AUTHOR'S NOTE:Soooo Hi, Hope your still here.
I may have told a fib with how I was going to just do two more chapters and the story would be complete but now it will be two more chapters. This chapter is 14 pages long I know it doesnt make up for the wait but I hope its worth it.
I'm hoping to finsih the next two chapters soon
This chapter also ISNT Beta'd so any mistakes are mine!
Enjoy
Chapter 40 Before I Die Part 1
Edward POV
I paced the room back and forth waiting on Alistair to get done sewing up Mal. Seth had brought him to our makeshift medical facility. It's where Sam was brought after being shot at the Spa after he left my house that night. We had to hurry up and clean up the scene at Stacey's house just in case her boyfriend did make an appearance. I had some cleaner guys clean up her body and hoped Alistair would be able to check her out before we buried her.
Jasper had grabbed her computer and was currently going through it trying to find anything but I know he had bugged everything beforehand he was just taking precautions. The real question is who killed her and the only one able to answer that was Mal who was currently in the other room fighting.
"Stacey had a burner phone." Jasper said as he went through a small phone in his hand. My eyes blazed at him, he and Mal were supposed to keep tabs on her.
"What the hell?" I said as I stomped over to him and he held his hand up to tell me to wait but I instantly saw red. I didn't like anyone's hands in my face.
"It had to be yesterday or today when she got it. The texts she sent to an unknown number started last night and ended an hour before her death. Pretty sure she was texting the boyfriend." Jasper said.
"That still doesn't answer my question as to how she got it when you two were supposed to be watching her!" I yelled my patience had ran dry.
"It could have been sent through mail, hell I don't know! She never made any calls from her other cellphone I had tapped so I'm sure it was sent to her since she wasn't allowed to leave. Only one number has been texted to."
"And you can't trace this number?" James gave me a look as if to say that he was on the same wavelength. Whoever she was talking to probably killed her or alerted those she had been working for. If it had been sent to her, and she had not gotten it on her own it was probably being traced.
"Shit!" I said as I yelled at Jasper and took the phone from him and threw it. I then stomped it until it broke in pieces.
"Fuck Edward!" Jasper said as he ran towards me and looked down at the phone before picking up a weird looking disc thing.
"Fuck." Jasper said as he took out a cigarette lighter and burned the disc.
"It was a fucking tracer, wasn't it?" I yelled but I didn't need confirmation I knew. Did her boyfriend kill her or did the people that had blackmail on her boyfriend do it?
"What if it was from the boyfriend? Who else would send it to her house?" James asked the room as Alistair came out of where Mal was. We all ran towards him waiting on him to tell us what was up.
"He's stable but still unconscious. It didn't hit any organs so he should make a good recovery." We all blew out a breath of relief.
"When do you think he'll awake?" I asked as I started pacing looking at the doc.
"I can't be sure; I'll keep him overnight for observation but it would probably be best if someone stayed with him." Allistar said as he went back into, his room. I looked around, my head was throbbing, it was so full I didn't think I could handle anything else.
I looked at Seth who seemed worried. I didn't know if he and Mal were close, or what not but I needed him on Bella.
"James." I said as he looked at me. "You stay with Mal. Keep me updated." He nodded.
"You." I said to Jasper in a pissed off voice. "Make sure that anything that happened today isn't traced back to us." He nodded but he didn't look happy, I really didn't give a fuck because I was tired of this shit and that was his motherfucking job.
"I hope you had a few nice days off but you'll be going back to the estate to keep an eye on my wife.' I said to Seth as he nodded. One day turned into a few because his mother was sick and couldn't take care of herself. He also visited Leah at the center, that was trying to help her cope with her loss of having children and everything Jacob did to her. I didn't like it but I bit my tongue because I felt sorry for Leah and knew the regret Seth had which is why I let it slide and put James on her.
"I also hope you're not lacking because B has taken up on training these days." James said with a smirk, bringing me out of my thoughts.
"Training?" Seth asked and James nodded. I had to admit I was very proud of her at how she beat James a few days ago and how quickly she was getting used to knife throwing. Her gun test also blew me out of this world. I had been watching her for a while before I approached her the other day.
