A/N - Hey, Hey! Yes, you read right. IABH is back and off of Hiatus. I started this story and I intend to finish it. It may not finish as I originally intended it to, but I WILL finish it!
Without further ado, I present to you Chapter 29. Enjoy!
Chapter Twenty-Nine
BPOV
I stared at the woman sat before me in disbelief as I tried to tune out her rambling words to allow my mind to catch up with the turn of events. I had, against my better judgement, agreed to meet my mother for lunch as she claimed that she had 'something' to discuss with me. I – being the naive idiot that I am – thought she would be apologising for her behaviour at Edward's apartment the day I was released from hospital, but instead I was now sitting here; completely having lost my appetite, trying to understand the words that were being spewed from her mouth.
I had already been here for an hour and a half and in that time Renee had brought up the details she had planned for a bridal shower I didn't know I was having in two days time, the guest list for a wedding that I had plainly stated was off the table and a dress fitting for a wedding outfit I would never wear. Madness. This was pure madness and it made me wonder if Renee had finally gone off the deep end. I tuned back in just in time to hear her informing me about my honeymoon.
"...Of course Jacob will be seeing to those details, but I have steered him in the right direction in terms of your honeymoon. I thought a fortnight in the Maldives would be a nice break after all the stress and running around for the wedding, don't you agree? I would suggest going shopping for some new outfits, but we can do that when we go to the Bridal Boutique for you fitting appointments next week..."
I tuned her out again as I tried to fumble around in my brain for an excuse to get away. I was starting to get frightened and worried about her state of mind. I searched frantically around the restaurant for an easy exit until my eyes came to rest on the black SUV parked right out front. I breathed a sigh of relief as I realised that my security detail were still here and keeping an eye out. Glancing down into my lap, my eyes fell on my new 'chipped' bracelet. I knew that if worst came to worst, I could press my panic button and my team would have me out of here in a nanosecond. That thought gave me a measure of comfort and the confidence I needed to speak up finally.
"Renee, stop." I said softly.
"...I've got around a hundred and fifty - What?" she snapped as I interrupted her tirade.
"I said 'stop'. There is no wedding. I was not kidding when I said I called it off." I said in a stronger voice.
"What do you mean 'no wedding'? Of course there is a wedding. I'm planning it aren't I?" she replied in a confused tone.
"Well, I don't know who's wedding you're planning, but it isn't mine. I broke things off with Jacob months ago. You know that. I told you that many a times, including just a few short days ago when you came to find me at Edward's apartment." I pointed out calmly.
"But-but...all the plans, the bookings...Everything is ready!" she spluttered.
"Renee, I have told you time and time again; I. Am. Not. Marrying. Jacob! I don't know what else to say or do to make you understand that! I love Edward. I am with Edward!" I exclaimed, finally having lost my patience with her.
"Edward? That good for nothing lout you were mooning over in high school? Please, Bella. Give me a break. Don't you think it is time to let go of your childish fantasies and grow up? You are well aware of our standing in the community and Edward does not fit into that world. You know it and I know it. I think it is time you stopped this sullen teenager routine and just faced facts. Edward is nothing. Grow up and face the music, love." She spat back at me, waving her hand dismissively.
I leaned back in my chair and stared at her in disbelief. This woman was not my mother. I didn't know who she was, but she was not my mother. My mother from my childhood was a bit flaky but still loving in a completely hare-brained kind of way. My mother was the woman who booked my a first class ticket to New York without asking many questions back in high school when I tucked tail and ran from LA. My mother was the woman who held me as I cried my eyes out in bed at night because of the nightmares of Edward and Tanya. My mother was the woman who stroked my hair lovingly and told me everything would be ok when I was catatonic after seeing Edward in that dark corner of the club when I went to Cali for my father's wedding.
The woman sitting in front of me now with her expensive clothing, perfectly styled hair and freshly manicured nails was not my mother. Not by a long shot.
With that realisation, I rose from my seat and stared down at the woman who resembled my mother but was, in fact, a complete stranger to me. I watched as she gazed back up at me, consternation clear on her face. I took a deep breath.
"Renee, until you can understand the fact that I am never going to marry Jacob Black and that I love Edward with all of my heart, you will stay away from me, from us. After all that Jacob has done to me, how can you even ask me to be with him, to be love him? You are delusional if you believe that. Stay away from me Renee. Keep Jacob away from me. I mean it." I spat down at her before I spun and stormed towards the exit.
