A/N... Okay, okay... so ffn is giving us all a few problems. I'm hearing that some of you aren't getting your alerts – or didn't, anyway – and yesterday the site was down for quite awhile. I wish I could predict exactly how it will go when I post this, but we'll just wish for the best. If it continues to be a problem, just remember that I always post on Sundays and Wednesdays – unless I give you fair warning.
So some of you were a little squicked out with the bloody room. Sorry about that. I've been told to restrict my CSI/Criminal Minds/NCIS watching. Heh... I can't do that. Sorry. LOL Without those...I'm not sure this series would exist. Just sayin'.
This chapter comes with a slight cliffie. Nothing to panic about, just FYI, but you'll probably yell at me more for it than if violence was involved. LOL So I'll let you get on with it... Bella's Birthday...
CHAPTER 15
EDWARD
I wasn't sure there was a more beautiful sight than my wife asleep. A splash of chocolate hair draped across her pillow, because she was snuggling toward my side of the bed. I shook my head at the smooth, strong leg that had escaped the covers. Pink, sparkly toenails peeked out, and I chuckled, because I knew for a fucking fact that they matched our daughter's...and most likely Abby's, Sarah's, and Alice's, because they'd all been doing their nails the day before.
I set the tray down on the nightstand and slipped back into bed beside her, reaching up to brush a stray lock of her hair away from her face. I hated to wake her; she hadn't had much sleep to begin with. The whole team had stayed up late into the night working their asses off. The only break they'd taken was for dinner and a little bit of kid time. Alec and I had made enough pizza to feed an army, and that's exactly what it had looked like when everyone dug in – a fucking mess tent.
"Sweetness," I whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Wake up, my birthday girl," I crooned, smiling when her brow furrowed and she swatted a hand at me. "You won't have a choice soon, baby," I chuckled, "because the kids want to see you."
One beautiful brown eye opened to gaze sleepily up at me. "I smell pancakes...and coffee," she rasped.
I grinned, tracing her face with my finger. "Yes, it's called breakfast in bed," I told her. "And be glad it's pancakes, because Bethy was about to give you cold pizza."
The best sound on the planet met my ears as Bella giggled, snuggling closer to me. "That would've worked, too," she snickered, placing a kiss to my neck.
"No," I grunted, nuzzling her cheek. "I'm feeling rather selfish this morning, so I promised her something else. I wanted to feed you breakfast."
I could feel her smile against my skin before she sat up a bit. "What did you promise her?"
"Never you mind," I huffed, rolling my eyes, because Bethy would have killed me if I'd messed up any of her surprises for her mother. "Just get that sweet ass over here so I can feed you..." I sat up, leaning against the headboard, and patted the space between my legs. "Now, Mrs. Cullen!"
Bella scrambled with another sexy as hell giggle, plopping herself down between my legs. Reaching over, I picked up the tray and set it in front of her, wrapping an arm around her waist and bringing my lips to her ear.
"I'm not fucking stupid, Bella. I know you have shit to do today, but give us all break. Everyone wants to celebrate your day. Okay?" I whispered, placing a long, slow kiss to the soft spot that always caused her to erupt in the sweetest moan, and I smiled against her skin when I wasn't disappointed.
"'Kay," she breathed, turning to look at me over her shoulder.
"I know you're not done with research, and I'm sure there's shit I've missed, but just...b-bear w-with u-us t-today," I sputtered, cupping her face and rubbing my thumb across her cheek. "W-We c-can't d-do m-much, b-but w-we w-wanted t-to d-do s-something f-for y-you."
She smiled sweetly, leaning in to kiss my lips. "I love you," she chuckled against my mouth.
"Happy Birthday, love," I snickered back, picking up a fork. "Now...eat!"
As I fed Bella breakfast, she caught me up to speed on the things I'd missed while either cooking dinner, playing with the kids, or cleaning up afterward. Apparently, Alice had found a few things in the college database concerning Preston's time at USC. There had been two attacks to women while he'd been there, but no arrests were made and no one saw the attacker. However, at least the two women had survived the incidents.
Next was an update on Ike Raulson's disappearance. I had heard a few things on that, but not enough details to make heads or tails of it. The signal had been tracked to a small hotel on the edge of Seattle, but that was where shit got a little fucked up. The signal had gone haywire, because the ankle monitor had been cut off of Ike. It was lying in the middle of the bed, with neither Raulson asshole in sight. The hotel room had been paid in cash, with no identification and a fake name. It was a fucking dead end.
What I was most interested in was the shit in Ike Raulson's safe from his Solstice office.
"Talk to me," I told her, grinning when syrup dripped down her chin. Leaning in to kiss it off, I hummed at the flavor of both her and the sweet, sticky substance. "I don't know what tastes better...you or the syrup."
"Here," she laughed, holding up a piece of bacon for me to bite, which I did...gladly. "Okay, so the stuff from the safe..." she said excitedly, turning just a bit in front of me. "There were a couple of file folders, an envelope, a bankbook, and a notebook...not to mention the money we left in there, right?" she asked, and I nodded, taking another bite of bacon. "The file folders were just prospective talents that Ike was trying to lure away from another production company. The notebook was disturbing, because it seemed to be a journal of all those women that were pictured around that safe. It was like he was keeping tabs on them. It was nothing incriminating, but still very creepy."
"What did it say?" I asked her, setting the now empty tray back onto the nightstand.
"Not much – just what the women were up to," she answered, settling her back against my chest and linking our fingers together. "Kyra wasn't in there, but he saw her all the time. That Jen Jones woman – the TV star – was, and it had her current address, the name of her husband and kid, and her schedule at the TV studio. So was Layla, the hip hop singer. It had everything from who she was dating, to her tour schedule."
"Fucker didn't do anything half-ass, did he?" I growled low, setting my chin on her shoulder.
