A/N: OMG I am so BLOWN away by your reviews and likes/favorites of this story. You have no idea how much I love hearing your theories and thoughts. If there are any questions that I can answer I will do so here in the author notes. None so far. You guys are getting spoiled lately. I need to change my posting schedule around so I will be posting this story on Fridays instead of Sunday. So, you are getting this chapter a couple of days early, yay! Thanks to Maplestyle, BitterHarpy, and Agoodwitch-my prereading team and Alice's White Rabbit for her red pen skills. Love you guys so much! I will switch POV every once in a while, but it is not repetitive. Let's hear from Edward, shall we.
EPOV
I woke with a start. Sunlight was streaming in through the windows, and a glance at the clock told me it was seven AM. I sat up in bed and scrubbed my hands over my face. Last night was not restful at all. The first time Katiya screamed, Bella rushed in the room, and she was screaming in Russian. Once Bella woke her up, she cried for a straight 10 minutes and wouldn't let Bella leave her. She carried Katiya to the couch and held her until she passed out from exhaustion. When Bella and I decided to call it a night, she carried the little girl back to their room. I'd been woken up by her screaming and speaking Russian two more times.
After taking a shower, I headed to the kitchen to make breakfast. I made pancakes, which was simple and easy to make a lot. I'd already drunk a full cup of coffee when Bella stumbled out of the room she shared with Katiya. She looked exhausted, but she was still beautiful, and her pajamas killed me.
"Morning, soldier."
"God, my body feels like it's been on the front lines. That kid is cute, but she kicks hard when she's having a nightmare," she explained and plopped onto the chair at the breakfast bar.
I chuckled and shook my head.
"Why are you in such a good mood? You obviously got less sleep than me," she asked, gesturing to all the food.
"I was in the military, and I'm now a U.S Marshall, Bella. I've gone days with only a few hours of sleep."
"Mmmm," she hummed, and I looked up to see she was about to face-plant into the countertop. I stopped her head from hitting it and picked her up bridal style without a thought. I headed to my bedroom. Bella snapped to attention. "Why am I moving?"
"You were about to knock yourself out on my countertop." I laid her down in my bed and covered her with the blanket. "Get some rest, sleepy girl."
"What about Katiya?"
"I got this—give us time to bond."
She opened her eyes to give me a skeptical look. "Edward—"
"I'll be nice and gentle. Now, no more arguing. I gotta leave around noon so you need to rest up before then."
She agreed, and I waited for her breathing to even out before I quietly left the room. I wasn't going to think about an attractive woman being in my bed. I wanted to kiss her badly the night before, but I was glad we were interrupted. I was really into Bella and had been since we started flirting. Seeing her in a different environment and how selfless she was made me want her all the more. The situation we were in, though, wasn't conducive to romance or a relationship. Plus, she was thinking seriously about becoming this girl's mom. I had no issues with adoption or Bella wanting kids, but the little girl had been through enough. I didn't want to hurt her more by possibly leaving when I learned I couldn't hack it as a dad. I fisted my hair and hyped myself up like I was about to go in the boxing ring and went to wake up Katiya.
I opened the door and gently shook her awake. She blinked at me sleepily. "Hey, pretty girl. Bella's taking a nap. Do you want some breakfast?" She nodded at me shyly. I offered her my hand, led her to the kitchen, and got her seated at the breakfast bar. "All right, do you want peanut butter or syrup on your pancakes?"
She gave me a puzzled look. "Peanut butter?"
"Oh, yeah, it's so good." I took a pancake and slathered it with peanut butter and poured syrup on it. I took a big forkful and ate it. I cut another bite and offered it to her to try. She looked at it and hesitantly took the fork. She tried it and her eyes lit up. She hummed a "yum," and I smiled at her. "Peanut butter?" I asked her. She nodded and I gave her two pancakes and a glass of milk. We ate in silence, and when she was done, I got all the stickiness from her hands and face cleaned up. We went to Bella's and her room to grab her clothes. "I have no fashion sense when it comes to girls' clothes, so you don't want me to pick your outfit."
She giggled. "Bella usually lets me pick what I want."
"Okay, I'll leave you to it and be waiting in the living room for you."
