A/N... Pilotward, Cuffward, Mercward, Daddyward... Yeah, totally don't care what you guys call him. He's just my Edward. Sigh...
I'm so glad that some of you have seen Kyra's issues as a symptom of her abuse. Trust me, her healing isn't complete...she's only just begun. I know a few of you still don't trust her, so perhaps this chapter will help you a bit.
I need you guys to strap in, hold on... This chapter's fairly bumpy for various reasons. See you at the bottom...
CHAPTER 12
BELLA
"No, Mommy!" Samuel growled, pushing my hand away.
My poor boy was way too much like his father sometimes. When he didn't feel good, he was an absolute bear to live with. It reminded me of when Edward had been shot in the leg; he'd been miserable to deal with for weeks into his recuperation. And Samuel really felt like shit. His fever was still there, his nose was stuffy, and his cough was deep. Add in a sore throat and probably ringing ears, and he was just a mess. It always amazed me how a cold could go from a scratchy throat to the full blown misery within hours, but it did.
"Samuel Masen," I chided, barely with any authority, because his sad, miserable little face was just killing me. "Take this medicine, and I'll give you an ice pop. Okay?" I asked him, because I knew he'd go for it. The frozen treats were the only thing he was really wanting, because they were probably soothing his throat, and I wanted him to have the liquids. He'd barely eaten his lunch, and he'd taken a small nap, but he was due for medicine, and that would knock him out again, I was sure.
Oh, the pitiful face! Big, watery brown eyes gazed up at me as he pushed out his trembling bottom lip. He rubbed at his eyes, nose, and head, finally opening his mouth for the grape-flavored syrup. I set him in his highchair, grabbed an ice pop from the freezer, and handed it over.
He popped it into his mouth, still looking at me like I was betraying him, but I kissed the top of his head.
"I'm so sorry, handsome," I sighed into his hair. "I'm sorry you feel bad."
"Yeah," he whimpered, rubbing his nose again and popping the cold treat back into his mouth.
I turned around to see Alice and Makenna traipsing through my screen door, their arms filled with equipment. I gestured to the kitchen, because it would be easier to set up all the monitors. Plus, it would be the farthest room away from Samuel's, because as soon as the medicine kicked in, he was getting tucked into bed. I was hoping that his fever would break soon.
Rose had already left to go get Caleb and Bethy. I'd worried that she wouldn't want Caleb exposed to Sammy's cold, but she said the whole daycare was riddled with it. He'd already been exposed. Plus, both kids would be a big help once they got there, because Sammy wasn't so clingy when he had another boy in the house.
"Oh, my little minion," Alice chortled sadly, taking Sammy's face in her hands once she set her things down. "You look rough, little dude," she told him, kissing his forehead and wincing at the heat of it.
"Yeah," he groaned back sadly, but his attention was on his ice pop.
"Where do we stand?" she asked me.
"Kyra and Cassie are getting ready. Edward's dressed, but I think they're all going over some last minute things," I told her, pointing out the kitchen window.
Outside was a small army in black. It was what they always wore on these types of missions – black cargo pants, black long-sleeved t-shirts, black military grade boots, black baseball caps, and shoulder holsters. They were intimidating, larger than life, and completely professional at this point.
"Well, they're putting on the cameras and earpieces I just gave them," Makenna answered. "We're going to do a test of it all as soon as Rose gets back."
"Perfect," I sighed, helping them set up.
Sammy stayed pretty quiet as we worked around him. As long as he was in the room with me, he was good, but he was fighting that cold medicine like a warrior. Once everything was up and live, I pulled my son out of his highchair.
"Come on, baby. Let's get you in bed," I crooned to him, and even though his eyes were heavy lidded and he was yawning, he shook his head no.
"No, don't want bed!" he argued weakly, his tears starting anew.
I smiled at him, because what else could I do? He was miserable and so very stubborn. I sat down in our rocking recliner and set him straddling my lap. He fought and cried, and he coughed and sniffled. I took a tissue that was handed to me, looking up to see Kyra looking down at us with sympathy.
"Thanks," I said, wiping at Samuel's nose.
"You look like you could use about ten other arms right about now," she chuckled, and I grinned up at her.
She was dressed pretty casually, but she'd mentioned her costumes arrived to the arena early. In fact, Felix, Wes, and Kurt were already there with a few federal agents going through it all, not to mention setting up a plan with security. She was holding a guitar case in her hand, but set it down on the sofa.
Kyra had woken up after her freeing conversation the day before with a fairly calm attitude. I'd have been willing to bet she and Cassie had talked until whatever Esme had given her had kicked in. She was almost a different person – lighter, quicker to smile, and obviously still a little wary of me, but she was trying. She had been extremely amenable to the plan of flying in and had Cassie call in her make up and wardrobe crew to be at the ready for when she arrived. Gator had taken over that call, telling everyone to stop Preston Raulson if he was spotted, or call him immediately.
"How do you do it?" she snickered softly, shaking her head. "Work and those guys?"
I grinned and shrugged. "We always have. Bethy showed up at our busiest time, and this guy a few years later. We have great babysitters, but he's not having them today. And he's way too much like Edward."
She chuckled, pointing to him as he fought laying his head on my shoulder. "I see that." She opened her case and pulled out a beautiful natural wood acoustic guitar. "Mind if I try to help?" she asked softly, wincing when Sammy's crying didn't stop, no matter how much I soothed and rocked him. "It's something my dad did for me when I was a kid."
At that point, I'd have taken anything, so I nodded. It didn't take three notes plucked on that guitar for Sammy to sniffle and turn to look at her. He didn't stop crying right away, but he watched her, hiccuping occasionally and finally laying his head on my shoulder.
