A/N: Thanks for your reviews :) Thanks to jilburfm for the speedy beta and ocd_indeed for validating.
Edward's grandpa = the scientist who died; Edward's grandma = Emily Masen who was found in the lake.
Edward's dad = died of the flu in 1918; Edward's mom = Elizabeth Masen who died of the flu in 1918.
Bella POV
The number you have dialed is not in service. Please hang up and try again.
I slammed the received down, a little too hard maybe, and fell back into Charlie's chair.
The little slip of paper in my hand was mocking me.
I blinked hard, willing the computer to give me more. More of anything.
Truth be told, I'd been through my fair share of searches, coffee and long distance phone calls that morning.
After Charlie read me the note that morning, I'd sped home and raced full speed up the stairs to retrieve it. I'd sat on my bed, staring at it with shaking hands, wondering whether or not to call. If I called, who would answer? What would happen?
I wasn't so concerned about people finding me, since apparently they had already gotten that far. What I was more concerned with was what to do if someone who had information picked up the phone. What questions I needed to ask. Why they came to my house at 6 am.
I'd ended up calling Alice. She always knew what to do, and she didn't hesitate now, either.
"I think you should call," she'd said. I could hear her speaking with her family in the background.
So I did. And when the call had failed, I spared no time booting up my ancient computer. My fingers drummed incessantly on the desk while the internet connected.
My hands were shaky as I entered the phone number, and when the results flashed I panicked a little.
Immediately, I went to my dad. Charlie didn't have to go in on Sundays, but he was behind on paperwork and when faced with my desperate plea to finish my research, he readily agreed.
The number was from Ohio. Ohio. There was a bigger picture, and I couldn't seem to calm my racing mind on the drive to the station. For all his silence, Charlie knew something was off. I could tell by the way he threw subtle glances in my direction at times when he didn't think I was paying attention. By the rigidity of his shoulders and the grip of his hands on the wheel. I wasn't giving him enough credit. It made me wonder just how much he'd pieced together.
"Thanks for doing this, Dad," I'd told him as I hopped from the cruiser.
Too casually, he'd said, "No problem, Bells. Anything you need."
And with that, I found myself locked in the police chief's office, calling that phone number one more time, just to make sure.
It was still disconnected, but that wasn't why I'd come anyway.
My hands shook as I pulled up their master database.
Garrett, 513-420-4992. I plugged it in. Nada.
I didn't know how to retrieve phone records, or I'd have done it already. I wasn't opposed to asking Charlie how, but I moved on for the moment. After several fruitless searches, I had one of those brief flashes of brilliance.
In the general search field I typed, Garrett, Ohio Medical Research Institute. There were a bazillion hits.
Think, I commanded.
I pulled up the criminal records search.
Last name: Blank.
First name: Garrett. I hoped.
Age: Blank.
I jumped down several fields until I found what I was looking for.
Place of last known employment: Ohio Medical Research Institute
After filling out the descriptors as best as I could with what Charlie had told me, I closed my eyes and waited.
When I opened them, there was only one guy staring back at me on the screen.
Garrett Callihan.
Arrested in 1999 for assault. Paid his fines and served one thirty day sentence quietly.
I stared at his picture.
I had no way of verifying if this was my guy. Could be a completely different Garrett, having nothing to do with Forks or vampires or anything else.
There was nothing telling me that the Garrett who contacted me was linked to the lab, and nothing telling me that Garrett Callihan was the one who contacted me.
I printed the page in front of me and closed out of the program.
Carlisle's number was a speed dial in my phone, one which I never hesitated to use.
"Bella?" His voice was surprised on the other end.
"Hey," I said, rocking the chair back.
There was a pause while he waited for me to speak before he gave in. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah. I umm — I wanted to call and tell you something." Pause.
"I'm all ears." Genuine interest colored his tone.
"I'm telling Charlie." When he still didn't respond, I continued. "Not everything, but I found someone who I think might be this guy — the guy who came to my house. On the police database. And the only way I can think to confirm it is to ask him."
"What have you found?"
What I love about Carlisle is he doesn't question decisions before having all the facts. I knew that he'd hear what I had to say and give me a well-founded opinion.
"This guy, Garrett Callihan, came on up on the list. I mean, I'm sure other people work there, but the number he gave my dad was from the same city as the place that Edward's grandpa spoke at… and then… I don't know, Carlisle. It just feels like it could be something."