She gave me a salute, and I bowed before exiting the room. I found myself enjoying my morning with her when I didn't get too wrapped up in if I was saying or doing the right thing. We watched some cartoons together and started a puzzle. She smiled shyly every time I called her pretty girl. I went and woke Bella up at 11—she needed to eat, and I needed to show her some stuff before I left. I opened the door and was stopped short by how peaceful and beautiful she looked. She had one hand tucked under her chin and the other hugging my pillow to her. She was on her stomach and her hair was fanned out across the pillow. I had to shake myself out of my trance and lightly started rubbing her arm to wake her up, calling her name. She opened those amazing eyes and smiled at me sleepily.
"Hey," she said, her voice raspy from sleep.
"Time to get up, sleeping beauty."
"Yes, sir." She gave me a smart-ass smile, and I felt my jaw twitch. I wanted to do very naughty things to her when she called me that, but I had to smile because I told her to call me that.
I grabbed her chin and said good girl and kissed her forehead. I felt her breathing pick up and smiled to myself. I told her to go get dressed while fingering the strap of her tank top, and she nodded, heading to her shared room. I put some soup I had made a day ago on to warm and made some sandwiches. I pulled down bowls and spoons. Katiya skipped in the room, looking for me. I asked her to put the bowls and spoons on the table and to grab three glasses. She nodded and got to work. Bella came out wearing a simple cotton shirt and a long skirt. Hmm, easy access. I looked away from her and sighed. I was going to hell for sure.
I gave Katiya the platter of sandwiches and brought over the pot of soup, and we all sat together. Once everyone had served themselves, Bella wanted to know how our morning went. I let Katiya answer.
"I like Edward, Bella. He put peanut butter and syrup on my pancakes, and he calls me pretty girl," she exclaimed, beaming.
Bella looked a little surprised but played it up for the little girl, who already had her heart and was slowly stealing mine. "Does he now? Well, that just means he has good taste because you are the prettiest girl. And guess what? I like peanut butter on my pancakes too."
The little girl smiled at her and nodded. We talked more about our morning while we ate lunch. Katiya went off to color in the guest room, which was set up as a temporary playroom for her, while Bella and I cleaned up from lunch. When we were done, I took her to the wall safe I had in my living room and pulled out one of my spare handguns. "Do you know how to use one of these?"
"Kinda. My dad took me to the shooting range as a teenager. It's been years, though." She looked at the gun, took the clip out, checked it, and put it back in and flipped the safety off. "Like riding a bike."
I was a little amazed, and it was hot that she knew what she was doing. I shook off that thought. "When I'm not here, you are armed, 100 percent of the time. Even going to the bathroom." She nodded, and I gave her an ankle holster. She strapped it on, turned the safety back on, and holstered the gun. "Okay, I'm going to walk you through the alarm system and give you the codes. Listen and memorize them."
I walked her through the alarm system I had, what the different alarms meant, how to disengage it, the codes, everything. Then I had her repeat the instructions to me three times over, making sure she remembered.
"How long are you gonna be gone?"
"Hopefully not long. It's all about keeping up appearances. Until I am 'reassigned' to other things, code for protecting you, I can't raise suspicions as to where I am. I also need information about the case, Bella. I think Katiya's parents may be key to figuring out who's behind this and why."
She leaned in close to me. "I don't think those people were her parents—at least, not her birth parents."
"I had the same thoughts. I promise I'll be back as soon as I can." Before I could do anything, she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into her body. I hugged her back and kissed her forehead before I had to tear myself away or I wouldn't go. I told Katiya that I was leaving, and she gave me a shy hug and kiss to my cheek. I made my way to my car on high alert and hoped they were safe while I was gone.
BPOV
I watched Edward leave with my anxiety spiking the farther he got away from the house. Katiya came skipping into the room and tilted her head. Looking at me.
"Bella, are you and Edward married."
I chuckled and motioned for her to come sit next to me. "No, pretty girl," I said, adopting Edward's nickname for her. "Why do you ask that?"
"Well, you slept in his room, and he hugs you a lot. My mom and daddy shared a room and hugged each other a lot."
"But you and I share a room. And Edward and I aren't sharing a room—I just took a nap in there. Edward and I are friends, but we don't know each other well enough to make that kind of commitment to each other."
"So, you don't love him?"
I swallowed, trying to answer that question delicately. "I care about him, and he cares about us."
Katiya nodded and looked deep in thought.
"Do you want to tell me a little about your parents?"