She sang Smile, an older song, but damn, if it wasn't beautiful. She truly had the voice of an angel, and I could see the memories behind the song glimmer across her face, because the lyrics were about pushing through the tough shit and smiling through it all when you couldn't do anything about it. She jerked a chin my way to tell me that Sammy was just...gone. Out. By the time the last note was echoing through a silent house, my son was so asleep that his fingers were twitching against my neck.
"Wow," Makenna breathed, and Kyra and I looked up to see just about the whole crew watching, including Gator and Cassie, the latter of whom was fighting her smile.
Edward walked quietly into the room, kneeling beside the chair, and ran a hand over his son's head, but we both looked up when Bethy walked up to Kyra, because apparently, Rose had returned with the kids while she was singing.
"That was pretty," my daughter noted softly, tilting her head at Kyra.
"Thank you, sweetie," Kyra stated, and I noted, with true sincerity. She set the guitar down, but reached up to play with a lock of my daughter's hair. "Bethy, I'm really sorry for yesterday," she whispered, but I realized that it was just loud enough that every single person could hear her.
And just like I'd expected, Bethy beamed like the sunniest of days. "It's okay. Don't be scared. Daddy will catch the bad guy."
I snickered, careful not to wake Sammy, but I leaned over and kissed Edward's cheek, because he was looking at his daughter like he wanted to smooch her to pieces.
"Can I tell you a secret?" Kyra whispered conspiratorially to her.
"What?" Bethy whispered back, her eyes wide and expectant.
"He's already caught one of them," she told her, again in a whisper, only this time, tears glistened in her eyes when she said it, and I could tell that the removal of Ike out of her life was still a bit shocking for her.
Bethy grinned, giggling a little when she turned to her dad. "Yeah?"
Edward shook his head, rolled his eyes, and waved his daughter to him, because praise embarrassed my husband. "Come here, silly girl. Give me 'mooches, because I've got to go to work." He stood up with her in his arms as he started their tradition. "Love you," he told her.
"Love you, too, Daddy," she said, kissing his puckered lips. "Be safe!"
"Always," he vowed with a firm nod and a dramatically furrowed brow. "Take extra special care of Mommy and Sammy for me while I'm gone, little sergeant. Got me?" he grunted, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Yes, sir!" she grunted right back, trying to salute him.
"I think everyone else needs good luck, little sweetness," he told her. "Poppy and your uncles need their goodbyes," he snickered, setting her on her feet.
She scampered off with a grin, giving love to everyone, and Kyra chuckled as she watched her. But we all stopped when she got to Gator, who knelt in front of her.
"Do you want good luck too, Mr. Gator?" she asked him, again tilting her head and biting on her bottom lip just like I did.
His smile could have lit up the entire city of Seattle, but he recovered quickly, obviously deciding to tease her. "I don't know," he mused, rubbing his chin. "Is this like...for sure, hands down, flaw-free, the best there ever was...good luck?" he asked her.
"Yup, yup, yup!" she chanted just like Alice, who giggled from the kitchen.
"Hmm," he mused again, narrowing his eyes at her. "Guess I can't go wrong then, huh?"
"Nope!" she giggled, because by now, she'd picked up on the fact that he was messing with her. "Do you want the 'mooch or not?" she asked him, rolling her eyes at the chuckles around the room.
Gator's happy, bright blue eyes snapped up to Edward. "God, she's so your kid," he told him, which caused Edward to laugh. He turned back to Bethy. "Okay, plant one...right here," he said, pointing to his cheek.
Bethy smiled, leaned in, and gave him his kiss. "There you go!"
"I feel luckier already," he snorted, shaking his head.
I stood up from the rocking chair, shifting an unconscious Sammy higher on my shoulder. "Hey, superhero," I teased Edward. "Come tuck your son in with me."
"Shut it, sweetness," he chuckled, but followed me down the hall.
Sammy barely stirred when I tucked him under the covers, but Edward bent down, kissing his son's heated forehead. "Feel better, pal. Love you." He stood back up and faced me. "Think he'll be okay?" he asked me, pulling me into his arms.
"Yeah, Esme looked him over," I told him. "And Rose said the kids at Mrs. Cope's were usually back after a few days. They both think the fever will break by morning."
I could see Edward's worry, but we'd been through many colds, a ton of tummy viruses, and a case of the chicken pox with Bethy when she was two. It was old hat to us, but it didn't stop the worry.
After tearing his lingering gaze from his son, he turned to me. "I want your sexy as hell voice in my ear as much as possible tonight," he crooned, brushing his lips across mine.
I smiled against his lips. "Can't talk dirty to you while everyone's listening, baby," I sighed, giving him a chiding look.
He grinned, dragging his tongue across his bottom lip. "Damn," he groaned, rolling his eyes. "You'd think they'd be used to it by now. None of us are innocent of it."
I laughed, burying the sound in his chest in order to not disturb Samuel. "That's very true," I chuckled, looking back up at him.
We all were pretty hilarious over the radio. It was a way to break the tension, keep each other focused, and settle our fears, no matter how trivial the case was. We talked trash, teased, and flirted with our spouses.
"I'm sorry I'm not going," I sighed, giving Samuel a quick glance.
"I'm not. He needs you more than I do today," Edward stated, his brow wrinkling a bit. "Don't get me wrong... No one has my back like you do, but I have the whole crew with me and you girls in my ear."
I smiled, kissing him quickly. "Yeah, the angels on your shoulder, as Alec likes to call us," I chuckled.