"Garrett?"
"Yeah, Dad said he got the name wrong at dinner. Anyway, I looked up the number online and it was from Cincinnati, and that's where this lab is —"
"Bella," he interrupted. "I trust your judgment. Charlie is the only person who saw this man, so it seems like the logical next step. Just be ready to answer questions."
"I know… I am." I wasn't, but Carlisle's lie detector only worked in person, so I was in the clear.
"Okay." After a pause he added, "Thank you for calling me. I think you're making a good choice."
When Charlie walked into his office, I said a quick 'goodbye' and stood.
"Dad." I jumped in head first and pushed the paper to him. "Is this the man who came looking for me?"
Charlie didn't seem shocked, but he definitely didn't seem happy. "Is this what you've been up to?" He paused and I didn't answer. So much for preparedness. "Bella, if something's going on, you need to tell me."
"Please," I pressed, pushing it into his hands. "I just need to know if this is him."
Charlie's eyes met mine and he studied them, trying to find honesty or secrets or whatever police officers think they can pull from your irises.
"Yeah," he finally said. "Looks like him."
Looking down, I took the paper back and put it in my pocket. A heavy hand on my shoulder stopped me in my tracks.
"Bella." I fumbled, before making eye contact again. "If this guy is threatening you, or harming you or — or Edward," he added reluctantly, "in any way, you need to tell me now. This is what police officers do, Bells."
When I didn't respond, he added, "This is what dads do."
My body acted on its own volition and hugged him tightly.
"I'm fine. We're fine. I just — I just wanted to know who he was is all."
"You know I trust you. You know I do. Bella." He held my shoulders a little too tightly, pulling me back and forcing me to keep his gaze. "Who is this man?"
There was at least one moment there where I faltered, wanting to spill my guts to my old man. Wanting to tell him everything, from James attacking me, to the Cullens saving me, to finding Edward. To my fear of losing Edward. To my fear of losing everything. I think he saw it in my eyes, just like police officers do.
They see straight into your damn soul.
Like an idiot, I started crying.
"Baby…" Charlie never called me 'baby.' "Who is this man?"
I sniffled and stepped back. "I don't know. I just — I don't think he's up to any good."
"What can I do? What kind of trouble are you in?"
"It's not really me, Dad. I just… I don't know."
"Alright." His voice resolved, Charlie held his hand out for the paper. Confused, I pulled it from my pocket and gave it up.
Then Charlie did something that shocked the hell out of me: he sat down in front of his computer. Back straight. Jaw tight. All business.
"Dad…"
"Have a seat." He was using his policeman voice on me, so instinctively I did as I was told. "What do you need to know?"
"Uhh…" Well. Is he a good guy? Is he a bad guy? Is he in the market of brutalizing vampires? "What does he do?"
Charlie narrowed his eyes at the screen and pecked away on the keyboard. After a minute or two, he said, "Well, you know he works at a lab in Ohio." He looked at me. "Ohio? What kind of trouble are you in in Ohio?"
"None."
He nodded and made a disapproving grunt, mumbling something about locking me in my room until I was twenty-five under his breath.
I cracked a smile, as was his intention.
He clicked his tongue as he searched, finally telling me, "He worked security at a hospital for twelve years. In 2005 he started at the lab, which is where he's still employed."
"What does he do there?"
"Research Assistant. Division: Genetics. Hmm." His eyes narrowed further and he hunched in, reading. "Everything looks good, Bells. Only prior was the assault in '99. Other than that, squeaky clean record. No family. No permanent address on file. Huh. He's like a nomad. Lots of phone numbers and previous addresses. What's this guy up to?"
"Nothing that I know of," I said, shrugging. "Just looking."
"I'll bet." He walked to the printer and waited, handing me a stack three papers thick as they came out. One was information on the lab. Phone numbers, different divisions, that sort of thing.
One was a profile on Garrett Callihan, different from that one that I'd found.
The third was a list of people who worked at the lab.
"Anything else?"
I wanted to ask about Edward's grandfather. With Charlie at my disposal, I might be able to pull more information. But it felt like I was bringing him in too deep. If I told him about Edward's grandfather, he'd probably eventually find out about Edward. And Edward's death. In 1918.
I shook my head reluctantly.
