A/N: Warning there is abuse in this chapter. Plus, things are going to get intense for a while. You have been warned.

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Chapter 16 Walking a Thin Line

∞Emmett∞

Las Vegas, this is definitely what we needed to get away from all the drama and heartache that was happening in Forks. Especially for Alice, she was such a close friend of Bella's and she was taking the loss really hard. The whole idea about coming to Vegas was Rosalie's idea, since she was a friend to Alice she thought it would be helpful to get, not only Alice's mind off things, but everyone else's as well.

My shoulders and chest felt heavy with guilt because I was a man of the law, enforcer of the law, protector of the citizens of Forks, but I failed to protect Bella from all the harm that happened to her. I was well aware that the Chief told me to stay out of it and that it was up to the FBI to investigate into Bella's case and that we were not suppose to step in unless the FBI needed our help.

Then there was Edward. Even though he had not known Bella too long they just seemed to fit together and needed one another. There was no doubt in my mind that he was in love with her, especially since he couldn't take living with the memories he had of her in Forks. When I found out through my parents that he decided to visit our family in Canada I knew it was bad because nothing would pull him away from his new career that he had worked so hard to obtain. I loved him so much, not that I told him that often, and didn't want to see him get hurt anymore. I wanted him to find love and happiness. I thought he had, but then he had it harshly ripped away from him.

Gratefully I was brought out of my reverie when Rosalie as she shifted her body up against mine and adjusted the sheets on the bed to cover us. I looked down at her and she was looking at me with her bright blue eyes with a smirk on her face. I love my wife and couldn't imagine my life without her, which made my heart hurt for Edward.

"Hey, you all right? How long have you been awake?" She asked as she yawned. I smiled at her and closed my eyes.

"I was just thinking about Edward and Bella. I wish they could have had what we have. I guess…I am quite worried about how Edward is doing."

"I understand how you feel Em. Even though they were trying to get through Bella's case and issues they seemed to be happy. Ya, I must be missing her too since I thought I had ran into her when we first got here. My mind was certainly playing tricks on me," she chuckled. "Come on enough with this sulking we are here to have fun and relax," she spoke excitedly as she jumped out of bed.

As soon as she was in the bathroom there was a knock at our hotel door. I jumped out of bed feeling thankful that I had a T-shirt and basketball shorts on. I made my way to the door and opened it slowly.

"Hey, Jasper. What's up?" I watched him as he looked past me into the room like her was looking for something.

"Um, is Alice here?" he asked sounding really confused with a hint of worry.

"No, should she be?"

"Well, I thought she came over to possibly exchange clothes and get ready with Rosalie because all her bags are gone."

"No I haven't seen her since after we went to Lance Burton last night. Wait, did you two have a fight? Maybe she checked into a different ro…"

"Emmett, no it's quite the opposite really. We…a…made love last night. She told me that…she was…um…pregnant." I was shocked, I knew that they had been trying for a while, but they never seemed to have any luck.

"That's great Jasper. Congratulations," I said feeling grateful to finally have something to be truly happy for.

"Em, I have a bad feeling about this. There is no way she would have just left without saying anything or leaving a note or a message on my cell." I knew he was right and after he had explained that they were happy and that Alice was pregnant I knew something was off.

"Hey, Jasper. Where's Alice?" Rosalie asked as she stepped out in the hallway. She looked at Jasper and then me, her face fell and I knew she knew something was wrong.

"Rose that's why I am here, she's missing."

"You're kidding, right?" she let out a small laugh and smirked.

"Nope," he said, making the p pop.

"Well, Emmett, you are a cop. Let's go find her. We can go look in all her favorite shops," Rosalie blurted out.

"That's a good idea," I said. "But Rose, I am a small town cop and this is Las Vegas. There are too many people here." She glared at me and put her hands on her hips. I sighed, "Okay, we will go look in her favorite shops first then if we can't find her then we will contact Las Vegas PD."

Jasper came in and shut the door while I quickly pulled on some jeans and shoes.

As we were waiting for the elevator to get down to the lobby we talked about all the stores that Alice had already visited or wanted to visit during our stay.

All three of us were waiting right by the elevator door ready to jump out and quickly get in to action to find Alice. As soon as the doors dinged and opened we jumped out and ran right into a man sending him down hard to the floor. I quickly recovered and stuck my hand out to help him up.

"Sorry, man."

He had his face down as he rubbed the back of his head.

"It's all right. Why are you in such a hurry?" he asked then he made eye contact with me.

What in the world am I in the Twilight Zone? Edward, no way this couldn't be him. This man has black hair, blue eyes and a mustache and beard. The frame of his body looked like him, but everything else was still off. I was about to say something, but Rosalie spoke up.

"Edward?" she sounded confused, but I felt a little relieved knowing that I wasn't going out of my mind.

He jumped to his feet and before I knew it I was being dragged to the restroom by the gift shop, as Jasper and Rosalie quickly followed.

