Chapter 49
By Friday, I was up and moving slowly. I finally got to go to my room. I was running the country from my two rooms because I was well protected in them and I was so slow getting around. We were also preparing for another wedding. We really could tell nothing from the security footage though one camera was out of place and it had been checked out. Someone had moved it, but with gloves on so there were no finger prints. The piracy problems were already cut in half. By the end of the second week, I was doing some physical therapy. I was bored and restless. I was reading and I whispered to Edward when we were finally alone in my room, "What happened to my wedding dress and my under garments?"
"Bella, I'm sorry I had the dress destroyed. I couldn't stand seeing your blood all over it. But knowing that Alice and Rosalie dressed you just for me for our wedding night, I undressed you myself before I let the doctors and nurses start working on you. I know it's selfish; but I wanted to be the one to get to undress you down to your sexy undergarments."
"Edward, are you telling me that you have seen me naked once you undressed me including my baby blue bra and," I stopped.
Then he was sitting next to me on our bed and said, "Yes, I also removed your light blue thong, baby blue garter and white stockings. Someday, Beautiful, I hope to see you like that again without a gunshot wound in your shoulder and being unconscious; then I'm going to crawl up your body and make you mine. Happy Birthday, Bella."
"This is so not fair; I've been lucky to see you with only your shirt off."
"Actually, Bella, I've seen you naked twice."
"What? When?"
"In the Alaskan woods after the grizzly got you, I had to strip us both to keep you dry and warm because you were so wet and freezing cold. You knew something was going on because you rolled right into my arms for the warmth and sighed."
"Edward, this is really not fair. We can't make love. When I try to touch you too much, you make me stop and back away."
"I'm sorry, Bella. You're right that is unfair to you; how can I make it up to you? Do you want your birthday present now?"
"No. Lock the door and get naked. Let me look at you for an hour. That's what I want for my birthday."
"Bella, please don't make me do this. The naked one has always been unconscious."
"Why not? You know I can barely get out of bed so both our virtues are safe. If it would help, I could call Emmett and have him knock you out."
"If I do this Bella, you swear you'll never bring it up and discuss it with anyone."
"Yes, I swear," I said with a smile even though I was biting my nail to see if Edward would actually do it.
Shockingly, he stood up walked over and closed my blinds, then locked my door and he stripped for me. His body was exquisite I already knew his chest and abs were perfect from all our water works and training but the rest of him was perfect. The v of his abs ran right down to his .. oh my. He sat down, picked up his magazine and went back to reading it. As he turned the page, he saw me looking at him. I tried to look like I was reading my book. Edward chuckled and said, "Your highness, you're so busted and your blush is incredible."
"That was mean, Edward."
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't resist and 'Happy Birthday, Bella.'"
"Thank you, Edward," I said with a brilliant smile on my face.
After 45 minutes, there was a knock on my door, and Alice saying, "Edward, let us in."
"Fine, just a minute, Alice. I have to help Bella get back from the bathroom," as he jumped up to start getting dressed.
I just smiled at him and whispered, "You owe me fifteen more minutes."
He smiled and said, "So not happening."
Alice and Rosalie were soon let in to show me their new bridesmaid dresses. We had a small birthday celebration in my room that night. Rose and Alice gave me a new crown they had designed especially for me. Edward bought me a bracelet and earrings that were similar to my locket that I wore. You could see Rose and Emmett getting closer everyday as much as Alice and Jasper. I had a hunch Rose and Emmett were already truly sleeping together. The connection between Alice and Jasper was more intense, but emotional for right now. They hadn't slept together, yet. Alice was as nervous and inexperienced as I was. Carlisle and Esme were still there and about half of my CIA guards. The rest of the team was my local guards. Parliament and I are working well together. They had granted me additional time to get married because of my gunshot wound and needing time to recover.
I get stronger and better every day. My surgeon now is helping me with my physical therapy getting my arm stronger every day. Edward, Emmett and Jasper are my sparring partners with me in karate. I'm never without one of them at my side. Normally, I have at least two guards and sometimes five.
