A/N... Okay, so let me get this straight... You hate Kyra. You don't trust anyone. And there was something about a mirror? Hmmm... LOL
I would consider this chapter a roller coaster of emotions. There is plenty of suspicion, plenty of information, and plenty of anxiety. Also, some serious memories come flying back. And I need to give you guys a LEMON WARNING. And you know what? I'm not saying anything more...
On with it...
CHAPTER 6
BELLA
"Edward thinks he's still around?" Esme asked tentatively as we pulled out of her driveway.
"He will always assume the worst," I stated, shrugging a shoulder. "He'd rather be safe than sorry." I sighed, shaking my head. "But if he could get to the house, leave the note and the flower, all while you're in there inside...then this guy is pretty serious."
"Mommy, I wanna watch a movie," Bethy piped up from the back seat when we pulled into our driveway.
I punched the remote for the gate and pulled through. "It's late, pretty girl," I told her as calmly as I could. "And you guys are getting up for Mrs. Cope's tomorrow. So it's bedtime, baby."
"Yeah, but..."
"No... No yeah buts," I stopped her. "Please, just do what I ask, Bethy. Baths, and then bed. Okay?"
"I got them," Esme soothed me, a touch of amusement to her voice. "You get Kyra and Cassie settled in."
"Thank you," I whispered, giving her what smile I could. "I'll take Sammy, though," I chuckled, jerking a thumb behind me, because my baby boy was already asleep.
"Bellsy, I'll head out to the office and give the girls a hand," Mickey stated, out of the car almost instantly. She snickered. "And don't you dare make room for me," she ordered. "When the boys give the all-clear. I'm going back home."
"Yes, ma'am." I turned off the car, got out, and carefully pulled my son into my arms. "Come on," I told Cassie and Kyra as gently as I could. "Let's get you inside." I sighed, grimacing at just how frightened Kyra looked. "Hey," I whispered as she climbed out of the car with shaky hands and a pale face. "You're safe here. I promise."
"Did you see that note?" she asked, grimacing a bit.
"I did, and they'll bring me a copy once they've bagged it up. I want to look at it again," I explained softly, placing a kiss to Sammy's twitching hand, because the note was exactly what I'd been afraid it would be – threatening. We stepped up onto my front porch, and I opened the door. "I'm going to get him in bed, and I'll give you the dime tour, okay?" I chuckled at Cassie's giggle as they both followed me into the house.
Esme immediately took Caleb and a rather disgruntled Bethy straight to the bathroom. Walking into Samuel's room, I set him gently down in bed, tugging off his shoes, socks, and shorts, changing his diaper. He slept through it all, and I couldn't help but kiss his sweet chubby cheek, whispering that I loved him.
I tugged the trundle bed open for Caleb, something Edward had added months after Samuel started sleeping in his big boy bed. Bethy wouldn't allow anyone but Abby to sleep in her room, so Edward had built an additional one that stored underneath, because Caleb was always over.
"Aunt Bewwa," I heard from the door. Caleb stood there in just a pair of shorts, looking sweet and shy, with big blue eyes like his mother and short, dark curls like his father.
"Bedtime, big guy," I chuckled, waving him to me. "Come on. Climb in."
"'Kay," he said, crawling onto the bed. He smelled sweet and clean, grinning up at me with dimples that matched Emmett's, and I kissed his forehead just like I had my own kids.
Once he was tucked in and comfy, I pulled the door closed, leaving the nightlight on for them. I walked down the hall to Bethy's room to interrupt her debate with Esme.
"Yeah, but why is the TV lady here? And why is Mommy mad?" she asked her, but Esme stood up from the bed when I walked in, leaving me to tuck my baby girl in.
"I'm not mad, pretty girl," I told her, tugging the covers up to her chin and placing a kiss to her forehead. "Miss Bailey is going to stay here for a while."
"Why?" she asked, breaking into a huge and adorable yawn.
"She's safe here," I simply said, shrugging my shoulder.
"Where's Daddy?" she asked, before yawning again.
"He's working, baby," I told her. "So you'll have to wait for bedtime 'mooches, okay? I promise you can smother him in the morning before you head off to Mrs. Cope's."
She giggled at that and nodded. "Tell him I'll save them all up for him and give them all at one time."
I laughed, because Edward totally heard her over the radio, asking to speak to her. "Hang on," I chuckled, pulling it from my ear and placing it close to hers.
"Bedtime, little sergeant," he told her.
"Yes, sir," she giggled.
"Only sweet dreams, baby," he sighed, sounding like he would much rather be in the room with us than over at his dad's house.
"Okay, Daddy." She yawned again, snuggling farther down into her bed and pillow. "Love you. I'll give you extra love tomorrow, okay?"
"I can't wait. And I love you, too, little sweetness," he crooned to her.
Her heavy lids blinked slowly, and I took back the earpiece, tucking it back in. "Thanks, Edward," I snickered, kissing Bethy's forehead and closing her door behind me.
"Sure, love," he chuckled. "I couldn't resist her. I'll be there as soon as Wes gets here. He's on his way."
"Keep me posted," I ordered, walking back into the living room.
"Yes, ma'am," he answered, "and don't you dare think I've forgotten about our earlier...conversation." His voice was a deep, rumbling, sexy tenor, and I couldn't help but laugh, because he didn't forget anything.
"Shut it," I giggled. "I haven't forgotten anything, baby."
"That's my girl," he crooned sexily.
I found Kyra and Cassie in the kitchen with Esme as she made them something to eat.
"We aren't going back to Carlisle's, are we?" Cassie asked as I walked through to the laundry room.
I came back out with extra towels and blankets in my arms. "Probably not," I told them, grimacing a bit. "We'll have your things brought over tomorrow...if we can't have the boys bring them tonight."
Both ladies nodded, picking at the sandwiches that were in front of them. They looked tired, scared, and admonished, a stark contrast to what they'd been that morning – especially Kyra, who usually had a snarky comment aimed my way with everything that I'd said. But she really was scared.
"We'll find him, Kyra," I vowed, making sure she was looking at me before I continued. "We've got a tough road ahead, but we will do everything we can to stop this. We've done it before, and we'll do it again." I sighed, leaning a hip against the counter next to her. "We've got leaks, people we don't know, and so many other things working against us, but no one will touch you. I swear it."
"Thank you," she said, and for the first time, I was pretty sure she meant it, so I nodded once, giving Esme a side glance.
"Somehow, your location was leaked, so that will be the first thing they'll look into," Esme stated, pushing off the counter.
