Chapter Nineteen
Tanya blinked as Jesse disappeared out the door. She shook her head and looked at the others gathered in the room. Most had returned, with the exception of Alice and Jasper, who were out hunting at the moment. Tanya gave them all a smile and shrugged. "Oh, come on. Life would be boring if he was normal," she said with a grin.
Emmett's booming laugh rang out. "Tanya, I think every one of us is far from normal."
"You're the farthest of them all Emmett," she shot back with a teasing grin.
"Oh you aim to hurt, Tanya," he said, clutching his chest in mock pain.
"Only you, Emmett, only you," Tanya replied.
Rosalie rolled her eyes. "I was thinking of going to Portland to go shopping," she announced.
Kate and Tanya both looked to her, and slow grins spread across their faces. Garrett took one look at his wife and shook his head. "No way, I'm going to find Jasper."
Tanya laughed. "That's good, because I'm betting Alice will walk through that door in a minute and Jasper will need you."
Kate was already gathering her small purse and kissing Garrett goodbye. Carmen had appeared with her purse as well. Tanya grinned as a moment later, Alice walked in. "Let's go girls. Are you sure you don't want to come Bella?"
Bella looked at Alice, horrified. "You want me to go shopping?"
"Oh be a sport Bella," Alice replied with a roll of her eyes.
Esme appeared then. "Well, lets go, girls," she eyed the guys gathered. "I expect all rough housing to be done outside," she said sternly.
Alice patted Esme on the arm. "I only foresee a few trees in the woods getting hurt, nothing in the house."
Finally all the women were ready, Bella and Nessie included. As they all traipsed out to the cars and decided who would drive what, the guys all grinned at each other in anticipation.
-
He pushed the car as fast as it would go, and made it to Seattle in about an hour. He had looked a few places up on the internet before coming down here, so he had an idea where he would go. Sliding the sleek sports car into a parking spot at the mall, he groaned. I really didn't want to do the mall thing, but according to the website, this was the best jewelers in Seattle. They boasted the largest selection in the surrounding area. Pushing himself out of the car and locking it up before heading inside, he glanced around for the store he was looking for.
Suddenly, his senses were on alert. How did this keep happening to him? Why now? Who the hell was she working with, and the best question, why didn't he use his gift when he came into town? He knew the answer to the last one. Because he hadn't expected her to try and track him after their run in in Everett. He should have known better. Worse, was that he was in a crowded mall, and knew they were close.
Turning, hoping to beat them to the exit, since they also had to move at human pace, he was suddenly faced with a woman right in front of him. It took him a moment to recognize her, but he did. Her long hair was honey gold, and her eyes were dark, with just a hint of red rimming them. She was tall, nearly 6 feet and beautiful. Her smile was one of an old friend, though her eyes held a hint of malice to them.
Jesse paused, looking for an out. She reached for him, and taking his face in her hands, pulled to her own and kissed him full on the mouth. He took his hands and grabbed her around the arms, pushing her away. She broke her kiss but held his face, pulling his ear close to her mouth to whisper. "Careful, love, there are people watching. You don't want to cause a scene," she said before gently licking his earlobe and then kissing his neck. To the general population it would look as if she was his girlfriend.
He pulled out of her grasp and held up a hand when she moved to step closer. "Kelli. I should have guessed. I didn't realize you and Amanda were speaking again."
Kelli laughed lightly. "Oh, when the price is right, I'll do a favor for an old friend. And how could I pass up seeing you again? I always thought you made the wrong choice in Amanda anyway."
Jesse rolled his eyes. "Oh yes, because you are so much better. But after Amanda killed your sister Jessica, I thought for sure you'd have killed her yourself, instead of doing her a favor."
Kelli shrugged, choosing to ignore his jab. "She offered me something I couldn't refuse. You know I've always wanted an in to the Volturi, and she has that,"
"Last time I checked, Kelli, they already had a tracker," Jesse replied.
Kelli looked unconcerned. "Accidents happen."
Amanda appeared then. "Kelli, I asked you to find him, not make out with him," she hissed.
Kelli smiled sweetly at her. "You asked me to find him. You never said what I could or couldn't do when I did."
Jesse looked between them. "If you're done fighting over me? I have something I need to do. No, I'm not interested in coming back to you Amanda. I made that perfectly clear when you met Tanya. Kelli, I don't know what she told you, but it's over, and been over. I'll leave you to figure out your payment."
He turned and walked away. As soon as he was out of sight he used his gift to hopefully lose them both. He decided to take the long way through the mall, exiting on the other side where he came in, and making his way back to his car. He would be more careful from now on.
-
Amanda was staring open mouthed after Jesse left. "I cannot believe he just did that! Did you see that? He's choosing some... vegetarian over me?!"
Kelli smiled slightly. She enjoyed seeing Amanda this way. In truth, that was why she had agreed to see her after all these years, and it was why she agreed to track Jesse for her. She had a sudden thought. "I'll keep tabs on him for you Amanda. You keep your end of the deal, and I'll keep tabs on him for you."
Amanda raised a brow. She'd been surprised that Kelli had agreed to work with her at all. She had killed Jessica in a fit of rage after Jesse had left. Jessica had had the unfortunate opportunity to tell Amanda that she was better off without him. She wondered what Kelli was playing at, but figured she could at least follow Jesse, maybe have a chance at him one more time, if not to get him to come back... to hurt him as he'd hurt her.
"I told you, I would talk to Chelsea and arrange a visit. You can come with and meet Aro. That's the deal, and I'll keep my end."
Kelli nodded and looked around. "He's off my radar for now, since he knows I'm tracking him. I'm famished. Lets get a bite shall we?"
Amanda grinned as she took in the crowded mall. "Yes, that sounds like a plan."
-
Jesse was glad he'd thought to pull up a few places, and took the Viper down the streets of Seattle in search of the other jewelers that he had researched. He liked the idea of this one better, since it was it's own store, not situated in a mall setting. Easier escape if needed. He was beginning to think maybe they should just head back to Alaska.