I didn't make it the whole way before a hard wall stopped me in my tracks. I felt large hands that I instinctively knew were not Edward's grab me by the top of my arms and draw me closer. I trailed my eyes upwards to come face to face with my nightmare. Glaring menacingly down at me was Jacob. I stepped backwards but was stopped from moving any further by the tightening of his hands on my arms.
"Izzy, so nice to see you again." He hissed with a twisted grin.
"Let go of me, Jacob." I said as I struggled against his hold.
"I will. I just wanted to say one thing." He replied. I stopped squirming and stared up at the man who was once my best friend. I found nothing of that man in his face now.
"Keep up your stubbornness and I will end him. I have too much riding on our marriage to let you go now. He will die. Mark my words, Izzy." He whispered as his face leaned closer to mine.
I felt fear grip my insides at his words. I knew who he was talking about and nothing - I mean nothing - meant more to me that his life. I would do whatever it took to ensure his safety. I also felt intense anger. Anger at Jacob and Renee for putting me in this position.
Jacob released my arms and stepped back, "Remember what I said. There is nothing you can do to stop me now. His life is forfeit." He smirked darkly at me once before spinning on his feet and walking away from me. I stood watching him walk away, trying to determine what my next move should be. From a legal standing, there was nothing I could do
"I would listen to him, if I were you Isabella." I heard Renee speak from behind me. I turned to see her smirking at me in an entirely satisfied way.
"It's a good thing I'm not you then isn't it, Renee? " I replied with my eyebrow cocked.
Renee shook her head at me, "I'll never understand what she was thinking. You have no idea of the hoops I've had to jump through for the last twelve years. I've come too far for you to ruin my plans now." I tilted my head in confusion.
What the hell did that mean?
"What plans? Who are you talking about?" I asked in confusion.
"Your Grandmother, of course. The old witch just had to make thing hard for me – even in her death. Stupid old bat." Renee scoffed.
"Nana? What does she have to do with any of this?" I questioned.
"Everything!" Renee shot back.
I took another step back from Renee as she was beginning to look even more deranged.
"Renee, I-." I started to say something but found myself at a loss for words. What could I say to her? Renee's behaviour – although strange at the best of times – was bordering on insanity and that scared me.
"Renee, I need to get back to the office. I have meetings." I tried to move around her but she stopped me.
"Listen to Jacob." She hissed before releasing me and storming off in the direction that Jacob had.
EPOV
"Edward Cullen."
"E, It's Josh. We got a problem, bro."
Shit.
"Problem? What problem?" I near enough yelled down the phone as I sprang to my feet.
"Jacob was seen leaving the restaurant." Josh replied. My heart clenched in my chest making it difficult to breath. I sank back onto my chair.
"No." I whispered.
"Bella is still in the restaurant though, but Jacob looked deranged according to Andy and Rick." Josh continued.
"Have they got a visual on my Bella?" I asked.
"No, but they're giving it another few minutes before they head inside. It's entirely possible that Bella is absolutely fine and we're overreacting." Josh tried to reassure me.
At that moment my work line rang, "J, hold on a sec." I said into my cell before picking up my landline.
"Edward Cullen."
"Edward?" A voice whispered back. A voice I would know anywhere.
"Bella? Is that you baby?"
Yeah, my voice trembled a little making me sound like a woman. I didn't care at that point.
"Yeah, honey. It's me."
"Are you ok? Where are you? Why haven't you called?"
"Calm, honey. I'm ok. A little freaked out, but otherwise fine."
"What happened, baby?"
Bella went on to tell me all about her lunch with her mother and the confrontation with Jacob. When she told me what he had said, I could hear the fear in her voice and I didn't like it. There was a long silence when she was finished as I tried to absorb everything. I breathed deeply before I spoke.
"Baby, can you come down to my office if your afternoon isn't too busy?"
"I have a meeting in the office in fifteen minutes, but that should only take about an hour. I can come down after?"
"I'll be waiting, Kitten. I'm-." I was cut off by the banging of my office door. I looked up to see a fuming Jacob Black staring down at me.
"She. Is. Mine." He punctuated each word with a squeeze of my door handle.
"Edward? Edward. Is that...is that...Jacob?" the last word was a mere whisper, but I heard it loud and clear.
"She is MINE!" Jacob repeated with a roar.