"Also fighting." James added, and we all looked at him then.
"Fighting? What do you mean fighting?" No one had told me shit about fighting and I wasn't sure I wanted her fighting with anyone.
"I caught the tell end of it, but She, Rosalie, and Alice were about to throw down. Actually, Rosalie had her hands on Alice."
"WHAT!" Came the chorus of Em, Jasper, and I. Why hadn't I been told that shit?
Emmett sighed with his hand on his face "What did Alice say this time?" He let out his breath and looked at James.
"This time?" What the fuck was going on and why hadn't nothing been said to me?
"Why does it have to be Alice?" Jasper said all angry like as he approached Em.
Emmett didn't look fazed but stared at Jasper with an amused expression. "Alice has been doing the pity me routine since lockdown. I guess Rosie didn't like what she had to say." Emmett said and Jasper's face went red.
"How do you know this?" I asked because this was the first time, I was hearing this shit.
"Because Rosie has been telling me what she's doing." He said and looked at Jasper. "I don't doubt her words either Alice has been on a trip for months."
Jasper calmed down a bit then and nodded. He knew, we all knew and it seemed like she was getting better at times but apparently that must not have been right since she almost had her ass beat. I love my sister and all, but I would have put money on Rose's ass in that fight.
"B was trying to handle it; I think she had words for the princess but I think the future Mrs. C snapped at the Princess before it sank in." I smiled my wife the ever mediator but I didn't like that it had escalated to that point. She didn't even tell me about it either. I smiled again because she was handling it like a true queen would.
"I don't know what went down before that, but I think B was trying to give her some tough love or advice I don't know but the FMC, wasn't having that." James finished grinning. "Sam and Peter followed me in we heard them from outside."
"I'll talk to Alice." Jasper said nodding his head like he really didn't want to. I hadn't really been paying attention to them but I had noticed Jasper didn't hang out much at the house, he was mainly in the garage keeping up to date with everything.
We'll almost everything, this hiccup today is a mess but maybe I should have had another guy on Stacey. According to Mal, she never left, she took me seriously about staying home. She had her groceries delivered, anything was delivered and Mal said nothing suspicious. Jasper said she only used the computer and her cell for the bare minimum.
Hearing what James had just said reminded me of something. "Alice needs a new code name. She's no longer the Princess." I said aloud and nodded but it had been hers for the longest time but in the end, she was no longer the princess because dad was no longer the boss. I was. It also may help to knock Alice down a few pegs.
"You do have a point there." Emmett pointed out. "Hmm, what could we change it to?" Emmett asked the room. "How about Shorty?" Emmett said he was dead serious. James laughed a bit but no one else found it funny.
I didn't care honestly something simple would suffice, I just didn't want her to be called the princess anymore. Especially when I had my own Princess with that nickname. Bella may be the Queen now but when she was acting like a brat I called her Princess. I smiled, but then quickly put a grimace on my face I had been horrible to her lately.
It seemed like Miami had been forever ago. I wish we could go back and be in bliss again but I knew that wouldn't stop what was happening now. Bella had been right earlier; I didn't lean on her but I wanted to be the one she needed. The way I was treating her now also contradicts what happened when she lost the baby. But, I had to be in control, that much was certain and it didn't feel lately like I was. I tried to focus on finding this rat and thought putting Bella to the side would help.
It didn't, because no matter how much I tried to I simply couldn't put her to the side. I didn't want to however I was still having trouble meshing my two lives together. I needed to find this rat and get my life back on track.
"Let's head back to the estate, there's nothing we can do right now." I said aloud then turned to James. "You stay with him and notify me of anything."
Jasper, Emmett, Benjamin, Seth, and I loaded up after leaving the building. I was a little anxious to get back because most of the ones I really trust were with me now. I had left Laurent at the house to watch over Bella, who should be asleep by now.
He didn't want to stay, he wanted to go with me but I told him watching my wife was more important right now. Besides, there were too many characters at the house that I didn't fully trust. After a silent drive home, we pulled up to the estate where it seemed like all the lights in the house were on. I even saw some men near the entrance.
