I'm spoiling you all, getting this chapter up a day after the last one. I predicted it was going to take me a week but I started writing and just couldn't stop. I figured this is a good place to stop because I didn't want the chapter to get too long and I am saving a lot of action for the next one. I will start that tomorrow probably. I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 8-
Edward and Bella walk into the living room, hand in hand, after their walk to find everyone sat around the room. There is Carlisle and Esme on the smallest sofa at the back of the room, Alice on the bean bag next to the television with Jasper sat on the floor next to her with Jacob on his lap. Rose in between Marcus and Alec on one of the larger sofas with a spot left open for Bella.
"Bella, over here." Rose calls over to her.
Bella hesitates, seeing two strange men, one of which she would have to sit next to. "Um…"
Edward places his hand at the base of Bella's back and leans in to talk into her ear.
"That's Alec, he's my uncle. The other man, with the greying hair is my grandfather, Carlisle's father, Marcus. They turned up earlier today, while you were asleep." He whispers to her before giving her a kiss on the cheek and a squeeze of her hand.
Bella blushes and nods her head before making her way over to the empty space on the sofa. Alec smiles at her as she sits down, sensing her nerves. Esme and Carlisle look at each other as their son gives Bella the kiss and smile, happy to see their son happy. Edward walks to the head of the room and stands looking at his family. The mood changes, everyone falling silent, even Charlie, as they all sense the seriousness of the situation.
"As you all know, Alice and Jasper have been looking at Bella's records and the records of those in Bella's life. Last night they hacked into the FBI database and made a copy of her father's file. In that file were the details of his career progression, every partner that he ever had, and every case that he ever worked on. The case that is important to us however, is his last case, the one that took him to England and the one that he worked on for eighteen years. He was investigating an organised crime family's involvement in the UK." Everyone apart from Alice, Jasper, and Bella are on edge, wondering of it's their family.
"And the man at the head of that family is Aro Volturi."
Edward stops as every member of the family, apart from Alice, Jasper, Bella, and Jacob, jump to their feet and start shouting. Confusion and fear running through them all in their need to protect their family.
"If Bella's family were killed by Aro, he would have done so knowing that her entire family was in the house. He would have wanted to kill Bella also and will know that she is still alive. Edward, she poses a risk to this family." Marcus says.
Edward turns towards him so fast that he's a blur. "Don't say that! She is a member of this family as much as you and I so we will protect her as such. She is untouchable." Edward shouts at him.
Marcus's reply dies in his throat at Edward's last sentence and he gasps before turning towards Bella who is sat on the couch with her head down. "I didn't realise. I am so sorry. Of course we will protect her at all costs. I can't apologise enough Miss Swan."
Bella looks up with red rimmed eyes. "It's okay. You're just trying to protect your family, I understand. If you want me to leave, I will, but please protect my baby girl. I don't mind dying but I will not let any harm come to her. I will be leaving her here if I have to go."
Edward walks over to her and sits in the seat that Alec vacated after the reveal of Aro's involvement in Bella's families death. He puts his arms around Bella and pulls her to his side. She wraps her arms around him as well and hides her face in his chest, feeling safe. "You aren't going anywhere. Of course we will protect Charlotte, but we will protect you as well. Remember what I told you earlier, about the two rules of our life? The second rule, about the women? I have made my interest in you known, that makes you untouchable, even if you don't want me, you are still untouchable and we will protect you. We will talk about your cavalier attitude towards your own death after this meeting but right now you need to understand that you haven't made anything worse and you aren't going anywhere until you want to and even then, not until it's safe."
Bella nods her head, her face still buried in Edward's chest. He leans down and gives her a kiss on the top of her head before squeezing her tight once more and letting her go. She sits up and they both look around the room at the others, all in deep conversation with each other, talking about how they will deal with this latest threat to their family. Jacob is sitting in the corner playing with Charlie, wanting to stay out of the way of the grown-ups as they work. Jasper turns his head towards Edward and Bella with a smirk on his face. "Leave it out." Edward says to him with a smirk of his own on his face. Jasper hold up his hands in surrender with a chuckle.
A beep fills the room and Jasper and Alice pull identical phones from their back pockets. "Who's that?" Bella asks Edward, thinking it's an odd coincidence that they would both get a text at the same time.
"No one. It's an alert from their computers downstairs." He tells her standing up and walking towards his best friend.
"Everyone back to their seat please." He says commanding the room. "Jake, you can stay with Charlie if you want to." He smiles at his nephew.
Everyone moves towards their evicted seats. "I really am sorry, Isabella." Marcus tells her.
"It's okay, and Bella. I like to be called Bella."
He smiles and nods his head at her. "Bella."
They both look up at Edward to see him joined by Alice. Bella notices a small bump and smiles. "Congratulations." Bella says, just now realising that she's never said it to her.
Alice smiles at her. "Thank you."
Edward smiles at the exchange and then his face hardens. "Alice and Jasper discovered some more information from their search of the people in Bella's life. I am so sorry Angel."