The phone fell from my grasp as I shot out of my seat while Jacob marched towards me. I could hear Bella's panicked voice calling my name and Josh's voice doing the same on my cell. I had forgotten he was still waiting for me too. I met Jacob at the side of my desk but was unprepared for the right hook he laid on me straight away. My head snapped to the side and I flexed my jaw to ensure that nothing was broken. It wasn't. I spun back to face him just in time to duck his second shot and managed one myself right in solar plexus. He huffed out a breath and hunched over.
I stepped back just as he recovered and came back at me. I edged away from him around my desk.
"What's the matter, Cullen? Scared?" he sneered.
"Of you? Huh!" I scoffed back.
"I warned her. I warned her that she shouldn't ruin my plans. All my hardwork." He growled.
"Only a lowlife would threaten a lady." I taunted.
"She ain't no lady! She's a whore who sold her-." I didn't allow him to finish his sentenced. I lunged at him and headbutted him. He fell to the floor but brought me down with him by swiping at my legs. As quick as I could I pinned him to the floor and started raining blows down on him. I didn't relent even as he managed to catch me on my left rib; breathing through the pain, I landed both my fists into his ribs and heard a satisfying crunch.
My door flew open for a second time in the day and I was vaguely aware of a strong pair of arms trying to haul me off of the scum on my floor. I struggled against the hold, kicking my feet out, catching Jacob on his right side making him curl into a ball. I felt a punch to my side and gasped for air. I was spun around and came face to face with my second assailant. Jared.
"Hello again, Mr Cullen. Surprised?" he sneered.
"Not really." I gasped back.
I jerked my arm free from his hold and shoved him backwards with all my might. He stumbled into my desk and cried out as the edge struck him right in the family jewels. I heard Jacob scramble to his feet behind me and I spun around to face him.
"You're dead." He snarled as he pulled a 9mm from his back.
I stepped back and raised my arms in a surrender gesture, "Don't be stupid, Jacob. You shoot me and you'll go to jail. Is your life worth that?" I asked, trying to stall as I had stealthily pressed my panic button on my watch; knowing that it would alert the police as well as Josh that I was in immediate danger.
"I won't go to jail. I have a plan all worked out. With the money I'll get for marrying Bella, I'll be living it large on my own private island as you rot in hell." He answered smugly.
Idiot.
"What money?" I questioned curiously.
"The money Renee promised me." He replied.
"Renee? What does she have to do with all of this? I thought you wanted Bella?" Yes, I was stalling big time.
Jacob huffed, "I don't want Bella. I want Bella's money." Well, that made it all the more clearer, "Bella's Grandmother died twelve years ago and she left her entire wealth to Bella – not that she knows about it – her only stipulation in the will was that Bella had to be married and settled before she could claim the first portion of it. Ten million dollars." My head spun with this new information. Ten million dollars. Bella was a heiress. I knew her Grandmother Swan was from Old Money and that her family owned several properties in Europe. Her family's histopry dated back to the 1800's when there were Count's, Countesses, Barons and Baronesses. Bella, I knew came from a prestigious line, but it mattered none to me.
Jacob continued, unsuspecting of my inner thoughts, "Renee promised me that money if I married her daughter. A year after marriage Bella would be able to collect another ten million and I was to talk Bella into giving that to Renee, along with the mansion in Palm Springs and the chateau in France. But you just had ruin things, didn't you?" he spat.
I tried to wrap my head around what he was saying so was too busy to realise that Jared had recovered and was now standing behind me with a gun pressed against my skull. I heard the click of the safety being taken off and tensed.
"A year, that's all you had to give me and you could have had her back but noooo! You just had to ruin it. So now I have no choice but to do this the hard way." Jacob carried on in an affronted tone.
I heard my phone beep from my desk and looked towards it. I saw Josh's name flash across the screen and realised that he must have hung up and was now calling back. I also knew that if I didn't answer he would take it as confirmation that my life was in danger. I just hoped that either he or the police turned up before Jacob shot me. I didn't fancy being shot a second time. At least this time Bella was far away.
Just then the door flew open again and I felt the familiar electricity course through me. I closed my eyes in defeat and fear. I spoke to soon.
"Jacob, put down the gun. You want money? Fine. Take it. Take it all. I don't want it. Just please...please let Edward go." Her voice started out strong but trailed off into a whisper towards the end.
"No! He's ruined everything! He needs to pay!" Jacob yelled back at her.
