~ oOo ~
So...you were all happy to see Emmett then? *snickers*
The last chapter received more reviews in a day than
most of the other chapters have received to date!
I'm glad you're all happy to welcome him back.
I won't lie, I'm almost just as much in love with Emmett
as I am with Edward. And I particularly love this Emmett,
all sweet, soft, with a dash of Southern drawl to drive
dear Rose crazy ;)
Thank you, as always, to my wonderful dream team
SunflowerFran and annaharding!
They've both been super busy with vacations and their
real lives but they've still come through and worked
their magic for me - even though I have been incredibly
annoying and messed with the chapter numbers with
my random, odd updates.
I'm eternally grateful, ladies!
Also, thank you to each and every one of you for
loving these characters so much. They love you right
back!
Anyways, as promised, here's your half-chapter
to tide you over as I updated the last chapter
early. It's just a little peek into what Emmett
has been up to since we left him
on his way to get Smith after he kidnapped Bella.
~ oOo ~
Summary: When two little girls were allowed to walk
home from school one bright spring day nobody could've
predicted the events that followed. The way two families
were torn apart by the vendetta of a deranged man.
Nearly twelve years on, we'll watch as the two girls stolen
away from their homes at eight years old fight to take
back their lives. If only it were as simple as escaping. AU
Pinky Promises
Chapter Twenty-Eight…and a Half
August 11th 2016 – A few hours after Bella's abduction…
The drive from the cabin to Eastbourne took a little under five hours, thanks to Laurent's lead foot on the accelerator. During this time, James filled Emmett in on the plan.
They'd narrowed down the route for Smith's transfer to the station where he'd be held until he could go before a judge first thing in the morning. They'd also picked the spot where they'd intercept to forcefully takeover said transfer. En-route, they met up with five other men – when Emmett asked they simply called themselves 'mercenaries.'
By the time the group reached the interception point, Emmett was wound up and ready to crack some skulls.
Well, one skull in particular – Smith's.
At first, when they pulled over and reversed into the trees he wasn't sure what they were doing; then he saw the headlights. Seeing the convoy draw closer, Emmett felt the atmosphere in the Jeep change. The other men became noticeably quieter and more tense. James cracked his knuckles and double-checked his Glock, the guys up front doing the same. Emmett copied, sucking in a deep breath as he watched the headlights near, then pass them by. Laurent started the engine, but left the lights off, and followed.
"All right, we've got Smith in the middle. Two other cars, four men in each," came a voice from the earpiece Emmett had been given.
"Okay. We expected more, so that's good. Our boys must have had something to do with that," Biers muttered. "All right. Stick to the plan, boys, and this fucker will be dead by morning."
Emmett's heart raced as they neared the car in the back. They were all black SUVs, except the armored van in the middle. Apparently, that was standard for Riley's operations – whoever this 'Riley' was. James spoke of him often, but Emmett had never seen him for himself.
It was obvious when the convoy realized they had a tail.
The SUV in the rear slowed slightly, something James predicted would happen. "They'll try to let the others get ahead a bit now while they deal with us," he told Emmett with a grin as Laurent closed on the vehicle.
However, instead of doing as James said and speeding off ahead, the cars in front slowed.
Emmett glanced at James beside him, then at Agent Biers and Laurent in the front. They all looked equally as confused as he felt. "What's going on?"
"I don't…know."
As he spoke, the car directly in front of them flashed its indicators twice, then a head popped out of the passenger side window. The man wore a wide grin and held out a thumb before holding up his hands in the universal sign for 'surrender.'
"Well, fuck me…it's Oliver!"
Thoroughly perplexed, Emmett watched the three other guys in the Jeep disembark to join the man leaving the other car. They embraced with the familiarity of friends with back-slaps and handshakes all-round. When James waved him out, Emmett only made it a few steps with his hand on his gun before recognition hit.
"Paul?"
"Emmett. Good to see you again."
Before Emmett knew it, he'd been pulled into a man-hug, and then found himself staring into the eyes of a man he'd once only suspected to be FBI, but now knew to be.
"You too, man. So, is it 'Oliver' or 'Paul?'"
"Both, actually. Paul Oliver. I go by 'Oliver,' mostly."
Seeing Paul—no, Oliver, in black cargo pants, a fitted black Henley, and black boots, Emmett suddenly wondered how he could ever have believed this man was anything other than a highly-trained FBI agent. He stood differently, though, and his voice…there was something distinctly different about that, too. It was surreal to see him this way; so obviously in control and knowledgeable
He briefly wondered how many times he'd made himself look an idiot by warning Oliver away from the guns used to scare bears off the ranch.
"Alright, reunion outta the way," James laughed, clapping Emmett on the shoulder and looking to Oliver. "So, what's going on here?"
Oliver grinned; his smile was wide and more than a little sinister. "We heard about your plan. We've already got something in store for this piece'a shit, but you're more than welcome to join us, if you want."
James cast a look at his colleagues, at Emmett, then shrugged at Oliver. "Let's have it, then."
Fifteen minutes later Emmett climbed back into the Jeep with the guys, a little disappointed at the lack of action. That said, as the tires screeched along the road, the convoy splitting up and Laurent making sure to skid close enough to the secure van holding Smith that it wobbled the vehicle, Emmett was secure in the knowledge that he'd still be getting what he wanted.
Smith would suffer, and suffer greatly, if these guys got their way. And he had no doubt that they would.
They were fighting machines. Mercenaries, soldiers for hire with a purpose – to make this piece of shit suffer and regret ever laying a hand on Bella and Rosalie. Emmett suspected that, in this case, their mission was being headed up by none other than Paul Oliver.
