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. 21 EPOV
My father burst into the room just before I did what I swore I would never do—ask Bella to stay in Chicago. She had made it clear she wasn't planning on staying, and I knew it was the right thing. I would be selfish for wanting to keep her here.
"Let's get started, shall we?" Dad announced.
"Where do you want to begin?" Jasper asked calmly, leaning against the bookcase.
Bella walked away from me and took a seat next Emmett on the couch. I followed her and sat on the arm rest.
"How much do you know about your stepfather's dealings with Afton Costa?" Dad asked.
"Not much." Bella shrugged. "Phil has worked for him as long as I've known him. I thought he was Mr. Costa's accountant."
"Has he ever been abusive toward your mother or yourself?" Uncle Peter asked her.
"No. He's been very opinionated that I was wasting my time with a college degree. He was also unhappy Charlie gave me kickbox lessons for my birthday. He didn't think it was very ladylike. I always thought he had old-fashioned values about women and brushed it off," Bella answered.
"He paid for school for you right? Why would he if he thought you shouldn't further your education?" Dad questioned.
"I don't know. I assumed my mother talked him into it. We always had an agreement I would pay him back though," Bella said.
"Yeah. I think the two of you had two different ideas of paying it back," Emmett scoffed.
Bella whipped her head toward him and visibly paled.
"Possibly. But I think only after he got desperate to pay Afton back. Phil would've had to be a complete idiot to think he could sell Bella with Charlie in the picture," Jasper brought up.
"I completely agree." Uncle Peter nodded. "There's no way Bella's disappearance wouldn't have been noticeable by Charlie. Dwyer had to have been desperate."
"What will happen to him now that he doesn't have me to sell?" Bella asked, looking concerned.
I cringed at how nonchalantly she talked about being sold. "Why are you worried about that asshole?"
"I'm not. I'm concerned how anything that might happen to him would affect my mother," she said, glancing up at me with a frown. "Garrett said she was untouchable as a wife. But if Afton is angry with him, does it mean all protection is off."
Dad tapped his fingers on the desk. "I imagine Dwyer may lose his life. And quite possibly your mother also, for knowing too much."
Bella bit her lip and wrapped one arm around herself. One of her knees started to bounce. I placed my hand on her shoulder and gave her a small squeeze.
"If Renée is in danger, we need to move sooner rather than later," I announced.
Dad seemed hesitant. "We will help her. However, we need to think this through and not rush in rashly. There are more than just Renée who are in jeopardy that we need to consider."
"We're seriously not going to wait as long as Valentine's Day, are we?" Jasper questioned.
Dad shook his head. "No. I'm thinking a week—two max. We have to be firm on the details. We need to know where these women are being kept. That is, if they're being kept or if they have not even been taken yet. We need to know the layout of the building and other areas like the backs of our hands."
"We'll need to get confirmation from Garrett, but it looks like they use the country club as their cover. At least, that was where the girls who were up for sale were being shown off." Jasper used finger quotes around sale.
"Girls? Are the others underage?" Uncle Peter wrinkled his nose.
Jasper glanced at Bella. She gave a small shrug before answering. "If I were to guess, I'd say they ranged from high school to my age."
"Babies." Dad shook his head in distaste. "Absolutely disgusting."
"What about the boy who led the Costas to you, should we be concerned he's a part of this?" Uncle Peter asked, looking at each of us in turn but ending with Bella.
"Jacob? I highly doubt it. His father and my dad are fishing buddies. He was being an overbearing jerk when he came to check on me. He thought I was there to think about colleges, he didn't know why I was really running," Bella responded.
"You thought Dwyer was harmless, too," I muttered under my breath. Bella shot me a glare, apparently insulted by my comment.
Emmett looked over her head and subtly shook his head.
"Was there ever anything between you and this Jake that had ended in a way that he'd want revenge?" Uncle Peter pressed.
"No. We barely associated. There were a few times I went fishing with my father in La Push, and he was there. We've talked…" She hesitated. "He did know about and my messy break up with Edward. But that was the extent to it."
"To be safe, I want Alice to look into him." Dad glanced at Jasper, who nodded.