"All of you get in here NOW!" he demanded as we entered the restroom and then he turned around and locked the door.

∞Edward/Anthony∞

Here I am standing in this stupid restroom pacing back and forth while running my hands through my hair trying to pull it out of my head. I resist making eye contact with the people that supposedly care about Bella and me. What do I say? How do I explain to them why I am here and that I apparently don't want them to know who I am?

"Okay, now I know for sure that this is Edward," Emmett states and I stop pacing and snap my head up, looking at him. "Look man, you walk, talk, pull your hair out just like him, so don't even try and deny it…Ed..ward. Just tell us what's going on. And make it quick because we are looking for Alice."

As I gaze upon their faces I notice all their facial expression seem to have a hint of worry and maybe some fear and I don't feel that it had something to do with me. Suddenly I realize and worry, Alice?

"What do you mean you are looking for Alice?" I asked apparently also not denying that I am truly Edward.

They all look at me, but don't confront me on the issue of why I am here and jump into the events that had happened this morning. I was excited to hear that Alice was pregnant and knew Bella, Izzy would be too.

There was something there though that was nagging at my brain and making me feel sick to my stomach. Does Alice's disappearance have anything to do with Aro? There's only one way to find out. We need to get closer to Aro and fast.

"So, Edward, are you going to tell us why you are here and not in Canada?" Jasper asks me while pulling me from my stupor.

Should I tell them and risk possibly blowing our cover? Maybe I could just let them know that I am here alone and didn't want to run into anyone I knew and that is why I changed my appearance. Hmm… that actually sounded pretty good and that way I totally wouldn't blow Izzy's cover. All right, here goes nothing…

"Oh my gosh," Rosalie gasped and pulled her hand to her mouth as everyone looked at her confused. "Bella's alive isn't she? That was really her that I ran into in the lobby?" she shook her head in disbelief. "This is strange. Tell us Edward is she really alive? And if she is, you have some serious explaining to do."

So much for my plan!

Feeling really defeated and also feeling that maybe I could get some allies here I answered, "Yes, she's alive. And yes I will explain what's going on."

Not knowing how much time we had locked up in the restroom before someone came knocking I fervently went over everything from the time we had first met with the FBI. I explained it all from the beginning and even over our cover up names. I also informed them that Aro, Bella's abductor, operated out of Vegas and that we were to infiltrate into his circle of friends.

To say that they were in shock would be an understatement. They were so elated to find out that Bella was still alive and hoped that they would be able to find Alice to give her the news. I was a little worried about that, but I knew my friends and especially my brother would be able to keep it a secret. However, I did ask them to refrain from talking about it out in public and even in their hotel room because it possibly was bugged as well. We had been in the restroom for almost a half-hour and knew that it was time to go. I truly wanted to help them try and find Alice, but I knew I couldn't be caught with them around, plus I need to get back to Izzy. Emmett and I exchanged cell phone numbers and told him to get in touch with me if they couldn't find her, and then we parted ways.

As I walked back into our suite I scanned the room for Izzy. When I couldn't see her I walked to the bedroom, but she wasn't there either. I started to panic, but then I heard a muffled sob coming from the bathroom. I rushed over to the bathroom and stopped in my tracks. The sight before me made me feel like my heart was being ripped from my chest. Izzy was sitting in the corner of the shower. Her legs were brought up to her chest with her arms wrapped around them tightly. Her face was tear stained and looked like she had been crying for a long time.

The first thing that came to my mind was about her PTSD and it looked like she had finally broken. I started to approach her ever so slowly. As I was getting closer I notice that her white shirt was stained with blood in the crook of her right shoulder. She seemed to be zoned out because she hadn't acknowledged my presence.

I walked into the shower and knelt down on my knees in front of her. Very slowly I placed my hand on her right knee not wanting to startle her. With my touch she looked into my eyes, but quickly diverted them away. Keeping it silent and slow I moved my hand to her bloody shirt moving it aside to see her injury. There was too much blood covering it and couldn't exactly see where the blood was coming from.

Standing up slowly I spoke, "Love, I am going to go get my doctor's bag and then I will be right back. Okay?" She nodded not making eye contact.

I quickly make it into the bedroom and back to her within thirty seconds. She was still where I left her, but her sobbing still didn't seem to subside.

"Love, we need to remove your shirt so I can clean you up, all right?" I asked softly, she nodded as she removes her shirt.

I notice right off that she is wearing a white lace bra and looked absolutely beautiful. I would have said something, but I wasn't being a boyfriend right now, I was being a doctor and needed to take care of her wound. Then I hoped that she would be able to tell me what happened. I kept reminding myself to stay calm so I wouldn't alarm her anymore than she was.

"Love, I am going to clean it up with some peroxide. It may sting a little bit, but not too much." She nods and then winces when I put the gauze to her skin.