What the fuck happened while we were gone? Usually only a light or two is on, not all of them. Shit, what happened? Emmett must have had the same thoughts as me because he looked concerned. We both ran up to the house where we heard Alice and Rosalie screaming at each other and our eyes widened at the sight that was before us.
****BID*****
Bella POV
I Couldn't sleep no matter how much I tried to get comfortable I just couldn't relax. Edward's words still going through my head "This conversation isn't over" Would it ever be over? I mean would it ever be resolved? It felt like it took days for us to even have a proper conversation let alone finish one. Something always calling him away or us not even seeing each other.
I rose up from the bed, sleep being the last thing on my mind now. I was a ball of pent-up anger and frustration. I was also confused, Edward had too much going on right now, and it was making him say things that didn't make sense. Him asking me if I was going to leave him?
It wasn't even the point I was trying to make, I was trying to get him to see if he kept trying to be in control of every single thing and push people away he was going to be alone. I really needed to finish that conversation with him because I think he had the wrong idea.
It also worried me he went to that extreme; he went through too many emotions in that short time span that had me trying to catch up. It was clear he had abandonment issues, which is probably the reason he was trying to control everything. Which before all this lockdown shit, he had been carefree and lenient with me going places.
Granted, I had a guard but what if? I stood and walked around the room, what if he made me think I only had one guard and had others following me. What if he wanted me to think I was able to do things without him watching. I had to shake my head, that couldn't be true because if it was, I wouldn't have ended up with Jacob that day.
On the other hand, what if he had someone watching now? I had to get rid of these thoughts, they would only drive me insane. I needed to talk to Edward, we needed to talk period. Not even bothering to lay down again, I left his childhood bedroom and headed downstairs to fix me something to eat.
I stopped once I reached the kitchen, the light was on and someone was in there. Turning the corner, I was met with Alice and her gaze turned into a hard stare. Ignoring her, I went to the fridge to pull out the stuff to make a sandwich.
It was ironic that everywhere you went in this family everyone had stuff to make sandwiches. So, I was beginning to think that shit with Ms. Cope was a Ms. Cope thing. Shit, I missed her. I can't believe I just thought that. I chuckled at my thoughts forgetting I wasn't the only one in the room. Alice's stare hadn't budged and I gave her a look as I finished making my sandwich.
"What?" I said towards her as I started putting up the deli meat, mayo, and pickles. Alice didn't say anything but stared at me. I rolled my eyes, but I wasn't going to let her intimidate me at all. Not that she did much to begin with but geez I'm so sick of this bitchy attitude.
I sat down at the bar since she occupied the table. I bit into my sandwich, ignoring her and her looks. I felt like she was baiting me wanting me to react. I was about halfway through my sandwich when Alice approached me, I guess she was sick of being ignored.
I kept ignoring her even as she stood in front of me with her arms crossed. "What?" I all but shouted as she bounced her leg up and down like she was running out of patience. I kept eating but was getting annoyed with her staring. "I would like to eat my sandwich in peace if you don't mind."
She scoffed and I threw down the rest of my sandwich. "What Spit it out Alice, its late I really don't feel playing guessing games tonight."
She paced in front of the bar eyeing me. Her robe swishing back and forth as she kept her gaze on me. "I thought we were going to tell each other if we knew anything." She said to me in an accusing tone. My memories flashing back to that one morning not so long ago.
Two days ago, Edward told me some shit but to keep it to myself. I sure as shit wasn't going to tell her about the rat situation, I wasn't going to betray my husband's trust no matter how upset I was with him at the moment.
"I don't know anything." I said as I went back to my sandwich. She scoffed again and quit pacing. I ignored her, I wasn't going to get into anything with her right now sure as hell not this late especially with a house full of people.
"Your fucking lying," Alice snapped at me. It caught me off guard, what the fuck was with her? I dropped my sandwich and rose up.
I was sick of her shit absolutely sick of it. "Look, I don't know what your fucking problem is but this bratty attitude of yours is stopping now." I said leaving the bar and approaching her on the other side. She grinned at me, no fear in her face.
"Do you think I'm scared of you Bella?" She said, bowing up at me. "We all know you aren't going to hit me." She said with a smug grin.
"She doesn't have to." I heard a voice from my side as I saw the fist of my best friend punch Alice in the nose.