"Apparently not," she sighed, shaking her head.
"What about the bankbook and the envelope?"
"The bankbook was just his personal accounts...and really, there wasn't anything unusual about them, but Alice was running a check on them anyway. They're frozen right now, so it's not like she can't scan through them at her leisure," she told me, squeezing my hands. "But the envelope was the most interesting. All it had in it was a key."
"No shit? To what?" I asked, unable to refrain myself from kissing across her shoulder and up her neck.
"We aren't sure," Bella said, and I grinned against her ear when her breathing changed. "Mickey's studying it..."
"Is that it?" I asked her, removing one of my hands from hers in order to slip my fingers just underneath the edge of the shirt she was wearing. I was met with warm, soft skin and a slight whimper.
"N-No," she whispered, her head falling back to my shoulder when I cupped her breast fully under her shirt – or rather, my shirt.
"What else, love?" I crooned, brushing my thumb across her now very tightly peaked nipple.
"B-Benny..." she breathed, barely getting his name out, because her back arched up as I slid my other hand inside her shirt.
"What about Benny?" I asked innocently, enjoying the weight of her, the feel of her nipples hardening even more against my palms, and the responsiveness of her body from just my touch.
"Ang...she had...a girl!" she finally ground out.
My eyebrows shot up, my hands stilling, because I'd completely forgotten that Benny had pulled himself away from our case.
"Fucking A!" I chuckled softly, smiling when Bella giggled sweetly.
"Mom and baby are doing fine," she sighed, turning slightly to look at me and writhing a bit in front of me when my hands just kept caressing soft, sweet skin. "Hannah Grace."
I smiled again, because that was a good name, a sweet little girl's name. "Excellent! Did he call or something?"
"No, he sent an email to Alice saying that he would join the case again in a few days, but he needed to get mom and baby settled at home first," she told me with a sweet smile on her face.
She was so fucking beautiful in her happiness for someone else that I couldn't help but cup her face. I turned her on my lap a bit more, pulling her lips to mine. And fuck, I just want to keep her there all damn day. Right there. In bed. Without shame or apology. But I knew that Bethy was waiting for us, and I had my own plans to put together for my girl's birthday, so I kissed her softly, slowly, finally pulling back to nuzzle her cheek.
"Our daughter will kick my ass if I don't let you out of this room soon," I whispered, grinning when Bella laughed.
As if on cue, sounds of tiny thudding feet pounded past the door in the hallway, followed by giggles, hushing, and squeaks of excitement. Not to mention the sound of Esme trying to round them up and get them back downstairs.
I chuckled, pulling back from Bella altogether. "See?"
My girl looked so fucking conflicted at the moment that it was almost comical. She was enjoying our time alone, but she wanted her kids, too.
"Sweetness, relax," I told her, kissing her quickly. "Go play with them. They're dying to give you your presents. You have to wait for mine until tonight," I purred, kissing her again.
She giggled, pulling back and giving me a dangerously raised eyebrow. "You'd better not have gone overboard, Edward Anthony."
"Define...overboard," I said slowly, narrowing my eyes at her.
"Oh...I don't know... Ridiculously overpriced jewelry, electronics, or vehicles," she stated wryly, folding her arms across her chest.
I laughed, because she was close on one of those things, though that present wasn't from me. And I knew my girl; she wasn't into all the jewelry. She loved her wedding ring, which was my mother's, and never took it off, but anything other than that just wasn't something that interested her.
"How about ridiculously overpriced lingerie?" I teased her, dragging my tongue along my bottom lip and raising my eyebrows up and down.
"That wouldn't be a present for me. It would be for you," she snorted, poking my chest.
"Mmm, so very true," I purred, leaning in to kiss her neck. "Well, now you know what I want for Christmas... You, wrapped up in something red and small and very fucking naughty."
Bella giggled again, wrapping her arms around my neck. "Fine, I'll wait. Just...be kind, baby."
"You'll see," I laughed, scooping her up and setting her on her feet. "Now, go get dressed, or they'll take a battering ram to the door soon. Mark my words."
Bella rushed through her shower and dressed quickly, opening the bedroom door to sweet green eyes, long dark curls, and freckles beaming up at her.
"Happy Birfday, Mommy!" Bethy chirped, and Bella scooped her up, planting kisses to our girl's adorably puckered lips.
"Thank you, pretty girl. Now...what has you marching up and down this hall?" she asked her.
"D-Daddy said he'd hurry, but he didn't," she huffed, giving me a scathing look. "We have a surprise for you..."
"I tried to hurry," I told her. "Your mom was...distracted," I explained innocently, grinning at Bella when she snorted at me.
Bethy, looking eerily like her mother, rolled her eyes and cupped her mom's face. "Downstairs, Mommy! Go see what we did!" she commanded.
Abby and Bethy had dragged Caleb and poor Sammy into decorating the dining room for Bella's birthday. They'd been up and raring to go by the time I got back from my run. With help from everyone, it looked like a craft store had thrown up in there, but it was sweet at the same time. There were pictures drawn in crayon and marker, a Happy Birthday sign draped across the sliding glass doors, and a stack of presents on the table.
"We decorated," Bethy whispered to her mom.
"It's perfect, baby," Bella whispered back, placing a loud kiss to her neck, and Bethy looked so fucking proud of herself that I wanted to squeeze them both to death.
"Happy Birthday!" everyone cheered.
"Here, open!" Bethy said, squirming down from her mother's arms and running to the table as Bella got hugs and kisses from my dad, Esme, and her girls. "And everyone made your birfday cards, Mommy. Daddy, too, but he hid his."
"Tattletale," I growled dramatically at her, but she only grinned and shrugged.
Bella laughed, looking up at me as she sat down at the table. "Hid it?"