"Exactly," he said, pointing to the camera on his shoulder. "This your idea?"
"Yeah," I said with a nod. "I need to see every angle in addition to the security feed from the arena. Rose and Mack are watching that, while Alice and I will watch you guys and take the thermal, if needed."
"Got it," he grunted, reaching up to cup my face. "Constant communication."
"If it's not me, it'll be Alice," I told him, gesturing to our sick boy. "But we've got you."
"Good," he sighed, pressing his forehead to mine. "Love you, sweetness...so damn much."
"Love you, too, Edward," I whispered against his lips. "Please, please be safe."
"Always," he vowed again, just like he'd told Bethy.
Edward's lips met mine in a kiss that he seemed to reserve for moments like that. It was deep, sweet, and all consuming, but it was breathtakingly vulnerable, because he was handing over his heart and soul for safekeeping until he came back to me. When Edward was on duty, when he was flying and in charge, he wasn't the joking, stuttering, happy man he was with me and the kids. He was hard, focused, and determined to get everyone in, out, and back safe, no matter how simple the case.
Just like always, he left me breathless and wanting more, but I let him go. With one more kiss to my forehead, we shut off the light to Sammy's room and headed back out to the kitchen.
I snatched up my headset, turned to the crew, and said, "Okay, before you load up... we need to test this equipment. Let's go."
~oOo~
EDWARD
"Boys, focus!" my wife snapped, looking up from her computer screen, because Emmett and Jasper were singing one of Kyra's songs in falsetto, which was causing chuckles from the whole crew, not to mention Kyra herself.
"Sorry, Bellsy," they chanted, clearing their throats and standing at attention.
"Morons," Alice sighed, rolling her eyes. "Okay... everyone, radio check. One at a time, please."
We did as they asked, switching Alec's earpiece to a new one, because he was getting too much feedback. We stood still, letting them adjust the cameras we were wearing, until finally, they gave us the all-clear.
"I gotta get in the air, sweetness," I reminded her when she pulled up all the feeds that she and Alice would need.
"Okay. Flight plan," she stated, taking it from Alice and handing it to me. "Who's flying? Who's driving?"
"Eleazar, Cassie, Alec, and Kyra are flying with me," I told her. "Emmett's driving Gator, Jasper, and Mickey. Dad and Esme are driving separately."
"Benny, Wes, and Kurt are already there," Rose stated, pointing to her screen. "So are Kyra's people – wardrobe, makeup, hair. As soon as you land, you need to get her straight to her dressing room. Mickey, we need you sharp in there, because we've got people that we haven't dealt with before. They're cleared, but we don't know if Preston's friends with any of them. However, Benny's beefed up the arena's entryways, so they're almost at the level of Homeland Security – metal detectors, bag searches, and all signs, flowers, and gifts are not being permitted inside. Every employee has seen a picture of Preston, but that won't mean he can't squeak through."
"On it," Mickey grunted with a nod, and then turned to Kyra and Cassie. "Let's get you guys strapped in the chopper, okay?"
"Wait!" Kyra gushed, looking from me to Bella. "Can I... I mean, I'd like to talk to you two before we...take off."
"Sure," Bella said, taking off her headset and setting it on the counter.
Kyra turned to Cassie, handing over her guitar case. "Here, you go on ahead. I'll only be a second."
Bella led us away from everyone, stopping underneath Bethy's tree house. But Kyra turned to my wife first.
"I need to apologize again," she said, wincing a bit. "Esme told me that my...condition didn't let me think clearly. That I was only reacting to the fear. I wanted to tell you again that I didn't mean any of it," she sighed, looking between us. "And I can't say that I blame you for what you did yesterday morning, because I pushed you guys too far." Kyra rubbed the small split to her lip, and I suddenly had the urge to tell her she'd gotten off easy with just that. "Actually, it probably knocked some sense into me."
Bella snorted, locking eyes with me and turning back to Kyra. "I put a gun to my ex-boyfriend's chest once," she stated out of the blue. "It took Edward almost ten minutes to talk me down from pulling the trigger, because I was convinced that someone was watching me...that Jake was watching me."
Kyra's eyebrows shot up, and she spun to look at me. I chuckled and nodded, because Bella was only being honest with her.
"Yes, I believe that's the night she called me a hypocritical asshole," I teased, giving my chuckling wife a wink.
"I did, and you deserved it," she laughed, poking a finger into my chest. Bella turned back to Kyra. "Look, I'm convinced the entire population has issues they have to overcome. We all carry baggage, just some people's shit is heavier than others."
Kyra nodded, but her brow furrowed a bit. She swallowed nervously and locked gazes with Bella. "Now that I can think...now that he's not threatening me... I don't ever want to hurt you two again. Esme made me really take a look at what you two have done for me. You've given up your work, your lives, and your home for me. You took me in, fed me, protected me, and cared for me, even when I was acting like a total shit. She said you thought I might've had feelings for Edward. I don't. I swear. I just didn't know what to do..."
She turned to me, tears filling her eyes. "I'm so fucking happy for you. You have no idea. You were so jaded and angry then. You held everyone at arm's length, and I hardly recognized you when you walked into Carlisle's office a few weeks ago. You looked so damn happy. I see you two together, and I hate that I tried to mess that up. I really couldn't think of any other way to make him stop. I'm really sorry, Edward. So very sorry. You two have created this amazing...thing," she said, sweeping her arm around to gesture toward my house. She turned once again to Bella. "And oh my God, those kids are just...beautiful... Hell, I don't blame you for kicking my ass. I'd kick someone's ass for messing with this."