I opened my eyes as I felt the electricity move further towards me and saw the red rimmed brown eyes of my beautiful girl. I felt Jared press the gun harder into the base of my skull and watched as her eyes flew towards the slight movement, widening slightly. Her eyes swung back to me.
Are you ok? Her eyes asked silently.
I nodded back. Are you? My eyes asked.
I'm scared.
I know baby. I love you.
Our silent conversation was interrupted by the cocking of Jacob's gun and I turned my gaze back to him just as I felt Bella's hand slip into mine, squeezing it.
"Any last words for Izzy, Cullen?" Jacob asked in a smug tone.
"Do what you will with me, but let her go, Jacob. She doesn't need to be here." I answered in an even tone.
"What? No, Edward!" Bella said from beside me, despair in her voice.
I closed my eyes and breathed deeply before opening them again, accepting my fate. I looked down at her and read the fear in her beautiful brown eyes, "I love you, baby. I'll always love you." I whispered to her as my free hand came up to trace her features reverently. A sob caught in her throat as she raised our joined hands to kiss my knuckles. As long as I could save her, that's all that mattered to me. I would happily die here today knowing that she loved me just as much as I loved her.
"Well, isn't this sweet?" Jacob said in a sickeningly sweet voice, "Isn't it sweet, Jar?"
"Sure is, Jake." Jared replied from behind me in an mockingly amused tone.
"Edward." Bella whispered from next to me. I looked down at her and she flickered her eyes towards the window. I followed her gaze and caught a slight glint of something in the building next door but it was gone before I could identify what it was. I looked back down at Bella and saw a small smile playing on her lips before she turned from me towards Jacob.
"Stop this now, Jacob. I'll marry you if let Edward go. On one condition?" Bella said in a strong voice. I stared at her wondering what she was up to.
"You're in no position to be laying out conditions, Izzy." Jacob replied roughly.
"Just this one. Please?" she returned with a bat of her eyelashes. What was she up to?
"What?" Jacob snapped.
"Turn around and say hi to Josh first." Bella almost yelled before she yanked on my arm and dove for the floor. I heard several shots go off in quick succession and panicked as I recalled a similar scene not even a month ago.
"Bella! Baby, answer me! Are you ok?" I asked frantically as I tried to rise up off of her to check for any injuries.
"I'm fine honey. I'm ok. Are you?" she replied as she gazed up at me hovering over her.
"I'm fine, baby. What happened?" I answered.
I lifted up a little more and caught sight of the chaos that had erupted in my office. There were uniformed policemen everywhere. Jared was sitting with his back against the wall next to the door, one hand putting pressure on the gunshot wound on his arm; a policeman was crouched in front of him with a pair of handcuffs, reading him his rights. To my left, I spotted Jacob lying on his back with a large puddle of blood pooling under his leg, Josh was hovering over him obviously saying something into his ear. I kept Bella's face pressed into my chest so as not to reveal the scene to her.
"Mr Cullen, Ms Swan are you hurt?" I looked up to see Mack standing over us with a look of concern.
I shook my head, "No Officer, we're ok. Just shocked." I replied with a rueful smile.
Mack nodded, "You'll have to come down to the station to make a statement, but you're free to go right now." He said kindly.
"Thank you Officer. We'll come down tomorrow if that's ok. Right now, I just want to get my fiancé home. She's still healing from her previous injuries." I answered.
"Would you like me to call an ambulance to take her to the hospital?" he asked.
"No!" Bella's muffled shout startled us both, "No, I'm not hurt. My stitches have all but dissolved and I'm in no pain. Please, I just want to go home if that's ok?" Bella said as she raised her face from my shirt.
"That's fine Ms Swan. And congratulations on your engagement." Mack returned before straitening up to his full height. I followed suit and lifted both myself and Bella off of the floor.
"What about those two?" I questioned as I nodded my head at the two jackasses.
"They'll be taken into hospital under guard and treated for their injuries before they're transferred to jail to await arraignment." Mack answered.
I nodded in understanding, "Thanks again. We'll see you downtown tomorrow." I confirmed. Mack nodded and turned to stalk towards Jacob who was now being loaded onto a stretcher.
I looked down at Bella and smiled at her. My fingers trailed across her cheeks and wiped the tear tracks from them.
"Lets go home, baby."
A/N – Well? Fitting or not? Any ideas on how Renee will be dealt with?
As always, R&R!