Chapter 42 – Jacob Flips

JACOB

I slammed my phone down on the passenger's seat. The plan, the fucking plan, to get Bella to sign over her baby was fucking changed. Money. Renee and Felix wanted money. When I asked how I was to manage that, I was cussed out and told to figure it out. Figure it out. What the hell! What was there to figure out?

Damn it! Was being Felix's lacky worth it anymore? Blindly following his orders? I wasn't sure. Yes, I have done things I wasn't proud of, but my brothers and sisters, hell even my few children, weren't in as deep as me. There was no hope of me not serving time for some of the things I've done.

Bella was not like the other "girls" I knocked up. The others were junkies, easy to persuade to sign over their babies for drug money. Bella was smart, going places. Would make a great mother.

When I last saw Bella, attacked her physically, I pulled my kick, softening the blow. If anything, her hitting her head on the pavement was worse, possibly causing a concussion.

My last "threat" was made only because both Felix and Renee were getting suspicious. I had to do something. Make sure they knew I was still playing by their rules. Reality was, I was contemplating going to the cops, turning stool pigeon.

My gaze moved to the police station and then to the file box next to my phone. It was all the proof the cops would need to put both Felix and Renee away for the rest of their lives… and me. Addresses, payoffs, and a murder. I have video too.

Damn it! I thumped the steering wheel. The plan was to kidnap Bella close to her due date and ensure she delivered. Once the kid was born, sending a ransom note to her husband.

Hell, I had no choice. Getting out of the car with the box, I entered the station.

"How can I help you, sir?" the lady behind the desk asked.

~~~ Reaching for Love ~~~

Six hours later, I walked out of the station. The detective and state's attorney cut a deal with me – ten to fifteen years instead of twenty years – if I worked with them to bring Felix and Renee to justice. They wanted me to continue with the plan of kidnapping Bella. I argued against this. But both the detective and attorney assured me that everything else was petty crimes, and the murder was solved. Apparently my father, Billy, killed the girl... a fact I didn't know. My involvement in everything else was when I was a minor, so I wouldn't be charged with those crimes.

Despite turning state's evidence on my family, it felt right. And as I told the detective and the attorney, I had feelings for Bella. Not romantic feelings, she was, in a strange sense, my sister. I think those feelings made me want to protect her. Protect my our baby. Made me signed away my parental rights.

BELLA

When the Detective Hedley rang the doorbell, I wasn't overly concerned.

"Hello, Mrs. Cullen."

"Bella," I reminded.

"Bella, is your husband home?"

I shook my head, telling him Edward would be home in the next five or so minutes.

~~~ Reaching for Love ~~~

I stared at the document in my hands. Jacob signed away his rights.

"Detective, I don't understand. Why would Jacob come into the station and give you this document?" Edward asked.

It was a good question. One I should have thought to ask.

Looking up, I waited for the answer.

Hedley lifted his hand and rubbed his jaw. "Honestly, I don't know. I had the clerk make a copy of it and certify it, like the copy Bella is holding is. It is on file in case Jacob goes against it."

"You don't think it is an act to lure me into a false sense of security, do you?"

"No, Bella, I don't think he would do something like that. He seemed genuine when he asked to speak to me and the state's attorney."

"State's attorney?" Edward asked.

Hedley nodded.

"Bella, I would like to speak with the detective alone. Would you give us a few minutes?"

"Sure," I said. "I'll check on dinner."

EDWARD

I walked Bella walk out of the office. Without me even asking, she closed the door.

"Okay, Detective, what is going on?"

"Jacob came in this morning. He had evidence of several crimes his uncle and his associates had committed."

Standing I paced the room. "Like?" I asked.

"I'm not at liberty to say."

Shit! I knew that, but it wasn't what I was trying to ask. "Is Bells in any danger?"

Hedley rubbed his jaw again. "Don't pull her bodyguard yet."

"How?" How was she is danger?

Hedley shook his head. "I can't tell you for sure. We have nothing concrete and neither did Jacob. He's going to try to get me information for us."

It was enough for now. "Will Jacob serve time?"

"Yes, he's confessed to several recent crimes and went on record for those."

I nodded. "Good."