"That shit wasn't cool today, and it probably alerted your stalker to exactly where you were, especially if they recognized Carlisle," I added.
I started to walk out of the kitchen, but Cassie gasped, her fork falling to her plate with a clang at the same time that Alice bleeped in over the radio.
"It was me," Cassie breathed, paling under my glare.
"The tweet came from Cassie's phone," Alice stated at the same time.
"What? No," I whispered, not sure to which woman. "You?" I asked her, and she flinched and nodded.
"I didn't even think," she uttered with a tremble to her voice, looking up at Kyra. "It's my job, you know. It keeps Kyra in the limelight. I tweet what she's doing, where she's going, and the progress of the new album. I'm sorry...I..."
I froze, thinking back throughout the day, and I realized that we hadn't exactly communicated with Cassie all day. She melted into the background so much that half the time, I barely remembered she was with us. She was so fucking quiet, always at Kyra's right hand when needed, but she barely made a fucking sound.
Taking a deep breath, I let it out. "And you do this...on purpose?" I asked her, trying to keep my voice calm.
"Yeah," Cassie said, her eyes tearing up a bit. "It keeps Kyra in the news. I've always done it. Her fans love to hear from her all day."
"Bells, I need that phone," Alice ordered in my ear. "She can have it back once I've made sure that it was only her, because I found some interesting shit on Kyra's."
"Okay," I mumbled, nodding once. "Phone," I commanded, setting the towels and blankets down on the kitchen table.
"Turn it off, take the battery out," Alice continued. "Bring it to me when you can."
Cassie handed over her phone, and I did as Alice asked, pocketing the pieces in my back jeans pocket.
"Everything is in that phone," she said, but I held up a hand.
"Just...wait," I sighed, shaking my head. "From now on...no tweeting, no texting, no phone calls."
"Then how are we..." Kyra started to yell, but I spun on her.
"Rules," I said, holding up my finger. "In this house, under this roof, and around my family, you will listen, follow, and stick by the following rules to the letter. We will keep you safe, but you have to help, okay? No phones...none. No email. No contact with anyone other than who my team deems trustworthy. Watch your language, make sure you're completely dressed outside the guest room, and once those kids are in bed, you will try to stay fucking quiet." My last three words came out through gritted teeth, because she'd raised her voice.
"Easy, sweetness," Edward crooned in my ear. "Gator says Cassie was only doing her job. She probably didn't even think about it."
"Yeah, well, Edward, now we've got a new flower and a threat because of it," I answered him, snatching the blankets and towels back up and storming down the hallway to the guest room. "Christ, baby. Tell me I wasn't this oblivious to my situation when you came for me," I snapped over the radio, but he only chuckled soft and low in my ear, along with everyone else listening in.
"You were...different, baby," he snickered. "You were...suffering from PTSD, remember? But you were also much more receptive and used to watching your back, so doing what we needed to do wasn't a big deal...well, until Charlie died," he sighed, and I could imagine his hand running through his hair.
"Yeah, well...that was different," I muttered belligerently.
He chuckled again. "Stop, baby. It's okay. We'll just...start over with everything tomorrow, or tonight if we have to. But it certainly explains how Kyra's fans got to her so quickly."
"Yeah. And your dad's house?" I countered at the same time Alice did.
"That one I don't get," he muttered. "Tell me that Cassie wouldn't have let that information out there."
I turned around to go ask her, but Kyra was standing in the doorway of the guest room.
"She wouldn't have given away where I was staying, Bella," she snapped, pointing behind her, but at least her voice was softer. "Only the studio and photo shoot locations. She knows better. Fans figure out my hotel, but she wouldn't give this away."
"Well, someone did," I sighed, shaking my head. "And until we find out how that info is getting out there, we've got a serious problem, because this guy is coming for you. And if he gets to you, it won't be pretty."
"What happened to you?" she asked me with narrowed eyes, and I could see her studying me, trying to figure me out, but I could also imagine that her conversation with Edward had been rattling around in her head all damn day. "Why are you trying so damn hard?" she asked, and I could tell she wanted to tack on something else, but she didn't.
"That's a really long story," I told her, my nose wrinkling a bit. "And probably something you don't need to hear tonight," I said, grimacing a bit, because every time I told it, I had nightmares, so I could well imagine she would, too, after reading that note left for her. "Let's just say that I'm trying to make sure no one goes through what I did. Okay?" I asked, waiting until she nodded reluctantly. "I'll tell you, but not tonight, and not while my kids are in the house."
She frowned, her brow wrinkling, but she nodded again.
"Make yourself at home," I murmured, gesturing around the room and to the bathroom. "The couch pulls out if you need it, or I can throw an air mattress down for Cassie."
"The couch is fine," Cassie said, joining us in the room and glancing around. "Bella, I'm sorry about the tweets."
"Yeah," I sighed, walking toward the hallway. "Now we just have to figure out how the asshole found Carlisle's house."
With that said, I left the room, walking straight out the screen door. I had work to do.
~oOo~
EDWARD
"What happened to you? Why are you trying so hard?" Kyra asked, and I could almost hear the unspoken question: "Why do you care about your husband's ex-lover?"
"That's a really long story and probably something you don't need to hear tonight," I heard Bella say over the radio, and I groaned as I made my final perimeter run at my dad's. "Let's just say that I'm trying to make sure no one goes through what I did. Okay? I'll tell you, but not tonight, and not while my kids are in the house."
I stepped up onto the porch, falling down onto the top step to catch my breath from my run. I could hear the old fear, but also the determination in Bella's voice. There was also a touch of surrender in there, as well. My girl felt that the only way to get Kyra to really just think was to tell her just how bad it could be, why staying low and quiet was of the utmost importance, and just why Bella was hell-bent on trying to stop this guy – ex-lover or not.
"Edward?" she called over the headset.
"Yeah, baby," I answered her, trying to sound up and positive for whatever she needed and running a hand through my hair as Jasper plopped down beside me to wait for Wes' arrival.
"What's the update?" she asked.
"Perimeter is checked. There was no sign of...well, anything. If the asshole drove in, we erased his tracks when we drove up. I can't see that he came through the woods. And there was no attempt to actually get inside the house. He merely...dropped this shit off," I explained to her, giving the crispy, black flower at the doorstep a scathing look, but the note made my stomach twist. "Wes has an ETA of about twenty. He was in Olympia when we called."
"Okay," she sighed. "I'm taking out my earpiece and heading into the office. When you guys get done..."
"We'll come straight to you," I finished for her. "And Bella?"
"Yeah?"
"You don't have to tell her," I said, trying to give her an out.
"I know."