"You—" I pointed to her "—have to wait," I grunted, rolling my eyes. "Patience is a virtue, Isabella."
The room laughed at us, but Bella chuckled and turned her attention to the very happy and covered in marker little boy next to her.
"Hey, handsome. Did you help?" she asked Sammy.
"Yeah," he said slowly, tilting his head at her and smiling a smile that looked so fucking familiar, it was scary. "Help wif colorin'," he told her, holding up his hands just to prove to her that he had indeed been a part of the whole birthday card extravaganza, because his fingers were a splotchy mix of blue, red, and purple.
"Damn, kid," Alec chuckled next to me. "He's so you made over."
"I know," I laughed, shrugging a shoulder as we leaned against the kitchen counter out of the way. "Bella calls him my clone."
Bella dove into her presents, much to the kids' enjoyment. With help from Makenna, all the kids had made their presents for her, from bracelets, to picture frames. Alec and Sarah gave her a beautiful scrapbook to document Bethy's year in kindergarten. All of her girls had gotten together and given her a trip to the spa that they all planned to attend together.
Emmett and Jasper had teamed up and bought Bella a new gun. It was a beautiful new nine mil, with a pearl hand grip. But they'd also given her something else, something I didn't realize they'd had. In a double frame was something I hadn't seen in years, and I knew for a fucking fact that they'd belonged to Jasper at one point. On the left was a picture of Mickey, Emmett, Jasper, and myself. We were younger, unbelievably smug, and dressed in our mercenary gear – all black, with kevlar vests, automatic rifles across our chests, and baseball caps. Smeared on our faces were camo face paint and huge, self-satisfied grins. We were leaning against some demolished building; if I was guessing correctly, it was our trip several years ago to Korea when we'd released some POWs.
On the right side of the frame was just me, and I chuckled at Bella's giggle. I looked over her shoulder at the full of shit smile on my face as I stood there in full gear. And despite the fact that I was laughing at whatever bullshit my crew and I were joking about, I could see how much younger I was, how hard my eyes looked. Pressing a kiss to the top of Bella's head, I sighed at just how happy she'd made me, because my face wasn't that haunted anymore.
"Lookin' hot, baby," she murmured, looking up at me.
I snorted, rolling my eyes, and then shrugged. "And I'm sure that's why they gave it to you...just to see your reaction," I chuckled, shooting a pointed look to my old crew, who looked quite proud of themselves.
"Well, this is getting put up in my office!" she chirped, leaning back for a kiss, which I gladly gave her.
Bethy hadn't been kidding her mother, either. She'd rounded us all up, and then made us sit down and pen a birthday card to Bella; she'd declared that every last one of them was getting posted up on the refrigerator, like they were all artwork.
And yeah, I was so saving my shit for later. Which reminded me that I needed to get busy. I looked around, catching a small argument in the corner of the room – something that had even caught Kyra's and Cassie's attention as they watched the party with happy smiles on their faces.
"I said no!" Mickey hissed, shoving Emmett, but he looked angrier than I'd seen him in some time.
"I'm so calling his ass," Jasper growled, pulling his phone from his pocket, but it was suddenly snatched from his hand.
"Don't, J. Please?" Mickey whispered, shaking her head and holding his phone away from him.
I pushed away from the counter and walked to them, Alec right behind me. "Let it go," I snapped to Jasper and Emmett, because I didn't have to hear the whole conversation know what they were fighting about.
"Aw, Ed," Emmett whined, frowning down at Mickey. "But Mick..."
"I'm well aware. It's not your job to call Obie," I told him. "Drop it. You, too," I said, pointing to Jasper. "Believe me...I want to," I growled, raising an eyebrow at Mickey, "because I'm pretty sure that if he knew, he'd change his tune. But not right now."
Mickey shoved Jasper, handing him back his phone. "We've got other shit to do," she whispered in a hiss to them. "Just leave it. I'll handle it."
We turned our attention back to the table, where Bella was opening my father's present. She pulled out a key chain with her name on it, raising an eyebrow up at him, because that shit was cheap, but that wasn't her true present from him.
He laughed, walking over to kiss the top of her head. "I figured you'd need that for these," he said, dropping a set of keys into her hand.
I grinned, because he'd been planning this shit since she told him that he owed her for making us take the whole Kyra case from the start. Honestly, I wasn't sure he'd do it, but he lived to spoil her just as much as I did.
The whole room was silent, watching her with smiles on their faces as she registered exactly what kind of keys rested in her hands. She snapped her gaze up to mine, and I just shook my head.
"That's all him, sweetness," I chuckled. "He knew you wanted it."
"Yeah, but..."
"No, yeah buts!" my dad laughed, pulling her to her feet. "Go look!"
"It's here?" she squealed, causing a round of laughter.
"Of course it's here," my dad scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Now go!"
He practically frog-marched her out the front door of the beach house, laughing his ass off when she froze completely at the sight of her present.
"Edward said this was what you wanted," he whispered in her ear. "If you don't like the color..."
"Oh God, it's perfect," she breathed, her mouth gaping.
I chuckled again, because my girl and I were too much alike sometimes. Standing in the driveway with a giant ass pink bow on it was a brand new Camaro. It was metallic, gun-metal gray, with black leather interior. It was a fucking hot as hell car, and I envied her a bit, but we teased each other all the time about our love for muscle cars. Dad had run it all by me first, but in reality, his choice was perfect for her.
She was off the steps and in the car before any of us could blink, and Bethy was hot on her trail. Bella fell down into the driver's seat, pulling our daughter into her lap. We all groaned in appreciation when she cranked that son of a bitch, because it purred like a happy fucking kitten.
"Where in the hell did you get a pink bow that big?" I asked my dad.
He grinned, shrugging, and said, "The dealership gave it to me. You should have seen Eleazar driving that thing down the road."
