2brown-eyes reads!
Mistakes are Charles' fault!
Aro disappears up the aisle where the pilots are located, and two shots echo through the confined space. My father makes slow, calculated steps in my direction, a smug smile on his lips. My insides are quivering, but I lift my chin out of spite.
He'll never see my fear.
"If you want that Cullen girl to live, you'll go quietly." He smirks when I'm unable to school my shock. "That's right. I already have Jasper's little girlfriend, and I won't hesitate to sacrifice her to keep you in line."
My stomach churns, tears burning the backs of my eyes. "I'd rather be dead than go back to that life."
His smirk turns into a snarl. "You just might get your wish when Eleazar sees you."
His name used to send chills racing down my spine, but all I feel now is white-hot, boiling rage. I jump to my feet, fists balled at my sides. "You might have that backward."
His lips twitch before an all-out belly laugh takes hold. I want to knee him in the nuts and run, but it isn't just my life that's at stake here. In fact, I wonder how many people have paid with their lives for my presence here right now.
Alice is safe, thank God, but can I say the same for Seth? Leah? Was she here? If not, who took her place? I'm on the verge of a complete panic attack when my father grabs my arm.
"Move it." He gives me a shake. "Now."
I yank from his grasp, eyes narrowed. "Don't touch me."
He rears back and slaps me across the face, my head snapping to the side. "You don't speak to me that way." Pressing my lips closed, I march down the aisle with him breathing down my neck. Just as I make it to the last step, his meaty hand clamps down on my shoulder, swiveling me to the right. "You can join your new prison mate."
I almost cry when I spot Alice. She's on her knees below a man I don't recognize, her shirt torn and blood-stained. I run toward her, hunkering down and grabbing her tightly.
"Thank God you're all right," I murmur, eyes smashed closed to hold back my tears.
"It's okay, B." She brushes her hand down my hair. "Everything's going to be just fine."
I sniffle, pulling back to get a better look at her, but my eyes land on something else. Across the tarmac, bodies are laid to waste. Men in dark suits lay dead, blood pooling beneath some of them, and I crumble when I recognize a familiar face. Seth Clearwater, Edward's closest and most trusted man, is among them. His eyes are shut, as if he's only sleeping.
I've been strong until now, but that breaks me. Knowing that my existence has taken something precious from the man I love sends me spiraling. Sobs break free, and Alice Cullen, a woman who's also in a world of hurt because of me, offers comfort. It makes me cry harder.
My father wraps his fist in my hair and yanks me to my feet, spitting on Alice. "I can't wait until Daddy Cullen learns of your capture and subsequent torture."
"Where's Jasper?" she demands, glaring at the head of the Swan mafia. "If you hurt him, I'm going to slit your throat."
"A wild one, eh?" He leers at her. "Maybe I should reconsider what brand of torture to use."
Widening my eyes, I shift them to Alice and silently beg her to stay quiet, but she doesn't. Of course, she doesn't. "I'll chop your fucking dick off." He rears back and backhands her, causing blood to pool on the corner of her lips. "I like it rough, you piece of shit."
He directs his glare to the no-name behind her. "Get her outta here before I kill her."
"Yes, sir." The guard drags her across the tarmac to a white van, and she kicks and claws the whole way before she's unceremoniously tossed inside, and the doors are sealed shut behind her.
"Don't get any ideas," my father growls at my ear, fingers pinched in front of my face. "She's this close to a fucking bullet between the eyes."
I swallow, nodding. "I'll come quietly."
He barks a laugh. "You don't have a fucking choice."
I wallow in hatred as he pushes me ahead of him toward a long, black limousine. I'm shoved inside while my father barks more orders, and I scurry across the seat to unlock the opposing door. It may not be useful right now, but who knows if I'll get an opportunity during the ride. Charles can say he'll kill Alice all he wants, but if I wasn't here, she'd be his only leverage.
The car door slams and Charles punches his meaty fist into the roof twice. "Let's get a fucking move on!"
Tires spin, leaving a pathetic squeal in our wake. I turn to look out the rear window, and the scene reeks of death and destruction. My chest constricts, causing my breaths to come out in short, shallow gasps. It's in this moment that I'm no longer upset Edward didn't join me on the way home. The simple act of taking that meeting saved his life.
It's that I cling to as we head down familiar roads.
"What exactly is your plan?" I cross my arms, glaring at the man who looks fifteen years older than when I last saw him. "You can't marry me off to Eleazar, so what could you possibly gain, aside from the destruction of your entire empire, by taking me? Or Alice, for that matter." I shake my head, disgusted. "They may have let you keep me, but there's no way they won't come for her."
My father throws back his head and barks a harsh laugh. "Let them come!" he spits, widening his arms. "I'm going to murder them all!"
He's so sure of himself that it gives me a second of pause, but then I think of my husband. The thoughtful, precise, results-driven man who very carefully monitors and plans. I don't know much, but one thing is for sure, Edward will avenge me. Charles Swan will pay dearly for this attack.
With his life.
Knowing that, I lean across the car and pull on the door handle. The pressure from the outside air pushes back, but I shove it hard, the pavement below flying by in a blur. It doesn't scare me, though. My own life no longer matters, and I've come to accept that my only purpose may have been to help take down the Swan mafia.
My father claws at my calf, digging his nails into the hard muscle. I flip to my back, a snarl on my lips as I draw back my other foot and kick him hard in the face.
His stunned expression is the last thing I see before I dive headfirst out the door. The pavement comes so fast that I don't have time to feel the pain at first. But then it slowly settles in, my vision blurring, head pounding.
It's then that I see him.
Edward.
The man I love.
Only this time, he has wings.
If I write 2, I'll see you later this week, if not, I won't.
We won't be going very far beyond this climax, so settle into the idea that the end is coming!
See you as soon as I can :)