There was a faint pop when she turned her earpiece off, and my head fell into my hands, my fingers weaving into my hair as my elbows rested on my knees.
"Shit," I breathed, shaking my head.
"Does she still get nightmares when she tells it?" Jasper asked softly, having heard her over his own earpiece.
"Yeah," I groaned, nodding with my hands still in my hair. "Maybe I shouldn't have taken this case," I mumbled.
Jasper chuckled softly, and I turned to look at him. "Maybe," he conceded, shrugging a shoulder. "Though I can't see us turning down someone that needs help. How would you have felt if you found out something...awful happened to this Kyra woman after turning the case down?" he asked, pointing to the note.
I inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly, reading the damn thing again. It was cutout letters from what looked like magazines and newspapers, which was creepy all on its own, but the message was crystal clear.
Kyra,
It's time we met. It's time I show you just what you do to me. Your new bodyguards won't stop me. You won't stop me. And when we're finally alone, I'll make sure that its only me you see. You've ignored me for way too long.
No more.
The letter sounded so eerily close to Miller's personality that it made me sick. The fear that had crossed not only my wife's face, but Kyra's, Cassie's, and even Mickey's, made me want to catch this guy, hurt him, stop him from what I could well imagine was the most evil of ideas.
Jasper let me sit in silence for a few minutes before he went on. "I'm all for stopping cheating assholes," he started with a slight chuckle. "And don't think I didn't find out that I had the next man-slut gig..." He raised an eyebrow at me when I laughed once. "Rock, Paper, Scissors? Really?"
"Kurt?" I verified as to who would have spilled to him about the debate just before my dad had called.
"Emmett, too," he chuckled, shaking his head. "Anyway...I'm all for it. It's safe, it keeps me close to home, and it can be a helluva lot of fun..."
"But?"
"This is what we do," he stated firmly. "With military precision, we could totally stop this guy. We are hunters of men, Ed. With the girls in the office, sharp eyes on the street, and even a bait or two, this guy is toast. Totally. We've done this shit before."
"Bait?" I asked, sitting up straight and turning a bit to face him.
"Oh, Eddie," he chuckled darkly. "Please tell me you can see just what type of girl you like...or at least used to like before Bella. Dark hair, petite, fair skin...you have to see the similarities..."
"Oh, hell...fuck no!" I growled, wanting to grab him, but he held his hand up. "Seriously, Jasper? You want to used my wife as bait? Have you lost your fucking mind?"
"I'm not saying throw her to the wolves," he countered, frowning at me. "I'm saying if we needed to hide Kyra, Bella is the perfect decoy. Dress them alike, have Bella move publicly as we tuck Kyra away."
I pursed my lips at him, rolling my eyes. "Now?" I asked, thinking this shit was stupid and fucking dangerous as hell.
"No, but there may come a time when we need this asshole to think one thing, while we're doing another," he stated, jerking his thumb toward the letter. "Kyra can't protect herself. Bella can. Hell, she's just as deadly unarmed as she is with a gun in her hand."
"This motherfucker is another Miller, Jazz," I snarled through gritted teeth. "You didn't see Bella's face when she read this shit! I'll sever the head of the asshole that touches her again. You have no idea what you're saying."
"It's just an option, Ed," he defended. "It will be the easiest way to move the singer around. Period. Just...think about it."
I rubbed my face, glancing up when Wes finally pulled into the driveway. I stood up, but pointed down at Jasper. "That is a last chance alternative," I stated firmly. "I'm not sure I can put Bella out there like that."
"Think about it," he urged again. "Put her with Gator, with Emmett or myself. She'll be seen walking to buildings, shopping, getting into cars. The more she's seen, the more this asshole will make himself known. Even Bella said that he'll get bolder."
"No." I shook my head, waving him off. "I'm telling you drop it for now, J."
"Fine," he said, smirking a bit. "But you know I'm right. It'll make guarding Kyra easier."
"Nothing about guarding Kyra is easy," I muttered, rolling my eyes at his laughter. "She's spoiled, hard-headed, and has no clue how much danger she's in."
"And she hates Bella...simply because she's your wife," Jasper added with a chuckle. "Kyra hates that you're completely taken and there's not a chance in hell you'd go back down your old road. She's fighting you at every turn, because it's a lost cause, Ed. I get the feeling that Kyra has never been told no...except by you. Then, and now."
I smirked, shrugging a shoulder. "She needs to hear it more often."
Jasper grinned, standing up as Wes approached with his kit in hand. "Which I'm sure she'll hear until she's either sick of it or gets used to it before this is all said and done."
"Exactly," I grunted, turning to Wes. "Thanks for coming," I told him, shaking his hand.
"Sure, Ed," he said, eying the flower and note. "Looks like Bella was right on this one. This guy is escalating."
"She usually is," Jasper and I muttered at the same time, causing Wes to nod and chuckle.
"Alice wants fingerprints, if you can pull any off," I told him. "She told me to tell you that she'll run them herself through whatever database she uses."
"I figured," he said, pulling on plastic gloves. "And Bella wants a copy of the letter, I'm assuming?"
"Definitely," I said, glancing up when Emmett and my dad came out of the house, the former carrying a shit-ton of luggage out to the SUV.
"The house is clear, and there was no sign of tampering to get inside it," my dad told Wes. "Think you can get anything off of those?"
"We'll try," he sighed, slipping the note into a plastic sleeve. "I might be able to get some sort of chemical residue off of the flower, and hopefully, prints off of this note. I'll have them rush it. In fact, I'll probably hover, just to be annoying enough for them to get it done tonight," he chuckled. "When I have something, I'll email it all to the pixie."
We laughed with him, but my dad looked to me.
"You and the boys get back to the office. I know the girls are probably running every possible scenario at this point. Gator has offered to remain here, but appreciates that you took Kyra and Cassie in. I've asked Alec to stay, as well. Tell Esme that she's clear to come back. I know she'd rather stay here."
"Got it," I said with a nod. "There aren't any appointments tomorrow for Kyra, so we'll most likely stick around the house."
"Raulson will be landing in Seattle tomorrow. Gator, Alec, and I will be picking him up, getting him settled someplace."
"Here?" I gasped, looking at my father like he'd lost his mind. Ike Raulson was an asshole.
"We'll see." He smirked, shaking his head. "I want him to know that things are different. I'm pretty sure he's coming in with the attitude that he's still running things at Solstice. He's not."
Emmett and Jasper chuckled softly, stepping off the porch.
"Sure, Dad, whatever," I snorted, rolling my eyes and thinking he enjoyed fucking with bullies way too much.
