fucking shit! Renee? Renee? Oh, my fucking God."
After living over a decade in the dank basement, the woman before him hid her face from view, trying to shrink out of his sight. In horror at the idea of the hell she must've lived through, Charlie's face dropped in his hands.
Everything he'd done for the last decade flashed through his mind. All the while he'd been living in the manipulation of the mayor, his wife, his beautiful wife was living a nightmare day in and day out. Years of her life stolen—her daughter, their relationship stolen. "I'm so fucking sorry."
A half-hour later, Riley found the pair holding onto one another as if their lives depended on it. Completely confused and dumbfounded, he brought the radio to his lips. "I'm going to need an EMT and coroner at the mayor's residence. Right away! Send them right away!"
-m-
Edward glowered as he met Winthrop on the stairs to the church. He'd never wanted to hit an elderly man so much in his life, and it took all of his self-control to ignore the urge. The man looked seconds away from dropping dead on the spot, and maybe that was the only thing that made him hold his composure.
"Did you bring the girl? My fiancée?" Winthrop's stance faltered a bit as he shifted from foot to foot. "I'm eager to claim my bride and consummate our marriage."
Edward's hands balled at his sides. The thought of those old, wrinkled paws touching his wife did vile, ugly things to him. His nostrils flared, his gaze sharp and unrelenting. Grinding his teeth together to refrain from telling Winthrop where he could go, Edward gestured to the briefcase, held by one of the mayor's lackeys. "Is that my money? All of it?"
"You don't get the case until I get my bride, Cullen," Winthrop insisted, turning to his man, he nodded.
On cue, the man cracked the case, showing Edward the funds inside. "Satisfied?"
Edward was far from satisfied. Instead of telling Winthrop exactly what he thought of him, however, he turned to Laurent. "Bring the girl."
His car door opened revealing a distressed Bella. He wanted to take her in his arms and reassure her, but to keep with pretenses he merely stood to the side as Laurent took hold of her arm, pulling her from the car, and directing her up the steps.
"Get off of me," she barked, yanking her arm against Laurent's hold. "Fucking animals. All of you are fucking animals."
Seeing the tears and fear brimming her beautiful eyes, Edward's mouth tightened on his teeth. He wanted to shred muscle and bone, watch a motherfucker bleed, right then. Every nerve in his body grew taut, and he took a long calming breath that did nothing for him. Through clenched teeth, Edward gestured toward the church doors. "Let's get this show on the road, I have shit to do."
The lackey stepped around the mayor and opened the door to the church. Once they were all inside, he gave Laurent a nod, and his man escorted a very angry and scared Bella up the aisle. "James, get my money."
James met the other man toe to toe, yanking the briefcase from his grasp. Without hiding his contempt, James spit straight in the other man's face. When the man faltered backward, stunned, but didn't seem to want to fight, James smiled. "Chicken shit."
Without another word, James turned on his heel and left the church with Edward's money in tow. Edward watched his man go before turning his attention to the front of the church. When he spied Pastor Jeffrey's step up to the altar, an amused smile played across his face when the fight went out of his wife.
Edward and Emmett walked side by side until they reached the front pew. Edward pinned the Pastor with an approving nod. "Please proceed, Brother."
Bella threw a confused look over her shoulder, cringing when Winthrop took her by the hand. She looked ready to vomit before she was faced forward by Laurent when the pastor began to speak, his confusion apparent when he spied Edward.
"Is there anyone who can show just cause as to why these two should not be wed?"
The church went eerily silent, only the creak of the bench making a sound as Edward rose, digging in the pocket of his suit. "Pastor Jeffery, these two cannot lawfully be wed because …" Edward unfolded the marriage certificate and held it out as he continued, "the bride is already lawfully wed. To me. A marriage which has been very much consummated…" sending Winthrop a bemused stare, he smiled. "Over and over and over..."