I chuckled, because Kyra was still coming down from the high of getting some pretty fucked up and hefty shit off of her chest. Bella had gone through the same thing, once she'd let a bit of her time with Miller out. And it was fucking awesome to see, because even Kyra's demeanor, her eyes, her shoulders weren't so tense anymore. She suddenly reminded me of the young girl I'd met in Afghanistan. The thick walls of defense were down.
Bella smirked, but held her hand up. "My goodness! Breathe, Kyra," she snickered.
"I can't!" she gushed, shaking her head. "You need to understand," she told us, "because I need to thank you...and I don't think I can do it enough."
"No, breathe," Bella countered, grasping Kyra's shoulders. "If you don't, you'll send yourself into a panic attack, because you feel you aren't getting your point across. We get it. And had we known all that you'd been through, we would've approached this case in a completely different way." My wife studied Kyra's face. "I'd apologize for my actions, Kyra, but I can't. I am...unable to stop myself when it comes to my family."
"Nor should you," Kyra sighed, finally taking the deep breaths that Bella suggested. "I thought I had this once," she murmured, frowning down at her hands, "but I drove him away. He was a lot like you, Edward." Her gaze met mine. "He was strong, brave, and didn't give a shit what Ike said, but Ike could've ruined him, destroyed his career. And I couldn't let that happen, so I had to push him away, especially when he almost figured out what was going on. I so wanted all of this..." she said, gesturing once again around her, "with him, but I wasn't sure I could give that to him."
I frowned, because that had to have been the bravest thing I'd heard her say. Not only had she protected this guy from whatever Ike could have started with him, but she'd protected this guy from herself. Even if she hadn't known it then, she wasn't ready for a family.
I huffed, shaking my head. "You should tell him now," I stated. "If he's worth protecting like that, then he deserves to know, Kyra." She started to shake her head, and I stopped her. "And if he doesn't get it, if he thinks any less of you for what you've been through and why you did what you did, then you send his sorry ass to me. I'll explain it to him. Got me?"
Any man that would think less of a woman after going through shit that was out of their control deserved their ass handed to them...and their balls forcefully removed.
"Thanks, Edward," she whispered, looking up when Mickey called us.
"Go get loaded up," I told her, pointing to the chopper. "Mick will help you get strapped in. We've got to get in the air."
As she walked away, Bella's lips met my cheek. "You mean that, don't you?"
"If the asshole doesn't understand after she tells him the truth, then he doesn't deserve her or any woman," I huffed, because I was so fucking grateful for the girl currently smiling against my cheek that I couldn't fucking see straight.
"I bet it's that Jordan guy," Bella mused softly. "Some handsome director that Cassie told us about. I bet Ike would've ruined him."
I smirked at my wife, because she looked absolutely up to no good. "What's the evil grin for, baby?" I chuckled, grasping her giggling face.
"Guess who's directing the music video next week..." she sang, sounding just like Bethy. "And I don't think Kyra knows. I think Cassie's keeping it from her."
My eyebrows shot up, and I laughed, shaking my head. "You girls have no shame, sweetness," I snorted, kissing her lips roughly. "Time to go. Go back inside. I need my angel on my shoulder."
"Love you," she said, walking away.
"Love you, too." I walked to the chopper, pulling myself up into the pilot seat. Checking to make sure everyone was strapped in, I said, "Okay. Showtime."
~oOo~
BELLA
"West side of the stage is clear," Jasper checked in.
"Backstage is clear," Gator added, "and the band is heading out now."
"On point, front and center," Emmett stated.
"Subject is clear of the dressing room, and we're making our way to the stage now." Alec's voice was all business, because inside that arena, he was in charge. He knew the building, and concerts were easy for him. "Edward, on me. Mickey take the east end of the stage. Go."
"Sir," Mickey and Edward grunted.
I scanned over the camera feed that the arena was letting us pipe into, then over each team member's camera.
"Carlisle, are you up front with Emmett?" I asked over the radio.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied. "What do you need, sweetheart?"
"Give me a sweep of the entire front row. And that includes arena employees, please."
My girls and I leaned in, giving each face a study. We needed to make sure that once the lights went down, Preston – or any other threat, for that matter – wasn't right there out in the open.
"Once Kyra's on stage, you guys can relax just a bit," Gator told us. "Even with wardrobe changes, she doesn't leave the area just behind the drummer. Godfrey, Whitney, and Francis move all their equipment from hair, makeup, and clothes to a small tent just behind the stage. She's in, she's out, and she's back on the stage in less than sixty seconds."
"Damn, sounds like a NASCAR tire change," Emmett snorted, which caused all of us to chuckle.
"No shit," Rose laughed, clicking through angle after angle of video.
"Edward," I called.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"How's she doing?" I asked, because this was a huge fucking thing to undertake just after she'd revealed her abuse.
"She's just about to go on, but she's talking to Esme right now. In fact, Esme's going to be with her and Mickey with every wardrobe change," he told me. And his voice, though gruff and all business, took on a sympathetic tone, because he'd been through really hard shit with me, so he knew this wasn't easy for her.
"Good," I sighed, though I continued to pace in front of my monitors.
"Benny," Alice called, "it looks like just about everyone outside has filed in. Yes?"
"Ten-four, Alice. We've got a few scalpers, a few late arrivals, and the rest are vendors," he replied, and I was grateful he was patched into our radio frequency.
"Kurt, how do the turnstiles look, honey?" I asked him, because he, Felix, and Wes were monitoring the ticket takers and the security searches.
"Thinning," he answered. "We've just about got everyone in."