"Rosalie!" I shouted. I wasn't going to even hit her but damn Rosalie.
Alice moved back wiping the blood from her nose smirking. "What's wrong Bella you need your guard dog to fight for you?" Alice said.
I could feel the anger rising up in me, Alice had become completely unhinged. "I don't need anyone to handle my shit."
"Right." Alice came towards me and I side-stepped her and grabbed her arm Rosalie at my side ready to throw down as necessary.
I looked at Alice and her glazed eyes, "You need to go to bed sleep whatever you took off." I said and then looked at Rosalie, "What the hell are you doing up?" I said.
"Couldn't sleep, seems like I wasn't the only one." She glanced at me, not a bit of regret in her eyes. I was glad Edward wasn't here or Emmett and especially not Jasper. Alice was on something; I could tell in her eyes.
"We all need to just go back to bed, we'll talk about this when we've all time to clear our heads." I said trying to calm the tension. I went back to get my sandwich so I could take it to my room to eat in peace. As soon as I reached for it, I felt being pushed from the back and my sandwich went flying everywhere!
I slowly turned, my eyes going red at Alice's smug face. Really? Did she really just push me now?
"You bitch!" Rosalie said to her but I held my hand up. Alice was itching for a fight it seemed. A fight with me, for whatever reason I don't know but I was literally sick of this shit and I was a little depressed that I didn't get to finish my sandwich.
I have tried to talk to Alice, I have tried to sympathize with her, I have even tried to make her see her ways and nothing has worked. So, maybe a beatdown was what she needed. I wasn't that person though; I didn't like to fight. Honestly, I didn't think I had done anything to warrant Alice's ire. I didn't intentionally go out of my way to make her mad, jealous, etc. Alice was doing this to herself.
I stood up at her and gazed at her. "What is going on with you?" I asked her giving her time to talk. I could see tears in her eyes but they suddenly changed when she came rushing for me. I heard Rose yell my name but all I saw was Alice's hand.
I felt the slap across my face, and I was in a bit of shock as I turned to look at her. However, once I saw Alice's grin all I saw was red and tackled Alice to the kitchen floor. She tried to grab my hair, but I didn't let her as I punched her in the face. I pulled her hair as she cried out as loud as she could.
I pulled her up and slammed my fist in her stomach. I notice Rosalie didn't stop the fight she wanted me to kick Alice's ass. I didn't know how I felt about that, I wasn't a bully nor did I want to be considered one and I almost got off of her until she tried to kick me. It caught me off guard and Alice tried to push me off of her but it was futile. I had tapped into some rage that had been building.
I slammed her head into the floor but was caught off guard by her legs and she pushed me off. I thought she had enough after that. Since she went still but was breathing ragged, I jumped off of her and moved away but was caught off guard when she quickly jumped up and grabbed my face with her nails.
"Bella!" I heard Rosalie scream at me but I held out my hand at her. There was a logical part of my brain that knew this fight seemed off but my rage was in control. I went for Alice's hair again as she slapped me. She had a firm grip on me so all I could do was bash my head into hers. She screamed at the pain, and she had let go of me, giving me a chance to take control.
As she held her head, I lunged for her and punched her in the nose. "You bitch!" She yelled as I saw the blood pouring from it. I felt a little remorse but it quickly went away when Alice ran for me again. As, she tried to slap me I could hear Rose yelling at her telling her to stop. I was blocking her little punches until she let up and once, she kicked me, catching me off guard she ran for the foyer screaming.
What the hell? I thought after chasing her. Rose and I looked at each other confused that she gave up mid fight and ran for the foyer? "Bitch, what are you doing?" Rose said as she caught up to her as I trailed behind.
"Someone help! Please help!" She screamed. What the hell was she up to? Her nose still gushing blood as she looked every which way. It made no sense at all for her to be acting like this, No one was in the house but us right? I mean Carlisle and Esme but everyone else was outside right?
"Hey!" I shouted at her as she kept screaming. Something didn't feel right here, why was she acting like this?
"Bitch what are you up to?" Rosalie asked and I wondered the same thing.