"Sure." She scooted closer to me, and I opened my arms so she could snuggle in. We sat there for a while as she told me some of the good memories with her parents, and I was glad to hear that regardless of who her parents might have been she was well taken care of; she was loved.
"I heard Daddy yelling more and Momma crying more often before the bad guys came. I don't know why?"
"I bet they would be so proud of you."
We sat and watched TV, and I told her about my family. She just kept asking questions, and I was grateful because she was keeping me distracted from thinking about Edward. We were laughing about something on TV when Edward called.
"Hey, Edward. How are things?"
"You need to stay away from the windows and get to my room. Hide in the closet."
"What's—"
"Someone here is the dirty cop. I was asking around, trying to find out some information, and whoever it is freaked. There's evidence and reports that are now missing, Bella. My address is on payroll and HR files that only admin can view. If it's someone in that position, then they know where you are. I'm on my way, but I don't know if they're on their way or how far ahead of me they are." My blood ran cold, and I picked up Katiya without a word and headed to Edward's room. We both smooshed into the closet, and I told Edward we were hidden. I heard one of Edward's alarms going off and told him I was getting out of the closet.
"Bella, don't do that."
"Edward, if someone is here and I have to shoot, or they get back here, there's more of a chance of a ricochet if I'm sitting in the closet with Katiya. She's my first priority."
"Fuck," I heard him swear on the other end of the line. "At least, stay in my room."
"Yes, sir," I said in a mock soldier voice. I heard him chuckle and sigh.
"I'm here. Someone is here—get in the fucking closet." I heard him say and he hung up. I heard footsteps in the hall and knew that Edward hadn't made it inside that soon. I crept silently back to the closet and waited quietly with Katiya. Every time I heard a gunshot, I wanted to vault out of the closet and go help him, but I knew my aim was probably not worth much after all my years of not shooting a gun. Finally, after what seemed too long, there was silence, and I heard Edward call my name. Katiya and I rushed out of the closet, following his voice. There was chaos when we entered the living room. The glass from his windows was shattered. There were several bullet holes in the walls. What scared me more than the bullets and shattered glass was the blood. I followed the trail to find Edward holding his shoulder.
"Edward!" I was by his side in an instant.
"It's just a graze."
"Shirt off," I ordered as I went to the bathroom and grabbed the first aid kit.
Edward pulled his shirt off and winced. "If you wanted me out of my clothes, Bell, you just had to ask."
I smiled and shook my head. "You're incorrigible."
I had to admit it was a little distracting to have him bare-chested in front of me. He had ink all over his chest and arms. His chest was toned, and his abs were defined. He had a six-pack for sure, and I wanted to run my tongue along the ridges of his muscles. I focused on his shoulder where the injury was. He was right. It was just a graze, but it was pretty deep and bleeding heavily. I asked him if he had a needle and thread because it needed to be stitched. His dad actually was a doctor, so he had the actual supplies for them. I found them where he told me they were and set to stitching the skin together. I did it quickly and with as little pain as I could manage. I was very practiced in stitches because people in the ER needed stitches a lot. Edward took it with no complaints and looked surprised when I was done.
"That didn't even hurt."
"Not my first rodeo, Edward," I teased and finished cleaning his shoulder and bandaging over the stitches. When I finished, I started putting the supplies away. He grabbed my chin and looked me straight in the eyes. I was shocked by how green his were.
"Seriously, thank you, Bella."
"You're welcome. It helps to have a nurse around, doesn't it?"
Edward chuckled and kissed my forehead. I gave him a small smile and put the small medical kit away in the bathroom. The next couple hours were spent cleaning the mass chaos and packing our bags again. Edward gave me a small duffel bag for Katiya's stuff, and I repacked my bag. We cleaned up the glass and got the windows covered. We were moving locations in the next few hours once Edward heard back from his person. We couldn't stay another night because, obviously, someone knew we were here. I wasn't excited to move again, but Edward told me this was the reality of the situation we were in. Alice, being the saint that she is, brought an already packed and easily moved kit of activities for Katiya and some more clothes for her and me, seeing as how I had the bare minimum when it came to clothes. Katiya had been really quiet since we came out of the closet, so when Edward went to make dinner, I pulled her aside to talk to her.
"Hey, pretty girl. How are you doing? Some pretty scary stuff today, huh?"
She nodded and hugged me. She crawled into my lap and clung to me. It broke my heart. "Why did Edward get hurt, Bella?"