He'd seen the look in his hazel eyes, heard the fire in his words, and felt the hatred for Smith saturating every glance towards the truck currently protecting him.
Emmett had a feeling that if it weren't for the plan they already had in place, Oliver would have ripped Smith to shreds right there on the side of the road.
It wouldn't have surprised him in the least if nobody moved to stop him, either.
~ oOo ~
It wasn't until days later that Emmett heard what had happened.
He wasn't ashamed to admit that he'd cried when James had told him that Bella had been hurt, as had her childhood friend when he attempted to save her. He also wasn't ashamed to admit that he'd broken a table in his rage when he'd heard that Bella had gone into labor and almost lost her life because of the ordeal.
A picture Riley sent James when he asked for an update cheered Emmett considerably, though.
It was a simple image, with four people in the small screen of James' phone.
Rosalie, Bella, Marley…and Bodhi.
He hadn't even known she was pregnant again. Thinking back, he could only think of one person who could be the father – Paul Lucien. He'd shown up randomly after a supply run one day, and Smith had let him stay in an out of character act of mercy. He'd hung around for a little while, never really gotten close to anybody, but never caused any trouble.
Then he'd disappeared.
Emmett was certain he'd have noticed Bella acting strangely around any of the other guys if it had been them. A little digging later and he'd been informed that he was right. Bella had admitted the father was Paul Lucien and it hadn't been against her will. He found it hard to believe, but he accepted it. Bella had admitted everything else; why would she lie about this? She had no reason to.
With the knowledge that Bella was safe with her babies, and that Rosalie was too, Emmett could relax.
Especially when, later the same day, Emmett and James got the call about Smith's demise. He'd only lasted a few hours in the high security holding cell.
He'd been killed painfully, slowly, and had suffered immensely before he was allowed to die.
James and Emmett celebrated with cold beers and pizzas.
~ oOo ~
The sleek black car rolled to a stop outside the house, James reaching out to clap Emmett on the shoulder. "Alright man, go get your girl."
Emmett shook his head with a nervous grin and disembarked, immediately spotting the man exiting the car parked in front. "You must be the infamous Riley."
Riley crossed the pavement and grinned, shaking Emmett's hand with a firm grip. "That's right. Riley Lawrence. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I understand we owe our girls' lives to your quick thinking."
Emmett found himself uncharacteristically embarrassed at Riley's words, recognizing his distinct accent from the phone calls they'd shared in previous days. "Well, I…er," he cleared his throat. "I wouldn't say that. Those girls are fighters. They're where they are today because of themselves."
He watched Riley appraise him, then nod firmly, as though pleased with what he saw.
"I completely agree. You ready?"
Sucking in a deep breath, Emmett stood straight and turned to peer at the simple row of terraced houses they stood beside. Somehow, they seemed to fit the girls. They were homey and the lawns were littered with childrens toys. Family cars were in the driveways and he could see half a Birthday Boy banner hanging down in the window of one of them. Emmett had hoped the girls would get to see this again, would get to live normal lives. Though he'd never lived a normal life himself, or had the typical family home, he recognized this to be exactly the kind of life they deserved.
The kind of life they'd been missing all these years.
But God, he'd missed them. He had an ache in his gut and electricity sparking all over his body at the thought of seeing them again.
And now…they were just yards away.
He'd missed Bella's softness, and seeing her with Marley. He'd missed Marley's sweet smiles and girlish giggles.
And Rosalie…
He wasn't ashamed to admit, despite his confusion over his own emotions, that he'd missed her more than he'd ever missed anybody before.
"Yeah. I'm ready."
Riley nodded, chuckling as he walked up the garden path like he owned the place. Emmett supposed he'd been there frequently in past weeks, so he was fairly familiar with the house. As they got closer to the front door, Riley paused.
"I'll go in ahead and explain everything. I'll hit the 'call' button on my cell when I'm ready for you to come in, all right? When you feel your phone vibrate, you're clear to enter. Understood?"
"Understood."
Emmett wiped his clammy palms on his cargo pants as he stood in the hallway of the house – Bella's family home, judging by the slight majority of photos containing her and a dark-haired boy he assumed to be her brother – and listened to Riley breaking the news of Smith's death to the family. He didn't know who was there, but he almost cursed out loud when a small woman cradling a baby left the kitchen and made him jump before moving into the living room. She offered him a smile on her way past, obviously mistaking him for one of Riley's agents. There were still a fair few posted in various locations around the properties, most of them only visible to knowing eyes.
Then, he felt it. His cell.
It vibrated in his pocket against his thigh, Emmett's fist clenching around it. "C'mon, McCarty. Get a grip. It's the girls."
And their dads, their brother…God knows who else.
Thinking of Bella's face, of Marley's, and Rosalie's, Emmett released a long sigh and took the steps separating him from his favorite girls. As he made it to the doorway of the kitchen he immediately spotted Rosalie, as though his eyes knew exactly where to look. The sweet relief that flowed through his veins was instantaneous and he moved to catch her body as she flew across the room, tears already splashing over her cheeks when she collided with his body.
For the first time, maybe ever, Emmett felt every ounce of tension drain from his body as he held Rosalie to him and met Bella's gaze over her head, unable to feel nervous of her family's reaction when he'd been so desperate to see her safe and well with his own eyes.
It didn't occur to him until much later that this was the first time Rosalie had ever hugged him, the first time he'd ever held her or felt the tendrils of her hair against his chin; yet he felt more familiarity in that hug, more at home in her presence, than ever before.
As Bella's eyes softened, her stance relaxing infinitesimally, Emmett thought she might just feel it, too.
"Hey, Emmett."