"Just so we're clear, Bella," Charlie said, standing and moving to the door. "What happened here was a far cry from legal. Anyone finds out I handed you those and I'm looking at years in prison. When you're ready to tell me what's going on, I'm listening."
We drove home in relative silence, the sound of Charlie humming with the radio the only noise.
"ZERO." I said into the phone. Loudly. CLEARLY.
Edward sat on the bed beside me, mostly amused by my inability to navigate an automated phone system.
When I finally reached a receptionist, I just about died of relief. And that was supposed to be the easy part.
"Ohio Medical Research Institute, this is Debra speaking, how may I direct your call?"
"I need to speak with Garrett in Genetics," I told her.
"Please hold."
Edward squeezed my hand and looked at me, questions endless in his eyes. I'm on hold, I mouthed, though I wasn't sure he knew what that meant.
"Genetics, this is Mae, how can I assist you?"
"Hi!" I said, a little too enthusiastically. "I need to speak with someone and I was hoping you could connect me?"
"I'll see what I can do. What's the name?" She was perky and robotic but it put me at ease.
"Garrett Callihan."
"Sure, one moment."
The elevator music came back and I closed my eyes.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, Mr. Callihan is no longer with us."
"What?"
"I said, 'Mr. Callihan —'"
"No, I heard that part. What do you mean 'no longer with you?'"
"I'm afraid I can't release that information." Her voice lost that robotic edge.
"Well, can you give me a number I can reach him at? It's important."
"I'm sorry, Ms. Swan. I'm afraid I can't provide details about former employees."
"Please," I said.
Annoyance seeped into her tone. "I can get you a manager, but he'll give you the same answer." I knew it was true.
Frustrated, I hung up the phone.
Edward looked shaken. "Sorry," I said, immediately assuming it was another failed effort that shook him now.
"How…" he asked, shaking his head. Searching my eyes. He looked at the phone and back at me.
"What?" I fell into the bed and turned to face him. "What's wrong?"
"She called you — Ms. Swan. How?"
"What? I… uh… what?" When he didn't answer, it clicked. "I must have told her."
"No."
"Caller ID? It's this thing —"
"I know what it is. It wasn't… it wasn't that. She knew."
I hadn't noticed, but now that he mentioned it, the way my name rolled off her tongue. The way she casually threw it around like she knew exactly who she was talking to. She did know who I was. And we were in a world of trouble.
That was the first night that the Cullens put us on 24-hour surveillance. Alice and Emmett were the ones with the first shift.
When the weekend finally rolled around, I was beyond grateful.
Alice's visions were changing. A lot.
All week they'd kept me updated, a different Cullen keeping a watchful eye on my house while my father and I slept. Every day Alice would have something different to report, which frankly worried me more than anything else.
With every shift in outcome, I was reminded that Alice's visions were subjective and that nothing she saw could be counted on. So, while the ribbons weren't yet on the trees, that didn't mean Edward was safe for even a single minute.
And while Alice saw Charlie happy two months down the line, that didn't mean that he really would be happy in two months.
Her visions just didn't mean anything, and while I loved her, I knew that as long as things were constantly changing, we couldn't rely on anything. It was just a reminder that they could come at any moment, and at any moment I could lose him.
The thought got me out of bed with a start on Saturday morning, quickly dressing and sparing no time.
"Morning," Charlie said from behind the newspaper as I pulled my keys off the hook and tucked my jeans into my snow boots.
"Hi, Dad."
"Going to visit the Cullens?"
"Yeah, I'm spending the night."
"Alright, Bella." His voice was empty.
I turned and walked back to him, hugging him and telling him "I love you," because I did and because I could see the lines from the constant concern deepening on his face.
"Love you, too." He kissed my cheek and I left, promising myself that tomorrow I'd tell Charlie what was up. He didn't deserve this.
I trampled through the early snow and to my truck, smiling at the snow chains that he'd put on the tires while I slept. Snow wasn't really high on my list of worries, but Charlie had my best interest at heart, for which I was grateful.
I drove down the bumpy, winding road to the mansion, knowing that somewhere along side of me was Emmett, racing my old truck.
I'd have felt better if we had a plan. We'd talked about running and ruled it out, because as long as Edward was alive, they'd come for him. We needed to deal with it if he was ever going to be okay.
We decided to hide him at one point, truly made the decision to flee to Isle Esme, but Alice told us it was useless. They'd find him there. We needed to fight this fight, and we might as well have home court advantage.
