Chapter Fifty Two
Jasper
The past night had been the longest of my entire existence, I trusted Bella's ability to keep safe but I didn't trust the Volturi, especially Aro now he had his most coveted daughter within his grasp. Peter had stayed with me while Charlotte went hunting.
"Major you need to chill out before you blow a fuse. Bella's gonna be fine. Shit she could kick all our asses if she wanted to. What's it like having a mate who could take you out? Best behaviour eh?"
"Peter why don't you go hunt or something."
"No, why do that when I can annoy you instead? So what are you going to do when she gets back? I guess our work is finally done, there's no one left to protect. Fuck knows what I'm gonna find to do. Will you be coming back to our place or back to the Cullens?"
"That depends on Bella. She might want to go back home to Forks."
"Fuck, you can be stupid sometimes. Her home is with you, she knows that and its about time you did too."
"What about Charlie? He's still in danger from the Volturi."
"He's got those big bad wolfies to look after him plus the saintly Cullens"
"What's your beef with the Cullens Peter?"
"Nothing I just don't like them."
I looked at him, it wasn't often Peter lied to me but I was almost sure he was lying now and it made me nervous but I decided to leave it. I was more interested in Bella's safety. I was hoping when she got back we could go on that holiday we'd promised each other but maybe the pull of Charlie would be too much for her. If it was then I'd go back too, what else was there for me? Without her I was nothing.
Peter
The Major knew I was lying to him but I couldn't go into my reasons for hating the Cullens, not yet, not until we were far from them. He and Bella thought the dangers were all over once she walked out of Volterra except for Charlie and as I'd pointed out he was covered although not quite as well as I'd made out. We'd been mixed up with the Cullens for too long and I was glad to be getting shot of them at last. A life of idleness held a certain appeal to me. Char and I had been separated too often for too long and to spend months at a time apart had weakened both of us although neither would let on to Jasper, and up until Bella he'd never understood the mating bond. He looked at the clock once more,
"Major stop fucking clock watching. She'll be out. Give her time, after all it's not everyday you meet your vampire father for the first time."
"If she isn't out in a few hours I'm going in after her. I'll claim her as my mate, that should stop Aro in his tracks."
"You forget he doesn't see things the way we do. He might decide it would be fun to have The God of War in his employ along with the most powerful shield he's ever encountered."
"No way. Bella would never work for him and neither will I."
"Never say never Major., That's tempting fate."
Jasper
The square was bathed in sunshine so we were forced into the shadows of the narrow alleyways that led out into it. I leaned against the wall feeling the pull towards the clock tower. She was in there, my reason for existing.
"You told her you killed Edward yet?"
"How did you know? Emmett?"
"Don't be stupid, it's what I would have done. You don't leave a potential enemy alive let alone an actual one"
"No I haven't told her yet. Why? Do you think it'll make a difference to the way she feels about me?"
"Did you lose your senses back in France? That doesn't even make sense as a question. Who are you and what have you done with the Major?"
I straightened up as the doors at the base of the clock tower opened and heaved a sigh of relief as Bella stepped out and looked straight over to where we hid in the shadows. She smiled and turned to speak to someone still inside before walking down the steps and across the square to us. As soon as she was in the shadows I moved forward and she threw herself into my arms kissing my face, my neck, in fact any exposed skin.
"Well it looks like she's pleased to see you Major."
She turned to him with a huge grin,
"Hi Peter missed you too. Where's Charlotte?"
"She went hunting, she'll be back soon."
"Good I want to get out of here. I saw Alice by the way, she talked to me although she doesn't seem as happy as she should."
"What a fucking shame."
Bella
I was so excited to see Jasper again, I'd missed him so much and that's how I felt after less than two days I couldn't imagine the agony he'd undergone with me missing for so long. I refused to let go of him as we walked back through the dim alleys back to the hotel to wait for Char to arrive.
"What are we going to do when Char gets back?"
"Apparently that's down to you Bells. The Major's left his brains back in France somewhere"
I looked at Jasper with concern,
"Are you OK Jazz?"
He smiled that heart stopping smile and took my breath away too,
"I just thought you might have some unfinished business in Forks"
"We have to go back there? I was going to ring Charlie and check everything was OK. He has Sam and the wolves to look out for him not to mention Carlisle and the Cullens."
"See I fucking told you."
I looked at Peter questioningly,
"I told him you wouldn't want to go back to Forks but there's no telling him anything."
I stopped and pulled Jasper round to face me,
"What about our holiday? Do you want to go back? Is there a reason we should go back there?"
He looked over at Peter,
"I don't know. Why don't you ask Peter, he seems unwilling to tell me"
I looked over at Peter who shook his head in disgust,
"Fuck you Major, let's get out of here before the Volturi change their minds and haul all our asses in."
We walked back to the hotel to find a message waiting for us from Charlotte. The desk clerk handed it to Peter who walked away from us to read it. I looked at Jasper but he shook his head,
"I have no idea what's going on Bella, see if he'll talk to you."