I got into the SUV, cranking it up as Jasper crawled into the back seat, while Emmett called shotgun, acting like the fourteen-year-old he occasionally seemed to be.
"So," Emmett said, grinning from ear to ear and clapping his hands together once.
"Oh, something stupid this way comes," Jasper muttered, causing me to laugh.
"You've got two women that want you under the same roof, Eddie," Emmett said, either ignoring Jazz, or he hadn't heard him – I wasn't sure which. "The wife and the ex. That's a threesome dream, right there."
"Told you," Jasper sang softly from behind me.
I balled up a fist, pounding it hard into Emmett's arm. "First of all, there's no ex. Kyra isn't an ex anything. She just...was. Second, Bella would remove my testicles with a dull and rusty butter knife for even thinking like that, so shut that shit up. And last...no way in fucking hell!" Just the mere thought made me gag.
"Fuck, Ed," Emmett whined, rubbing his arm where I'd punched him. "I was just saying... It's good for the ego to have two women fighting over you."
"And the stupidity continues," Jasper snickered, shaking his head.
I put the car in reverse, backing out of my dad's driveway, but glanced over at the passenger side. "Emmett, trust me when I tell you it isn't an ego booster. I fear for my dick at every turn."
Jasper laughed, his head falling back to the head rest. "Oh, boy, I bet you do. And now they're under one roof. There may be only one survivor."
I groaned, knowing he was right, even though he was teasing. "Fuck, I'm a dead man."
"Bellsy's awfully calm for this shit," Emmett noted.
"She's biding her time," Jasper chuckled. "She trusts Eddie, but Kyra's going to do or say the wrong thing and... Bam! It'll be on and poppin'." He punched a fist into his palm, causing a smack to resound loudly in the car.
I shook my head, because deep down, I knew he most likely was right. My Bella could tolerate a lot, especially from me, but I wasn't so sure just what Kyra was capable of. Nothing I'd said to her on the ride to Seattle had made a difference to her. I just wasn't sure how the shit would change once we were all under one roof.
"You know what you need to do, right?" Emmett asked as I pulled into my driveway.
"Dear Lord..." Jasper chuckled, causing me to laugh again.
"No, I'm serious! Hear me out," Emmett urged, almost in a whine. "You don't want nothin' to do with this Kyra chick, right?" he asked, and I shook my head no. "Well, what you need is some sweet, sexy PDA with Bellsy. I mean, like...right in front of the pop diva. Some kitchen counter, couch, or some front porch lovin'."
My eyebrows shot up at that, unable to stop the huff of a laugh that escaped me. "You want me to...in front of her?"
"He said PDA, not exhibitionism," Jasper chortled, smacking my shoulder. "Actually, brother's got a point. It may just show Kyra that there's nothing...um, lacking – that there isn't any reason to bother workin' it for you."
"You assholes are tryin' to get me killed, right?" I groaned, turning off the car and reaching for the door. "You've met Bella, yes? You know she can kill a man..."
Jasper grinned, but shook his head. "Have you ever actually listened to those women in the office?" he laughed. "I mean, really listened? Because they are just as possessive as we are, if not dangerously more. They may run the show, boss us around, force us into doing shit we never would've done when we were single, but they own us, dude. They'll cut a bitch for touching what's theirs."
"Don't believe us? Ask Mickey," Emmett added with a stiff nod. "She may be one of the guys, but she'll tell you."
"Ask Mickey what?" Mick chuckled over the radio. "You guys are fucking idiots," she laughed, and we looked up to see her standing outside the office door. "You're lucky that Alice, Bella, and Rosie are busy. They wouldn't believe the shit I just listened to."
I smiled, getting out of the car. "So you agree with me?" I asked her, and she met me about halfway across the yard.
"No, believe it or not, I agree with Tweedle Dumb and Dumber over there," she snickered, pointing past me as Jasper and Emmett jogged up to us. "PDA is a fantastic way of...pissing on what's yours, and if you don't think Bella is about five seconds from doing that to you, then you know nothing about women."
"I don't know shit about women," I admitted, rolling my eyes at their laughter.
"You're lying," Mickey countered. "You can schmooze as good as Alec, if not better. I've watched you do it. But you know Bella," she sighed frustratedly, rolling her eyes. "She's extremely protective of you, pretty boy."
"I know," I said with a nod.
"Yeah, well, what you don't know, because you're oblivious as hell," she continued, still chuckling, "is that Kyra is so fucking jealous, her skin could turn green at any moment. I watched her this morning at the breakfast table. She was watching you. And I mean you, Bella, Bethy, and Sammy. She watched you looking at them. Eddie, your love for them is a neon fucking sign all over that pretty face of yours, and the girl saw that. It's why she snapped on Bella this morning. Nothing can touch that, but she'll still try."
"Fuck, you sound like Bella," I whined, running a hand through my hair.
"PDA," she stated again, and Dumb and Dumber nodded fervently beside her. "You'll take yourself off the 'possibility' table. It's not like you hold back in front of us..." She motioned between her, Emmett, and Jasper. "But you've held back a bit since this chick got here."
I wrinkled my nose, but nodded. "This shit makes me uncomfortable."
"But your wife shouldn't," Jasper added.
I nodded again, letting out a deep breath. "Okay," I conceded, nodding again, but I stopped and turned back to Mickey. "Thanks."
"I'm here to keep you boneheads from getting killed by your wives," she laughed, shrugging one shoulder, but there was a deep-seated sadness in her honey-colored eyes.
"You all moved in to the new place?" I asked her as we made our way toward Gravity's office, but Mickey glanced up at me and nodded. "And you're okay?" I asked her.
Jasper's and Emmett's faces darkened when they realized I'd changed gears on us so quickly, but they studied her as they waited for her answer.
"I'm...fine, pretty boy," she said, but she didn't sound fine. "I want..." She huffed, shaking her head and coming to a halt. "Obie and I can't seem to see eye to eye on something. I want something – something really bad – and he doesn't. And it became a problem."
I could see tears forming in her eyes, and I knew Mickey. I could pretty much guess at what she wanted so badly, because the girls had all but said it aloud, even though they weren't supposed to – a girl thing, irreconcilable differences, Obie hadn't hurt her. Mickey had no family and probably wanted one of her own – badly. Obie had been abandoned by his and Tom's parents. A child, a family was the underlying reason for their breakup or separation or some shit.
But Mickey would never want to feel weak – not in front of us – so I simply nodded, saying, "His loss, wild child. And if he doesn't realize it soon, then I'll fly to Aunt Kate's and explain it to him. In detail."
