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Bella
"You won't be needing that, Mrs. Cullen."
I turn to face the intruder, fully intending to attack him, but I'm stopped cold when I see him pointing his gun at Kaitlin. I inhale a lungful of air to scream for Jimmy, for Rose, for anyone, but the lunatic brings his finger up to his sinister smile.
"Shh. We wouldn't want her to get hurt, would we?" His distinct Bostonian accent grabs my attention.
"Please don't hurt us," I whisper, tears beginning to sting my eyes.
"I wasn't asked to hurt you. I only need the girl. Her presence has been ... requested."
"By who? Who wants my baby?" His eyes don't leave mine as he inches closer to the bed, to where my daughter is oblivious to the danger.
"Just someone who wants to get your attention."
"Well, you have it!" My frustrated reply is low, for fear I'll wake Kaitlin. She's thankfully a deep sleeper, and I can only hope she stays that way. When he's just inches from her side, I snap out of the frozen state I've been in. "No! I won't let you take her!" I step toward him on reflex, but turning the gun to me, toward my obviously pregnant belly, he halts my movement.
"Ah, ah, ah. I'd hate to have to pull the trigger. And I don't want to involve the other Mrs. Cullen. Are you sure I'm alone; that I don't have someone standing outside her door? Are you willing to take that chance? Things could get rather ... messy. Now, we can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way. It's your choice."
Tears cloud my vision as I watch him step closer to my sleeping daughter. With one hand he yanks on the edge of the fitted sheet, folding it over her sleeping form until it resembles a sack, all while keeping the gun pointed at Kaitlin. He gathers the corners and twists before gently easing her off the bed with one arm. I don't know whether to be thankful or not that she's such a heavy sleeper.
"Stay here, in this room. If you try to follow me, I'll have my friend make sure the other Mrs. Cullen and those precious little ones of hers join the party." My eyes flash to the doorway leading down the hall, and I catch sight of a moving shadow just beyond the man, confirming my fears he isn't alone. "I will shoot her, do you understand?"
I have no idea if it's an idle threat, but I know I can't risk my daughter's life or those of my sister-in-law and her girls on a gamble. So, with tears of agony and frustration streaming down my cheeks, I nod my head once, unable to speak. As he backs out of the room, his eyes never leave mine.
"Please don't hurt her." My choked, whispered plea brings me to my knees and leaves me feeling more helpless than I ever have.
"I'm sure you'll be hearing from her soon." And with those words, he slips from the room and into the night.
The weight of what's just happened overwhelms me, and I curl into the fetal position, sobbing. My precious girl was just taken from her bed, while I watched. I didn't do a fucking thing to stop it. I just stood there and let him walk away with her. The distant sound of an engine starting and spitting gravel as it drives away brings me out of my fog of desperation.
Knowing minutes count, I scramble to my feet and run down the hallway toward the door. Flinging it open, I peer out into the darkness, looking for something, anything that will tell me what happened to my baby girl. There are no taillights, no dust trail to follow, the humidity in the air far too heavy to allow it.
I turn to run back into the house, the light of the moon illuminating my path. But before I reach the door, I catch a glimpse of a shoe peeking from around the corner of the porch. A sense of dread fills me as I get closer. The bile crawls up my throat when I see Jimmy's body. The single gunshot to the head tells me there's no hope for him, and even if I thought it wasn't possible, I cry even more tears.
I turn and run back into the house, stumbling toward Rose's room.
"Rose," I scream. "Rose, I need you." My wailing echoes around the quiet house and the pounding on her bedroom door is quickly answered.
"What ... Bella? What's wrong? What happened?" Even half asleep, her panic is obvious.
"She's gone! She's gone!" I yell.
"Who? Who's gone?" She's ushering me away from her room so I don't wake her girls.
"He took her. He took my baby. Kaitlin is gone!" I fall onto the sofa when we reach the sitting room, curling in on myself.
"Kaitlin's ... Who took her, Bella?" Rose is beside me, her hand gripping my arm.
"I don't know," I say into my knees. I lift my eyes to meet hers. "How am I gonna find her?"
She gets to her feet and starts to walk toward the front door. "I'm gonna go find Jimmy and find out how the hell he let—"
"He's dead."
She stops and turns to me. "Dead?" Her voice is weary, as if she just realized how dire the situation was. All I can do is nod. "We need to call the police."
"You know we can't," I say, shaking my head.
"And why not?"
"You know why not." I finally look up, my eyes meeting hers.
She's quiet for only a moment before she speaks. "Then we need to call Em and Edward."