Three months later, I'm almost perfect and we are a week out from our second attempt at our wedding. Eight days before the wedding, I had just finished dumping Emmett on a mat with my karate. I offered him my hand and helped him up. The surgeon said, "Bella, I think you are back in shape after that move on Emmett."
"Thanks, doctor. I feel great. Thank you for pushing me. Now you," and I walked to Emmett. "Did you let me take you down?"
"Bella, believe me I would never just let you pin me. You caught my balance point just right and down I went."
"Alright, I guess, I have to go back to office work now."
The next day Edward, Emmett and Jasper came storming into my office while I was working with Carlisle and Esme. Edward said, "Victoria and James escaped with the help of Laurent. They are on the far side of the island and giving us two hours to turn you over to them or they'll blow up that side of the island. They have enough dynamite to do it with."
"Do you have them on the satellite maps?"
"Yes," Jasper started pulling them back up on the computer.
As we pulled up the satellite images, I said, "Shit, she has her old pirate friends acting as blockers to them."
I look at the map with Edward, Carlisle, Emmett and Jasper. Then I point to the tunnel and say, "Scuba gear. Let's get ready."
"Bella, you aren't going," Edward snapped.
"Yes, I am Edward. This is my country and my people. I have already worked too hard to correct my step mother's plans plus if it doesn't work I can turn myself into them. You guys can then come and rescue me."
"I'm sorry, Edward," Jasper said. "Time is of the essence and I agree with Bella plus you are leaving part of the story out."
"What aren't you telling me, Edward?"
"They have Rose and Alice," Edward said.
"Carlisle, the four of us are going in via the ocean, but get as many men into the tunnel as you can and get our gear. I want duel tanks on the back of all of the BCs and hook up the rebreathers. I don't want them to know we are coming. I also want my gun as well in a water proof pouch. I'll be bringing my knives and my spear guns."
"Bella, I love you. Please let me leave you here with Esme and save your sisters."
"No, Edward. Carlisle, can you take Edward's place? I'll be ready to go in twenty minutes."
"Yes," Carlisle said.
Edward grabbed my arm, "Bella, you aren't leaving here unprotected. If you think, I'm going to allow you to go without me, you have another thing coming. I love you and I'm not going to lose you. Now let's go, you need to change and I'm not letting you out of me sight."
"I wasn't going to leave here unprotected. I would just take my other godfathers. But now let's go. We will meet at the tunnel in twenty minutes." I took off in a jog heading for my suite.
"Carlisle," Edward turned and said, "Do you have the thin bullet proof vest?"
"Yes."
"Bring it to put on over her bikini, but under her wet suit."
"Great idea, Edward."
Once in my suite, I said, "Are you going to help me get into my bikini since you aren't going to let me out of your sight?"
"Smart ass, get in your closet and put on a bikini."
"Let's go," I said as I came out of my closet and Edward was in his trunks. Edward and I started jogging through the castle.
We ran into Emmett and Jasper and we headed for the tunnels. As we were jogging through the castle, I said, "The sooner we get there the better. They won't be expecting us so soon. Jasper and Emmett, you get Rose and Alice. Edward and I will keep you covered."
"Bella, you have truly turned into one of us," Carlisle said as he heard me going over the plan. As he handed Edward the bullet proof vest and my wet suit. I quickly put the bullet proof vest on. My wetsuit was a struggle because of the thicker top. Once I was in my wet suit, Edward grabbed my arm and said, "You'll listen to me. This is what I have been trained in."
"Yes, sir," I said. "Now quit wasting time." I slipped on the rest of my gear minus my air tanks. Four other guards carried our gear and the underwater scooters down to the water's edge. I had a spear gun on one leg then on the other I had two knives and my gun. I slipped on my rebreather, the guards helped me slip on my tank and into the water I slipped into the water followed by Edward, Emmett and Jasper. Right at the turn in of the island, Emmett and Jasper got out to sneak the rest of the way in on foot after we distracted those on the boat. Edward and I circled the boat trying to figure out how many were on the boat – Victoria, James and Laurent, two additional guards and Rose and Alice.