The Cullens tried to convince me to go back to Florida, but without knowing exactly when the attack would come, they couldn't really banish me forever. We ended up deciding to wait until at least winter break, when the ribbons went up. We'd deal with my leaving then.
Still, on Carlisle's insistence, I now knew how to aim and shoot a gun, and was perpetually breaking about seven local, state and federal laws by carrying a concealed weapon.
I didn't think I'd ever be able to use it, and I didn't really want to carry it, but when I told him so he gave me that look that said please, don't argue, and said that he wanted to take as many precautions as possible.
The inevitability of the confrontation was giving me heart palpitations.
No sooner was the key out of the ignition than Emmett opened the door for me, escorting me out.
"At your service," he said, taking my hand.
I lost my footing on the icy ground (par for the course) and would have gone down hard, had he not been there guiding me.
"Smooth." His tone was playful.
"Yeah, yeah," I grumbled, smiling in spite of myself. It was a beautiful winter day in Forks, Washington, and I hated it.
We traipsed up the driveway and into the house, shaking snow and water and ice off of our bodies the whole way.
"Hey guys," I said, walking in on what seemed to be a pretty relaxed Saturday morning. Rosalie made her way to her husband and brushed the leftover flurries out of his hair.
"Bella!" Alice said, as excited for me to spend the weekend there as I was. She squeezed me tightly and pulled me into the living room. No Edward.
I sat next to her and made customary conversation with the family, hoping that Edward would come down. He still didn't like being around the family, which was understandable, but he was more tolerant now than ever.
Still, he preferred the solitude of his bedroom, opting out of family time whenever possible.
After what seemed like years, I felt his arm snake around my waist as he took his seat next to me.
"Adorable," Emmett commented from the corner, smirking at Edward.
Surprisingly, the look that Edward shot back was just as playful. I tried to hide my reaction, because I didn't want to ruin the moment. Because it was amazing, and it was something I'd never, ever seen from Edward.
"Boys, boys," Rose said, as if it were commonplace. "Behave."
What was happening? Edward and Emmett bonding? I squeezed his hand and tried to keep the crap-eating smile off my face. It was embarrassing.
But I loved him. And, looking around the room, I realized I wasn't the only one. Sometime over the past three months, the family had begun to think of him as their own.
No one ever moved to touch Edward. And no one ever made any sudden movements around him. And everyone walked on eggshells in his presence. But looking around the room, I saw every single person's face alight with something that had to be love. And they were putting their lives on the line to save his.
It elated me and it scared the crap out of me at the same time.
But mostly it elated me. I felt a small comfort in knowing that these vampires were here to protect him, no matter what.
"We're going to hunt this afternoon," Alice told us, looking at Edward. "Do you want to come?"
Edward shook his head, as he usually did. He'd never gone on one of their trips, instead opting to hunt by himself. He was slowly getting better at it, his nerves calming and his instincts kicking it. He had only hunted a few times, but already the blood on his shirt and face was minimal upon returning. I'd only gone that first time; I think Edward found alone time to be cathartic in a way.
"No thanks," Edward said, a familiar tremble running through his body. The shaking had become second nature — something I didn't question. Something that just existed, and probably always would.
Alice looked to Emmett next. "I'm out, too," he replied, crossing his arms over his chest. "Went on Wednesday. I'm good."
It was the truth, but he'd have been out either way. He was on babysitting duty, and he was nothing if not responsible.
"Alright," Carlisle said. He stood, the rest of Cullens mimicking his action. "We'll be back before dark."
He hugged me and rested his hand on Edward's shoulder briefly, which caused a visible flinch. Carlisle looked apologetically to him and Edward nodded, smiling. Acknowledging that it was okay.
When they had all cleared out, and it was just Emmett, my vampire, and me, he plopped down on the other side.
"What do you guys wanna do today?" he asked, bumping his shoulder into mine. He grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. "I'll get the booze if you get the pizza."
Ignoring him, Edward and I lay back on the couch, my head against his shoulder, as Emmett got his remote and turned on the XBOX.
"The idea," he said, not sparing us a glance as he promptly began blasting people to bits, "is to kill everyone."
"Shocker," I teased, nudging him with my ankle.
He looked at me with narrowed eyes. "It's an art form, Bella. Do not mock."
As his enemies went down, I noticed the little bar at the bottom emptying too. I nodded toward it. "What's that mean, Ace?"
