Chapter Twenty Two

Jasper

Peter handed over the package from Darius which contained passports and other paperwork for Bella and myself and I smiled to see we would be travelling as husband and wife. Once Jerome got clearance we went through to the private jet lounge which was thankfully deserted and while he went to file his flight plan the others sat with us, Garrett content to listen but Peter bursting with questions. He started straight away,

"Right, give Major. Who the fuck is this? And why exactly are we protecting her rather cute little body?"

Bella coloured so I thought it better to explain who he was first.

"This nosy and incredibly coarse person is Peter Whitlock. Probably one of too few friends I have but he is a loose cannon"

"Undoubtedly Major. Very few people will put up with your shit for starters. Ignore him he's always rude to me."

"This is Bella."

"Bella who?"

Garrett grinned,

"How exactly are you going to explain this one without him hitting the roof?"

So Garrett already knew who Bella was!

"Hey, how come you know and I don't?"

"Superior brain power Peter."

"Bollocks! Who are you Bella?"

"Bella's surname was Cullen"

After I said it I waited for the explosion,

"Cullen? Was? Just a minute, if she was a Cullen that means she was married to the only ass hole left. Bella! Not Edward the ass hole please."

"Yes she was but no more."

"How come? You divorced him? Nah, he's too power mad to give you a divorce. You'll never get shot of him."

"She did, with a little help from Alice"

"Ah, I wondered how long it would be before Malice the evil pixie cropped up. What did she do? Make you vanish? Annoy the crap out of you until you threw yourself off a cliff? Am I getting warm?"

"See what I mean about the lack of brain cells Bella?"

Bella grinned at Garrett and nodded.

"Now hang on a minute. Brains aren't everything you know. I have a much more cuddly temperament and I'm better looking. Now come on tell me."

"Bella Cullen died in a plane crash in Denver."

"So who is this?"

"Bella...Whitlock for now"

"You mean I have a new sister? Yeah! So what do we do with her?"

"Keep her safe from the Volturi and hope Edward doesn't find out she's alive"

"Oh, a simple babysitting chore. Great! Why is it whenever I get tangled up with you it's never simple and we're always outnumbered?"

"Would you have it any other way?"

"No but that's beside the point. So Bella, we have a job on our hands. Are you good at taking orders?"

"I am now"

"Good girl, you're learning fast. We're going to get along famously."

Bella

I had no idea who these guys were although I remembered Jasper mentioning a Peter a long time ago and I was struggling to remember when. It was only a few minutes later that Jerome came for us and we walked out to a sleek-looking jet waiting on the tarmac.

"Hop in my little danger magnet."

"Aren't you coming with us?"

"Of course, but as Jerome barely knows port from starboard I am needed to navigate. Just one of my many talents. Sometime I must sit you down and tell you all of them"

"That wont take long"

Garrett's aside as he passed us made me giggle

"Don't encourage him Bella, he's bad enough as it is. Jealousy is a terrible thing but I've learned to live with it."

"Is he really going to navigate?"

Jasper nodded smiling at my slightly alarmed sounding voice.

"Bella don't be confused by his comic attitude, Peter is a multi-talented man, he just prefers to act the clown."

"Where are we going?"

Jazz looked at Garrett who scratched his chin before answering,

"Well we thought maybe somewhere as far from Italy as possible, somewhere easy to defend."

"North or south?"

"We thought north, quicker and easier. That OK with you?"

"Sure but what about Bella?"

"Well we weren't really thinking about a human I guess, then Charlotte suddenly had a Eureka moment so she's gone ahead to shop for Bella."

I looked at Jazz.

"Charlotte?"

"That's Peters mate."

Then I remembered where I'd heard those names before. These were Jaspers friends from his early life as a vampire, when he was with Maria. So it was his best friends who were helping, the ones who saved him. Garrett I still didn't recognise but I assumed he must be a good friend if he was here with the others.

"So where are we going?"

"Alaska. Its cold but it's also easy to see your enemies coming."

I nodded,

"Good. Are you staying with us?"

"Well, Peter and I thought the Major might like a bit of company. Besides if the Volturi do come he can't fight them all on his own and no offence but you'd be about as much use as a chocolate kettle my dear."

He was right of course but what made these strangers give their time and possibly their safety to help me? I guess they weren't here for me but for Jasper who stirred such loyalty in others.

"Do you mind if I ask what you intend doing in the long-term Bella? Running and hiding is OK for a while but you have to end it some time."

I looked at Jasper wondering if he would say something and he looked back at me then shrugged and I thought that was it for an answer but he spoke and his answer brought tears to my eyes,

"As soon as Bella gives the word I'll change her, after all I can't spend eternity with my mate if she's still human and watching her die isn't an option."

Garrett ignored my tears of joy and nodded,

"Sounds like a plan to me but don't forget we have to be able to move at short notice and move quickly. Not easy with a newborn."

"We'll manage Garrett, besides Bella could be a great asset to us, Aro thinks she has a gift."

"Really? Lets hope its a good one then because if he sends the guard for her were going to need it"

"Oh he will send them. I forgot to tell you, he's down a man, well a girl actually. I killed Jane"

Before Garrett could speak the cockpit door flew open and Peter strode through,

"You barbecued Jane Volturi? Shit! You know what that means? He'll send every fucker he's got on your trail. Are you crazy Major? Is she really worth that?"

Jasper moved so fast I didn't see him until he had Peter up against the bulkhead, one hand round his throat and his face so close to Peter's they could have been kissing! His voice was cold and deadly,

"You want out? Go then, but don't ever ask if Bella is worth it."

I thought there was going to be a fight to the death but Peter just grinned and put his hands up to Jaspers biceps,

"OK, you made your point but you could have told us before we signed up"

His voice was strangled and I could see the tension in Jasper's muscles so I waited not breathing,

"Would it have made any difference?"

"Hell yeah, I'd have insisted on double pay"

"You aren't getting paid."

"Then I guess it doesn't make any difference but I wish you wouldn't drop these things on me like that, I nearly shit myself. Sorry Bella."

I nodded acknowledgement of his apology and as Jasper took his hand away from Peters throat I took a deep gulp of air relieved the tense moment hadn't escalated. Garrett looked at them and sighed,

"Now you see why I'm here, when one of them kills the other the survivor is going to need a new side kick."