I don't own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.
Cheryl and Gabby, thank you for pre-reading, and April, thank you for editing. Any mistakes left are my own.
Ch. 15
EPOV
"Yeah…well, apparently I'm just like her. Because the guy I used to love is an asshole killer."
Her statement hit me hard, like taking a bullet. It hurt to hear her say that, even if it was the truth. She spun around, storming off.
"Bella—" I started to go after her.
"Don't follow me. I'm only going around back," she snapped.
Emmett grabbed me by the elbow and shook his head. "Cuz, let her go."
"I'm not done talking with her," I said angrily. I yanked my arm out of his grip and shoved him away from me.
"What more do you want to tell her? That if her mother dies, she had it coming?" Emmett asked incredulously. "She's right. Her mom is as much of a victim. We've never blamed an abused woman before so don't start now."
"You don't think that after James her mother should've done a background check on Phillip Dwyer?" I demanded.
Emmett shrugged. "Do I think her mother should've been paranoid enough to background every guy for the rest of her life? No. And why does it fall on only her mother? Why aren't you placing any of the blame on Chief Swan or Bella, herself? It was Chief who asked us to get rid of James. Renée didn't know until after the deed was done."
He had a point. I rubbed my forehead and nodded. "I'm going to go apologize."
"Before you do," Jasper broke in. "Since you seem to have forgotten, we did do a background check on Dwyer, just after you two broke up. The guy's record appeared to be clean as a whistle—not even a traffic violation. And ironically, he donates to a battered woman's shelter every year. So even if Renée did do a basic search, she wouldn't have gotten anything that would've given her a warning," Jasper pointed out.
"Why was I never told?" I demanded.
"Because you were barely among the living. Since there was nothing to tell, we didn't bother," Emmett stated.
I sighed, then made my way to the back yard. I paused at the corner of the house, watching her. She was curled into the chair, staring off into the woods, looking sad and worried. I knew her well enough to also recognize that she was calculating something. I had to make sure my apology was good, so she didn't run, thinking she was better off without us.
But at the moment, I was flooded with memories of summers spent in this yard. From telling ghost stories as kids in the tent to her sitting on my lap while making s'mores as teens. I still couldn't think of the sweet treat without getting hard. The memory that stood out the most was dancing with her and laughing under the stars.
"I asked you not to follow me. Leave before I start chucking pinecones at you." She glared over her shoulder at me.
"I came to apologize. Again. You're right, it was unfair to put any of the blame on your mother. When it comes to your safety I tend to go overboard. But it is only because I care so much about you," I said.
She frowned and looked skeptical. "Does this mean you will help her?"
"Of course," I agreed, knowing Bella wouldn't rest until her mother was safe.
Bella stood, looking confident. "I've something to tell you that you're not going to like."
"What is it?" I asked cautiously.
"I want Emmett to train me so I'm better prepared," she stated.
I nodded. "I actually agree with you."
She tilted her head and looked even more determined. "That's not all. I want to do everything I can to help. It's me they want, so I can be bait to lure them into a trap."
My heart jumped to my throat and I had to bite my tongue from telling her no. "Bella, I don't think you understand how dangerous it would be."
"Rose did it," she said stubbornly.
"Yes, and it almost got her killed." I clenched my jaw and tried to think of a solution we could both live with. "I'll make a deal with you."
"I'm not agreeing to anything until I hear the terms," she responded.
I looked at her pleadingly. "My only condition is that you let Emmett and Jasper make the decision on whether you're ready for a mission like this."
She scowled. "Why?"
"Because, if it were up to me, I'd never agree to it since I'd be too concerned you'd get hurt. You'd be too focused on helping your mother that you wouldn't realize your limitations. My cousins will be impartial with their judgement," I explained my reasonings.
Bella looked back at the woods, then down at her feet as she appeared to be thinking over what I said. I hoped she would agree easily with my request. I trusted my cousins to make a fair verdict. Whereas my father and Uncle Peter would be all to willing to let her help.
"Either way, we will save your mom. I promise," I told her.
"Okay. I'll agree if it means she will be saved," Bella said.
"Thank you." I smiled at her.
"I should be thanking you." She rubbed her arms.
Are you cold?" I asked. I wished I was wearing my jacket so I could offer it.
"Only a little. I need to go shopping for some warmer clothes if I'm going to be up here for a while. I didn't bring very much with me," she said.
"I can take you when we get back to Chicago. Or if you prefer, I know Rose and Tanya are always up for shopping," I suggested.