"How do I tell him I let our little girl go?"
"What do you mean let, Bella? You didn't let him do anything. I assume since Jimmy is dead, he had a gun, right? The one that took her?"
I nod as she sits beside me, taking my hand.
"And he threatened to shoot her if you tried to stop him?"
Again, I nod. "And you and the girls," I whisper.
"Then you couldn't risk it. We'll find her, and we'll get her back." Her hug, meant to be reassuring, only makes me feel more guilty for what's just happened.
"It's all my fault. Edward is gonna hate me," I whisper.
"He won't, Bella. I truly believe that. And if he does ... Well, then he's not the man I thought he was."
Calling the police really wasn't an option. Besides having Jimmy's body to explain and not knowing who could have carried out the hit, local law enforcement was probably not up to the task of dealing with an international abduction. And as soon as American officials were involved, I know Kaitlin's kidnapping would be presumed a retaliation. Little would be done to find the daughter of an alleged mob boss. Her being my daughter would only complicate things. One look at my former employment and they would assume I deserved it; walking away from the force and choosing to live this life. I can't risk their prejudice against Edward or me.
No, it's better if we find her ourselves.
I allow Rose to guide me through the next few, foggy hours. She convinces me it's best to move Jimmy's body. Between the warm, summer sun and Emma running around later, we really can't leave him where he is. Going through his pockets, we discover his phone, or phones, are missing, as is his gun. Rose helps me drag his body out of the path of the rising sun and into the nearby trees and brush. We cover him with a blanket, knowing some of Edward's men will arrive at some point to do the rest. It hurts just to leave him there, the man that Edward had entrusted with watching over Kaitlin and me all these years.
She ushers me back inside to shower and then we spend what feels like hours trying to reach Edward or Emmett. Between attempts, we look through the house and outside, searching for clues as to who took Kaitlin. The security cameras Edward had installed after he bought the house have all been destroyed, and the alarm system was disabled at some point in the night. What footage there is from before then is grainy, so we have nothing to go on, no idea who it was that took my girl. I can only hope Edward is able to find something.
The numbers to the burner phones they've been calling us from only ring and ring. Their personal phones go straight to voicemail. I have no way to reach him, and no way to know where he is. I've yet to leave a voicemail, unable to say the words. Realizing he needs to know how dire the situation is, I finally relent and leave him something.
"Edward," I say with a broken whisper. "I really need you to call me the moment you get this. Something ..." I pause, catching my rapidly increasing breaths. "Something's happened, and I need you. I ... I love you."
I've lost track of how long I've sat in the same spot, staring out the window and listening to Bree fuss and Emma chatter about how much she misses her cousin. Hours pass before the phone finally rings. I almost drop mine in my haste to answer it, but I soon realize it's not my phone that was ringing.
"Emmett?" Rose's voice breaks the relative silence of the room. "Oh God! We've been trying to reach you and your brother all day. Kaitlin's been taken, and we don't know what to do." She listens for a moment before answering. "We don't know!" she yells. "A man came into the house last night and took her from her bed. He threatened to shoot all of us. Jimmy's dead. "
Her nodding, yeahs and uh huhs are followed by an 'I love you' and a quick goodbye.
"He said we need to get back to Boston. They got into town yesterday morning and slept all day. Then they had—"
My ringing phone cuts her off. Startled, I nearly drop it again fumbling to answer.
"Hel ... Hello?" I stutter when I finally answer.
"Bella? My God, baby. Tell me it isn't true. Tell me everything is okay?" His begging is my undoing, and I burst into tears.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry he took her." The fracture in my heart splits wide open when I hear his pleading. "She's gone, Edward. He took her. I'm so sorry."
"No, don't, baby. We'll get her back, I promise. We'll find her, okay?"
"Okay," I whisper, wiping away my tears.
"I need you to listen to me, okay? I need you, Rose, and the girls to come back home. She already knows where to go when you get here, and I need you to go with her. I need to know you're safe. Promise me you'll go with her?"
I make eye contact with Rose. The look she gives me tells me they must've already devised a plan in the short time she was on the phone with Emmett. And judging by my husband's comments, my guess is he plans to hide me away until this blows over.
"You know you can't keep me from helping you," I tell him.
"Damnit, Bella, can you not be stubborn this one time?"
"I'm coming home, and we will find our daughter, together."
His silence tells me he knows he won't win this one.
"Promise me you'll be safe. It's not just you I'm trying to protect, Bella."