She looked at us with a smug grin but kept yelling. Rose having enough of it grabbed her hair and pushed her down. I yelled for Rose to stop, something felt completely off right now. Was she baiting us? Me?
Then she and Rose got into a screaming match, I couldn't understand any of it. My mind still reeling from the way she was acting. Did she bait me? What was she doing? I still hadn't come back to reality even when the front door opened and my husband walked in.
Then she changed, she started crying and Rose and I looked at each other. She went to Jasper who looked at her in concern. "Look at what she did to my nose!" Alice said pointing towards me. My breath caught in my throat what? She started this!
"What happened to your face?" Edward said as he came walking quickly towards me and grabbed my face inspecting every inch of it. I didn't even know what my face looked like but looking at Edward's reaction it must have looked fucked up.
"She attacked me!" I heard Alice, and then Rosalie going off before easing my face out of Edward's grip and heading towards Alice.
"You fucking liar!" I shouted into her face while pointing my finger. "You started this shit, fucking baited me." I screamed, no longer caring how I acted. I was at my wits end with Alice.
"She's lying, Bells didn't start this shit." Rosalie told someone, probably Emmett.
"Then finish it." Edward said and that caught me off guard. Was he talking to me? I quickly glanced at him and he nodded at me, but before I could do anything someone passed me quickly and grabbed Alice.
I heard a whack and then I heard Alice crying. "Look at me." I heard a demanding voice speak to Alice, no one moved as the cold angry eyes of Esme Cullen stared down at her daughter. "This behavior stops now. I mean now Alice Mary!" She said grabbing Alice's shirt and making sure Alice was looking at her.
"Esme." Jasper said but was quickly shut up when Esme gave him a look.
"You are not a child anymore, quit acting like one. You are married for fuck sakes!" Alice whimpered at Esme and avoided looking at us.
"You want to know why you don't have a baby? It's because you act like a child. Why should you have a child when you act like one? Poor Jasper would have two kids to look after." Esme said and I could tell she was beyond pissed.
I thought her words were brutal and I don't think I was the only one, there were many wide eyes around the room. "Everything is about you, always about you. How could a child even compare?" Her strength hadn't even budged from Alice's shirt.
Esme then had tears coming out of her eyes. "I waited, waited to see if you would wise up. At first, I thought you did, but it was futile you stepped right back into your old ways." She grabbed the teary Alice again. "I have all my family under one roof, and you're the only one that tries to ruin that." She let Alice go and started pacing.
"You think I don't know what you did in Chicago?" Esme screamed at Alice. "Elizabeth called me and I felt so many shades of embarrassment at your actions! That was Bree's day!" I looked down, Alice was on a trip that day for real.
Esme then pointed to me, "She's been through enough shit. Leave her the fuck alone!" Alice cried out but nodded. Esme then looked at me "You do this to her face?" I nodded. "Good job."
"Es." Jasper said and Esme gave him a glare again. He quickly shut up as she turned her gaze back to Alice.
"Now if I was Edward, I would ship your ass off somewhere but since were in lockdown and you want to fight with everyone you can go stay in the pool house and not leave until I deemed, you're ready to be an adult." She then looked at Edward "That okay?" He nodded and said he would have her guard watch over her.
"Why do I have to leave?" She all but screamed. Esme slapped her again and this time she hit the floor. Alice's face was going to be so many different colors come tomorrow morning.
"You're the one that can't get along with anybody. So, removing you seems like the best option. Now get your ass upstairs so we can reset your nose and get you moved into the pool house."
"This late?" Jasper said.
"Yes, I would like some sleep as to seem I don't get much these days with a dying husband and all." She glared at Alice again who seemed like she felt remorseful with Esme's words. Alice quickly rose up from the floor and followed Esme up the stairs. Everyone else just kind of stood around not really knowing what to say or do.
"Well, it's about damn time." I heard Rose mummer.
I couldn't share her enthusiasm; I really didn't understand why she pull that stunt? Was it to get rid of me? Did she think Esme would kick me out? Considering my husband is the one that put us on lockdown none of that made sense to me at all. What was Alice up to?