"Good," Alec stated. "Felix, Wes... I want you two to walk the hallways once the show starts. Kurt, I need you back up at the left side of the stage down on the floor. Eleazar, you take the right. The first motherfucker to throw something is removed. No questions asked."
"And showtime in three, two...one," Gator rattled off. "Go, K. Break a leg!"
The sound that came through the headsets was almost deafening when Kyra hit the stage. The lights went down, the music thumped, and the boys continued to check in. The girls and I steadily watched the boys' cameras and the arena's security feed, but the production crew was nice enough to allow Alice to record the concert itself, and that was what drew in Bethy and Caleb.
I grinned as they clambered up onto the kitchen stools and bopped to the music. They were so cute as they mumbled along to the words of songs they'd probably heard on the radio a million times.
Makenna shot them an endearing look, but gave her screen the most attention. "How does she do it?" she muttered, shaking her head. "After what she's been through... How does she sing on stage like nothing happened? I mean, Ike probably picked these songs..."
I grimaced, because Edward had told me he'd given the girls permission to listen to our conversation. We recorded everything in Gravity's office, because it was just easier to go back and listen to phone conversations with clients that way. Every member of the crew – including the guys – had come out of that office pale, humbled, and disgusted, saying that Edward should have castrated Ike in the yard. Alec alone had raged until it took Eleazar, Edward, and Emmett to calm him down, because he was very much like Edward when it came to the protection of weaker people. He wanted Ike's blood on his hands, and it frustrated him that he couldn't get to him.
But the one that looked the sickest was Mickey. She'd had to walk away from everyone, because I was pretty sure she threw up in the bushes at the edge of the woods. I'd never seen her so rattled.
"Ike didn't pick her music. Kyra picks her own shit," Cassie piped in from the arena. "Hell, she writes most of it herself."
"Oh," we all said at the same time.
I turned to my girls. "She does this to feel human. This is her passion, her love. Without this, she would've probably faded away years ago. Esme says it helps her focus. It's offstage where things will be hard for her. Today, she feels light and free, because she just unloaded the heaviest burden, but as days progress, she'll have memories, fears, and emotional scars that will rise to the surface."
"You mean like your fear of basements," Alice mused, but I knew her well enough to know that she wasn't accusing, she was learning. She analyzed shit all the damn time. It was like her brain never stopped.
"Exactly. I'm sure we'll discover what her basement is soon enough," I sighed, going back to the monitors, but everything seemed clear as the concert went on. "She's suppressed so much that there's no telling what will hit her. Or when."
The boys stayed quiet for a moment after I'd said that, and I could well imagine that they were all thinking back to when they'd first met me. My girls, on the other hand, looked rabid. Like they couldn't wait to get their hands on someone, something, but Wes assured us that Ike was currently incarcerated. In fact, he'd been denied bond, because he had the means to leave the country, though his lawyers were appealing that decision already.
"Oh damn, oh damn, oh damn," Alice chanted in a sigh next to me. "We've got a problem. Ike's arrest has gone public, guys."
"It was only a matter of time," Benny piped up. "Guards talk, fellow inmates talk, and even lawyers talk, so it doesn't shock me."
"Yeah, well, the problem with that is Preston. Once he sees that his dad has been arrested for assault and rape on Kyra, then he could very well reach his limit. He'll snap," Alice countered.
"Alice," I hissed, jerking my chin toward the kitchen counter.
"I'll solve that," she muttered, getting up from her chair. "Come, my little minions," she instructed with a giggle, waving Caleb and Bethy into the living room. "I'll put this on the big TV, yeah?"
"Yay!" they cheered, following behind her, and immediately turned the living room into a dance floor.
Once she returned, she pulled up all forms of social networking. "You watch those monitors. I'll keep an eye on Kyra's pages and Tweets."
For the next half hour or so, Kyra performed without a break. The first wardrobe change went off without a hitch. She was in the tent, changed, had makeup reapplied, been reassured by Esme, and was back out on the stage before the boys had a chance to worry.
It was toward the last costume change of the night that everyone got a little antsy. According to Benny, there was a crowd building at the back of the arena where the band's trucks, the production vans, and the talent usually left. What they didn't know was that Kyra would be leaving off the top of the parking garage.
"Wes, watch that back entrance!" Benny snapped, and the girls and I pulled up the feed that centered around the delivery bay doors.
There was a crowd of fans building around the blockade gates, all holding signs and gifts. Not only that, but it seemed like the media was starting to gather around. It seemed the news of Ike Raulson's arrest had truly gone public.
"Oh, boy," I sighed. "Edward...Kyra needs to get straight off that stage and in the air. Don't go anywhere near the bay doors. We've got media and a growing crowd outside."
"Ten-four," he grunted. "Cassie, I need her redressed ASAP when she's done. She needs to be able to move."
"Sure, got it. I'll tell Francis to get her things ready," Cassie replied.
"Kurt, go with Wes, get me closer to faces," I ordered.
"On it, Bells," he grunted, and from the view from his camera, he'd taken off in a run.
"Mack, I need you sharp, sweetie," I murmured, and we all leaned in when Kurt and Wes arrived at the far back of the building. She was so much quicker at recognizing faces than the rest of us.
"Final song, guys," Gator advised.
"Jasper, Carlisle, drop your posts," Alec ordered. "Make your way toward the garage. I need a clear way up to the top in order to get Kyra out of here."
"Emmett, I need that chopper at the ready," Edward commanded. "Do not fucking start her up! Leave that until the last minute. I want that crowd thinking she's coming out that way. The last fucking thing we need is to have that crowd make their way up to the landing pad. Got me?"
