Twilight isn't mine, but the idea is. I was inspired to write this after a marathon of Fast and Furious. All the songs on the soundtrack helped me create this, so you should check them if you don't know them.
Many thanks to my dear friends m0t0b33 and TeamAllTwilight for the pre-reader and beta work.
And to you, my readers and followers, thank you! I wish I had the time to answer you, but we can discuss stuff in my facebook group. ;)
This chapter contains violence and shooting. Consider yourselves warned. :)
"Cous, wake up." Emmett shook Edward's shoulder. "Ed, time to wake up."
Slowly, Edward blinked his eyes open. The room was dark but he could see his cousin through the silver of light creeping into the room from the hallway. "Time?" he mumbled, rising slowly as if not to wake Bella.
"Midnight. I need to give you something," Emmett whispered.
Still sleepy, Edward followed his cousin out the room. He was led outside to Mach One.
It was quiet outside, aside from the rumble of the racing cars in the distance.
"Has Uncle Carlisle taught you how to use a gun?"
Edward whipped his head around, staring at Emmett open-mouthed.
"Has he?" he insisted.
"Yes. Why?"
"You may need this later. When we attack, chaos will take place and I know they have guns. You need to protect yourself." He handed his little cousin a Glock 17, showing him how it worked.
"Are you sure, Emmett? I doubt they'll attack."
"Cous, trust me. Just this one time do as I say. Uncle C gave me permission to give you the gun."
"Where is he?" Edward asked, trying to grasp what was going on. The weapon felt heavy in his hand.
"He's on the way to the airport to pick up his friends. They took a jet. And the funny part is that my colleagues are on that jet too. Imagine that, Ed. Police and mob at the same place, not killing each other, ready to fight together for a noble cause."
"Now I'm a noble cause."
Emmett chuckled, patting Edward on the back. "You might want to put that away."
"Where? In the back of my jeans?"
"Try the glove compartment."
They went back inside and found James with another cop at the kitchen table. Emmett went to join them, but Edward walked to the living room where he found his friends scattered around the room. Everyone was there, all Jake's group. Jasper was slouched on the couch, deep in conversation with Sam, keeping Alice tucked into his side as she slept deeply.
"Hey. You're awake!" Seth exclaimed.
"Yeah." Edward blinked. "I think we should get going."
"You should wake Bella. She'll have your balls if you leave her out of this," Jake said seriously.
Nodding, Edward went down the hallway, and after a stop to the bathroom, he stepped into Bella's room. He crouched beside the bed and ran his fingers through her hair.
"Baby, I have to go."
"Is it time?" she mumbled, yawning loudly.
"Oh, you're awake."
"I heard the bathroom door slamming."
"Yeah, that was me. Sorry."
"It's okay. Give me two minutes. I need the bathroom too."
He pecked her cheek before joining his friends in the living room. Nerves, excitement, adrenaline and fear ran through his veins as he sat on the arm of the couch, his leg bouncing. He'd never been more aware of the way his heart beat steadily, the way his stomach churned, the way his brain worked a mile per minute.
"Ready," Bella said from beside him making him jump. "Why so jumpy?" she teased, but her voice was strained.
"Why so sexy?" he joked, smoothing her tangled hair. Suddenly, not even caring they weren't alone, Edward tugged Bella closer and kissed her deeply, pouring all his emotions into that single kiss. It left her swooning.
Edward drove alone to the meeting point. The others used Bella's car and their bikes.
Ben was waiting outside his car, leaning against the hood with a girl on each side.
"Ready to lose, Speedy?" he mocked Edward, leaning over the passenger's window of the Mach.
"Not this lifetime. It's time I win," Edward said determined. "Tell me where's the turning point."
"You'll know—there will be a sign letting us know," Ben explained. Edward nodded. "It's about ten miles away. You go there then turn around and we meet here."
"That would be one short race," Edward challenged him.
Ben scowled. "We start in fifteen minutes."
Nodding again, Edward drove to the Start line then got out, stretching and looking for his Good Luck Charm. He couldn't spot her and slouched against the side of Mach One, running his hands through his hair.
He was more scared of the outcome of the race, than of the race itself. To the police it didn't matter who won, they catch the bad guy and his gang. A chilling thought choked Edward—what would happen to him? If the Judge caught wind of him racing…
"Edward?" A man Edward had never seen in his life was standing in front of him, but somehow he knew who this was.