The more I dab the more I can see the wound as the blood seems to coagulate. What the crap? That looks like a freaking bite mark and it was forming a black and blue bruise. I looked up and saw that she was looking at me with her eyebrows furrowed as she engaged my reaction.

I finish up putting some ointment on and then taped the gauze down. I run quickly to the bedroom and grab another shirt and then help her put it on. Now, I need some answers. I was completely beside myself. I was trying to keep my temper and anger fenced in, but who it their right mind would ever do that to someone?

"Love, you need to tell me what happened and who did this to you?" I asked while cupping her cheek as I rubbed lightly against her soft skin with my thumb.

∞Bella/Izzy∞

While sitting there on the cold shower floor I looked into Anthony's eyes and tried to pull myself together. He seemed so calm and put together, so I tried to use some of his calmness that was radiating off of him to help calm myself.

I couldn't even remember how I had gotten here, but I knew of the events that happened to me and that had sent me into an obvious panic attack. My life felt as if it was falling apart.

Feeling a little calm and collected I pushed my cheek further into his warm embrace and lifted my hand to his. I wasn't quite sure what his reaction was going to be after I told him about my attack, but I knew he wasn't going to be this calm. I also knew that he wasn't going to just let it go and his reaction could possibly blow our cover, but I wasn't going to keep this away from him. He has always since I known him been my protector, my guardian.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. "You…you were gone too long and I started to worry, so I came looking for you." I bit my lip and he nodded encouraging me to proceed. My mind went back to this morning as I revealed to him what happened.

Where the heck is he? I was flipping through the channels on the TV and expected Anthony to be returning real soon. He told me he would be back in an hour and half, but refused to tell me where he was going. I started to get restless on the couch so I got up and paced the floor as I chewed on my thumbnail. I kept checking my cell phone, that I had firmly gripped onto, looking at the time. He should be back by now.

When I couldn't take it any longer I ran into the bedroom, slipped off my robe, pulled on a white T-shirt, Levi shorts and my white Keds. I made sure that I had my cell phone and key card with me and darted out the door.

I sprinted for the elevator, hoping that I wouldn't trip. When I got in I pushed the L button for the lobby and the doors closed. I expected it to go down, but it went up. I wondered at that moment what was up on the top floor. The doors opened and I froze, fear and anxiety took over my body. James stood there looking at the ground, but when he looked up he saw me. As I stared in shock a look of complete evil and want flashed across his face. He got on the elevator. He didn't say anything to me, but he kept raking his eyes up and down looking at my body. I felt so uncomfortable and dirty by the way he was glaring at me. Then he slammed the emergency button, stopping the elevator. Everything went red from the emergency light that went on above. I expected an alarm, but assumed that it must have been a silent one. I was so scared, I didn't know what was going to happen. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a baggy full of pills. I knew that they were narcotics.

"So Izzy you want one?" I shook my head quickly. "Oh come on I know you do."

They were not tempting at all because the real me was not addicted. He pulled one out of the bag and waved it in my face. I sensed myself growing with pride because he thought I was needing the pills, but I knew better.

"No, James I do not want the pills. Anthony would be mad if he found out." I smiled, which apparently he did not like. He then popped the pill in his own mouth and I watched him swallow it.

Before I knew it he slammed me into the corner of the elevator and pushed his body up against me. Pain shot through my back and all the air went out of my lungs. His rough hand pushed my shirt up and he slid it up my stomach. I tried to push him off me, but the more I did the more her grew angrier and more forceful. He reached up and pulled the cup of my bra down and grabbed my breast. I had tears falling from my eyes.

He put his face on my neck and rubbed his nose roughly along my jaw. "Hmmm…you are so soft. I wish you were mine. I think I should make you mine." Cold chills ran through my veins. I don't think I had ever felt so terrified before in my life. I would rather take one of his beatings than have him touch me like this.

Finding my voice I choked out, "How do you think Victoria would feel about that?" He growled.

He reached over and pushed the emergency button turning it off. The elevator jumped and started to descend.

Before I knew it his mouth was back on my neck. He started placing wet slimy kisses from behind my ear down to the crook of my neck. I could smell his breath; it smelled like cigarette smoke and onion. I started to gag. He apparently noticed my disgust. Suddenly I felt a sharp, agonizing pain rip through my neck and shoulder. He shoved off of me and went out the elevator doors. Everything around me was fuzzy. I couldn't see straight. I kept replaying everything that just happened in my head.

"The next thing I knew was seeing your beautiful face," I said softly, my voice more raspy than usual because of the all the crying.

"I am so sorry, Love."

Anthony tightened his grip on my hand. His once calm expression turned to shear anger and rage. He stood up and pulled me with him, then embraced me in a tight hug. He kissed the top of my head.

"Come on, we are going to settle this now," he seethed.

"What do you mean?"

"We are going to go talk to Aro!"

So where is Alice?

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