"Sir!" Emmett huffed, but he was already at a run, weaving through the back hallways of the arena.
The concert ended, and even though the crowd begged for another encore, Kyra was rushed to the dressing tent to change back into her street clothes quickly. From the boys' cameras, I could see that Edward, Alec, Eleazar, and Jasper were posted like sentries around that tent. Mickey's view was from inside. Kyra was tugging a thermal shirt over her tank top as Cassie gathered up guitar case, bags, and jackets.
"Oh shit," Mack breathed. "He's there. Preston." She sat up straight, clicking furiously at the video feeds in order to make sure. "Yup. Right...there," she said, pointing to her screen.
"Okay, guys!" I called, checking all my angles to see who was closest to Preston. "We've got company. Preston is about..."
"Thirty yards from the back entrance. West side wall. Leaning against a tree," Alice finished for me. "Kurt, Wes...do you see?"
"I've got visual," Wes confirmed. "Little fucker's just leaning there. He looks..."
"Pissed," we all muttered.
"Yeah," he sighed.
"Approach with caution," Benny ordered. "I don't want to lose him, and I don't want him killed. He needs to answer some questions concerning his father, aside from Miss Bailey's accusations. That asshole has a lot to account for."
"Ten-four," Wes muttered. "Kurt, on me."
With silent hand gestures, they started a slow, roundabout walk toward Preston.
"Bella," Edward called. "We're leaving the building."
"Watch yourself. Stick to the inner hallways all the way to that garage," I told him. "Preston has been sighted."
"Ma'am," he growled. "Alec, go see if Wes needs you. Esme, Gator, you're now with me. Jasper, Dad...I need my way clear."
"Sir," they all grunted in response.
It didn't take long for Edward to lead his group out of the arena and up the back garage stairs. As he approached Carlisle on his first set of steps, Wes tried to talk to Preston.
"Preston Raulson...FBI," he stated, and from his camera, I could see him holding up his badge. "We need to ask you a few... Aw, fuck... I've got a runner!"
From the camera's point of view, all we could see was Preston high-tailing it out of there. He dodged around a group of people, narrowly avoiding Wes and Kurt, who were coming at him from opposite sides.
"Garage, garage!" Kurt panted, obviously giving chase with Wes. "I need someone in there!"
"I'm on it," Alec grunted, and his camera bounced as he tore through the garage.
"Emmett! Get down to the first level of the garage," Edward ordered, stopping his group on the stairs. He gripped his dad's shoulder. "That asshole doesn't leave this building. If he does, someone tails him. Jasper, I need you and El in the air with me. I need your eyes!"
"Go, get in the air," Carlisle ordered. "We may need that camera of yours."
"I'm on it, I'm on it, I'm on it," Alice chanted, tugging a laptop to her and pulling up the chopper's camera system. "Edward, tell me when you're set to go. I want to start recording the second you take off."
"Got it, pixie," he panted, because he had reached the top of the garage, rushed to the chopper and slid open the doors. "Let's go...load up," he said, hoisting himself up in the chopper. "Wes, what's the 411, man?"
I rubbed my temple as I tried to make sure that Kyra, Cassie, and Esme loaded themselves up in the helicopter with the help of Mickey and Eleazar, but I also kept my eyes on Kurt's camera as he pursued Preston, who was trying to lose himself in the emptying crowd of concert goers.
"Shit, the asshole's killing me. This is like a salmon swimming upstream," Kurt panted. "I don't think he's sticking to the garage. I'll bet he's cutting through..."
"Benny, I need you mobile," Wes snapped. "Make your way to south side of the garage. Use lights to get these people to move."
"Ten-four," Benny replied. "You ladies are our eyes," he said, and I could hear his van cranking up.
"Sir," we stated.
"Okay," I sighed, pulling my hair out of my eyes. "Edward, Alice is your guide. Carlisle, on me. Wes, you and Kurt listen to Rose. Benny...Makenna is yours. We're going thermal as soon as Edward's in the air," I stated.
"Ma'am," they all answered, though some were still panting.
"I was right," Kurt growled. "Through the garage. He's heading to the parking lot of the bar."
Edward called in his flight, which technically was just supposed to be a return flight back to Forks, but I had a feeling this was going to be one long ride home for them.
"Jasper, you leave that side door open. And ladies, I need you to hang on," he commanded, and the sound of whirring blades drowned out just about everything else in our ears for just a moment.
"I'm mobile," Carlisle grunted, and I was glad he had used the VIP parking, because he was already navigating the side streets to get to wherever Kurt and Wes were running to, which looked like a small bar parking lot.
"Pick me and Alec up, C," Emmett panted. "We're a block from you. I see your lights."
"Black sports car, tinted windows, newer model," Wes puffed, and he sounded like he couldn't run anymore. Loud pops echoed over our earpieces, and we all jumped. "Shots fired. He's moving north..."
"Do not shoot to kill!" Benny snapped over the radio. "I want him alive."
"Aw, fuck this shit. This asshole's done," Edward growled. "I'm up. Pixie...I'm all yours. Tell me where I can set this thing down on his fucking head!"
~oOo~
EDWARD
"Keep your altitude low, Edward," Alice instructed. "And give me a sweep of the south side of the parking garage."
"Ten-four," I muttered, lifting up off the top of the garage. "Everyone, check in!"
"Carlisle just picked me and Alec up. We're in pursuit of a black, pretty fucking new, Mercedes Sports Coup. He's heading east now. Away from the bar he just pulled out of..." Emmett grunted. "It's a soft top, Eddie. You should be able to see it right about now..."