"No, Edward. Don't," she said, sounding a little defeated. "Just...wait. Okay? Promise me?"
I looked at Emmett, who looked like he wanted to hug her, and then to Jasper, who seemed to have just gotten it. He and Alice didn't want children, but he'd been around Bella and Rose; he knew how important being mothers were to them. His face softened as he broke his gaze from her to me, and he winced.
"Obie should know, Mick," I whispered, draping an arm across her shoulders and pulling her to me, because she was like the little sister I never knew I needed. "It's an amazing experience...and scary," I admitted softly to her. "But I'll shut the fuck up...for now." I raised an eyebrow at her until she nodded.
Her hand gripped my jacket for just a second, and then she let go, nodding. "Thanks, Edward."
"Mmhm," I hummed, letting it go for the moment, but before I opened the office door, I turned back to her. "Can you take Kyra and Cassie their things?" I asked her, giving her a chance to calm down, because she was still a little upset.
"Yeah, sure," she answered softly with a small smile, because she knew I was letting her tears dry before walking back into the office.
As she walked toward the SUV, I tugged open the office door. Alice, Mack, Rose, Esme, and Bella all looked up when we walked in – the same unasked question written all over their faces.
"Wes took the stuff, the house is clear, and no sign of anything," I started. "Gator is staying with my dad. They're picking up Raulson in the morning."
"He's not coming here," Alice said, grimacing a bit. "We need one place we can keep Kyra away from everyone...at least until we can narrow it all down."
"No, he's not coming here. My dad's maybe, but not here," I vowed, sitting down next to Bella and kissing her temple. "I see Kyra is slowly signing her own death warrant," I teased her in reference to the law she'd had to lay down earlier, placing another kiss to my wife's neck.
"There are plenty of places to hide her body," Rose muttered, rolling her eyes. "Famous bitch or not. No one knows where she is, but us," she said with a grin. "And we aren't gonna say anything."
"Well, that would be true," Bella chuckled, giving Rose a smirk, "except now...she's been seen with a new bodyguard," she said, turning the computer so that I could see it.
I grimaced at the picture on the screen. It was me and Kyra at the record studio. I had a hand on her arm, tugging her toward the SUV. "Fuck," I sighed, sitting back in the chair.
"The rumors have already started, Edward," Makenna chuckled, turning her own computer around. "With you in the forefront and Gator in another vehicle, they already assume you're her new...man."
Bella snorted, but said nothing, only glancing up when Mickey came back into the room.
I glared at Mack's computer, shaking my head at just how nosy one website could get. They wanted to know who I was, where I'd come from, and just how I knew or had met Kyra. In the picture, I was wearing what I'd put on that very morning – jeans, a button down, and a jacket. What couldn't be seen were my eyes, because I'd put on sunglasses just before walking out of that bakery, and my gun. Luckily, that was hidden by my jacket. If the camera had caught that, there was no telling where the rumors would've taken it.
"Someone will recognize you eventually," Bella stated, giving the picture a scathing look, only to turn back to her own work. "I just hope no one places you with her from back in Afghanistan," she sighed, shaking her head and getting up from the table. "That would be bad."
"Why?" I asked as she made herself a cup of coffee.
"Because her stalker will flip the fuck out," Alice answered. "A new man, or one from the past. Oh, he'll freak. She'll offend him in some way. Right now, he thinks she's free and clear. If that changes...you'll be a target, too, Edward."
"Bring it," I growled, giving Emmett a fist bump when he grunted in agreement.
"No!" Bella snapped, setting her mug down onto the table. "No...there's no bring it. This guy is irrational and delusional. He'll kill you just to get to her. Don't you remember how that fucking goes?"
The whole room came to a standstill as we gaped up at her. Very rarely did Bella put her foot down, but she was close. And even more rare did she bring up her past in front of everyone.
"Baby..."
"No," she said, shaking her head. "I'm sorry if this sounds callous or mean or bitchy, but he can have her. He can't touch you! If given the choice...I'm not having something happen to you. You have to think, Edward. This isn't just me...you've got to think about Bethy and Samuel."
"Bella," Esme said, getting up from her chair and wrapping an arm around her. "That's not a choice you'll have to make, sweetie. You're not thinking rationally. You wouldn't want her hurt, and no one's going to let anything happen...to any of you."
"This shit's too close to Miller for my liking," Rose whispered, frowning down at her computer. "And I think we're letting that rule us at the moment. Men like this...or women, too, I guess...they usually stem from abusive homes, they think they are owed this relationship they're fantasizing about, and they start to unravel eventually. Maybe we're thinking too emotionally. Edward's presence could be a way of kicking this asshole into overdrive, getting him to step up to the plate. If it brings him out into the open, he'll be easier to catch."
"Bait," Jasper said, raising an eyebrow up at me when my head spun to glare at him. "You and Bella...bait, dude. I'm not kidding."
"They are similar," Alice mused, looking up from her screen and eying Bella. "We could so work with that..."
I flinched, because I'd known this shit was coming. Bella was already dealing with Kyra's looks, the history between us, and Kyra's fucking attitude enough as it was, but to have everyone in the room just blurt it out was the straw that broke the camel's back.
A maniacal laugh rushed from my wife, and she shook her head. "I'm done. I'll finish this shit in the morning." She shirked out of Esme's arms, walking to the door. "Tell them about the phones. Close this shit up. And go home."
We all jumped when the door slammed behind her. I stood up, gripping a fistful of my hair.
"Edward..."
"Enough!" I barked, spinning to face everyone in the room. "I should've never taken this case," I stated, shaking my head. "Kyra is selfish and spoiled. She's rude and has zero respect, even toward those trying to help her. Maybe she does deserve this shit. Maybe she just pissed off the wrong asshole. But Bella doesn't. You have no idea how fucking hard she's trying to maintain. You have no idea how many memories this shit is bringing back to her." I groaned, everything in me begging me to follow Bella, because the memory of Miller made my girl feel weak, and she was anything but weak. "Look, let this decoy shit go. At least for now."
Esme grimaced, walking to me. "Okay. Just calm down, son," she soothed, and I let out a small breath. "No one's saying you have to take that route. It was merely an idea. That's all. Go to her."
I shook my head, wanting to obey that command, but I couldn't. "No, what's this phone shit she wanted you to tell me?"
Alice slid both Cassie's and Kyra's phones my way. Both were back together, seemed to be working, and were fully charged. "They can have them back. But I found something interesting in Kyra's. An app...one that gives off a constant location tracker."
My eyes narrowed on the pixie, waiting for her to explain. "Gator?"