"Yeah…I'm not sure my idea of shopping is the same as those two. I need a store like Walmart or Target. But I might take you up on your offer."
"Let's go back inside to talk more," I suggested hopefully.
"Actually, I was hoping for a run. I need to stretch my legs," she said.
"I don't think you should go running alone," I informed her.
She rolled her eyes and smirked. "You're welcome to join me if you think you can keep up."
"I know better than that." I snickered. "How many times have you left me in the dust?"
She laughed. "I don't think I can count that high."
"Funny," I said dryly, but I was pleased to see her laughing.
Emmett came around the corner quickly and I could tell something was up, judging by the look on his face.
"Hey, Shrek, feel like going on a run? I never got that rematch," Bella teased.
He gave a her a half smile. "It'll have to be some other time. The camera Jasper and I set up down the road alerted us to a car coming this way."
"We need to get into the house." I pulled out my gun and then wrapped one arm around Bella, leading her toward the backdoor. I paused when I realized what I was doing. I dropped my arm and give her a guilty expression.
"Sorry," I apologized.
She gave me a small smile. "That's okay."
"We need to move now." Emmett hurried us along.
We entered through the kitchen and made our way to the living room. The room was dark and all the curtains were drawn. Jasper was peeking out the one closest to the door.
"Do you have the magazine for this?" Bella held up the gun he had given her.
Jasper looked over his shoulder. "There's one on the coffee table."
Bella walked over and picked it up. Before I could ask if she needed help loading it, she locked it in like a pro.
"Have you seen it yet?" I asked.
"No." Jasper shook his head. "It's a small, red Volkswagen Rabbit. The driver is tall and not Caucasian.
"Wait, I think I might know him." Bella relaxed. "It sounds like it might be Jake. He's the son of one of my dad's friends. He gave me a ride from the airport here. He wasn't happy leaving me alone."
I frowned and tried to ignore the feeling of jealousy that she had asked this Jake for help but initially didn't want ours.
"You called him from Chicago to pick you up from the airport?" Emmett asked, grimacing.
"No. It was a stroke of luck. He and two others were at the airport at the same time as me. He insisted on giving me a ride since he thought an Uber would be a bad idea," she explained.
"So, Jake is from Forks?" Jasper questioned, looking unhappy.
"No, the reservation close by. Why, what's wrong?" Bella furrowed her eyebrows.
"Maybe nothing. Let's just hope he wasn't followed," Jasper answered. "I don't think we should let our guard down yet."
"Agreed," I said.
"He pulled in." Jasper dropped the curtain.
Bella went over to his side and looked out. "It's Jacob," she confirmed. "Let me go talk to him."
"I don't think that's a good idea." I took a step toward her.
"If I don't and he can't find me, he might alert the police," she pointed out.
"Let her go, we don't need an APB out on Isabella Swan in Washington state," Emmett said.
Bella made her way to the front door. She slipped her gun in the waist of the back of her pants, covering it with her sweatshirt. When she opened it, she didn't seem surprised that I was standing right behind her. I grabbed her jacket off the hook and handed it to her.
"Thank you. You might want to stow that since you don't want to look hostile." She looked at my gun.
"Right." I got my own coat and slipped my piece into the pocket after I put it on.
"Jake, what are you doing back here?" Bella gave him a huge smile as she walked toward him.
Another surge of jealously nipped at me, I wanted her to smile at me like that. A tall guy, who looked around our age but could give Emmett a run for the most muscle, stepped out of what could pass for a clown car. He looked at her, then at me.
"I wanted to check on you. You weren't at your dad's cabin, so I grew worried." Jake shifted his gaze to me. "I thought you wanted to be alone?"
"Originally, that was the plan. Turns out the house doesn't have heat so that means no water in the winter either. Thankfully, some old friends came up for their own vacay and offered to let me stay with them," Bella explained.
"Yeah, I knew about the water and heat. Which is why I was concerned." Jake didn't look convinced about her story.
"You didn't call him, did you? I asked you not to mention to him that I was here." Bella started to get upset at him.
"Chill. I talked my dad. I only asked him how often Chief used his cabin for ice fishing and if we could join him sometime. I tried calling you first, but your step-father picked up," Jake defended himself.
Bella paled. "Did you tell him where I was?"
"No. I figured if Charlie couldn't know, then he couldn't either." Jacob looked insulted.
"We might have a problem," Emmett muttered.
I turned to see that Jasper and Emmett had joined us on the porch. Emmett bounced down a few steps towards Jake. He placed a hand on Bella's shoulder and faced her friend.