Dad walked to the front of his desk and leaned against it. "When the time comes, one of us should remain here to protect the ladies. I won't have any of them unprotected. Especially with Rose in her delicate condition." He shot me a look.
"Agreed. But. I. Am. Going," I stated.
There was no way Bella would go without me. If she was heading in, then I was going to be there. Dad nodded in agreement, thankfully he wasn't going to argue with me.
"I assumed as much. I plan to be there as well. So that leaves you three." He turned to my cousin. "Emmett, we may need your muscle, but I'd understand if you don't want to leave Rose."
"I'll stay here," Uncle Peter promised before Em could answer.
"Then it's settled," Dad said decisively.
I braced myself for Bella to speak up about her wishes to go with us. I was surprised she remained silent. Both my cousins were watching her closely too.
"Boys, I suggest we move down to the gym and get some training in before everyone takes off for the night," Dad concluded.
"Do you mind if I join?" Bella asked. "It's been a few days since I really worked out. Emmett has agreed to work with me on practicing my self-defense."
"Of course. We always encourage you women to protect yourselves," Dad agreed.
I didn't like the idea of him or Uncle Peter in the room as she trained. They had a tendency to push to hard.
"Aren't you too tired? You didn't sleep much," I pointed out.
"I feel fine. Besides, nothing like a good workout to sleep well," Bella said.
"Exactly. Not to mention if she is tired, it's the best way to test her." Peter nodded.
Bella gave him a hesitant look. Emmett frowned and shifted in his seat.
"To be clear, I will be helping her," Emmett stated firmly.
"You maybe too friendly with her and hold back." Peter frowned.
"Oh, trust me, I don't plan on holding back with Shrek." Bella smirked.
"Shrek? Do I want to know?" Dad raised an eyebrow.
Bella laughed. "A nickname earned from a first impression."
Days
It took everything in me not to intercede between Bella and Emmett's sparring. She was holding her own just fine. In fact, better than fine, but still it irked me with every swing Emmett took at her. I was caught off-guard by a punch to my ribs.
"What the fuck?" I growled.
"Pay attention." Jasper rolled his eyes. "You keep getting sidetracked."
"Can you blame me?" I still couldn't take my eyes off them.
"Yes," Jasper said firmly. "Worst case scenario is if she's in the room during a fight; you can't afford to be this distracted." He gave me a look of concern.
"You're right," I conceded. I ran my hand through my hair.
I spent the next few minutes focused on boxing with Jasper. Every time I glanced at Bella, Jasper made sure to get a punch in, teaching me a lesson. I was going to be covered in black and blue in the morning.
At one point, Bella flipped Emmett on to his back and was proudly smirking down at him. It was then my uncle grabbed her from behind, wrenching her arms back, causing her to wince in pain.
I headed for them, my hands balled into fists. "Let her go."
Jasper caught my arm, trying to stop me. "Easy, Anthony."
Uncle Peter gave me a harsh look. "Let her do this. She needs to learn not to let her guard—"
Uncle Peter was cut off when Bella reared her head back, slamming it into his face. As soon as his grip loosened, she elbowed him in the gut and swept her leg, knocking him off balance and he went crashing on the ground next to Emmett.
"Not to let my guard down." Bella looked down at him, then glanced over her shoulder quickly.
Uncle Peter sat up and started laughing crazily, as my dad joined him. Uncle Peter wiped the blood from his nose and glanced at it, only to laugh harder.
"She got you, Pete." Dad snorted.
"She did. Emmett, go see if your dad is home. I think she broke it," Uncle Peter said, pinching his nose, wincing.
"Sorry," Bella said unapologetically.
"Never apologize for defending yourself," Dad said as his laughter died down.
"Maybe we should take her with us," Uncle Peter suggested.
I tensed and yanked myself from Jasper's grip. Bella's eyes flashed to mine in concern, but I was surprised when she didn't jump at the chance.
"I think I'm ready to call it a day," she announced.
I nodded. "I'll bring you home," I said. I glanced at my father to see if he would press us to stay.
He was studying Bella with a thoughtful look that I didn't like. I could tell he was on the same page as Uncle Peter. I wrapped one arm around Bella and guided her to our things, which were placed off to the side earlier. She winced slightly as I helped her put her coat on.