"He says no," Rose said, getting up from the table. "I called him. He only changes her phone number when there's an issue. Which was pretty recent, actually."
"Can you see who's watching it?" Emmett asked, pulling the phones to him. He was good with communications, so with quick touches to the screen, he studied the device. "Like what's the site it's posting to."
"No, I can't," Alice growled, spinning her computer around. "It works like a social network. You can see just where everyone you know is. That's if they wanted you to. I'm thinking someone downloaded that app when she wasn't looking."
"Cassie?" Rose asked.
"I don't think so," I sighed. "I heard her over the radio when the whole tweeting thing came out. She's not...like that. I'm just not thinking she's doing anything to Kyra on purpose."
"Yeah, I'm getting the impression that Kyra is all Cassie has," Mickey piped up. "It's just something I picked up from being around them all day. Cassie may have some feelings for Kyra, but I think it's really a very close friendship. Though Kyra kind of takes advantage of her."
"I get that, too," I agreed, but pointed to the phones. "Alice, tomorrow I want you to be the one to give these back. And I want you to tell them exactly what you found, exactly what they can and can't do with them, and see how they react. Kyra fights Bella on every turn. Let's see how she takes it from someone that can out-smart her."
Alice grinned wickedly, nodding profusely. "Are you telling me to make her look stupid?"
I laughed. "Pixie...you make us all look stupid."
She chuckled, throwing a pen at me, which I dodged beautifully. "Fine. I'll do it."
I turned to Rose. "Kurt will be here tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah," she said, closing her laptop down. "He called earlier to check in. He'll be working out with Bella in the morning, though now I kind of feel sorry for him, because she may just beat the shit out of the poor boy out of sheer frustration."
I chuckled. "Okay, well, once he's patched up," I said, pausing when they all laughed, "have him scour the internet, that social tracking site, and see what he comes up with. See if someone starts to put two and two together about me and Kyra, about Gravity. Okay?"
"Yup, no problem," she sang with a nod. "I'm going to let Caleb stay the night, because we'll just be lugging him off to Mrs. Cope's in the morning. Okay?" she asked, and I was totally fine with it.
I left them to close up the office, practically running across my yard to get to Bella. In fact, I wasn't sure I could get to her quick enough.
~oOo~
BELLA
My house was silent when I walked in. The only noises came from the ticking clock in the living room and the low hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. The guest room door was closed, but I checked on Bethy, pulling her covers up around her and placing Mr. Bear back in her arms. I peeked into Sammy's room, smirking at the little pudgy lump that was Caleb all curled up in a ball. Brushing an errant curl from Samuel's forehead, I dropped a light kiss to his dream-wrinkled brow.
Once I was in my bedroom, I let out the breath I'd been holding. I had to shake the stupid feelings of jealousy, regret, and resentment I was carrying toward Kyra – and Edward, if I were to be honest – simply for their history. I couldn't blame her for wanting Edward. Fuck, just one look at him and most women wanted him. But she'd actually been with him. Imagining was one thing; actually knowing what you were missing out on was another.
The fact that everyone noted just how much we looked alike had been too much to handle. It wasn't that we looked alike, because besides hair color and frame, we weren't alike. Our faces were completely different; it was just what this guy, this stalker wanted from her. I saw myself in her too much. I saw what could've been me if Edward ever decided that he just didn't want me anymore – pitiful and pathetic, trying to cling to someone that didn't want them.
I saw myself in her, because she was a clueless victim waiting to happen. Miller had wanted to control me, hurt me. This guy wanted the same thing from Kyra. I shook my head as I walked into my bathroom and turned on the shower, thinking she had no idea just what evil lurked out in the world. Everyone catered to her every whim, giving her anything she asked for, but this guy... He was going to take. He was going to take away her dignity and her choice. He would take away her perfect flawless skin, her love for people – because she really did enjoy meeting her fans – and her happy outlook...well, happy toward everyone but me. He would destroy her, crush her spirit. She didn't deserve it.
No one deserved it.
Shedding my clothes, I twisted my hair up into a messy knot and stepped under the spray, giving my body a once-over. I looked at scars I hadn't paid attention to in a very long time. Edward's love, his hands, his lips made me forget them, but they were still there. All of them. Some were faint, like the ones on my breasts and sternum. Some were still bold and twisted, like the burns on my stomach, the cuts on my hipbones. And some meant more than others, like the longest and ugliest of them all – the one down my thigh. It represented Edward's rescue and his first vow that he loved me. That one represented the end of Miller's torture, the last one he'd given me, because the alarm that sounded when Carlisle and Edward came for me had caused Miller to jump and snag my leg with the tip of his knife.
I dragged my thumb down it, feeling the harder skin under my touch. I closed my eyes, remembering Edward's own thumb there for the first time and the zinging sensation that had come with it. I remembered dark, lust-filled, yet determined eyes gazing up at me through long, wet eyelashes on a rainy afternoon as I leaned against a tree, fighting my feelings for the man at my feet. I didn't think a man like Edward could say the three most important words, but once he'd said the words "I love you," he'd never stopped. He said them over and over. He said them a million times a day, and they never fucking got old. He said them to me and to his kids. He said them with a forcefulness behind them, because he wanted us to not only hear it, but believe it, rely on it, trust it.
I finished my shower, drying off and tugging Edward's boxers and t-shirt on – my usual pajamas. I'd worn them for years, and he loved it. In fact, I was pretty sure he bought certain colors just to see me in them.
Dropping my dirty clothes into the hamper and setting my gun high up on the self so no tiny hands could touch it, I turned when Edward stepped into the room. He closed the door behind him, the soft click echoing in the silence as he leaned back against it.
"Don't say it," I told him, holding up a hand. "They want me as some sort of decoy for her," I grumped, frowning at the fact that it could possibly work if we needed it to.
"I told them no," he said softly, still leaning back against the door.
"Why?" I laughed humorlessly. "It's just...perfect," I said, spitting the last word out.
"Maybe," he allowed, shrugging a shoulder when I glared at him, but the slightly crooked smile creeping up his face told me that he thought it was bullshit. "Not that you couldn't do it, but I'm not sure you should."
I sat down on the bed, drawing my knees up to my chin. "Maybe I don't want to," I huffed, feeling belligerent and cranky about it. "Maybe I don't want to look like her."
He cracked a smile, and it was evil and wicked, his eyes darkening as he walked slowly across the room while removing his jacket and tossing it across the chair. "Then you don't, Bella," he said, his voice low and deep. "And you don't look like her. You look like you."
"She scares me, Edward," I whispered, looking away from him when he sat down in front of me.
