37

Like all good things, eventually Bella and Alice had to leave the sanctuary of their small bedroom. Alice was hungry, and Bella had learned you don't keep her away from food when she was hungry. So they dressed and headed downstairs, but when she found Carlisle standing in front of the living room window, Bella gave Alice a look and waited until the two were alone before she cleared her throat, drawing his attention to her.

"Hey, sweetheart," he said, smiling before he reached for her.

Tears flooded her eyes as she rushed across the room, nestling herself in his embrace. "I'm sorry," she cried. "I'm so sorry."

"You don't have anything to be sorry for," he whispered. "I didn't realize you thought I'd killed them."

"I just . . ." She blew out a heavy breath. "I heard the gunshots."

"I wanted to shoot them." Carlisle moved them to the couch, sitting with her still nestled against her. "When we walked in, saw him on you, I wanted . . . I wanted to kill him, Bella. I fucking wanted him dead for putting his hands on you like that, but I couldn't do it. I just couldn't take his life. So I beat the fuck out of him, and Alistair, told them if they ever came near you again, I would finish what I started. Then I came out and me and Emmett got you out of there. I should have told you when you asked that night. I just . . . You were already hurting, and I didn't want to add to it."

"I thought I was protecting you." Bella sat up and looked at him. "I didn't want them to lose you because of me."

"And I appreciate that, I do, but, sweetheart, you don't owe us anything. Okay? You're our family, and we take care of our own."

"I'm just not used to people caring about me, I guess," she admitted. "My dad ignored me for most of my life, and my mom never let me forget what a disappointment I was to her. Guess I know why, don't I?"

"Well, get used to it," he laughed, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her back into his arms. She felt his lips against the top of her head. "I look at you, Bella, and I see this beautiful, brave woman. You make Alice smile and laugh. I'm sorry that your . . . I'm sorry they ever made you feel less than one hundred percent perfect just the way you are, because, sweetheart, you are perfect."

"Thank you," she whispered. "I kind of needed to hear that from someone other than Alice. She's a little biased, you know."

"I do know that." Carlisle laughed, and once again, she felt his lips against the top of her head. "But Alice isn't the only one who loves you."

"I love you, too, Carlisle," she whispered. "Thank you for, you know, kicking their asses for me."

"You're welcome. Now, I'm starving. Shall we go see what we're having breakfast? I believe it is Jasper's turn to cook, and between you and me, that's concerning."

Bella laughed and stood up, offering him her hand. "Let's take our chances."

Carlisle wrapped his hand around hers and the two headed into the kitchen, where they found the table covered in pancakes, eggs, bacon, and sausage. Bella was surprised to see Garrett, Kate, Peter, and Marcus sitting with Esme, Rose, Emmett, Edward, Jasper, and Alice.

"Hey, honey, you okay?" Garrett asked, placing his hand on Kate's back.

Bella shook her head. "No, not really. Been kind of a shitty week."

"That's an understatement," Edward quipped, picking up his fork and pointing it at her as she settled in next to Alice. "What was the big house like? Get a prison tat?"

Bella rolled her eyes. "Cold." She shook her head. "They put me in a cell with my mother."

"They did what?" Marcus snarled, taking Bella back. "Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"Those motherfuckers," he muttered before standing up and hurrying out of the kitchen.

"What was that about?" she asked.

Peter frowned before picking up a piece of bacon. "Your mother is in federal custody, Bella. While we are housing her in the county lockup, she should never been placed in a cell with anyone, especially the person who she is being accused of trafficking, abusing, conspiring against."

"Oh." Bella wasn't sure what else to say. "So what's he doing?"

Peter grinned. "Gonna nail those sons of bitches to the wall. This Sam and Mike you kicked out? Well, let's just say by the time Marcus gets done with them, they'll be lucky if they can get jobs as security guards."

Bella tried to smile, tried to be happy that Sam and Mike were going to get what was coming to them, but she just didn't have it in her anymore. Sighing, she leaned forward so that her elbows were on the table.

"What's going to happen to Emily?" Though they tried to hide it, she saw the way everyone around her tensed. "She's my sister. That's . . . that's what you said, right?"

Peter shared a look with Garret, who gave a subtle nod, before he said, "Yes, Emily Young is your sister. You older sister, actually."

Bella bit the inside of her lip before asking, "How old is she?"

"Twenty-two."

"Six years older than me," she whispered, mostly to herself. "I have a sister. This is just . . ."

But before she could articulate exactly what that was, the doorbell rang. While everyone tensed, Bella scrambled to her feet, needing a moment to process everything. She hurried into the living room, past Marcus who was still on his phone, and yanked the front door open. She couldn't stop the scream that spilled from between her lips as she stumbled backward.

Standing on the front porch was a man who looked exactly like Charlie.

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