"Are you hurt? We can wait until Uncle Carlisle checks you out," I suggested.
"I'm fine. Nothing a hot shower and a good night's sleep won't fix," she said.
I hit the remote starter and grabbed her things from her, so she didn't have to. We were almost out the door when my father called out to us.
"Anthony. I want to hear immediately if Garrett contacts you," he reminded me.
"Of course, Father." I gave him a curt nod.
Days
We cruised through the streets in silence—a comfortable silence. Bella glanced out the windows, watching everything with interest while rubbing her arms. I reached over and turned up the heat and angled the vent toward her. She gave me a grateful look.
"I think living in Florida has made you a cold wimp," I teased.
She stuck out her tongue at me. "Can we stop? I want a milkshake." She nodded at the golden arches.
"You're cold, but you want a milkshake?" I chuckled.
"Unless you know a place that makes something like the avalanche." She smiled.
"Not off the top of my head. I'll have to do some research." I turned into the drive-thru line.
She kept her head ducked out of sight while I paid and received our orders. She hadn't worn a wig to my parents' house since there was no need. She sipped on her drink as we made our way back to the building.
"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked as I watched her grimace as she got out of the car.
"Yes, I'm sure. How about yourself? You took a few good hits," she questioned.
"You saw that?" I avoided her concerned gaze. "I'm fine."
"If you say so." Her lips flattened into a thin line and she headed for the elevator.
I followed behind her. "I'm not lying."
"I didn't say you were," she answered flatly, the earlier peaceful mood gone.
"Do you think it would be all right to call my mother tomorrow morning? Hopefully, I can catch her while Phil is at work." Her voice was subdued.
"I'm sure Alice will be happy to set it up," I answered her.
"I'm surprised you didn't jump at the chance when my uncle mentioned you joining us," I said as the elevator started to move.
"I told you I would trust Emmett and Jasper's opinions on it. Which is pretty moot since they don't appear to be impartial as you suggested." She raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not going to apol—" I stopped as I realized I was about to repeat my father's mantra.
"I would never ask you to." Bella gave me a sad smile. "Besides, I made the decision not to volunteer to go."
"You did. Why?" I asked in surprise.
"Because I won't apologize for keeping you safe," she stated.
"Me?" I was even more confused.
"I had a conversation with Rose. And I realized she was very right about something—tonight proved it. If I were there, you'd be too distracted and get hurt trying to help me. I want to help my mother, but not at the risk of letting anything happen to you." She bit her lip and stared at the lit elevator buttons.
"Nothing is going to happen to me," I vowed.
"That's not something you can promise me, Edward," she said sadly.
Past criticism from my uncle and father echoed in my head. "Are you saying I'm weak," I said, harsher than I meant too.
"Of course not. I'm saying you're not invincible. You're going into a dangerous situation because of me. There's a chance that you, or your cousins or your dad, could get hurt. To believe nothing could happen is unrealistic," she snapped and stepped off the elevator.
I shut my eyes briefly and then followed her. I reached for her hand and tugged on it to get her to look up at me.
"I'm sorry. You're right about the danger. But not why I'm in it. That's not your fault. I will be involved in this regardless of you or your mom," I said apologetically.
"That's not going to make me worry any less." Emotion swirled in her eyes.
It was similar to the looks I'd seen my mother give my dad or Alice to Jasper. "This is why she can't be in Chicago," I thought as I touched the picture.
"What?" Bella's looked like I slapped her. I realized I had spoken out loud.
"Bella—"
Her hurt quickly turned to something I didn't expect. "Come with me?"
"What?" I was caught off-guard.
"You're right, I'm not meant for this type of life. But I don't think you are either. You should be happy and you're not. Seeing your father and uncle tonight, no offense, but they seem half crazy. And if you're not careful, you could be headed down the same path. You can still help abused girls and children in other ways that won't slowly destroy you. Come with me?" she repeated.
A/N: As you can see Anthony and Uncle Peter have some issues. And Bella is picking up on it. Thoughts about What Bella asked Edward?
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.
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