"It means these bastards outnumber me." It wasn't true. Emmett was getting destroyed and he was most certainly not outnumbered. Edward eventually leaned forward on his elbows, scrutinizing every move.
"Fuck!" Emmett shouted as his screen blacked out. He looked at my slyly. "Minor mishap."
He stood, and I expected that meant he was done, but instead he retrieved the second remote and handed it to Edward.
Edward stared at it. He looked back to Emmett, then back to the remote. He wasn't confused as to what it was, but more as to why was it being handed to him. I nudged his shoulder playfully.
"Don't knock it 'til you try it, little brother," Emmett said, excited, and Edward took it.
"The green button shoots. That's all you need to know."
I'm sure there was more to it, but when the game started again, Edward seemed to hold his own.
His brow was furrowed in concentration and I found myself laughing along with them as they died and restarted and died again, because it was the most normal interaction I'd ever seen Edward engage in.
When they finally lost all hope of ever moving past the fourth level, Edward and I went outside. Of course, Emmett could hear everything going on for miles, so it wasn't a safety concern, and I just wanted out of the house.
I was feeling light-hearted and jovial, for the first time in a long time, and I wanted to share it with him.
So I put on my boots and we lay on the ground, and I showed him how to make snow angels.
Mine looked sort of stupid, but his was huge and beautiful next to it, and when we stood to admire them, he pulled me close and kissed me.
"I love you," he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. And my god, he said it. He said it.
I wanted to scream it to the world, but I settled for matching his whisper. "I love you, too."
And because I could think of nothing safe that I wanted to do more in that moment, I bent down, made a snowball, and smashed it on top of his head.
Then I ran.
Edward's throws were wimpy, even for a human, and I felt them adjust as he tried to figure out his strength. I didn't hold back as I slammed him with snowballs. After a while, when I felt my body growing cold and weak, we opted to sit on the swing and watch the flurries.
Like any good, solid romantic moment, it was doomed before it even began.
I felt, rather than heard, when the most vicious sound he'd ever made rose in his chest. It was more dangerous than any growl I'd witnessed in all our time together.
It sent a chill straight through my body, and in an instant, we were both up.
"Get inside," he said, his voice low and commanding. Emmett was by our sides in a flash, and I felt my whole body start to shake.
I did what they told me, running.
I hadn't even made it to the door when the first men showed up, and I didn't look back. I was the weak link. I grabbed the gun from my bag on my way in and clutched it tightly, hiding and hating myself for it. I wanted to be out there. To be protecting Edward, because they were here. My head was screaming. I couldn't think.
I needed to be outside.
I felt tears streaming down my face but I was shaking too hard and my body wasn't working, and they were here for Edward.
My hands reached for the door, reached for the fight, but I knew if I went out there I was as good as dead, and I wouldn't do any good.
I felt my heart pounding in my chest and I closed my eyes and tried to calm down. I fumbled for my cell phone and called Alice. There was no answer. I was pretty sure she knew already, because she was always looking these days, but what if she didn't? I was panicking in a big way.
I fumbled for the four key, desperate to get Carlisle. Any of them. I swallowed back a scream as I felt a gloved hand cover my mouth, the phone dropping to the floor.
With my back held against his body it wasn't easy to get a shot, but I wasn't going down without a fight. I aimed the gun at where my approximation of his hip would be and pulled the trigger, my captor going down but not all the way. I realized it was a mistake, that Edward and Emmett would hear it and change their tactic; that everyone in a mile radius would hear it and know my exact location.
But they weren't after me, were they?
So maybe it was a good thing.
His hand still wrapped around my head, I shot another man in the stomach before my gun was knocked from my grip.
I kicked and fought and used everything I had, but I was being dragged out of the house and into the yard, and there wasn't a damned thing I could do about it.
"Stop," a hard male voice commanded. I didn't. I'd be damned if I'd ever stop fighting for Edward. It was then that I felt the barrel of the gun pressed against my temple.
When I looked around, time stood still.
There were bodies everywhere. Everywhere.
I spotted Emmett, his eyes wide and panicked, and then Edward, with a similar expression. What? I wanted to ask them. Why aren't you fighting?
And then I realized, with a start, that it was because there were at least ten big guns poised and ready to fire. And this would be fine, except every single one of them was aimed directly at me.
"Kill them," I whispered, and the one holding me laughed.