'You, okay?" Edward came to ask me and I shook my head. I wasn't okay and I couldn't even tell him why I wasn't, maybe because I really didn't know. Everything happening right now made no sense to me. Edward didn't say anything, it was like he was waiting on me to answer.
Before I could say anything, I let out a groan remembering the mess in the kitchen. "Ugh" I said as I turned to the kitchen.
"What?" Edward said alarmed following me.
"Bitch ruined my sandwich!" I let out and Edward laughed as I cleaned the mess.
***BID*****
"Ahh!" I let out a groan as Edward cleaned the cut on my face. I guess when Alice hit me her ring must have sliced my face. Now, that I could look at it, it didn't seem as bad as Edward made it. Edward on the other hand looked furious every time he went over it trying to clean it.
"Well, it doesn't need stitches." He said putting a little bandage over it. It was ironic that we were in the same very bathroom hours before in opposite roles. I turned to look at the mirror, my face looked fine sans the cut. Alice on the other hand was probably going to look purple and blue come the morning.
I sighed; her actions concerned me it was odd for her to just pick a fight like she did. Did something just click in her brain once she saw me in the kitchen? It couldn't have been planned, could it? She was already there before me, or was it? Did she know I would go to the kitchen?
"What are you thinking so hard about?" Edward asked me as I sought his eyes through the mirror. I shook my head and left the bathroom and headed to the bedroom. "Bella." He said as I pulled the covers back and propped the pillow up on my side.
"What?" I said looking at him. Truly looking at him now, he looked exhausted, like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"Baby, talk to me. Tell me what happened." He said climbing beside me but didn't touch me.
"Now you want to talk?" I said accusing it slipped out on accident. I had been wanting to talk to Edward for weeks, hell days and he was always busy. Now, he was here and for some reason looked remorseful. I really didn't want to fight with him hell I didn't even know if I wanted to talk at this point. I just wanted to sleep, my head pounding from the fight.
We sat in silence neither one of us saying anything. I played with my fingers, waiting for him to say something. I didn't know if we would pick up on our conversation from earlier or what.
"Bella, I" Edward started as I quickly looked at him. He looked like he was thinking hard about something. His mind seemed to be running with thoughts as his face didn't budge.
Getting impatient at the silence I looked at him. "It's fine Edward, we can do this another time." I said as I turned away from him to lay on my side.
"No!' I heard and then felt weight being shifted on me. Edward towered over me on the bed, his eyes boring into mine as our noses touched. He looked vulnerable, his eyes staring into the depths of mine as they turned towards my lips.
"You were right." He said as he quickly lifted himself off me. "You are right." He left the bed and began to pace the room.
All I could do was watch as he shuffled. A few things since I've married Edward I've noticed he had trouble talking, opening up about his feelings, but at some point he became vulnerable with me and then closed right back up. Who hurt him this bad? What made him act this way?
"Bella please, when we get back home, when all of this is over." He took deep breaths and I wasn't sure why he was having trouble talking. What was going on with him? Was it because of our conversation from earlier?
He sighed, "Please wait till we're home at least, then I'll tell you everything. I know I don't deserve that but please give me till then."
I wanted to shake my head, a part of me is wondering why I couldn't know now! But another part the logical part, knew he didn't need to reveal his dark secret, something told me that it needed to wait till all of this was over not when we were in danger.
I nodded at him, and he then came to me and took me in his arms telling me everything would be okay. However, I felt like it wouldn't be, I didn't know about Edward, but I could feel the line between us breaking.
EDWARD POV
I waited outside of the guard shack smoking a blunt to relax. It was deathly quiet out here, but I was waiting for someone. After Bella went to bed I felt agitated and restless and didn't want to wake her. I think we came to an understanding? She wasn't going to leave me and I would tell her about my childhood when we ended this war.
My inner voice challenged me on the leaving part. She never said she would leave you, you dumbass. I shook my head, I was losing control, trying to find this rat, Alice, my father, none of it made sense anymore.
I heard footsteps coming towards me and I quickly threw the blunt away. I knew who it was before I saw him. I was accustomed to Laurent's footsteps, so when he finally came into view he seemed shocked to see me waiting.
"Boss?" He said all alert, I noticed he had his gun out ready to shoot and everything. I guess he was confused why I was here waiting for him.