El chuckled and nodded. "It was worth it. Look at her face."
Bella hopped out of the car, setting Bethy on her feet, and rushed to my dad, who wrapped her up in a hug. Kissing her cheek, he chuckled as she gushed her thank yous.
"I love it!" she said, beaming like a sunny day.
"Mommy, I wanna ride in it!" Bethy told her. "Daddy said I could have first ride."
"He did?" Bella asked, glancing up at me.
"Breakfast in bed," I mouthed to her as a reminder that I'd had to promise Bethy something in order to get my wife alone for a few minutes, which caused a sweet giggle to burst out of her.
"Fair enough," she laughed, turning to Bethy. "Well, go get in, pretty girl. We'll take a quick ride up the beach and back."
"Yay!" Bethy cheered, bolting for the car and diving in.
I walked to my girl, cupping her face. "There's no booster seat in there, so be careful, love," I told her, kissing her lips. "And you girls have fun."
"We will. We'll be right back," she said, still smiling as she wrapped her arms around my neck – and I so wasn't fucking fooled. "I really have to wait for yours?"
"Oh, yes, ma'am," I chuckled with a slow nod, kissing her lips. "You really have to wait, sweetness."
She pouted adorably, but relented when all I'd give her was another kiss and a raised eyebrow. I'd been biding my time, waiting for her to get out of sight, so I waved to my girls when they pulled out of the driveway. Spinning around, I faced the group.
"When she gets back, I'm on a perimeter run," I told them, and then pointed to Alec and Jasper. "I need you two. Please."
"Sure, kid," Alec responded with a nod. "What you asked for is in the garage. So let's get you set up, yeah?"
"Thanks," I sighed, slapping his shoulder, because only he and Jasper knew what I was planning. If the rest of them had even had an idea, I'd never have fucking heard the end of it. Those two, I could trust.
"Come on, Ed. This'll take a bit," Jasper snickered.
We headed toward the garage, but Rose called me back. "Edward! We'll keep her busy working when she gets back. But when you guys are done, we need to go over everything. Okay?"
"Got it, Rose. Thanks," I told her with a smile. And with that said, everyone headed back inside the house while I got to work.
~oOo~
BELLA
"So...what are you gonna do with the old Mustang?" Emmett asked with a grin once Bethy and I had walked back into the house.
"She's not that old," I countered, but turned back to look at my new car as I set Bethy – who promptly ran off in search of her friends – on her feet.
I hadn't expected anything for my birthday, to be honest, so I was still in a bit of shock. I figured that since we were all at a safe house, no one would've paid attention, but apparently, my husband, family, and crew had all had other ideas.
"No, she isn't, but..." he urged, his eyebrows raised high as he waited for my answer.
"I'll probably sell her," I sighed forlornly, but it was time to get rid of my Mustang. The kids really couldn't ride in it, we rarely drove it, and it had become impractical. The Camaro at least had a back seat big enough for car seats. And she drove like a fucking dream.
"I'll handle that for you, sweetheart," Carlisle said, walking up from the living room and kissing the side of my head. "I'm glad you like your present."
"I do, thank you," I giggled, looking up at him. "Only you would take that blackmail seriously from me."
Grinning just like his son, he shrugged a shoulder. "Maybe I felt like succumbing to your threats," he teased back with a growl, and I shoved his shoulder a bit before making my way through the house.
"Where's Edward?" I asked, walking through the kitchen on my way to the room we'd turned into an office.
"He's on a perimeter run with Alec and Jasper," he stated, and I narrowed my eyes at him.
"He ran this morning," I countered, folding my arms across my chest, because I knew my husband better than anyone, and he was hiding something.
"Yes, well, this was a fence issue, so they're taking care of it," he stated firmly, not even batting an eye.
"Okay," I sighed, dragging the word out. "Well, when he gets back, will you have him come into the office? We need to go over everything we've found."
"Yes, ma'am," he replied, reaching down to scoop up his grandson, who had wandered up. "Now... I believe me and my boy here are going to do some exploring outside."
"Yeah, splorin', Poppy," Sammy said with a sweet grin, and he looked so much like Edward that I reached up and kissed his sweet, chubby cheek. "Beffy comin', too?" he asked.
"Of course," Carlisle scoffed dramatically. "It's Poppy's time with you guys. Don't you think?"
"Yeah," my son said softly.
"Well, you kids stay out of trouble," I told them both. "And thank you again," I whispered against Carlisle's cheek.
I walked into the office to see all my girls, Kyra, Cassie, and Kurt all looking at the pictures that Jasper and Emmett had given me. I grinned, because not only was it a fantastic gift, but a piece of their history. I'd seen pictures of Edward's military days, and there wasn't much that beat what my husband looked like in his full dress Air Force uniform. He was stunning, actually. I also had pictures of Edward as a child, thanks to his dad, Aunt Kate, and of course, Edward's mother, Elizabeth, who was nice enough to save them. But there was a brief period in time where there weren't many pictures, because they were supposed to ghosts.
Edward's – and Carlisle's and the rest of the crew's, for that matter – mercenary days were a big part of their lives; it was what made them a flawless team. And to see it caught on film was really special to me.
"Look at your faces," Makenna giggled, pointing to the frame, but glancing up at Mickey. "You guys are all like... I'm sexy, and I know it..." she sang in a deep voice, causing the whole room to burst into hysterics...and song and dance.
"Especially, Edward," Rose chuckled, looking up when I tsked her.
"Hey, watch it," I teased, smirking at their laughter. "Don't mock my gift. I love it," I said, sitting down at the large table that had computers, pictures, papers, and just...shit strewn from one end of it to the other. I pulled the frame closer, but looked up at Mickey. "When was this? I didn't get a chance to ask."