"What the fuck is going on, Cullen?" Winthrop growled, making a grab for Bella. Laurent placed a firm hand in the center of his chest and shoved hard enough to knock him off his feet. "You motherfucker. You will pay for everything. I will see you rotting at the bottom of the river."
The mayor was still sputtering in surprise and confusion as Bella stumbled into Edward's waiting arms. Collecting his bride close to his side, he dropped a kiss to her forehead before urging her to go with Emmett. "Get her out of here for me, and take her home."
Once they turned to leave, Edward's attention returned to the mayor. "I wouldn't bet on that, you wrinkled fucking prick. If you ever come close to me or my family, I will gut you and feed you your own intestines. Have you ever heard of a blood eagle?"
When the mayor's skin paled and his head shook, Edward continued, "The Vikings used to do it to their enemies. They would flay their skin from their back, pull their ribs apart one by one, take their lungs, still filling with oxygen, and throw them over the person's shoulders. It's said to look just like the majestic bird sitting poised on a branch. I would be happy to show you if you fuck with me, Winthrop. I would love every fucking moment too."
Just as Edward was finishing his description of what he'd do to Winthrop the church doors were thrown open, and several police officers filed in, heading straight for the mayor. Charlie led the parade, not sparing anyone but the decrypt old man a look.
Stomping up the aisle, he yanked the city official up from the floor. After punching him square in the jaw, tears filled his eyes. "I am placing you under arrest for murder, kidnapping, false imprisonment, and a slew of other charges." Shoving him in the direction of the awaiting deputies, he turned to Edward and offered him his hand. "Thank you for giving me the courage to break free from that monster. I won't ever forget what you've done for me and my daughter."
Edward placed his hand in the sheriff's and gave it a firm shake. "Find anything in your search, Swan?"
The question left Charlie riveted. Emotion welled in his throat, and he nodded, brushing the sting of tears from his eyes. He choked as the words lodged in his throat making it difficult to speak. "We're going to have to meet up and have a long-long conversation. Found her—locked in his cellar. Must've been there ever since she disappeared. I-I wanted to make sure that monster was in custody, but I'm heading to the hospital to stay with her. Bella—. Renee …"
Understanding dawned on Edward, his brows touching his hairline. The guilt written across the sheriff's face was undeniable. He couldn't imagine having to be the one to tell Bella her mother was alive and had been held against her will for the last decade. Perhaps the news would be better coming from someone she trusted, however.
For the first time ever, sympathy claimed Edward as he studied Charlie. "Want me to tell her?"
Charlie glanced at the silver Audi with his daughter looking in his direction with a curious expression. He had so much regret swimming in circles within him when he spied his daughter's drawn features. Finally, he nodded, "It might be for the best. She will never forgive me for this."
Edward didn't disagree with his statement. If he were in Bella's shoes, nothing short of a miracle would make their relationship right. Releasing a resigned sigh, he said, "I will tell her, but she will more than likely want to go straight to the hospital. My wife isn't one to leave family suffering. She likes to be a part of the healing process."
No further words were exchanged, slowly Edward made his way to the car, letting Charlie escape before dropping into the driver's seat. Clearing his throat, he took Bella's hand and dropped a kiss to her knuckles. He threw a fleeting glance into the backseat where Emmett now sat. "Babe, I have to tell you something but it's not going to—."
Bella shifted awkwardly in her seat. Edward looked like he'd rather jump from a bridge than say whatever was on his mind. Worry gnawed at her stomach, fear wiggling to steal her newfound relief. Suddenly she feared he was about to send her packing. "Just spit it out, Edward. I'm a grown woman and can handle whatever it is."
He nodded, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I know, baby, you are one of the strongest people I know. This—this is on a whole new level and fuck …"
Emmett became restless in the backseat. He didn't want to hear any more lovey-dovey bullshit. His hand fell to the door, prepared to hop out and return home with Laurent and James when Edward's next statement held him frozen to the seat.
"They found your mom. She was locked in Winthrop's cellar, where he has held her prisoner for the last 10 years. Your mom is alive, Bella."
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