Chapter Twenty Five
Jasper
I looked for a good ambush spot and found one about half way up the winding road. It was a little closer to the town than I was comfortable with but that couldn't be helped, I had to work with what I had. I didn't think they'd be out in force to collect Bella, after all she was just a human girl who could hardly fight back. I worked on the premise of one talented Volturi and a couple of guards. The guards wouldn't be a problem, I knew I was better than them. It was the talent that bothered me. If it was Felix I could cope but if it were Jane or Alec I would run into problems, both of those could take me down but perhaps in doing so it would enable Bella to run. It was all I could do, give her a chance to save herself. I hid the car facing down hill close to the road with the keys in it. That would be Bella's best chance at escape and I would find a way of telling her about it. Then I found a comfortable vantage point in the scrubby bushes and waited, not knowing how far behind me they would be, it couldn't be that much.
Bella
In the event it was more than two hours before we got a new pilot and a take off slot so I was happy I'd done all I could, the rest was up to my Guardian Angels. It was a very luxurious plane and I made full use of the facilities. They let me get on with it, after all where could I go up here? Before we landed Jane came over to where I was sitting, my injured foot up on another of the seats.
"Don't mess around when we land or I might just decide that walking wounded is good enough for your father."
I smiled and nodded, there wasn't much I could do with one foot which wouldn't take my weight but it was nice to know she was concerned, chalk up one for the human. As we landed I looked out of the window and saw a glossy black car with tinted windows waiting beside the hanger, well if I was going to my doom at least I was doing it in style!
Jasper
There was very little traffic on this road but I checked out each car as it approached. Still I felt nothing, she wasn't in any of the vehicles. Then late in the afternoon I saw a black car approaching my position and I felt the pull that told me this was my target. The makeshift barrier I'd made from an uprooted tree soon blocked the road, looking like it had just fallen and the car slowed to a halt. I could see the two guards as they got out to drag it off the road while a small figure stayed in the passenger seat with another in the back, and I knew that was Bella. As the two guards pulled the tree out of the way of the bend I attacked, taking them out easily, they were soft and not expecting trouble this close to home. I borrowed the cloak from one and stooping walked back to the car slipping in the driver's seat. Jane realized there was a problem at the same time Bella saw my face.
"Car round the bend, headed down. Go Bella" I shouted as Jane concentrated, ready to attack.
Bella
I could hardly believe my eyes, the guard who was getting in the car was Jasper, he'd let me see a glimpse of his face. When he shouted his instructions I knew that he was sacrificing himself for me and not only couldn't I manage alone, there was no way I was going to leave him to the bitch and the rest of the Volturi.
I saw him stiffen and his body jerk as Jane started her assault so in desperation I tried to shield him with my body. I don't know what happened exactly because within seconds I was in Jasper's arms and we were running like the wind for the car he'd left waiting for me. As I tried to figure out what had happened it came back to me as if in slow motion, Jane's head snapping back as Jasper punched her in the face. I think her head was partly detached but I wouldn't swear to it.
Jasper
I felt the pain as Jane concentrated on me and it straightened my body out involuntarily but as suddenly as it started the pain was gone. Without stopping to think I punched her as hard as I could in the face almost taking her head off. It gave me breathing space to grab Bella from the back of the car and run with her to my own which was waiting. I threw her in the back and set off at top speed. We didn't have much of a head start but it might be just enough. If I could get us back into Pisa I could lose them in the scent of all the humans long enough for us to escape. We couldn't fly straight out, they would be expecting that but we could lay low and contact Peter and Charlotte who could make arrangements for our escape from Italy.
Bella
I got my breath back and sat up in the back of the car seeing Jasper's eyes on me in the mirror,
"How badly are you hurt?"
I shook my head,
"I'm fine it's only my ankle and that was an accident"
He nodded looking relieved.
"Sit back and put your seat belt on, it might get rough on the way down if they come after us."
I did as I was told with shaking fingers, keeping the questions I was bursting to ask in my head so as not to distract him as he drove. We went so fast I was sure we would leave the road at every bend but he knew exactly how fast he could go and still keep the wheels in contact with the road. The roar of the engine was so loud I could hardly hear my own heart beating a fast tattoo. Once we hit the city he slowed and slid in and out of the traffic just like the other drivers, and the engine settled to a low rumble
"Where are we going?"
"I'm not sure. I want to get a bit further away before we find somewhere to stay. Are you OK for a while?"
I nodded,
"I'm with you. Of course I'm OK."
I wasn't sure where that had come from but I knew it was true, it always had been and always would be. I was scared but not terrified any all I'd thought he had turned up to save me, my white knight and as I sat back in my seat I smiled contentedly.