"Umm," she mused, rubbing her bottom lip. "I know it was our first mission after I joined them. We'd all finally been discharged from the service. I don't know... Maybe seven or eight years ago? Edward was twenty-five then. I know that, because we celebrated his birthday when we got back."
I smiled and gazed back down at the picture. Dear God, he was a sexy thing. Edward was dressed in full gear, face paint smeared across his face in a jagged swipe. In both pictures, he was wearing a cocky, crooked smile. Every muscle seemed taut and wound tight, like he was ready to pounce, and it all was just under the surface of his clothes. But there wasn't the sweet, happy spark that his eyes now carried. In fact, he looked cold and distant. He looked like the killer he had the capability of being. Hell, they all did.
I huffed a small laugh when they continued to sing I'm Sexy and I Know It. Looking up at the room and setting the pictures down, I smiled at them, because the best thing that had ever happened was the combining of that lethal team with my wickedly smart girls. It showed in their laughter, their ability to give and take constant teasing, and our true loyalty to one another. Edward's team had taught my girls how to protect themselves, consider the worst case scenario, and how to look at a situation from a tactical point of view. My girls had taught them that they didn't always have to go into a room with guns blazing and their hair on fire, how to look at a case with a sympathy and intelligence, and how to use their heads, rather than their fists.
"Okay, Mick...talk to me about this key," I said.
Everyone took their cue from me and sat down in their seats.
"I'm running the numbers on it now," she stated, typing on her laptop. "Alice set me up with this search engine, so I'm letting the shit run." She sighed, wrinkling her nose. "I'd say bank deposit box at first glance. And if that's the case, then we're shit out of luck, unless Wes can get a warrant."
"Or we could break into the bank," Kurt added, and the whole room froze, looking up at him. "Kidding, kidding... Sort of," he chuckled, shrugging a shoulder. "It's not like we couldn't do it..."
Laughing, I shook my head, because if Emmett, Jasper, and Edward heard that idea, they might've just gone for it if push came to shove. "Got it," I snickered, turning to Alice, who was sitting down next to me. "Anything from the Feds' lab yet?"
She shook her head. "Not yet, but they didn't seem all that hopeful that the tiny speck of blood that Mickey found on the wall could be analyzed."
"What about an update on the search for Molly?" I asked to no one in particular.
"We've hit a dead end on that one," Rose sighed, looking sad about that fact. "Her grandfather passed away last year. We can't locate any other family."
"Well, shit," I groaned, rubbing my temple. "Even if the Feds are able to pull DNA from that blood, we have no one to match it to... Dammit."
"Her file...at Solstice," Kyra piped up. She was sitting on my other side and had been really quiet, but that wasn't uncommon with her for the last few days. "If she auditioned, then she would be in their files. And there is a contact form in there. You have to give three."
"Did she audition?" I gasped, turning to Alice. "Have you searched through Solstice's files?"
"She didn't officially audition," Alice stated, "because if you'll remember, Ike tells Preston that he can't bring her in front of the audition people if she didn't perform up to his standards."
I turned to Kyra, studying her face. "I'm about to go over some pretty detailed shit. Are you okay with that?" I asked her.
"No, no...I'm fine." She waved a hand at me. "Do what you guys do. I was just hanging out in here in case you needed some information."
"Okay. So that room next to Preston's was absolutely covered in blood. Let's just say...for argument sake...that he killed her," I started, really just using my team to think aloud.
"Preston?" Kurt verified. "Not Ike?"
"No, Preston," I sighed. "What does he do with her body? I mean, the Feds gave the whole property a thorough search, including that machine that looks for the gases that bodies give off..."
"Ninhydrin-reactive nitrogen," Alice answered immediately.
"Yeah, that," I said, gesturing to her. "Nothing came up. And even though it's been like five years since she disappeared, nothing looked disturbed on his precious lawn."
"Yeah, that shit was pretty well groomed," Makenna added. "What about other properties of Ike's?"
"He only has the one house, believe it or not," Kyra added, smirking wryly. "You'd think he'd have summer homes and shit, but no."
"What about Preston? Would Daddy have bought him something?" Kurt asked her.
"I doubt it," she sighed, shifting a bit on the bench we were sitting on. "In that house, Preston really caught a lot of hell. He had more freedom than I did, but he never had a moment's peace with Ike."
I frowned at her, asking, "Did they lock you in that room?"
"Sometimes – especially after he started...you know..." she said softly with a nod, and I nodded in understanding.
"Oh, I have this funny feeling that Ike was protecting her from his son," I groaned, shaking my head. "I'd be willing to bet that Ike was well aware of what Preston was becoming way before even Preston knew."
I glanced out the large windows, smiling at Carlisle's little tiny crew that was following him and Eleazar around on the beach. It looked like they were stacking wood for a rather large bonfire.
"For tonight," Alice giggled. "Alec and Edward are cooking for your birthday. We suggested it be outside. It's supposed to be really pretty weather."
"So what's my husband up to, then?" I chuckled, raising an eyebrow up at her, but everyone chuckled.
"Couldn't tell you, Bells," Rose laughed. "He said to tell you that he was on a perimeter run, but really, he took Alec and Jasper with him somewhere. We have no idea what he's doing. They're on the grounds somewhere."
I shook my head and smiled, rolling my eyes a bit. "Okay, fine," I sighed, waving it off, because apparently, it was something Edward was determined to do, and his choice in partners in crime told me that he needed discretion. I glanced back around the table. "Let's do this... Alice, you're still working on Ike's bank accounts, yes?" I verified, and she nodded. "Mickey, keep working on that key. Rose, you and Mack take that notebook of Ike's and go through it. See if we can get in contact with some of those girls. I realize that Layla is overseas on tour, so she's out, but that Ashley isn't, and neither is Jen Jones."