"I'll cut the distance to you," Benny added. "Using the side streets to get the angle on him." He paused for a moment, before he called the chase into his superiors, adding me in as he aerial backup in order to cover his ass for such a low flying chopper.
"Kurt and I are out," Wes panted. "He lost us at the bar. We're heading back to the garage."
"Wes, I'll pick you guys up, so hang tight," Felix told him.
"Got him, Edward!" Alice called out suddenly. "Forty-five degree angle from the bar. Heading west toward downtown. Two streets from where you are. He just about caused a wreck at that intersection. Got him?"
"Yes!" Eleazar hissed from the co-pilot seat, pointing out the front window. "There he is. Go."
I banked hard and fast, cutting over the nearest buildings, finally hovering over the bastard.
"Perfect, baby. Keep it there," Bella praised. "Carlisle, take the next right, then the next left. You'll be right on his ass. Turn now!"
"Benny...stay straight on the street you're on...they're passing you now. Watch out for Carlisle. He's right behind them," Makenna advised.
"I see 'em, I see 'em," he mumbled.
From my advantage point, I could see my father hot on Raulson's tail and Benny right behind. It was a test of high end car strength, if you asked me. Preston was in a two-seater Mercedes, while my dad was in his BMW 750i, both black, both fucking fast, and both about to collide with crossing traffic in an intersection, but Preston turned again to avoid the light. They were leaving the poor FBI van in the dust.
"Fuck, we should take out his tires," Alec mumbled, and I heard his gun engage, but Benny flipped the fuck out.
"Don't you dare open fire on the streets!" he snapped. "There are too many people and too much shit it could ricochet off of!"
"Edward, pull ahead of him," Alice ordered. "He's heading toward that park. If he cuts through, you'd have enough room to get in front of him."
"Oh, tricky, Alice," I told her, shaking my head, but doing what she asked, because she was right. If I used the open area of the park, I could possibly force him to come to a stop – at least long enough for Benny to ram him, or Jasper to shoot his dumb ass – at this point, I didn't much give a shit either way.
"I know, I know, I know," she chanted. "But I'm going to guide you. You have to watch those power lines."
I banked hard again, only this time, I loomed down over the Mercedes, which caused him to panic and swerve into the park. Grinning at just how right Alice could be, I swung wide, causing Preston to slam on his brakes, skid to the right, almost letting my dad t-bone his ass.
"Jasper!" I growled, glancing back quickly.
"On it, Ed," he grunted, and the sound of his rifle engaged in the back cabin of the chopper as he knelt in the open doorway.
Cassie, Esme, and Kyra all gasped and jumped, the former squeezing her eyes closed.
"Easy, ladies," I soothed with a smirk, because yeah, this wasn't exactly a joy ride. "Be grateful you're on this side of his scope," I teased, which caused all three to scoff, but at least they relaxed just a bit.
"Jasper's rifle is loud, so brace yourselves," Mickey told them, but she knelt behind Jasper as backup, and I narrowed my eyes on her. She looked sick, nauseated, though her attention wasn't faltering. At all.
Jasper smiled crookedly, aimed, and said, "Benny, talk to me. I can take his tires out...or his engine, but I've got way too many civilians around. I can't see inside the car. The windows are too damn dark."
Benny's van came to a skidding halt behind my father's car, but from my hovering position, I could see that the bastard wasn't going to sit still. He was going to fucking floor it.
"He's gonna run. And he's going to cut right through that fucking playground, Benny," I growled, swinging with Preston when the car lurched forward a few feet. "And I can't get that close. I'm stirring up too much shit as it is."
"Shit," Alec hissed, diving out of my father's car. "Move!" he yelled at the people in the play area. "Clear out of here..."
As soon as the last word left his mouth, Preston made his move and punched it. He lurched forward, causing grass and dirt to spray high into the air, blocking my sight for just a moment.
"His tire, his tire!" Benny ordered. "Jazz, take out his tires..."
I turned the chopper so that Jasper could get a clear shot, and he took barely a second to aim and pull the trigger. He caught the Mercedes' front tire, causing Preston to swerve slightly out of control.
"Fuck, Alec!" I gasped.
What none of us had seen was the little girl on the top of the slide that just happened to be in Preston's out of control path, but Alec had. The little one looked kind of frozen in panic, but even more so were her parents at the edge of the playground. Alec bolted from where he was, running up the slide, grabbing the little girl, and jumping down off the back, just about the time that the back end of the Mercedes took out the whole damn thing. He wrapped her up, but landed with a hard grunt as pieces of fiberglass, metal, and wood chips flew in every direction.
"Oh shit," I breathed, along with just about everyone else in my ear. "Alec?"
"I'm okay, kid," he groaned, sitting up with the little one perfectly safe in his embrace, and we all looked up when Preston got his car under control, despite the flat tire. "Go! Get his ass!" he yelled. "Pick me up when it's all over."
"He's still heading west, the tenacious little shit," Alice groaned. "Oh, he's got a goal, dammit... But where, where, where?"
"Where could he go?" Bella murmured, and the hard hitting of computer keys met my ears as I lifted up clear of the power lines. "He's not heading to Sea-Tac...or the ports... He's heading..."
"Benny, the Downtown Transit Station!" Makenna yelled. "It's the only place he could go."
"Oh, the little asshole wants to stick around," I sang, mainly to myself, but I got grunts of agreement in my ear as we continued the chase.
"Edward, cut the distance. Go straight to the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel," Alice commanded. "I'll bet it all that that's where he's going. He can abso-fucking-lutely disappear in there."
"That's a big risk, Pixie," I told her, though I banked hard to the left to follow her instructions. "If he doesn't go that way, then I chance losing him."