"Well, there were some bad guys who were trying to find us, and Edward had to use a gun to keep that from happening, and the bad guy used a gun as well. The bullet from the gun missed him, but just barely, so it still cut him, but he'll be okay."
"Are you gonna get hurt too?" she asked me with wide eyes, looking like she was about to cry.
"Oh, honey, I can't tell you if that will happen in the future, but I'm gonna try my hardest to stay safe. Okay. Edward and I will take care of anyone who might try to hurt you."
Katiya nodded and I hugged her to me. I played with her hair and held her, giving her as much comfort as I could. I looked toward the doorway and saw Edward just watching us. He gave me a warm smile. He cleared his throat, and Katiya looked toward him.
"Hey. You want to set the table, pretty girl," he asked her.
She gave him a bright smile and skipped to the kitchen with him following her. I heard him quietly give her instructions, and she answered him shyly. I joined them and sat at the dining room table. We conversed over trivial things during dinner. Katiya asked in her shy voice if Edward would turn a movie on for her, and he went and got her set up in the living room.
While they were otherwise involved, I let the reality of what happened today crash down on me. I gripped the counter and tried to breathe through the panic. Today was a close call, even though Katiya and I weren't front and center for everything that was happening; there was someone in the house, intending to hurt a seven-year-old girl. An innocent child, who saw something no kid should ever have to see. I bent down and rested my head on my folded forearms, feeling the tears start to fall. I felt warm hands on my shoulders. Edward turned me around and pulled me into an embrace. I clung to him with all the strength I had. He was the reason that little girl and I were still alive. I felt guilty that I'd turned his life upside down, but I was also so grateful that he was here helping. He was whispering soothing words, and I tried to stem the tears flowing. He pulled away to look at me, and he wiped the tears with his thumb. I had the strongest urge to kiss him, so I just felt, and I leaned in. Our lips lightly brushed against each other, and suddenly, it turned hungry. He pushed me up against the counter, and I moaned into his mouth, pulling on his shoulders. He nibbled my bottom lip, and I opened my mouth to him, and our tongues explored. We both heard Katiya laugh at something in the living room, and we pulled away from each other. I dropped my head to his shoulder, and he started shaking with silent laughter. I poked him in his side, and he jumped away from me.
"Oh, Edward. Are we ticklish?"
"No, you surprised me."
I laughed. "Oh, right. Okay."
His phone rang and his smile dropped. "I gotta take this." I nodded and mock saluted him. He pinched my chin and walked away to answer his phone. I went and sat with Katiya until Edward was done on the phone.
"All right, we're good to go." Edward and I started turning lights off and making sure doors and windows were locked. Once the house was as secure as it could get, we both grabbed all our bags and took them to a vehicle I didn't notice.
"Where's your car."
"Alice brought this car and drove my car back to her house. This is a rental in someone's name that isn't even connected to you or me. It's all about the fake-out, Bells," he said while putting the bags in the trunk.
I huffed and got Katiya situated and made sure her seatbelt was on correctly, and then got in the passenger side. Edward chuckled and started the car. Once we were on the road, I decided to turn the music on. I stopped on some pop song, and Edward made a face. He went to change it, and I stopped him. "Pay attention to the road, Edward," I said, smiling.
"I am not listening to this."
"What else would you prefer, sir?"
"Anything but pop … or country."
I scoffed and found something we could both agree on. Katiya was in the backseat laughing at both of us.
After about an hour in the car, she fell asleep, and I covered her with a blanket and grabbed her stuffed animal and tucked it in her arms.
"So, where are we going?"
"Oregon."
"Oregon? Why?"
"Because it's not Washington. I'm not the one who's investigating this case or working behind the scenes. I'm just making sure the bad guys don't catch us before the police catch them."
"That could take a long time."
"Well, I have the mugshots. I'm going to have Katiya look at them in a day or two. Maybe we'll get lucky. Like I said, not my specialty. You have to accept that this could take some time. What's going on with your job?"
"I just went on a two-week vacation. I mean, they might not like it, but I could go on leave or something. We'll figure it out."
He nodded and I just stared out the window, thinking. It was in that rental car on the highway to Oregon I finally realized I may never be able to return to the life I was leaving behind.
A/N: So, how are we feeling. More flirting, more innuendo, more action, more to come! Let me know what you think and thank you so much for reading. Have a great weekend!
