Chapter Twenty Four
Bella
We left Jaspers friends in Pisa, only Garrett staying a few minutes to chat.
"Nice to meet you Bella and if you ever need help again please call on us, we haven't had so much fun in decades. It was good to see the Volturi get a bloody nose"
"Perhaps we'll meet again Garrett."
"It's always a possibility, after all The Major has a nose for trouble and I love a good fight, especially when we have the advantage."
I checked with Emmett before we flew that our friends were all unharmed and free only to discover they'd already made it home,
"How was Peter?"
"Lets just say he's looking on us a little more charitably now"
During the flight Jazz related how he'd met Garrett and his friends when he first left Maria. They had joined forces with Peter and Charlotte to fight off Nathan and the newborns she had sent after him. Nathan escaped with his life but the newborns were all killed and when there was trouble they always showed up, rebels linked by their hatred for Aro Volturi and Maria in equal measure.
I hoped Peters good will towards Emmett and Rose would last, at least until we got back and when we landed I was pleased to see Peter and Emmett waiting for us. They came over and while Em hugged me Peter shook hands with Jazz then nodded to me.
"So Bella you kicked Aro's ass?"
"I think we all did a little of that. Did Jane hurt you or Charlotte?"
"She used her gift to capture us, boy I'd hate to get on the wrong end of that bitch. But once we were subdued she seemed bored more than anything else. Then suddenly she and man mountain were gone and we had his ugly fucking face in ours. I don't know which was worse."
"Peter, just admit I'm better looking and it really pisses you off."
"Listen to me Emmett, you were born with a bad case of the uglies, just accept it"
By the time we got to the car they had progressed to whose grandfather was the most handsome and happy they were getting on at last I was content to get in the back with Jazz and relax in his arms so it wasn't for some time that I saw we were headed for the Whitlock place.
"No motel?"
"Why? You and the Major feeling frisky? We can always drop you off at one if you can't wait till we get home."
"Peter you know very well what I'm talking about."
He looked at Emmett faking total confusion,
"Em, you know what she's talking about?"
Emmett thought silently for a few seconds then shook his head,
"No idea Peter, just ignore her. I find it the best thing to do"
I should have known better than to expect to get sense out of those two clowns so I relaxed back against Jazz and watched. It wasn't long before Peters driving came under criticism,
"You feeling ill Peter?"
"No why?"
"Well. My granny drove faster than this, we've been passed by two girls walking a dog and a kiddie on a bike."
"Hey, there's a speed limit along here and plenty of cop cars. I don't need a ticket."
"You mean another one. Come on I'll help you. All you have to do is press your foot on the gas pedal a little harder."
"Which one's that Emmett?"
We kangaroo'd down the highway for five minutes until Emmett gave up then Peter put his foot to the metal and we shot forward.
Jasper
It was good to see my two brothers getting on so well, Emmett was a good match for Peters sense of humour although I wondered how long it would be before the two of them sent us crazy! At the house Rose and Charlotte were waiting on the porch swing and looked to be good friends too. They ran down as the car came to a halt and pulled us into hugs and kisses. Peter stood watching and shaking his head slowly in mock disbelief,
"You know something Em, I've seen some stunts pulled in my time, even pulled a couple myself..."
"Really, that many?"
"Well its a bit too easy but as I was saying The Major would do just about anything to get the girls, as you can clearly see"
Bella glanced at me and grinned, Rose and Charlotte were both hugging me and it felt good.
"Yeah but a bit flashy flying off to Italy to beat up a few defenceless geriatric vamps just for a few hugs, we'd do it for free wouldn't we?"
I saw them coming and wriggled free of the girls and ran into the trees, there was no way I wanted those two hugging me but they seemed determined as I heard them come after me.
Bella
I watched until the pursuit was lost in the trees before sitting on the porch with Rose and Char,
"I take it from their behaviour that Em and Peter have settled their differences."
"Yes, I think Peter was impressed that Em and Rose came to help us especially with Felix and Jane there."
"So Aro rang and Jane freed you?"
"I don't think there was a phone call Bella, I just remember Jane laying on the floor and Felix smiling as we walked past him to Emmett who was standing in the doorway. Creepy that Felix and I wasn't sure I understood what he said."
"Which was?"
"Time for you two to get lost. Tell Bella I just anticipated the call which I'm sure would have come."
Felix didn't trust Aro to ring and free Peter and Charlotte so he'd taken it on himself to do the deed. How he would explain it away when they got back to Volterra I had no idea because I was sure Jane would know it was Felix who knocked her senseless for the few seconds it took for the others to get out. I hoped Felix wouldn't get into trouble for his actions and decided to ring and check on him. I went out back, away from the roars and crashing that was three guys wrestling, to phone him.
"Felix?"
"Bella, is everything OK?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing. Charlotte says you knocked Jane out so they could escape. Didn't you think Aro would keep to the bargain?"
"Would you? I just gave her a little shove that's all."
"Didn't she tell Aro?"
"Jane is very brave with her gift but she has a weakness, one I know about but Aro doesn't. Dear Jane can cloak parts of her thoughts which makes her a little sneaky. Anyway, she and I have an understanding."
"Oh right, I just didn't want you to get in trouble for helping us."
"Don't worry about me Bella, I've been doing this a very long time, working with Aro and the others, everyone has a skeleton in their cupboard and its very difficult to keep them hidden indefinitely especially from one who stands silent and watches. Give The Major my best and take care of your friends. Hopefully we won't speak again, at least not in warning. I have to go now, Aro and Caius are arguing about who was responsible for the destruction of the fountain and its repair. Goodbye Bella Whitlock."
I felt much happier after I'd spoken to Felix and told the others about what he'd told me, when that is the guys came back covered in mud and dripping wet. It seems the struggle ended in the river although they all had different stories about what followed but I was pretty certain that Peters story of a giant alligator pulling them in was a little fabrication! Mind Emmett's story of a mermaid luring them in wasn't much more believable and I didn't even listen to Jaspers tale, just halted him with a kiss. We were all together a family, and out of danger which is just how I wanted it .