"She shouldn't," he whispered back, reaching up to take my hair down. It tumbled heavily around my shoulders. Tucking one side behind my ear, he said, "She has no power here, sweetness."
"It's not that," I sighed, leaning into his touch. "We could so easily swap places. She could really get hurt...and I could..." My voice trailed off, because as much as I believed in his love for me, if he ever stopped or something happened to him, I'd be devastated.
"You could what?" he asked, leaning forward to press his forehead to mine, barely letting his lips brush across mine. "Tell me, baby, because I'm pretty sure that you're letting something mess with you too much." He tapped my temple lightly with one finger, only to trail it lightly down my face. "Now, I know you're not thinking that you could lose me, or that you'd be lost without me. I know you couldn't possibly be thinking something that silly, love. Right?" he asked, raising an eyebrow when I scowled up at him.
Sometimes, he knew me too fucking well. "Smart ass," I muttered, rolling my eyes at his pompous chuckle. "No," I pouted, pushing him back as he laughed a bit more. "Yes," I breathed, my eyes watering just a bit. "I don't know. This stalker, Edward...he's so similar."
He grimaced and nodded, but gathered me up into his strong arms. "Yeah, I kind of thought that was what this was about," he sighed, his breath pushing out against my cheek as I buried myself into the crook of his neck. "It's too close, huh?"
I nodded against his neck, breathing deep the calming scent of him. My fingers slipped inside his shirt, finding a gripping purchase onto the smooth skin of his shoulders, as he pulled me closer, tighter.
"Are you worried about you or Kyra?" he asked softly, cradling me on his lap with one strong arm, while he skimmed his hand up and down my thigh, his thumb just brushing across the very scar I'd been studying in the shower.
"She doesn't deserve this," I whispered the only answer I had, taking his finger and dragging it up my scar. "No one does. It doesn't matter if she's spoiled or whatever. No woman deserves to have their choice taken away."
"You didn't deserve it, either, sweetness." His voice was firm, unwavering, with a touch of temper lingering in it. He tilted my chin up so he could look into my eyes. "We will catch him. Whether we use that ridiculous decoy idea, or we just keep narrowing down suspects, but we will stop this guy, Bella. He won't touch anyone – me, Kyra, and especially not you. I know you're afraid for me, but I can handle it."
I smiled sadly, cupping his face. "I can, too. I just wonder if she can. She should get to keep her...perfect skin," I muttered, glancing down at my thigh as Edward's thumb continued caressing, touching, and loving on my scar.
A frustrated sound escaped him, and suddenly, I found myself straddling his lap, my back to his chest.
"Look in the fucking mirror, Bella," he ordered at the same time my shirt was swiftly lifted off over my head and dropped to the bed. "You want perfection, so I'm going to show you fucking perfection. I said...look." He pointed a finger at the same time he nudged my cheek with his nose.
I broke my gaze from dark and angry, to look at my cheval mirror right across from us. I watched as two incredibly strong hands wrapped around me, gripping the material of the boxer shorts I was wearing and he ripped them in half. They shredded in his grasp, his entire body rolling in one big muscular wave as he yanked the fabric away and tossed it unceremoniously to the floor. I gasped, but couldn't stop staring at the image in the mirror.
I was naked, sitting on Edward's thighs. He was still in his jeans and button down shirt, with the sleeves rolled up. Every muscle in his forearms rolled beautifully as he started to touch me...everywhere.
"I never fucking want you to second-guess just how damned beautiful you are," he said, his mouth at my ear, but in the mirror, he was watching us with eyes so very dark. "I told you that if you said one more thing about her looks, I was going to hold you down in front this mirror and prove to you how I see you."
"Edward..." I gasped as firm grips, soothing caresses, and teasing fingers ghosted all over my skin, across my breasts, up my thighs, and between my legs, never actually touching where I needed them the most.
"Shh, sweetness," he purred, opening his mouth to my neck, but our eyes met in the mirror. "Just feel, and just listen." Gliding his hands down my arms, and then down the outside of my thighs, he said, "We started...with this. And that sweet ass I can't get to at the moment...but I will." He grinned a bit, dragging his teeth slowly over the skin of my shoulder. "You have no idea how badly I just wanted to fucking touch you back then, baby. But I couldn't. I had to wait."
With one finger, he touched the scar on my thigh, following its twisted path, only to do the same to the burns on my stomach.
"These gave me your love...and your sweet, sweet taste," he crooned. "You let me devour you, even through these little striped underwear that I so badly wanted to just rip the fuck off of you. You were so fucking wet for me, Bella. Do you remember?"
I nodded frantically, my head falling back a bit to his shoulder.
"Fuck, even through the cotton, I could've licked you, tasted you, drunk from you all fucking day," he said, his voice raspy, thick as his fingers slipped just over the outside of my folds, not dipping in, not touching me where I was now swollen and throbbing for him.
Flat palms and spread fingers then slipped up my torso, until he cupped both of my breasts, just barely giving my nipples a brush, but they hardened, peaked until my eyes rolled back.
"No...keep looking, love," he whispered, nudging my jaw again with his nose until I looked back to the mirror. "I'm not done. These beautiful girls..." He chuckled, squeezing my breasts just a bit. "They told me that you were just about ready for me." He touched the faint scars on each breast, finally gliding down the one on my sternum. "I would've waited. I wanted to wait, sweetness. And I...didn't wait...for anyone."
I whimpered when his hand cupped my sex possessively, rubbing slightly, but still not touching me the way that I needed. "Edward...please..." I begged, trying to writhe, grind, anything on his lap, but a strong arm wrapped around me to hold me still.
"And this one," he continued, like I wasn't fucking dying in his arms for release, for his touch, for all that he'd give me. Three fingers drifted across my C-section scar. "This one told me – twice – just how much you loved me by giving me the most precious of gifts."
My love for him came bubbling up out of me with a sound that was close to a sob, but it was a continuous begging sound at the same time. Ignoring me, he pressed firmly against the inside of my legs, opening them wider.
"A little wider, love," he ordered softly, shifting us so that I was spread open for him on his lap and in front of that mirror. "Nothing is more perfect than this," he crooned, finally giving in and slipping his fingers through my now saturated folds. He smiled against the flesh of my neck as the pure sound of relief escaped me. "When I was finally able to touch this beautiful pussy, I swore that I'd never, ever stop, Bella. And I haven't."
"Oh, God...more," I gasped, reaching behind me to grip his neck as long, knowing fingers delved deep inside of me. His thumb swirled against my clit, and I was so fucking wet that the movement of his hand could be heard as a delicious sucking sound.