"Care to tell me why you wasn't near the house guarding my wife like I asked you too?" I said pissed the fuck off that not one guard was there except Esteban.
Laurent's eyes went wide but he also seemed pissed? "I told Peter to keep an eye on the house. Someone tripped the alarm on the perimeter; Sam and I went to take a look. I'm sorry boss"
"What do you mean someone tripped the alarm?" My blood pressure rising, I knew the answer before Laurent even said it.
"After you left, either someone left or came back to the property setting the alarm off. Sam and I didn't find anyone but it doesn't matter because I can tell you who was unaccounted for."
My breath hitched, was I finally about to find out who the fucking rat was? I leave, take Emmett, Benjamin, Seth, and James with me and then someone sneaks off the property or comes back to it?
"Who?" I asked, already knowing the answer. "Also, how do you know if they were leaving or coming back?"
"I haven't seen Caius or Bernard in hours boss." I nodded; they were on the list I clenched my fists in anger. "We heard a car near the road while we was walking, however it seemed idle at one point but was gone once we got closer to the road." I nodded, so one of them had someone drop them off.
"Where?" I asked Laurent I needed to know the point of entry the perimeter was breached.
"On the east side as far from the house you can get. The camera out there isn't working correctly either." Shit. I threw the closest thing I could find, Laurent didn't seem shocked by my anger especially when he lit up a cigarette and handed it to me.
I took a few puffs before eyeing him. "This stays between us. We will tell Em and James at a later date." He nodded as I gave him the rundown of events that happened while we last talked. His eyes went wide when he heard of my wife and mother and Alice. I told him to scope Peter out since he wasn't around like he should have been. We would definitely be talking to his ass.
While I headed back to my childhood bedroom to lay beside Bella, I felt lighter than I had in a few days. Caius and Bernard were on my shit list now, Peter as well. At least I knew we were getting closer to finding this rat.
BELLA POV
"Really? This again?" Seth said from beside me as we stared at the hill where the flags were sticking out. I had been trying to climb it granted I wasn't getting very far but I was literally going insane in the house and just being near it. I had been training with knives more, and guns with James and Laurent when they were around.
However, I hadn't seen them as much of lately, and it seemed Seth was on my ass all the time now. It had been almost two weeks since the fight since Alice had been sent to isolate. No one had seen her but I knew she was in the guest house because Peter would be outside of it at all times.
Things seemed to be on edge lately and I wasn't really sure what was happening. My husband was present, well at times anyway. I saw him about everyday but there was this distance between us? Well, it was suffocating at best, it was like we were walking on eggshells around each other.
Granted, some of it was my fault as well. I just didn't want to have an emotionally charged conversation with Edward at his parents' home. It was one of the main reasons why I didn't push him to tell me about his childhood now. It seemed like a conversation that needed to be in private only between us two.
Blocking out my thoughts, I turned towards Seth. "You could always try you know?" I glanced towards the hill trying to keep my mind busy with physical tasks. It helped me a lot running, climbing, practicing with knives and guns. It helped keep my mind from overloading, overthinking of everything else that was falling apart around me.
"I'll pass." Seth put his hands in the air shifting uneasy as he glanced at the hill. According to Caius who had been observing me more lately and even offered to make me a flag said I had been the first one to attempt the hill in years. According to Caius, only six people have attempted to climb. Two made it their flags at the top still sitting there with their green and red colors.
I knew the green flag was Edward's and I had assumed the red one was Carlisle's but according to James and Laurent a few days ago when I was practicing with knifes Carlisle had never made the climb it was for others to test their strength.
Apparently, the names were on the flags and apparently it was a rule for no one to know who's was who's but James had already informed me of his. The faded tan one sticking out of the hill halfway up. Only those worthy of the climb would see the names. It was also another reason I wanted to climb, I wanted to see who else had made the climb.
I had been practicing but hadn't made a dent so far, I barely had made it a quarter up the hill near the brown flag that waved in the hill. Another reason I wanted to climb was to prove to everyone I was strong. I felt weak at times, and always felt like I needed to prove that I was capable of more. However, it was more to myself.