"You wouldn't have gotten much out of Layla anyway," Kyra stated, shrugging one shoulder. "I've met her a few times. She's a very closed off person. She despises Ike, and now, I know it was for good reason. I'd be willing to bet she won't let him near her. She needs him for promotional purposes, but I really don't think he touches her anymore. She's been together with her personal bodyguard for years, and that guy won't let anyone near Layla without his presence in the room."
"Okay, that's good to know. Thank you," I told her, but I watched as a touch of anger, sadness, and fear flashed across her features. "You are doing really well," I whispered to her. "Focus on the now, Kyra. Okay? Focus on what we're doing. This is revenge at its best, honey. Because we're not only stopping him, we're outing him to the whole fucking world."
She nodded fervently, fighting her tears. "I know I need to make an announcement. I should, but..."
"You could do it on Twitter," Cassie suggested, but pointed to Alice. "Your fans are probably wondering about you. You've made major announcements on there before, so this time would be no different."
Kyra nodded, taking a deep breath and letting it out. "I need... I have to think. Would my guitar bother any of your work?" she asked, looking around the table. "It helps me think, but I like... It's good to be in here." She pointed to the table, and I nodded in understanding.
"Hell no, it won't bother us!" Makenna chirped. "It's better than my singing, that's for sure."
I grinned, turning back to Kyra, who was chuckling at Mack. "Go ahead."
Once Kyra returned with her guitar, the talking, teasing, and thinking aloud ceased almost completely. We tore into our research like mad. Kyra sat at the far end of the sun room with her guitar on her lap and a notebook open. She was not only using the time to self-heal, but to write, as well. It was impressive to see, actually. Rose spoke softly on the phone a few times, but usually left the room to do so. And I started looking into Preston's patterns. Posting a map of the Pacific Northwest up on the wall, along with a map of California, I marked each incident. I also ran a search for anything he owned – cars, properties, even boats. And I used Ike's name in there, as well.
Hours seemed to fly by, and the only time we were disturbed was when Esme dropped off some lunch for us. We ate the sandwiches blindly with one hand, while the other continued to type on our computers. She didn't even check on Kyra, because she could see that the singer was quietly content on the other side of the room.
I was studying my wall of maps when warm, strong arms wrapped around me and lips pressed to the side of my neck, my favorite voice rumbling in my ear.
"Don't bite your lip, sweetness," Edward crooned lowly. "Let me do it."
Leaning back against him, I wanted to groan aloud with how he smelled – salty ocean air, fresh cut wood, something kinda sweet, and just...Edward. Instead, I giggled at him, but kept my eyes on the maps, because I just couldn't figure out where Ike would've gone – even if Preston had taken him. There weren't any other properties in their names.
Edward smiled against my skin, placing another kiss before asking, "How's it going?"
"It sucks," I snorted, turning to face the room full of people that were nodding in agreement with scowls on their faces. "I've got no freaking clue as to where Preston could've possibly taken Ike...if he took him at all. Or if he didn't, then I have no idea where Ike ran away to." I pointed around the room, starting with Mickey. "We're still not sure where that key goes to." Then I pointed to Alice. "Ike's bank accounts are squeaky clean." And finally, I gestured to Rose. "And no one in that notebook of Ike's will spill shit."
"Well, I can't get in touch with that Ashley girl, who's real name, by the way, is Barb Dorman," she snorted. "That girl is back in rehab just outside of L.A. The doctors won't tell me a thing about her."
"That leaves Jen Jones," I urged her.
"Nope, nothing. Won't even talk about it. All she said was 'whatever Ike gets, he deserves,'" she stated, shrugging a shoulder.
A rare sour note plinked from the guitar in the corner, and Kyra sighed heavily. "Alice, I need to make a statement," she said softly.
Alice's eyes widened when she glanced up at me and Edward, but she turned to Kyra. "Okay, okay, okay," she soothed softly. "On just the arrest, or Edward, too?"
"Just Ike's arrest," she stated, waving a hand at Edward. "Let my fans wonder about Edward. You haven't released a name and the pictures are causing a small stir, but they're going to want to know why my security changed, why I'm out of the limelight, and why the manager that I've had for years is now in trouble for assault and r-rape."
Edward sighed deeply, pulling me closer to him by the waist. He knew this wasn't easy for her. "What will you say, Kyra?" he asked her, his voice calm, smooth, and comforting – at least, to me it was.
She locked gazes with him, and then faced the room and stood up. "The truth. Let's do this before I lose my nerve."
I was so fucking proud of her. It didn't take long to get the statement down. With Esme's help and guidance, Kyra and Alice worded it just right. They not only tweeted it, but they posted it on Kyra's Facebook page and sent it to a journalist that Kyra had given interviews to previously. It was all loaded up on the screen, when Alice paused with her hands over the keyboard.
"You're sure?" she asked one more time.
"Send it, Alice," Kyra sighed, looking exhausted, but determined.
With a few strokes of her tiny fingers, the information went out. Everywhere. At that point, it was a waiting game to see not only the public's reaction, but Preston's, as well.
~oOo~
"S-So...h-how o-old a-are y-you, M-Mommy?" Bethy stuttered, crawling up in my lap as we all sat in front of the fire.
"Old," I stated with a laugh. "That's all you need worry about," I told her, and she giggled, breaking into a yawn.
We'd been out there for hours, eating, laughing, and basically letting shit go. After Kyra's announcement went out, we shut down the office for the night, because we weren't really finding anything but dead ends. Edward had guided me outside, sat me down in a chair, and told me that my "sweet ass didn't need to move from that spot for the rest of the damn night." He'd said that it was my birthday, and he was going to spoil me, dammit.
Kyra sat on a lounger, picking at her guitar, and this time, I could tell she truly needed it. I was pretty sure she was worried about the her fans' reactions to her statements, but we weren't letting her look at it for the moment, just in case the public took it negatively. She was telling the truth, and she needed to focus on that, and that alone.