"Yes," he said softly. "Brady?"
The man's eyebrows shot up. He looked around worried, tugging the cap over his eyes better. "How do you know?"
"Oh, please. I've heard so much about you… Good to see you're better."
The hint of a smile appeared on his lips. "Yeah. Who would have thought I'd return to this scene? You ready? You looked sick a moment ago."
Edward swallowed his nerves. "Funny enough, the race doesn't scare me. I want to win, of course, and show that fucker who's the best, but no matter what happens, your friends will get them."
"That's true. Can you keep this meeting a secret? No one knows I'm here."
"You got it, man."
"I found him!" Bella's voice startled both men. "Brady?" she asked shocked, staring at the man hiding behind the baseball cap.
"Surprise?"
While he hugged Bella, Edward felt eyes on him and when he turned he was met by Ben's icy glare. Fuck. Did he know Brady? Of course, he knew Brady. He'd put him in the hospital.
"You have to go. Go!" Edward said urgently, but the damage was already done.
Ben made the universal "I'm watching you" gesture before sliding in his car.
Edward quickly kissed Bella, looking at her, memorizing her face and hoping with every fiber in his body it wouldn't be the last time he saw her. She leaned over his open window and hugged him, whispering in his ear how much she loved him, but a second later Brady pulled her away, dragging her to the group. Edward could see clearly that she was sobbing.
Don't cry, baby. He thought sadly.
The revving of Plymouth's engine snapped him out of his thoughts. He had to focus on the race.
Edward didn't turn to look one last time at Ben, but he did something he'd never done. He did the sign of the cross and prayed silently everything would end well.
The customary girl giving them the "GO" lifted her right arm, then her left before lowering both. Edward pressed his foot on the acceleration, springing ahead. Ben was next to him. They kept taunting each other for a few miles, until the Plymouth propelled ahead with the nitro's help. Edward gritted his teeth, not having wanted to use it just yet. He'd planned for it on his turn back so sticking to his plan, he pushed Mach to go faster without any additional help.
When Edward reached the turning point, he was surprised to find Ben there. His car positioned to head back. He saluted Edward before gunning it back the way they came.
Angry at his stunt, Edward spun the car round, before shifting into a lower gear and soon he was driving alongside Ben, whose eyes were wide. Edward mock-saluted him and smirked, before pushing the nitro button. Mach One launched ahead like a racquet.
His eyes widened when he saw police sirens at their gathering. What had James done? He promised.
The sudden distraction was enough for Ben who had neared Edward, and seeing his opponent had slowed, he went head first into his back. Edward got chocked by the bite of the seatbelt as Mach was pushed ahead.
Ben never played fair.
Edward gained speed once again and when he saw the other car approaching from behind once again, he slammed the brakes and closed his eyes, shielding his head with his hands. Metal rattled against metal and Mach shook violently as the Plymouth went flying through the air. It landed off the road, rolling round and round until it came to a stop with the wheels in the air. Edward watched with stunned fascination and horror as it burst into flames.
His door opened and he lunged for the gun pointing it at the person outside. A huge sigh of relief left his body when he saw his father bending inside.
"Are you hurt, Edward? And would you mind not pointing that at me?"
"Sorry," he said on a shaky voice.
"Come on." Carlisle helped his son out, putting his arm around him. Edward couldn't feel his legs, and only his father's arm was keeping him from crumbling to the ground. "Son, I need to get you out of here."
"No. Bella's there."
"You just killed their leader."
"I doubt that. I bet Ben escaped from the car." He turned to stare at the burning vehicle.
Only five feet away, there were screams and gunshots.
"Where are your…friends?" Edward asked his father.
"They're over there, helping Emmett and James."
A car Edward recognized as Ben's approached—his other car, the Mustang Fastback. Ben was the one behind the wheel, but who was in the passenger seat, was a sight ripped from Edward's nightmares. Bella—terrified and with tears down her cheeks.
"DAD!" Edward shouted. "He has Bella." Not saying more, he jumped in Mach One, turned her around and sped after Ben. He was aware he couldn't bump into him, worried he'd harm Bella.
This wasn't the way the race should have ended.
What the fuck happened back there while they were busy racing?
Maybe Ben told his gang to attack the others when he saw Brady. Fuck. That was one stupid move coming from a cop.
Edward advanced on Ben and drove alongside. "Pull over, asshole!" he shouted.
"If I'm going down, I'm taking you and your pretty lady with me."