Before I could say anything to Seth, Caius appeared with a smile and handed me a purple flag that had my name inscribed on it. "Thanks, Caius." I said with a smile. He nodded at me and strolled away. I never asked him to make me a flag he had taken it upon himself a week ago when I started to attempt to climb, he said he would make me one if I was serious about climbing.
I was, I was dead serious.
As Caius strolled away Seth kept his eye on him. I noticed Seth had been wary around certain people, including Caius and Peter. The Peter one though I think that had more to do with Alice than anything. I do know a few days after Alice and I fought he was sporting a black eye and was limping. Not sure, what happened but I'm sure it had to do with Alice. While I had asked Edward, he told me not to worry.
Go figure.
I glanced at the hill again, noticing all the flags in the side of it and setting my gaze at the top. I could do this or at least try my very best. Taking a deep breath, I approached the hill with my flag. I put it in the waistband of my yoga pants as I put my hands on the muddy plain. It was hard to find a spot to start climbing but once I did, I started to climb.
As I climbed closer to the brown flag that was sticking out of the earth, I pulled it up some to see the name etched in the pole. "Bernard." I mumbled as I pushed it back in and continued to climb. Getting somewhat passed the flag I heard a familiar voice yell "Go B!" I tilted back to see and lost my footing and slipped but quickly put my flag in the hill before falling down the rest of the way. I embraced to hit the ground but didn't as two strong arms caught me.
I could feel his breath on my body as I let out deep breaths. My heart hammered in my chest from the adrenaline. Edward smiled at me but it wasn't a genuine smile, he sat me down and quickly examined my body with his eyes. The look made the heat in me rise.
"B! I'm so sorry I distracted you I was just trying to cheer you on." Rose said from the side with Emmett and Seth in tow.
"It's okay" I said to Rose stepping away from Edward who looked at me with a hungry gaze. "I didn't know I had an audience." I let out an embarrassed chuckle.
"Well, I didn't know you were actually attempting to climb this thing." Edward said from behind me as my head whirled to him. He didn't seem mad but didn't seem happy either. His face was unreadable, but I could see him shooting Seth daggers.
"Hey! At least she made it past Bernard's flag." Emmett said, offering me a hug. Edward nodded a smirk played on his lips but he didn't say anything. "Good job little sister, but I doubt you'll pass mine!" He said with a voice of boastful pride as Rosalie elbowed him in the stomach.
"Which one is yours?" I asked knowing I was supposed to check the flags but I honestly didn't think I would make it to the others, James and the black one were next just a few feet higher where my purple flag now was. The blue was almost at the top and I was still very curious as to whose flag sat at the top next to Edward's.
"I'll tell you under one condition." His eyebrow rose at me and I crossed my arms.
"What?" I was pretty sure the blue one was his.
"You make some of that chicken noodle soup again. I laughed at Emmett because at the moment he looked like a little boy who was afraid of my answer.
"I'll definitely make you some regardless. I have a feeling the blue one is yours." I said smiling and Emmett's dimples smiled at me and he nodded.
I laughed and so did Em but everyone else around us stayed quiet. Emmett then turned towards Edward and a look passed between them.
"B, I will hold you to it. But we got to get out of here I'm taking Rosie gun practicing." I smiled at the couple as they quickly passed us and I noticed Seth had made himself disappear leaving Edward and I.
I looked down at myself avoiding his eyes, I was caked in mud from the hill and I was in need of a bath. "What's going on?" I decided to break the ice first clearly, he wanted to tell me something because it didn't make sense why everyone suddenly disappeared.
"I have a meeting in Denver, I want you to pack our shit because if everything goes right, we are going to head home first thing I get back." He said with a smile, and I smiled right back before leaping into his arms forgetting why I was mad, the tension between us, the longing.
He kissed me and told me to stay close to the house and to make sure Seth knew where I was. I would gladly oblige as long as I could leave here soon. Not that I hated being here, but it wasn't home and I just wanted to feel normal again.
After he left, I felt this sense of longing for him. Fear pricked my spine as I saw him climb into the car with Laurent and James. Something about this didn't feel right, it was almost too good to be true. I felt like Edward was walking into a trap.
A/N: Thanks for your support!