Alice steps forward. "Our search moved to James Rothwell." Marcus, Alec, and Edward all growl at the mention of his name.
Surprisingly, Bella laughs. All eyes turn on her. "I guess the growling thing is a family trait." She says with a smirk. Everyone laughs and Esme leans over the side of the sofa to give Bella's shoulder a squeeze and a smile.
Alice continues. "We looked into his bank records and a week before the fire that killed the Swan family and a Mr Kevin Smith of the FBI, James received a deposit of one million pounds which is roughly one million, three hundred thousand, three hundred and seventy five dollars and 9 cents, in US currency. A month before the move to America, he received a further ten thousand pounds, roughly thirteen thousand dollars and sixty one cents. Three months after the move here, all of that money was removed from his account. We discovered this information just before we left for our appointment earlier but we can't figure out why. A month ago however, all of the money that had been removed from James's account was replaced along with a further five thousand dollars. That alert was just informing us that all of that money was removed from his account this morning and an attempt was just made to delete his financial files. We put a stop to this as we control them now, but whoever tried to delete the files now knows there is someone else looking into-"
"Oh my god." Bella suddenly says interrupting Alice. Everyone turns towards her. "What date was all of the money first removed from his account?" Bella asks.
"July 19th, 2015." Alice replies looking at her tablet for the date then back at Bella in confusion, this expression echoed on everyone else's faces also.
"I know why that money was removed. I found out I was pregnant with Charlie the day before and he beat me to make me lose her. Obviously I didn't but when I was admitted to the hospital, on the 19th of July, he was twitchy and distracted. I thought it was fear of being arrested or whatever for my assault but it continued for a few days afterwards and got worse when they told me I was still pregnant after the ultrasound they did when I first arrived. I was asleep after the intensive check-up they gave me, James had told them I was jumped on the street, that it was a random attack, and they seemed to believe him. Anyway, they thought I was asleep, and at first I was, but I woke up to voices. I opened my eyes and saw James sat in the corner of the room with a tall, broad shouldered man standing over him. I quickly closed my eyes so they wouldn't notice I was awake and they must not have noticed me because they didn't stop talking. I couldn't hear what they were saying as they were whispering so they couldn't be heard on the other side of the curtain, but from the tone, it sounded like the man was threatening James. Suddenly, James hit the bed next to my cast and I 'woke up', and the and the man was gone. I have no idea why the money would be placed back in with more a month ago though, Charlie was four months old-"
Bella was cut off by Jasper screaming "Son of a bitch!" at the top of his voice and Alice gasping and falling on her fiancée's lap. Their phones had just beeped letting the room know that whatever caused this reaction came from new information.
Edward falls to his knees immediately after Alice fell. "Are you okay?"
Alice is shaking and Jasper wraps his arms around her. "I'm fine but Bella needs to know. I can't tell her." Alice whispers to him.
"Okay baby. Edward, go sit with your girl, trust me, she'll need it." Jasper says.
Edward walks over to Bella, pulls her to her feet, sits in her place and pulls her down on to his lap. He wraps his arms around her.
"Edward, no. I'm too heavy." Bella complains, trying to stand up.
"Shh, you're not." He replies holding her closer.
Bella relaxes against his chest, sensing that further arguing would be futile.
"Bella. I want you to first look over at Charlie." She complies and smiles at seeing her little girl rolling over. She looks back at Jasper.
"The information that we just received clears up why all of his money was replaced, with five thousand dollars extra, a month ago. He has been aiding the Volturi family with drug and human trafficking. And he had sold Charlotte, to be given over for when she reaches 6 months old."
Bella gasps and runs for her baby girl, picking her up and holding her tight to her chest. Edward runs up next to her and wraps his arms around them both. Rose walks up and wraps her arms around Jacob, and Alice has her hands securely on her stomach. Esme stands up.
"Everyone is okay. No one is taking anyone's babies. We will stop whatever exchange was agreed upon and catch the people responsible. Jasper, take Alice upstairs to lie down. She was awake all night and now with this added shock, it's not good for the baby. Take as long as you need. Then I want you to find out as much information as possible about the sale; who it was to, how it was arranged, when the exchange would occur, how much for, the payment plan, and find out a way to contact them. We will stage a decoy exchange.
Edward, Rose, Alec, Carlisle, and Marcus, wait for Jasper down in his office. Start looking without him. Bella, Jacob, come with me and help me make dinner, Charlie can sit in the high chair in the kitchen.
At 7.30, dinner will be on the table, I expect you all to be there, with the exception of Alice if she's sleeping or feels too weak, in that case we will bring you food to your room. At dinner, there will be the usual rules, no talk of the business. We will discuss what has been found after dinner. Let's go." Esme says walking into the kitchen.
Edward tightens his hold around Bella and Charlie. "Are you going to be okay?" He asks her stroking Charlie's face.
"Yeah, go and do your job and I'll make you something tasty to eat."
"Okay Angel." Edward gives both Bella and Charlie a kiss on the head before walking down towards Jasper and Alice's office in the basement.