"I know, but it's where I'd go," she countered. "It's really the only place to go. He knows you'll see him from the sky. He knows he's got two cars in pursuit. If he goes underground, if he's done his homework, then he's aware that he can just...evaporate in there."
"Go, Edward!" Bella ordered. "He's using the railroad tracks as his guide. And there's a train coming. He's going to try and beat it at the intersection. And Carlisle, don't you freaking dare try and follow. You'll get killed. You won't make it in time."
I flew over the tracks and the oncoming train, seeing what Bella was talking about. A passenger train that seemed to have just pulled out of the tunnel was barreling down the tracks. With sparks flying from his flat tire, Preston punched it. He was aiming for the crossing that would allow him into the back of the transit station.
"He's not going to make it," Eleazar and Jasper stated at the same time.
"Yes, he is," I growled at the same time my dad did, because he had to slam on brakes at the last minute, Benny's van right behind him.
Train car after train car passed in front of them, but I used the transit building to hide, waiting for Alice's go ahead.
"Now, Edward!" she yelled.
I pulled up on the stick, flew over the building, and dropped right in front of Preston. He swerved dangerously, and I used my chopper's landing runners to nudge him just a bit. It sent him into a spin, finally causing the car to slam into the side of an empty railroad car on the passenger side of the vehicle. Every window in that Mercedes shattered with force in which he hit. But Preston was pulling himself out of driver's side window before the dust had even settled.
"He's on foot!" Jasper and I yelled at the same time.
Jasper engaged his rifle again, popping off three rounds.
"Shoot to maim only!" Benny yelled, but he went back to requesting that the transit station be locked down, which was going over like a lead balloon.
"I'm trying for his leg, dammit," Jasper growled, but shook his head when Preston dodged out of the way behind a few parked buses as he made toward the tunnels. "If I shoot him now, I'll blow those buses. There's no telling if they have propane tanks or full gas tanks in them. We'll all go up."
"Fuck, I need that station locked down!" Benny yelled, and as I lifted up to catch sight of where Preston was, I could also see that he and my father were hauling ass to the station.
"Shit, he's in the tunnel," Bella sighed, and I heard the defeat over the silence of the radio.
"What about thermal?" Makenna asked. "Can't we lock in on him?"
"Won't do any good," Alice muttered. "Those buses give off a helluva lot of heat, not to mention there are way too many bodies inside that station."
"Tickets," Cassie suddenly piped up.
"There's a section of Seattle that has free rides. He'll know that. He'll use it. He planned this shit," Alice explained. "He's gone, unless Benny shuts the place down tight."
I lifted up higher to a safer distance in order to see the entire property surrounding the transit station. From there, I could see Felix skid to a stop right beside Benny's van, my dad's car, and a few other Fed SUVs that had finally showed up.
"Edward, check your fuel, baby," Bella stated softly. "Leave them. Come straight here."
"Yes, ma'am," I sighed, punching the window with the side of my fist. "Fuck!" I growled, sitting there for just a moment, because this shit had to fucking end. "Dad!" I snapped, losing the last of the control on my patience and my temper.
"Yeah, son," he replied.
"We're done. I'm pulling us off the grid. We'll leave for a safe house by morning," I ordered, because it was time to lure this asshole to us, and the only way to do that was for us to make the fucking rules.
"Which one?" he asked calmly.
"I don't fucking know yet, but you'll have the answer by the time you get done there," I growled, shaking my head and banking the chopper hard, because I needed to pick up Alec before we left for Forks.
Once Alec had been picked up and strapped in, I banked south, heading for home. Four buses and one train were able to squeak out of the transit station before Benny could completely shut it down, and they were currently doing a total sweep of not only each platform, waiting area, and the outer property, but they were walking the tunnels, too. It was futile. The asshole was just fucking gone.
"Sweetness, we're heading home," I told her.
"Okay. Your dad's not far behind you with Emmett and Kurt," she replied. "Eleazar, Felix is going to stay and help at the station."
"Ten-four," El and I muttered.
I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as the large city started to fade away underneath us. "How's our boy?" I asked Bella, smirking when she giggled a bit.
"The fever broke. He's currently destroying some leftover chicken nuggets by the chubby fistful," she said, and I could hear the relief in her voice.
"Good."
"Safe house?" she asked simply.
"Yes, ma'am. I need you girls to pack up and be ready to roll out by morning. We'll leave the Feds behind, and all communication must go through Alice. Everyone's going. No exceptions," I rattled off.
"Edward, I'd like to go over a plan with you when you get here," Alice stated. "I think it'll draw Preston out."
"You got it," I agreed, but I had a feeling Alice and I were already on the same page. Hell, we usually were.
"Fly safe, baby," Bella stated. "We'll be ready when you need us."
"Thanks, love. See you soon."
A/N... First things first... The song that Kyra sang was Smile. However, the version in my head is Josh Groban's cover. He just released it not long ago, so if you get a chance to listen to it, you'll understand why I picked that song. It's very fitting for both the situation of getting Sammy to go to sleep, and for Kyra to boost herself up.
Speaking of Kyra, I hope you guys are starting to see where she's coming from now. She will have up and down days...just like Bella did. This was an up day.
And we're off to a safe house... It's time to lock it down and change direction.
I need to thank JenRar for beta'ing this for me, because this one wasn't easy. Huge thanks to GooberLou, who helped me figure out how that asshole could escape, and that shit was a pain. And thank you to MedusaInNY for helping with my blog.
I want to wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year. The next chapter is done, so the next posting will be on Wednesday. Until then...Later :)