A/N

Thanks to anyone still with me on this ride. This chapter is on the shorter side, but I HAVE already started chapter 10.

Thanks to Twilightmomoftwo for betaing this for me.

In case you've forgotten, and really how could you have not? In the previous chapter Rose warned Emmett that he was in danger and agreed to meet him after work.

And here we are!

Chapter 9

Sitting in the back booth at Max's, I waited for Rose to show up. I'd finished up work over a half hour ago, and she was still nowhere to be seen. I only hoped she wouldn't ditch me after what she said at the club. If I was in danger, I wanted to know exactly what I was up against.

"More coffee?" drawled an aging waitress, her hand on her hip insinuating that she was waiting impatiently for me to either finish my coffee or order something more substantial.

Before I could answer, Rose rushed in, slumping into the seat across from me, ordering a cup of decaf and a short stack of blueberry pancakes without even looking at the menu.

My baffled gaze shifted between Rose and the waitress before I decided to just order the same thing to save us both time.

Once the stocky woman was out of earshot, Rose blurted, "Emmett, I can't tell you much, but you need to be careful."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as her vague warning, taking another gulp of my coffee, hoping she'd continue on her own. Instead, she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, glancing out the window every so often.

"Are you afraid you were followed?"

"What?" she replied, looking startled that I was even sitting across from her.

Grabbing her hand, I tugged on it gently, trying to get her undivided attention. "Rose, just tell me what the fuck is going on. If I'm in danger… shit, if you're in danger, I want to know from what. I can't help you or me without having at least some of the freaking facts."

Her eyes darted to where my hand still covered hers, before she softly explained, "It's not that simple. I'm involved, and if they find out I'm even considering pulling out, my life is over. I don't have a choice."

"You're talking in circles," I growled. "Involved in what? And you always have a choice; some are just harder to make than others."

She smirked condescendingly at me before standing and dropping a ten on the table. "It's easy to say when you're not the one having to make the choice."

Thankfully, her exit was blocked by a two plates of food being delivered to our table.

Reaching out, I softly grasped her wrist and asked her to stay. "I'm not judging you, Rose. I'm trying to help, but you're not letting me."

She looked longingly at the plate of food before sitting back down and drowning her pancakes in syrup. When she moaned after her first bite, my dick twitched and my stomach growled. Deciding to take care of at least one of my problems, I began eating what turned out to be some of the most amazing pancakes I'd ever tasted.

"They're really good," I mumbled through a mouthful of my second stack.

Rose was rubbing her stomach and groaning about how stuffed she was. Now that the meal was over, I needed answers. I had been patient, allowing her some space and time to figure out what she wanted to tell me, but it was now after five thirty in the morning, and I needed to get to bed.

"Are you ready to talk to me now, or are you going to run off again?"

"Ugh, after eating all those pancakes, I couldn't run anywhere if I wanted to," she half-heartedly joked. "Sorry. I'm just scared. Whatever I tell you will ultimately destroy my life, you understand that, right? I'm involved, Emmett. Not just a bystander, but in the thick of things. When the house of cards comes tumbling down, I'm going to be buried beneath the rubble."

My temper was rising. I'd had enough vague replies, and I didn't know what she was talking about. Slapping my hand flat onto the table, I asked again, "What exactly are you involved in?"

Her face crumpled at my inquisition; a tear streaked down her cheek as her lip trembled ever so slightly. I felt bad for raising my voice, when that was likely the very last thing she needed from someone. Taking a deep breath, I repeated in a gentler tone, "What are you involved in, Rose?"

"Drugs, Emmett. Lots and lots of drugs," she whispered behind the hand holding the napkin in front of her mouth, as if trying to shield me from her words.

My mind reeled. Rose didn't appear to do drugs; how in the world had she gotten involved with such shady characters? "Are you using or just helping distribute?" I surprised myself with asking the question so clearly, when my mind was actually a jumbled mess of colliding thoughts.

Now it was her turn to look angry. Standing abruptly, she glared down at me. "Fuck you. I'm not a drug addict." She grabbed her purse from the booth and marched off, glancing once back over her shoulder to give me the finger as she exited the diner.

"So, that'll be all?" the waitress drawled, tossing the check on the table, smirking at Rose's dramatic exit.

Looking quickly at the bill, I placed another ten next to the one Rose had already thrown down on the table and stood to leave. Just as I was almost at the door, I saw Rose through the window being almost dragged down the street by Royce. Her face was a mask of indifference, but based on the firm grip he had on her arm, I assumed this wasn't a friendly, hi, how are you?

I hurried out the door, a plan forming in my head. I didn't want her to get in trouble and was trying to think of a way to reassure Royce our meeting was innocent.

When I'd almost caught up to them, I shouted, "Rose!" Once they both had turned, I could see her eyes widen in fear, assuming I was going to disclose our conversation. "Thanks for the pancakes. Next time I run into you, my treat." I shook my head dramatically before continuing, "Still can't believe I left my wallet in my locker. You're a lifesaver!" I gave a simple wave and walked off down an alley before I actually had reached the couple. I didn't need a major confrontation with Royce, knowing it would only add more complications for Rose.

Deciding to walk home in the rising light of dawn, I let my mind wander about what I'd discovered. Granted it wasn't much, but the drugs Aro was currently investigating were coming from inside the club. It wasn't just Demetri, but Rose, his head bartender too. I wish I hadn't offended Rose with my comments, because I still had so much more I needed to find out. Why was I in danger? Who was backing the drugs? Was Royce involved? Why had she decided to help me now? All of these questions rolled around in my head as I slowly marched my way downtown towards my apartment.

A/N

Thanks again for reading. I'd love to hear your theories on this little whodunit. Hope to have another update for you maybe the end of next week. I know, promises, promises.

And this will be my last Twilight story, and I promise to finish it up as soon as possible. If you'd like to follow my journey in original fiction, follow me on twitter at MichelaWalters or my blog: Michelawalters dot wordpress dot com

Until next chapter,

Mcgt