Rose gives Jacob a squeeze and a big kiss. "I love you so much, my baby boy."
"I love you too, mommy." He replies hugging her back.
Rose ruffles his hair and follows her brother down the basement stairs. Alice was pulled up off of the bean bag chair by Jasper. Carlisle walks over to her and gives her a hug.
"It'll be okay, pip." He tells his daughter, using her childhood nickname, before letting her go and watching her go up the stairs towards her bedroom with her fiancée following close behind. Carlisle then makes his way down the basement stairs, the same way his children went, with his brother and father.
Bella and Jacob walk into the kitchen together.
Edward stands in the corner of the room watching Alice put the finishing touches to her fiancée's disguise. She steps back and laughs. "Jesus, it's actually like he's here. Careful or Edward might kill you all over again."
Edward steps forwards and walks slowly towards his best friend and brother in law. "I won't kill you, not that I did last time, but I do have a strong urge to punch you right in the face."
"What's new." Jasper replies.
Edward and Jasper laugh and Alice shakes her head and sits on the bed. "Ugh. I hate you Jas." She huffs.
"You're only 5 months, got another 4 to go. I bet you'll be the size of a house." Edward teases.
"Edward Anthony Masen Cullen, stop being mean." Comes through the open door from the hallway.
"Sorry dear." He calls back as Bella walks through the door.
She walks up to him and hits his chest as he kisses the top of her head. "Are you okay, Angel?"
She sighs and looks down at the baby in her arms. She's grown so much in the month they've been there. She looks healthier. They both do. "No, but I want this over and done with."
Edward wraps his arms around Bella from behind and brings one hand up to stroke Charlie's face. "We aren't using her. She won't even be anywhere near the site this is all going to go down at. You'll both be here, with mom, Jacob, and Alice. Safe."
She looks up at him. "The Charlie doll is so realistic it's scary."
"I know Angel, but it needs to be. Take a look at Jasper."
Bella looks at the bed where Jasper sits rubbing his fiancée's belly. She shivers at the sight of him and Edward's arms tighten around her and he kisses her neck, just under her ear. She moves away from him and narrows her eyes at him, trying to hide her smile.
"Stop it." She scolds him with no real conviction. Over the last month, he's been pushing it with the physical affection. They aren't together but they may as well be, they've never kissed on the lips but they sleep in the same bed more often than not, and cuddle or touch each other every chance they get.
Alice stands up and links arms with Bella. "Come on babe, let's leave the boys and Rose to it, I want brownies and you make them the best. Don't tell mom." She giggles.
They walk out of the room and hear Jasper shout, "Bye then."
Bella hands Charlie to Alice, walks back in and gives Jasper a kiss on the cheek. "Sorry babe." She says and then walks out again. Alice giggles from the hallway.
"Um, no, I don't think so." Edward says. He walks out of the door and towards Bella, grabbing her round the waist, turning her round and kissing her cheeks, forehead and then the tip of her nose. He steps back, spins her back around and slaps her on the bum. "Bye, babe." She laughs and winks at him.
"Be safe." She says seriously.
"Don't worry, Angel, I always am." He replies.
"I mean it." She says looking straight into his eyes. He nods his head in reply.
Edward watches as Alice, who is still holding Charlie, links arms with Bella once more as they walk down the corridor and out of sight. He walks back into Alice and Jasper's bedroom to see Jasper laying in the middle of the bed.
"Sleeping beauty, we have shit to do." He says kicking his best friend's foot. Jasper sits up and Edward sees his James makeover again. "So fucking creepy."
Jasper winks at him. "Aren't you glad Alice did that class in theatre makeup now?"
Edward acts like Alice as he says, "So glad." In a hyper girly voice.
"Dick." Jasper says, standing up and punching Edward in the shoulder.
Edward responds by trapping Jasper in a headlock and flipping him over his shoulder. They carry on play fighting for another few minutes until Alec and Carlisle walk through the door. "Really boys? How old are you?" Alec says with a laugh.
The boys get up off of the floor and Jasper walks over to the mirror to fix his wig and make sure his makeup is still intact. He turns towards the three men standing in the doorway, Marcus having joined them while he was checking his appearance. "Wow, that girl really is something." Marcus says in reference to Jasper's looks.
"I know." He says with a dreamy smile on his face.
"Come on, we're ready. Fake Charlie is in the car seat." Alec says.
All men move towards the door, down the corridor and then the stairs and out the front door.
"Be safe." Is shouted out the door by all the women from the kitchen.
"Will do." Is shouted back by all the men and Rose who joined them from the basement.
They make their way out to the drive way, Jasper getting in the front of James's beat up old car with the fake Charlie in the back, while the others get in the surveillance van that will follow behind Jasper. They will sit down the road from the parking lot where the exchange is arranged to take place.
When everyone is situated, Jasper pulls his wrist up to his mouth to talk into the microphone placed in the cuff of his shirt. "Let's go."
Thank you all for reading, please review, it makes me happy and I work faster. Good night all. ~ Megan xxx