Dinner had been amazing. Edward and Alec had worked the grill like magic, searing steaks and potatoes, not to mention corn on the cob for the kids. Just for fun, they'd sent Eleazar off to the market for seafood, creating the most delicious kabobs.
Bethy snuggled in closer to me, turning her head to watch Kyra. My daughter loved to lay tummy to tummy with me, her little fingers playing with my hair.
"Hey, my girls," Edward crooned, kneeling beside us. He'd just taken Sammy off to bed, because he'd practically fallen asleep in his plate. Apparently, "splorin'" with Poppy was a tiresome activity, because all the kids were pretty quiet.
"Hi, Daddy," she sighed, smiling up at him and reaching for his face.
He kissed every last finger, only to drop a pretty loud raspberry to the palm of her hand, just to hear her giggle. "You look sleepy, little sweetness," he noted to her softy, tilting his head just a bit.
"No bed yet," she begged him, sitting up a bit. "Please?"
I shook my head at him, because I was loving just a little bit of girl time with her.
He grinned, leaning in to kiss both our foreheads. "Well, let me in, then..."
Bethy and I giggled at him, and we sat forward enough for him to slip in behind me on the lounger, wrapping his arms around us. I snuggled back against my husband's chest, loving the feel of him surrounding the two of us with warm arms and strong legs, because I wasn't sure there was a safer, more comfortable place to be. Bethy sat up a bit, playing with the drawstrings of my hoodie. I could tell she was tired, but she was way too content to upset with bedtime.
As conversations continued around us, I reached up and ran my fingers through Bethy's long hair. Her sweet little naughty smile curled up her face as she gazed past me to her daddy.
"What did you get Mommy for her birfday, Daddy?" she asked him, and his chuckle shook us both.
"It's a secret," he whispered back, shushing her with a finger to his lips. She grinned, but he told her, "I can't tell you if I haven't told Mommy yet."
"Dad-dy," she drawled out, rolling her eyes, but giggling at the same time. "You hafta do it before midnight. After midnight, it won't be her birfday anymore."
I laughed softly, pulling her close so I could kiss her cheek. "It's okay, pretty girl. I don't mind waiting."
She huffed, shaking her head and giving her father a scowl. "I couldn't wait for pwesents. Dat's mean, Daddy."
"Don't I know it," he laughed back to her, placing a hand flat on the top of her head and running it down to her back. "You've never had to wait for presents."
She shook her head vehemently, looking over at Kyra when Emmett and Kurt started making requests. Soft notes wafted over and around the fire, causing conversations to come to a stop. Her voice was soft, beautiful, and a touch sad as she sang something about finding that perfect, sweet love, only having to let it go. Bethy squirmed closer, laying her head on my chest with her forehead pressed to my neck and her head turned toward Kyra. I wrapped my arms all the way around her, dropping kisses to the top of her head as Edward played with her little fingers. And for just a brief moment, it felt like we were back at home, all snuggled on our couch in front of the TV, because there were many nights that we'd all piled onto the sofa together.
Edward shifted, bending his leg at the knee, and I couldn't help but rub his thigh. He stopped me by picking up my hand and bringing it to his lips, leaving a long, slow kiss to my palm, only to ghost his lips to the inside of my wrist, where he let just a hint of his tongue sneak out and have a taste of my skin. My whole body reacted to just that single, simple gesture. My head fell back to his shoulder, and his lips met my my cheek.
"I think it's time for your present, love," he whispered, and suddenly, I could feel his whole body shift behind me.
It was like his entire being was calling to me. Maybe we were on the same page, but all the playing around for the camera we'd done the day before and my breakfast in bed that morning just about had me aching for him. It was going on several days since I'd had him to myself, since we hadn't just fallen into bed mentally and physically exhausted at the end of the day.
With a quick glance to see that Bethy was asleep, I turned my head to nuzzle his jaw. "What is it?" I whispered.
He chuckled low and sexy. "You'll see. Go tuck our girl in and meet me at the side door of the kitchen."
I had to laugh, because he sounded like he was on one of his missions. "Will this message self-destruct?" I giggled, kissing his cheek.
"Only if you don't hurry, sweetness," he growled into my ear, leaving a biting kiss to my earlobe.
Carefully, I sat up, keeping my sleeping girl in my arms. When I stood, calls of "Happy Birthday!" rang out from the fire, and I gave them a wave and a thank you. I took the stairs slowly, finding the room that Bethy and Abby was sharing, the latter of whom was already out for the night. I slipped off my little girl's shoes, loving the fact that today's color was blue, because she knew it was my favorite. It didn't take long to get her ready for bed, because she was slightly awake when I pulled on her pajamas and she was able to slip her arms in herself. Tucking her in under the covers, I pressed a long, slow kiss to her forehead and brushed her hair from her face, telling her that I loved her and to have sweet dreams.
I made my way back down the stairs, only to find a pacing lion in the kitchen. Why he looked nervous, I had no idea, but his eyes were dark, deadly when they locked onto mine. He quickly closed the distance between us, his hands threading into my hair. His mouth was on mine before I could register it, but I wasn't complaining one bit. Moaning shamelessly, I wound my arms around his neck, pressing my entire body against his. I wanted to wrap myself around him, lose myself in him. It seemed that he knew that, because strong, firm hands skimmed down my back to my ass. Suddenly, I found myself plopped down on the kitchen counter with a heavily panting Edward stepping between my legs.
I completely forgot where I was for a brief moment, because our hands went everywhere all at one time. Mine shot underneath his sweatshirt, relishing taut muscles over abs and shoulder blades and pecs. Edward's tugged and pulled at the zipper of my hoodie, dragging tongue, lips, and teeth down my throat to my collarbone, where he let out the most amazing sound – a cross between a growl and a moan.