"Emmett Cullen. Nice to meet you." He held out his hand.
"Jacob." Jake shook it lightly but looked at me again. "Your name is Cullen? Does that make one of you Edward?"
I raised an eyebrow and nodded. "That would be me."
"Bells, can I talk to you for a moment?" Jake asked her.
"Go for it." She nodded curtly.
"Alone," he hinted.
"Why?" she asked suspiciously.
"It will only take a moment," Jake insisted.
"Don't let me stop you. We will be over here." Emmett walked backward a few steps before he spun and around and jogged up the steps.
"Do you think he was followed?" he asked, joining me at the railing.
"Very possible, I'm keeping an eye out." Jasper was on his phone.
"Let's go for a walk, Bells." Jake reached for her arm and she shrugged him off.
Bella glanced at me then back at him. "No. I'd rather stay here. What's up?"
I was happy to hear her say that because I didn't want her out of my sight. This kid could have led trouble straight to us. Jacob however seemed to disagree. He glared at me with a look of hatred.
"Are you back with this joker?" Jake demanded angrily.
I gripped the railing tightly before pushing off. I was about to storm down there when Emmett elbowed me and shook his head slightly. I crossed my arms instead and watched the scene in front of us unfold.
"I fail to see how it's any of your business," Bella responded.
The oaf flung his arms out to the side. "I gave you a ride here. I think I have the right to know if it was to meet for a fuck. Or maybe it's some group interaction. Is that why you didn't want me to tell your father?"
"That's it." I started down the steps. No one was going to call or insinuate she was a slut without repercussions. I froze when Bella started yelling.
"Who the hell do you think you are? I'm thankful for the ride that you insisted on giving me. But I would've been content with an Uber. Even if I did ask, that still doesn't give you any right to any personal information about my life." Bella looked furious.
"He hurt you, why would you give him another chance? I should tell your dad you're meeting with him," Jake whined.
Bella held up one finger and shook it at him. "First of all, we only met through our dads and barely know each other. We fished together all of what…six times?"
Emmett snorted, and Bella whirled around on him and pointed the same finger at him.
"Don't turn it into something dirty, Shrek."
Emmett held up both hands. "Hey, I'm the good guy." However, the expression on his face was telling me he was clearly enjoying this.
Bella turned back to Jake. "Second, all break ups are painful, especially long-term ones. We went to separate schools, so it was bound to happen. If we reconnect or not, it's only our business and no one else's. I won't have anyone tell me how to live my own life and what I can or can't handle. Got it?"
Somehow I felt that last line was more for me than Jacob.
"Got it. Jeesh. I'm just trying to be a good friend." Jacob pouted.
Some of the anger left her face and she frowned. "Thank you for your concern. However, I'm fine. I think you should go."
"Bitch," he snapped, then headed for the car.
I stormed forward only to be met by Bella, who placed both her hands on my chest, pushing me back. I was caught off guard how nice it was to have her touch me again—even if was only to stop me. Her eyes met mine with a stern but gentle expression.
"Let it go," she said loudly over the squealing of his tires backing up.
"After what he just called you?" I demanded.
"Well, he wasn't wrong. I was being a bit of a bitch, while he had good intentions. I just lost my temper since we barely know each other and he was trying to tell me what to do," Bella retorted. She realized she was still touching me and dropped her hands.
Bella turned toward Emmett. "I need a run. Think you can keep up?"
"Me keep up? I think you should worry about yourself." Emmett smirked, bounding down the steps. "To the beach and back."
"Don't be gone too long," Jasper advised.
They took off running and Bella left him in the dust before they were both out of sight. Jasper snickered behind me and then his phone went off.
"Shit! We have another problem!" He ran into the house.
I followed him quickly as he patted down the jackets and rifled through the pockets. The drawer of the end table was already out.
"What?"
"A dark sedan with tinted windows, came in as Jacob drove out. Where are the keys?" Jasper demanded.
"Emmett had them last," I reminded him and spied the ones on the hook. "Looks like we're taking the golf cart." I snatched them.
"Hardly a white horse, but it'll have to do," Jasper said as a pair of keys fell out Emmett's jacket pocket on to the floor. "Even better."
"Let's get a move on, Bella was out-pacing Emmett," I yelled over my shoulder, as I was already out of the house. I prayed we weren't too late.
A/N: So how did Edward handle Bella wanting to help? Do you think the boys will get to her in time?
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.
