EPOV

She disappeared. The traces of her were all gone. It almost felt like she was erasing her existence again. Carefully this time. I didn't say I didn't expect it, but hell. This still made me lose my mind. A part of me was screaming to let the fuck go. Deep down I just didn't fucking want to.

I didn't go back to Tampa, though. I knew I should, but I didn't. The business was the farthest thing on my mind right now. I hoped Jamie could handle that shit pretty well. Because here, I had had enough mess.

I stopped searching on third week since the last time I saw her. Chose to lay low in New Jersey. Spent my time enjoying the fresh air of freedom, pretending I was just a normal citizen. I worried less, stressed less. Still, she was in and out my mind often. I couldn't seem to forget completely. As if she wandered, no, lived in my unconscious state. Automatically. She was involuntary thought. The reason for my wide-awake and late nights drinking. I swore I had never sounded and looked this pathetic. Hell, I even had no shame in front of Paul anymore.

This was one of those nights. When I closed my eyes and I saw her, I knew I was fucked. So I decided to go out for a drink. Because I was going insane if I didn't. Paul was tailing me as usual. Hidden and keeping the distance. I sat on the bar and they served my scotch right away. No unnecessary conversation because they could tell I couldn't be fucking bothered.

I sipped my drink and found my peace. The seats beside me remained vacant until my third glass. My peace was disturbed when a familiar figure appeared out of nowhere. I glanced at said figure from the corner of my eyes. I fucking felt her before I saw her. My fingers curled around the glass tightly. For a second, I wish I was wrong despite my body reaction.

I was trying not to make a scene. She was aware I was struggling so she fanned the fire.

"I was in your place, but you were not there." She said melodically. I drowned the last gulp and slapped down the money to the bartender. I needed to get the fuck out of here before I strangled her. Forgetting the fact that she probably knew I rented a mansion here under someone else's name.

I walked away but she followed. She stopped me in my tracks by blocking my way. We were now outside on the very quiet street. Her hair was darker against the night. Her face was pale as porcelain. Unreadable mask was put on. I couldn't guess her intention, but I knew it couldn't be good. This girl only showed up when she wanted to be found. She was calculated, always doing something on purpose. Yesterday I wanted answers, but now I just didn't fucking know. One thing I was kinda late realizing was she wouldn't give anything unless she intended to. Jamie was right when he said I was wasting my time.

I stared blankly at her. My fingers twitched, itching to reach my gun. She blinked away her surprise and smiled.

"I spare my time to see you." The way she said it was like she just unveiled a secret.

Three weeks of searching tired me out. And the fact that I barely got a glimpse of information about her made the situation even worse. This shit involving her was always frustrating.

"Get lost." I replied flatly, stepping away from her and walking straight ahead. She inhaled sharply.

"Don't you want to hear me out?"

I wondered if it was just another manipulative game.

I didn't stop for a second and chose to ignore her. She was yelling warnings once, twice before I felt a sharp pain through my triceps. I cursed loudly then pulled out a small sleek knife covered in blood from my upper arm. How she could flick it on moving object was beyond me. Shit like this convinced me that I didn't really know who she was.

I spun around angrily. She was already there, standing right in front of me. I caught her wrist before her hand could make a contact with my chest.

"Don't you dare." I hissed venomously. But she was dealing with her own anger too.

"What? What will you do?" she challenged. Her eyes were fury.

I let her hand go with a push so it created more distance between us. "Something you'll regret."

She scoffed mockingly, taking a brave step forward. "Nothing I can't handle before."

Bitch.

Before I knew it, I had my fingers wrap around her neck. This girl didn't look surprised at all.

"You fucking betrayed me!" I yelled, unleashing my emotions at once.

She smirked despite the lack of breath.

"I…saved…you."

Her words were nonsense to me. But I released her before I could do more damages, pushing her away until she fell to the ground. This shit between us was toxic from the start. Just now I realized she could fight way harder, but she didn't because it was her way to redeem her mistakes.

I closed my eyes briefly and breathed deep. "What do you want?"