Laughter spilled in from the deck. I pushed and pulled at him until his mouth relented from its assault on my neck back to my mouth, and our tongues met without preamble, licking, swirling, claiming. We were losing our shit pretty fucking quickly, but I couldn't help but lock my legs around his waist, bringing his now hard as steel arousal in contact exactly where I needed it, which only caused me to cry out.
"Edward," I breathed against his lips.
"Christ," he panted, pressing his forehead to mine as he squeezed his eyes closed tightly for just a second. "We need to get the fuck out of here," he grunted, casting a glance over his shoulder toward the glow of the bonfire out back, "or I'm going to take you right fucking here, be damned of who walks in."
I grinned, running my fingers through his hair. "Mm," I hummed against his lips. "Happy Birthday to me," I teased him with a giggle.
"You have no idea, sweetness," he chuckled darkly, shaking his head slowly to clear it. He let out a long, slow breath. "I've needed you alone all damn day..."
He gently lifted me down off of the counter, setting me onto my feet. Linking my fingers with his, he tugged me toward the side door, giving one last glance toward everyone else.
"Is this some super secret thing?" I asked, laughing at his actions.
"Yes," he said with a grin, giving me a wink. "Just hush, and come on."
He quietly led me out the door and out into the yard, but instead of aiming toward the cars like I'd thought he would, he veered toward the beach. I wasn't sure where we were going, though I knew the property was pretty damn big. The sound of the ocean met my ears as we got closer, and I couldn't help but take in the sight of the bright as hell moon reflecting off of the water. It glimmered and shifted with each wave, and sea spray sparkled like glitter with each crash to the shore and rocks.
"God, that's so beautiful," I whispered aloud, but was suddenly wrapped in strong arms again, pressed into a palm tree.
"You're beautiful. Don't you ever fucking forget it," he growled low, his face as fierce as it was in the kitchen. "A-And I-I s-swear t-to G-God, I-I n-need t-to g-get y-you wh-where w-we're g-going, and fucking fast," he rambled, kissing me into oblivion against that tree with soft, wet lips and sexy hums that rumbled through to my chest.
He left me breathless, still tasting him on my tongue and slowly melting into a puddle of goo. I reached up to wrap my arms around his neck, but he stopped me. Fuck, he was driving me crazy. I wanted to climb him like a fucking mountain, and every time he kissed me, he'd then stop us.
"Edward," I whined when he tugged me away from the tree and along in the sand again. I was unable to find it in me to care, but fuck, I just wanted him, and at this point, I'd take anything.
"Soon, baby. I promise," he panted. He came to a complete stop in front of what looked like a small cave, but it was what was inside the cave that caused me to freeze.
My eyes barely believed what was in front of me. It was like a dream, a photograph of something not real. The alcove of the cave was lit by a small campfire, but behind it were piles of pillows, blankets, and mosquito netting. The colors were bright pinks, oranges, and golds, almost Middle Eastern in style.
"Oh, Edward... How did you do this?" I whispered, not really expecting an answer.
"I-I h-had h-help," he sputtered softly, leaning against the cave wall and shoving his hands into his pockets, like he was fighting touching me. "Do you like it? The only thing you said you wanted was time alone...and this was the only thing I could think of..." He rambled like he couldn't explain quickly enough, and his tell of nerves showed the second his hand left his pocket and shot to tug on his hair.
I stepped into the cave slowly, taking it all in. He'd created a getaway, an oasis in the middle of this messed up case. And he'd done it simply because I'd asked for time alone with him. He knew I didn't want for anything, that presents weren't all that important to me, so he'd gone out of his way to give me the only thing I'd mentioned. I smiled, shaking my head, because I could distinctly remember that very same man telling me once that he had no idea what he was doing when it came to relationships. As I eyed the bucket of ice that had a bottle of champagne sticking up out of it, tears stung my eyes, because he may have said he didn't know a thing about relationships, but he knew every-fucking-thing about me.
Spinning to face him, I swallowed to get my voice back. "Jesus, baby... this is just...perfect," I whispered, watching as pure, unadulterated relief washed over his face.
"Yeah?" he asked, his mouth quirking up into a sweet, yet vulnerable smile.
"Oh yeah," I half-sniffled, half-giggled. I nodded, walking to him. "How long can we stay?"
He huffed a small, light laugh. "If you want...all night," he whispered, pulling me to him and sweeping his lips across mine. "Or until the fire dies..." he purred, nuzzling my nose with his – up one side and down the other – all while his hands ghosted down to my ass. "Or..." he rumbled, nipping softly at my lips, his teeth dragging over my bottom one. "Or maybe just until I render you unable to walk..."
My whole body shuddered, but God, I wanted it. All of it.
"Sit," he ordered, pointing to the pile of pillows as he grabbed the bottle of champagne out of the ice, "and we'll really celebrate your birthday, sweetness."
A/N... Right, probably the cruelest cliffie I've ever left you with. Lol But trust me, it's worth the wait.
So a few dead ends, a little bit more knowledge, and Kyra is finding comfort around that crazy group of people. Can't say that I blame her, really. They have a way of taking the really harsh shit and removing the sting out of it just with humor and teasing. And you gotta love Daddy C with the hot car present! LOL
I know you're not stupid, so you can totally figure out that the next chapter comes with a LEMON WARNING. Yeah...sigh...the cave. Follow me on Twitter and I'll be posting some rather interesting pic teases for chapter 16. ;)
I need to thank JenRar for beta'ing this for me, and for getting all swoony along with me, because a needy Mercward is just...yeah. Huge thanks to GooberLou for helping me crop this one. It totally worked out better this way. And to MedusaInNY for all things bloggy. ;)
The next chapter is done and off to be beta'd, so the next posting is going to be Sunday. I hope to hear what you think. Until Sunday... Later. :)