My hand finds the gentle nudges against my belly like this little one is trying to offer his support. "I know, Edward. But I can't just sit back and do nothing. But I promise I'll be safe."
"That's all I can ask." Silence stretches between us, and I can hear the sounds of traffic in the background. "Call me when you land, okay?"
"Okay."
"I love you, Bella. We'll find her."
My heart wants so badly to believe him, to trust that we'll find her, but my head won't listen. It's constantly looping with thoughts and visions of what could be happening to her. So instead of accepting his promise, I offer him the only thing I can. "I love you too."
I don't know how long I sit, holding the silent phone like a lifeline to my savior, before Rose's voice snaps me out of it.
"We need to get back to Boston, Bella." Her whispered words are like a punch to the gut. I know it's the right decision, to go home, we have more resources there, but to do so means leaving the last place I held my little girl.
"I know."
"I'll get us all packed, and we can make some flight arrangements, okay?"
"Yeah." My agreement tastes bad on my tongue as if I'm willingly accepting to leave this place without my daughter.
In a daze, I pack our belongings. I'm a cross between an emotional basket case and a zombie as I fold all of Kaitlin's clothes and stuff the toys she just simply couldn't live without into her bag. I contemplate leaving them here for the sake of going sooner, but I know she'll want them when she gets home.
"You hanging in there?" Rose asks me from the doorway as I drop the last of my things into my bag.
"Not really."
"Have you eaten?"
I look at my sister-in-law, my friend, and level her with a glare. "I'm not hungry." I turn back to my task, making sure things are packed and ready.
"That's not what I asked you." She steps into the room and halts my hands with hers. "You need to eat something."
"I said I'm not hungry!" I scream. "How can I eat anything when I don't know if my baby is being allowed to eat?" Sobs wrack me once again, and I plop onto the bed. "What if they're hurting her, Rose? Oh God." My breath is coming in short pants as I grip her shoulders.
Her arms wrap around me, holding me to her as I cry. "Shh. We have to believe that she's going to be okay. That she's being treated well. You told me yourself the man that took her said he wasn't going to hurt her."
"And why should I trust anything that asshole said?"
"Because not to isn't an option." Her words hang heavy between us.
She's right. Not believing him would mean she's being hurt, and I don't think I could survive that. "We have to believe she's okay. And you and I both know Edward would fight the devil himself, slay any dragon to get his princess back. Whoever took her had a reason, and I'd bet anything he's already gotten a call."
"You're right."
"I know." I look up and meet her smiling eyes. "I also know your husband would go ballistic if he knew you weren't taking care of yourself. You need to eat. Not only for you, but for that little one you're carrying."
"Okay, I'll eat something."
"Good. But we need to hurry. The car will be here in about thirty minutes to pick us up."
The trip home is an ordeal. The only flight available isn't until after three in the afternoon, and we have two layovers. Between Rose's girls not having the time to adjust to leaving our beach paradise, being completely off schedule, and flying commercial, Emma and Bree are anything but cooperative. Emma is especially difficult, repeatedly asking why Kaitlin isn't with us and then bursting into tears when we remind her she already left. The constant emotional turmoil is wreaking havoc on me, and I'm absolutely useless to Rose.
When we finally land in Atlanta to catch the first connecting flight, I escape to the ladies room to collect myself. I just need a minute to catch my breath. I'm feeling anxious the closer we get to home; anxious to be in my husband's arms again and anxious to find my little girl.
When we land in Raleigh, the layover is almost twice as long; well over five hours, and it's the middle of the night. Emma and Bree have long since passed out, and Rose isn't much better. We've made a little nest in one of the corners for them, a pile of blankets and bags, and I stand guard while they sleep. I'm far too keyed up to rest.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Logan International airport. Local time is 8:10 a.m. and it's a balmy, seventy-six degrees here in Boston. For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened until the Captain ..." The voice crackles over the speakers, droning on about landing procedures, waking me from my catnap. Opening my eyes, I'm face to face with my niece. Emma is curled in her seat between Rose and me, her head lolled back, a tiny bit of drool at the corner of her mouth. The scene makes me smile and think of all the times I watched Kaitlin sleep like that. The brief moment of tranquility is broken when reality comes rushing back.
It takes great effort to hold back the sobs wanting to rip from my chest. I turn and sit straight in my seat, trying to collect myself before Rose once again catches me falling apart. I don't think I can stand seeing any more of her looks of pity. Rose wakes and rearranges Bree on her lap for landing. The girls thankfully sleep through touch down, and we have to rouse them from slumber to disembark.