She finally took off the mask she was wearing. I was surprised to see the fear on her face and sorrow in her eyes.

"Take me away." Her voice trembled. "Far away from here."

I told Paul to prepare the jet and pack my shit. No question asked. At least not out loud. In his head was probably another story, though. I was sure he was questioning my sanity right now. After everything was taken care of—Paul had stitched my wound, thank God, because it stung like hell—we drove away to the airport. Except for the faint sound of radio, the car was very much filled by silence. The tension was palpable.

My phone was ringing as if to break the situation. Jamie's name blinked on the screen. I didn't answer. It wasn't the right time. And I was just not in the fucking mood. He called a few more times before giving up for good. By the time we arrived at the airport, it was almost three in the morning. I was so tired to the point I would crash.

The constant buzz on my phone told me I had messages. I didn't read it right away, though. I climbed up to the private jet, going straightly to the bedroom area. The chaos in my head became too loud. I wanted to close my eyes for a minute.

"I need to talk to you." She was standing in the doorway. Her eyes were unsure. But her steps were determined as she invited herself in.

"Can it wait?"

I turned around so my back was on her. I pulled out my phone and put it on the table.

"No."

I swiped up to see the text from Jamie.

The sound of the door shut closed was deafening.

My body tensed as I read his messages. As I realized the whole situation.

Aro is dead. So are his wife and the twins.

Where the fuck are you? Answer my call for fucks sake.

Tell me you're okay, fucker.

"Edward?" her calm voice took me back to the present.

I gripped my gun out of instinct.

I turned to her slowly. Heart beating against my chest, feeling the abrupt thrill of danger surrounding me.

Her coat was untied now, revealing a pale blue sweater beneath it which was painted by dry crimson red.

"What?" I looked up to her face, fully alerted.

Her lips curled into an evil smirk. She knew I knew.

"I killed them." She said rather blatantly. No trail of remorse showing. I watched her closely as she crossed the room, trying to remain unfazed as she stopped two steps away from me. "Do you want to know how?"

A deadly pause before I replied like a sick bastard I was. "How?"

She grinned wider. "I choked Jane to death. Shot Alec in his sleep. Overdosed Sulpicia. And Aro, well, I kinda stabbed him."

A smirk playing on my lips as I imagined things she had done. Nothing about her surprised me anymore. I wouldn't lie I kinda liked this new her. The real her. Apart of her fucking betrayal.

"Why did you kill them?" she titled her head as if the question was unexpected.

"Because I have to." I couldn't help but raise my eyebrow, waiting for her to elaborate. "Aro wasn't going to stop until he got you."

"He already got me." I laughed humorlessly.

"Not completely."

"What do you mean?"

"What do you think he sent me for, Edward?" I just opened my mouth before she cut in. "Putting you in jail? Don't be so naïve." She rolled her eyes. "I was sent to kill you."

Silence. It was maddening.

She was waiting for me to digest everything. But I still couldn't fully grasp the reality in front of me. What the fuck did she just say? Did I hear her right? My guard slipped and I was late to realize she had taken another step toward me.

"I had every chance, but I didn't." She whispered.

My mouth was dry. I really didn't know what to say. This new fact was kinda a shock for me. "Why?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. It's…confusing." It totally was. I knew because I fucking felt it too. "And I'm sorry." Her eyes diverted to another direction. "For giving you a lot of shit."

Anger overtook me all of a sudden. She had made me suffer all of these years. "So, you put me in jail to fucking save me? Is that what you're trying to say?"

"That was the best option I had."

My head boiled. How dared she?

"Fuck you." I spat. "I don't need a fucking hero here."

Her eyes flashed back to mine, leveling my own anger.

"I said I'm sorry!" she snapped.

"See yourself out."

She didn't have any of it. Her hands grabbed the front of my coat harshly.

"I have done everything for you." I felt myself soften a little, but my ego got the best of me.

"Well, I didn't ask you to."

Her palm made a contact with my cheek with full force. It was fucking hurt, I admitted.

"I fucking hate you." She hissed acidly before slamming the door open and exiting the room.

At least we both knew she didn't mean it.