49
Standing in the doorway to Chief Swan's living room, I lay my eyes on Rose for the first time as she sits huddled on the couch with Izzy's arm around her. My mouth drops open and I curse loudly, announcing my presence. The girls both turn their heads to look, and the moment she sees me, Rose's bruised and cut face crumples as she breaks down.
Sitting gently on her other side, I lift my hand to her cheek and trace a laceration, my finger hovering just above the skin. She still winces and a tight ball of fury spins in my chest.
"That son of a bitch, when I see him—"
"Edward!" I turn at the barking voice. The chief stands just inside the doorway, full uniform on. "My men are out looking for him. Do not take the law into your own hands, you hear me, son?"
I say nothing. I won't make promises I can't keep.
"C'mere," I whisper to Rose, pulling her in and cradling her against my chest as she lets some of the emotion of her ordeal out.
My eyes meet Izzy's over her head. "Thank you," I say. She offers a small, tight smile of acknowledgement as she stands.
"I'll be back soon," she says, slipping quietly out of the room as I realize she's giving us a little space.
"Are you okay?" I ask as Rosalie pushes herself off me and sits up straight. I reach forward to grab a Kleenex from the box on the coffee table and hand it to her, watching as she carefully dabs at her swollen eyes. She nods.
"They want me to go the hospital to get checked out. I said I'd go when you got here." Her voice is croaky from the crying and her chest still spasms in hiccoughing breaths.
"I'm sorry I couldn't come straight away," I tell her, gently squeezing her hand.
"That's okay. Izzy took care of me, then she called her dad and he came straight over." Rose offers me a small smile.
My thoughts flit to Izzy and I wonder how she's feeling, having to deal with this so soon after she opened up to me about her own experiences.
~S~