Edward's blood boiled. He glanced over, meeting Bella's wide, dilated brown eyes. "Hold on tight, baby!" When she nodded and grabbed hold of the seat under her, Edward swerved Mach One, bumping into Ben's car. Being a skilled driver, he managed to keep the car relatively steady before returning the favor to Edward, who was pushed a few feet away. Getting angrier by the second, he crashed again into Ben, this time pushing him off track. Desperate to get back on the asphalt, Ben pressed both brake and acceleration making the car lurch ahead catching a bumping path and starting to roll.
"Bella!" Edward stopped his car and rushed out, toward the other car.
It was too dark and he couldn't see much beside what the stars and moon allowed him. He fell a lot of times until he neared the now stopped car. It was on its wheels, the headlights on. As he inched closer, squinting inside he saw movement at the front of the car. When he raised his head the sight before him chilled his blood.
Ben was standing in the headlights' range, holding Bella—her back to his chest and a gun to her temple.
"Tell the blues to release my guys." Ben threw his phone at Edward. "Call them. Tell them to let my guys go, or your pretty cunt dies."
Bella sobbed, struggling. "Don't, Edward!"
"Ah, don't you love it when they give up for the bad guy?"
"You fucking deranged asshole!" Edward shouted, taking the gun from the back of his jeans. "It's between you and me. Leave Bella out of this!"
"Oh, so after all, you followed in your daddy's footsteps?"
Edward lowered the gun to the left and fired. He grazed Ben's leg making him drop Bella as he bent to grab his injured leg.
It gave Edward enough time to take Bella's hand and drag her away. Hugging her tightly, he kept his gun steady aimed at Ben. "Go after help," he whispered in her ear. "Keys are in contact."
"What about you?"
"Bella, go," he hissed, glaring at Ben who had once again stood up at his full height. "Go, baby," Edward repeated, pushing her toward the main road.
Ben shot toward her retreating form, but missed. Bella's scream was of fright. On the main road she found her brother, Emmett and a dozen other cops. She pointed them to where Edward was.
"Just us, as you wanted," Ben told Edward cunningly. "You have me. What will you do?"
"Keep you alive until the cops arrive."
"Would you be my cell mate? I hear you weren't allowed within ten mile radius of racing cars."
"I wouldn't worry about me. If I were you I'd start worrying about dropping the soap," Edward hissed acidly. "Street racing is definitely nothing compared to your other crimes, Ben. You killed innocent people when you went after Jasper years ago."
"I didn't know they weren't involved. Call them collateral damage."
"What about the last time you almost lost? You nearly killed a cop."
"Ah, dear Brady. I saw him, that's what gave your little scheme away. Never took you for a rat. Working with the five o's? That's low even for you, but I'm determined to finish our business here." Ben shot at Edward who dodged at the last minute. The bullet blinded one of the headlights of his car.
Edward had no idea he'd be so calm while using a gun. He fired again, this time actually ripping through Ben's femur. The loud sounds of the shooting left him slightly deaf and his arm aching, but he didn't care.
He became aware of people approaching. A sea of flashlights webbed the area. Emmett rushed to Edward's side, checking to see if he was injured, while James and two of his fellow cops approached Ben's crumpled body. When one of the two unknown officers bent over Ben's body, his gun shot up and he popped one between the cop's eyes. Under Edward's stunned gaze, everyone started shooting at Ben who fell to the ground once again.
Emmett took Edward's gun, slowly unclenching his fingers from it. Edward wanted to tell someone to push Ben's gun away because he definitely had one more bullet, but he couldn't find his voice.
He slowly made his way toward his enemy when no one was paying attention. Ben's eyes were closed, but suddenly they opened making Edward gasp.
"I'm not gonna die alone," Ben gurgled. "I'm taking something precious with me." His eyes went behind Edward. Bella was running toward him.
As if in slow motion, Ben's hand lifted the gun and Edward didn't think, he simply moved in between the gun and Bella. Ben fired, his huge, amused and scarily vacant eyes locked on Edward's. As Edward crumpled to the ground, searing pain exploding in his stomach, he realized Ben had died.
"Edward! Honey! No!" Bella fell on her knees next to him.
He turned his head to her, pressing his hands to his stomach. He wanted to say it would be alright, but all that left his mouth was a gush of blood. As someone else fell on his other side, asking in a vaguely familiar voice what happened, everything went black for Edward.
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