Chapter Twenty Two
Bella
When I woke I could hear soft voices and remembered where I was and why. I wondered where Jay was, if he were frightened, or dead even? Guilt flooded over me, I should have done more to persuade him of the danger he was in, it was at least partly my fault that he had been taken and I opened my eyes hoping I would be greeted by some good news. Sitting beside me on the bed watching me was Jasper looking concerned.
"What were you thinking about Bella? You were distressed."
I sat up only too aware of my tatty sleeping attire, messed up hair and sleep creased face.
"Sorry, I was just thinking of Jay and wondering where he is and if he's OK"
"I know this won't be much consolation to you but I doubt he's dead. Someone went to the trouble of watching him and then having him kidnapped so they're going to want him alive."
"Or a vampire"
He nodded touching my hand with his,
"Yes or a vampire I won't lie to you Bella, that's the probability. He seems to have made quite an impression on you."
I hated to admit why but those golden eyes were boring into me with such intensity,
"I thought he was you, I could never really persuade myself he wasn't, crazy isn't it? Truth is I was so excited to see you again or so I thought."
"Well its good to know you're happy to see me…..I guess I missed you too."
I swallowed convulsively at these words, they did something to me and Alice's words came back to me, her confusion at seeing both herself and I with Jasper. She had decided that it had been JW she had seen with me so were she and Jasper to end up together again?
"What are you thinking Bella? You seem very confused."
Excusing myself I scrambled from the bed into the bathroom and slumped down on the toilet, head in hands to think. Alice had said when I arrived on the scene she and Jasper had known it was time to call it a day in their relationship but why then? I was sure it involved me somehow but the only thing that made any sense was if Jasper and I were really meant to be a couple. Then if she'd seen herself with Jasper and it wasn't him it must have been JW but the thought of JW and Alice really messed with my head!
I could hardly hide myself in the bathroom for ever so I showered quickly and pulled on some clean clothes, they weren't glamorous but then I hadn't expected the immaculately turned out Alice or Charlotte put me to shame. As I came back out of the bathroom I heard Alice,
"Charlotte what did you mean with that cryptic comment you left us with earlier?
"I thought you might have worked that out by now Alice"
I joined then taking the only available place beside Jasper on the edge of the bed and he smiled in greeting,
"You look better after getting some sleep."
I nodded noting that my palms were clammy and my heart beat had sped up a little. When he smiled it skipped a beat or two and I struggled to bring everything under control once more. Then Charlotte continued,
"I told you human vampire relationships take time to develop. Only another vampire would recognize the mating pull."
"So you're saying what? That Jasper Whitlock and I are mates? That's plain ridiculous! I'd know if it were true, Id have seen it."
"You did Alice."
I pointed it out in a quiet voice,
"You saw yourself with Jasper again, so maybe it was Jay not Jasper."
Charlotte beamed,
"See Alice. Bella gets the idea."
"No way, its just not possible to know nothing about your mate when you meet and my mate is not a human."
"But you haven't met Jay yet."
Another scowl from Alice who then looked pointedly at Darius and Hunter,
"And it seems I never will unless someone gets their finger out."
I pondered her words as the two guys turned back to their computers and the sound of tapping keys started once more. So Alice and Jay? Would she expect him to be the same man Jasper was? It would unnerve me to suddenly find myself with a stranger wearing a familiar face but then if Charlotte were right and Alice was his mate maybe that would make any difference to her. Something else occurred to me though, if Alice and Jay were mates then the person Alice had seen me with must have been Jasper but that was just plain ridiculous. Alice had intimated I was very fond of Jasper and sure I was, but then he'd been my savior more than once and seeing him away from Alice and available I had to admit I did find him attractive. Not that he would give me a second glance I thought just as he turned his head to look at me and of course, stupid human reactions being what they were, I blushed.
Jasper
Now I'd accepted that Bella was my mate it was so obvious that I couldn't understand how I'd missed it before. What worried me was how long it would take Bella to understand that Charlotte's words referred to more than one person in the room. All I knew was however long it took I would be here waiting for her. Not wanting to crowd her too soon I smiled and went see what was keeping Darius and Hunter. They both grinned knowingly at me but I ignored the looks instead putting a hand on each one shoulder,
"We need some information guys and you are supposed to be the best in the business so what's taking so long?"
Hunter turned to defend himself,
"Major, we have no idea who took this Jasper Whitlock or why, or even where their true destination is. You think you can do better, be my guest."
I shook my head,
"Nope I'll leave that work to you but the longer he remains in enemy hands the higher the chance of him being turned."
Darius turned then with a triumphant grin on his face,
"I may not have an answer to the why but I can tell you where and even possible who although I doubt she's the one wielding the power. This is too big for Maria Major, she's a pawn, nothing more."
"Are you telling me that Maria has him?"
"Yep, or at least that's the delivery address for the package. Its so well hidden I almost missed it which also leads me to suspect Maria's not the leader, is she computer literate Major?"
I shook my head,
"Not her scene Darius."
"My sentiment exactly which means someone else with a higher IQ is behind it. Someone with a lot of cash and influence if they persuaded Maria to work with them."
This latest news worried me for various reasons.
1. Maria wouldn't be interested in a weak partner
2. She'd love to get hold of something that might draw me back. 3. We were looking for influence and power.
Great power because they would have to reassure Maria there would be no comeback on her if things went pear shaped.
Alice
When I heard Darius words I felt sick, Jay was in Maria's hands? My mate was being held, probably tortured by that psychotic Mexican bitch? Then we needed to move fast but then was he my mate or did Charlotte have an agenda of her own? I hadn't felt anything up to now and surely if my mate were in danger I should feel something? No, Charlotte Whitlock, you got it wrong this time, I'd had Jazz, I certainly didn't want a pale shadow of the real thing. I picked up a magazine from the table and tried to ignore the comments from the others. Only Bella didn't speak and I thought she was finally beginning to feel Jasper's presence as a tangible thing. They would be wonderful together so long as he didn't put pressure on her, Bella could be skittish at times.