"I don't see scars, sweetness," he growled low against the soft spot just below my ear, but his eyes were locked onto what his hand was doing to me in the mirror. "I see us. I see every step, every sweet orgasm that made you mine. That made me yours. These aren't imperfections, Bella. They are every single glorious piece of you that you've given to me."
My body clenched fiercely, my hips rose up, and I was so fucking close when he curled his fingers just right as he dragged his thumb across my clit at the perfect spot.
"And I'm very fucking selfish and attached to what's mine. I only want my toys to play with, baby," he breathed against my cheek, placing a long, slow kiss there. "Come for me, beautiful. Now!"
My whole body spiraled out of control at his command. I had to hook my heels on the edge of the bed, because my hips rose high. Eyes rolled, breathing stopped, and Edward's name was the only word I could articulate, and even that came out as some sort of alien language.
The shudders of my bliss didn't even have a chance to calm down before we both moved at the same time. I spun on his lap, but he flipped us so that he was looming over me, settling between my legs.
"I swear to God, Bella," he growled, pressing his forehead to mine. "You are so fucking perfect that it hurts me to look at you sometimes. Please, please don't ever forget that. I-I l-love y-you s-so f-fucking m-much," he sputtered, and I snapped, barely saying the words back to him, because that sweet, honest sound was just the icing on the cake.
My hands flew to his shirt, pushing and shoving at it. Slipping a hand down my side, Edward hitched my leg up higher as he dove for my mouth. Tongues were possessive, sweeping along side each other and claiming mouths, teeth nipped, and sounds escaped us into the room, and I couldn't have cared less. In fact, there was a vengeful, possessive, evil part of me that hoped someone heard us.
Grazing his lips down my jaw to my neck, Edward suckled lightly on my skin, causing my head to fall back. It gave me the opportunity to glance back over to the mirror, and my stomach clenched at the sight. Edward's strong arm was braced by my head, my bare legs wrapped around his jean-clad thighs, but my eyes didn't stray far from him.
The Cullen crest and all its swirls on his upper arm rolled beautifully with every movement as he held himself above me, lost in it all. It was dark ink, shifting with every thrust of my husband's hips. But it was more than that. It was a gloriously strong, sloping back with a shirt barely staying on. It was flexing thigh muscles behind denim that always seemed to cling to him like a second skin. And it was the beautiful face that nuzzled my jaw, my neck, my breasts.
"Fuck, baby. Are you watching us?" he asked, a touch of amusement behind his voice.
"You," I told him, finally turning back to the real thing above me and running my fingers through his hair. "I'm watching you."
He smirked, licking his kiss bruised lips and letting his eyes stray to the mirror. "I think we should both get to see..." He sat up abruptly, shirking the rest of the way out of his shirt, only to stand up to rid himself of his shoes, socks, and jeans. Sitting back down on the edge of the bed, he opened his arms for me. He stopped me when I started to face him, turning me around. "No, sweetness. I want to watch us fuck."
With my back to his chest again, he lift me up, guiding me slowly down over his cock. My head fell back to his shoulder, but my eyes couldn't stray from watching him disappear inside of me. Once he was as deep as he could go, we both paused, our breathing heavy, our eyes locked in that mirror.
"So fucking good," he growled low against my neck, gathering my hair up so he could pull my head to one side. "Oh, baby, that's fucking perfection right there," he breathed, wrapping a strong arm around me to hold me still so he could start moving inside of me.
It was almost too much to watch, and I wasn't sure what to keep my eyes on – the black, carnal gaze that met mine, the hands that gripped my hips to move me just the way we both wanted, or the stunning, thick cock that moved in and out of me with a deep, sweet, delicious rhythm that was slowly bringing me back to the brink of another orgasm.
"Wait for me, sweetness," he ordered softly. "Not yet, not yet," he chanted in a hissing whisper. "Love you, baby. Please wait."
I whimpered an answer, trying my damnedest to stave off my climax, my body begging for another release. "Oh God, please..."
We both watched as his hand slid slowly down my torso, his fingers immediately seeking out my clit. We barely breathed when one brush, one little bit of pressure to my most sensitive nerve caused us both to unravel. His hand on my hip pulled me flush to him as my climax milked his own.
Edward's sweaty forehead fell to my shoulder, his breathing heavy. "You're so beautiful, love. I lose my mind when you don't see it," he sighed softly, his breath ghosting over my sweaty skin. "I hate it that you think I'm so easily swayed..."
I shook my head, pulling and tugging at him until he set his chin on my shoulder. I pressed my lips to his sharp, scruffy jaw. "I have total faith in you, Edward. I just know that telling Kyra about Miller tomorrow will make me..."
"Weak?" he whispered, brushing his lips across mine, even though we were in an awkward position.
I wrinkled my nose. "Yeah, I guess. In her eyes, anyway," I sighed in defeat. "I just don't want her to think that."
"Hmm," he said, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. "I'm pretty sure that anyone that's heard you tell that story has never thought you to be weak, sweetness. You're giving her too much power. She's not allowed here," he said, gesturing between us. "She needs to know the level of danger she's in," he said, shifting us until we were laying on the bed, facing one another, "but letting her know just how strong you and I are will be...important. I think she needs to hear it for more than just the 'what could happen' aspect. I think she needs to hear just how much history you and I have. She's certainly not listening to me."
I smiled, tears filling my eyes as I pressed my lips roughly to his. I nodded slowly, pulling back just a little. He was right; our bond was so very fucking strong, and I knew Kyra thought she could separated us. It wouldn't happen. But she also needed to know what could happen if her stalker got the advantage over her.
"Okay," I said, letting out a slow breath. "Okay. I'll tell her."
A/N...ahh, the mirror. If you have any questions about the steps Edward was talking about, then see Blood & Glory. Every scar overcome had meant a step closer for these two. Edward was merely expressing that to him, each mark on her was his.
And the note sent Bella into a strange spiral of emotions. Memories can do that, especially the things she's experienced. Despite her feelings toward Kyra, she never wants what happened to her to happen to anyone else. Yeah, Kyra's in the house, but things will now start to get really interesting. Lots more info to come, including Bella's story.
I need to thank JenRar for beta'ing this, and for giving me a really awesome idea. A huge hug and smooch to GooberLou, who said this might be her favorite lemon and chapter from me out of everything I've written. I need to thank MedusaInNY for my blog, because I'm clueless with the damn thing.
So the chap 7 is done and beta'd, so the next posting will be Wed. Let me know what you're thinking. Until next time...Later. :)