My phone has very little battery life left, but I call Edward. I tried to reach him last night, but he never answered. My call went straight to voicemail. If anything, I can find out where he is and go to him. It only rings half a ring before he answers.
"Bella?" His anxious tone is both comforting and alarming. I don't know if he's just on edge waiting to hear from me since it's been more than twenty-four hours since we last spoke, or if something is wrong.
"Yeah, we just landed. We're headed to baggage claim. Where are you?"
"Actually Em and I are both at the safe house."
Anger wells inside me. "Why aren't you out there looking, Edward?"
"Believe me, I've spent every waking moment searching for her. The lead we have kind of hit a wall, but I have men working on it. We decided to come here and wait for you guys because honestly, I just need to have you in my fucking arms, baby. Besides, we both need some rest. We won't be much good to our daughter if we're exhausted."
"You can take your fucking nap, and I'll go find her myself." I end the call and throw the phone in my bag. I walk toward the baggage claim carousels and see Rose standing with her girls. The look on her face tells me I'm barely keeping my anger contained.
"Everything okay?" she asks.
"No, everything is not okay."
"Wanna tell me about it?"
"Apparently I'm to come home and take a nap," I say, my reply snippy.
"Bella," she says gently, "that might not be a bad idea. You've been awake almost twenty-four hours already. Not only is that not good for you or the baby, you won't be able to think clearly or make good decisions. He's only looking out for you."
I glare at her and huff a breath, all the while my phone vibrates in my bag. A moment later, hers begins to ring. A grin lights her face when she looks at it. "It's for you," she says as she hands it to me.
"What?" I answer angrily.
"You will come here, and you will rest. I will not put your health or the life of my unborn child in jeopardy because you're too fucking stubborn to listen to me. Do you understand?"
My only answer is silence. The more I think about it, the more I feel like a child; an overtired child that needs ... a nap.
"That's what I thought. There's a car waiting for you in the garage. Rose has the details about where it's parked. The GPS is programmed with the destination. It's a safe house, away from the city."
"Is it far?"
"Not really. Less than an hour, depending on traffic. I would have sent a driver, but I can't risk more people knowing where we are. At least not until I can take care of things."
"No, I understand."
"You okay to drive? No, you know what, have Rose drive, okay? She told Em you haven't slept much."
"I'm fine," I say, trying to argue with him.
"No, you're not. Rose will be driving, you got it?"
"Fine," I say petulantly.
"I love you, Bella, but I need you to trust me on this one. I've got men looking into a few things, and we're getting close. Okay? Do you trust me?"
This man, the one I've come to love and depend on, the one who's never let me down, he's asking me to trust him. As much as I want to scream and argue, fight about going right this moment to find our little girl, I know I have to have faith in him.
"I do. And, Edward ... I love you too."
The drive to the safe house flies by as Emma and Bree's chatter from the backseat help to pass the time. Before we know it, we're in the town of Chelmsford and pulling into the driveway of a moderately sized house. It sits in the center of a cul-de-sac, two stories tall with white, wood siding, flanked by family homes on either side. Backed against the woods, it looks like a peaceful place to call home. I can imagine the neighbors here having block parties and holiday cookouts with each other. Neighbors that wouldn't take too kindly to knowing a criminal was living among them.
Rose drives around to the back of the house, up to the garage, and before she can even cut the engine, my husband walks out of the back door.
I almost strangle myself getting out of my seatbelt and trip over my own feet getting out of the car, but when I'm finally free, he collides with me, and for a brief moment it feels like things will be okay.
My emotions momentarily rob me of speech, and I can only squeeze him tighter. I look up into his eyes, and his pain and anguish are visible. I notice his hair is shorter and darker than the last time I saw him, and his clothes are rumpled. He looks like he hasn't slept well in weeks. With tears in his eyes, he kisses my forehead and tucks me under his chin. Knowing there are no words to describe the hell we're both experiencing, we just stand there and hold onto each other.
He finally pulls back and takes my hand and leads me toward the house.
"Come on. We both need to rest, and then we need to talk."
I pull on his hand, causing him to stop. "What do you know?"
He's reluctant to say anything, that much I can see. With hesitance, he meets my eyes. "I know who has her."
A/N: Thanks to Fyrebyrd, Gabby1017, and 2brown-eyes for pre-reading this one, and to my beta, SunflowerFran. Please remember, all mistakes are mine.
Many of you have theories about the who and why, and you'll get more answers next week when we hear from Edward. We'll find out where he's been and what the heck he's been up to.
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