"That's unlikely."
I could see Edward swallow, the hope and light gone from his face. I closed my eyes. I couldn't see this.
"Please," I pleaded to my vampire, but I knew he wouldn't. Over before it started.
"Think very hard about what you do next, Edward." I opened my eyes just enough to see that the voice came from a man, fully suited, leaning against a big black truck. "My men will not hesitate to shoot. When they do shoot, they do not miss."
I found Edward again, because how could I not? My eyes were full of tears, but strangely, some of the panic had left. Because it was over, and we'd lost. Now it was time for damage control. I knew what needed to happen to keep Edward safe, and in that moment, I was willing to do it. If I took myself out of the picture, they'd fight. They'd fight and they'd win, because human beings cannot control vampires.
"Try it," the man whispered in my ear.
"Don't," Edward begged. To me. "Don't do it. I can't… I can't get through this without you."
His pleading eyes held mine. "If you go, I'll follow."
And we both knew then that it wasn't an option. Because he wouldn't risk me, and I wouldn't risk him, and we were at the end of the line. I felt my heart give a little and choked back a sob.
"Let's go."
The men pushed me forward, keeping their guns trained on me all the while. Emmett stood helplessly, having no choice but to let them take us.
Because we all knew I'd be dead if anyone did try anything. And I'd be dead, dead. Not just sort of dead.
"Edward." The man gestured to the back of the van.
Edward stood, frozen, his face a mask of terror and despair, silently pleading with this man. I could see his hands trembling and they hung loosely at his sides. God. He wasn't ready for this. He'd never be ready for this.
"Let him go," I cried, a last ditch effort.
"Let him go?" The man chuckled. "Let him go." His voice was mocking as he paused and approached me, not even glancing at Edward. "You have no idea. Not one fucking clue. How many years, how much money – all the lives that went into your boyfriend. Let him go? Over your dead fucking body."
He and Edward made eye contact then, reinforcing the not-so-subtle threat.
As they pushed me in, I prayed for anything to happen. For the rest of the Cullens to come. For an explosion to divert attention. For them to just shoot me, letting Emmett and Edward finish the job they started. I took one more backward glance at the men littering the yard. My boys were doing a bang up job until I got in the way.
They pushed me down and kept their weapons on me.
Edward entered the van shortly after, immediately seeking me out.
"Please," I whispered, turning to my captor. But there was nothing I could do.
The last one to enter was the man. "You're a work of art, Edward," he said, his voice soft. He took a seat next to my vampire, and the jolt that went through his body was visible. He swallowed. "Yeah. That's what I thought." The man looked at me, his dark eyes searching. "We're riding to a landing strip. There, we'll get on a plane. When we land," he turned his attention back to Edward, "we'll get you set up. I can even get you your old room back, if you'd like." There was humor in his voice. He was toying with my vampire, and he was going to die for it. I'd see to that. If it was the last thing I ever did on this planet, he would die for it.
He very seriously studied Edward, who curled his body up, despite his unwillingness to give in.
"If you take a single fucking step out of line," he leveled his eyes with mine, "she is dead. Do you understand?"
He waited endlessly until Edward reluctantly nodded.
"You know the rules, Edward. Follow them and she'll walk. Hell, they'll all walk. Break them, and every single… person," he spat the word, "will be ripped apart and burned. Understood?"
Edward closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath.
Be strong. It was the first moment since the day I sneaked into that basement that I truly wished he could read my mind. I'd tell him everything I felt. I'd tell him how much I loved him, and that I regretted nothing.
And I'd tell him that we'd be okay. Because wherever we were going, we were going together. And no matter how bad it got, the Cullens would find us.
We weren't nameless faces missing from our beds. We had people fighting for us. We had each other. We could make it through whatever was to come.
"Edward," I whispered, and his eyes found mine. The despondence that I was met with was enough to diminish my resolve.
"I'm sorry," he mouthed.
"It'll be okay."
"Enough," The man with the suit spoke up, shooting me a warning look. Edward's attention was diverted.
But I knew what I was facing and there was a very real chance I wouldn't get to tell him again. So I opted not to heed his warning, and when my vampire's dark eyes finally met mine again, I smiled. "I love you. It'll be okay."
The man in the suit nodded to someone behind me and something crashed down on my head. My world went black.
A/N: Reviews are loved. Cliffhangers are abundant.