A/N: WELLL this is it! When I started writing this fanfic it was a itch I had been wanting to scratch and it felt amazing to finally turned thoughts that I had into something. It became an addiction and I had hoped at the time I would have been able to finish it within a year. That didn't happen obviously. I hated that it took almost 3 years to complete this story. I never wanted to be one of those authors that did that. But, when I start writing I had time like more time to write. I received a promotion at my job in 2021 and that time went away. I struggled a few months later with making time for my family, and in the end I was not able to write like I used to. The past year though.. wow its been a mental fuck and a half and I started therapy.
So, I thought I get that out and apologize for making everyone wait. AS always thanks to Sheri who has been by my side all these years even when I wasn't sending her a chapter she was always checking in!
ENOY!
Before I Die
Chapter 43 Epilogue
BELLA POV
I spit into the toilet after emptying the contents of my stomach again less than two hours ago since the last time. I must be coming down with something or all the stress, tension, and emotions were catching up to me. I had sent Jessica out to pick me something up since I was seriously lacking anything in my house at the moment.
Yes, I was back in my house. We had left the night Carlisle had died two days ago. Edward didn't want to take any chances with Caius so he moved us back home and I for one couldn't be more grateful. I may have complained about it before being locked up in my house but after staying at Esme's, I was happy I was back home.
Seth, Emmett, and Sam went out for groceries but that had been it. I was seriously lacking medications for fever, vomiting, dizziness, and on and on, you name it. Jessica who Edward allowed back and the only one allowed to leave if us girls needed anything.
Rosalie and Esme had moved here as well. They were currently on the 3rd floor in the guest rooms I had made over last time I had been stuck here. Rosalie had come with me the night of Carlisle's death and Esme had arrived yesterday with not many words spoken.
I didn't blame her at all; she just lost her partner, her spouse, her other half. As awful as a father he was, Esme loved him.
I didn't know where Alice was nor did I really care. I just wanted to know if she was in fact pregnant. If her scheme worked, I truly hoped it didn't and it had nothing to do with the fact she may or may not be pregnant it was the fact of how she did it.
Jasper, I knew was currently in my pool house and by the looks of him yesterday when he came to get something to eat he looked terrible. He must have been told what Alice did. I wasn't aware of what really went on outside of my house though. Hell, I barely saw Edward and this was his house too.
I did know Benard and Benjamin weren't here and hadn't been but according to Rose who overheard Emmett they were still at the estate doing something. I leaned my head back against the bathroom counter after I flushed the toilet. My head throbbed, and my stomach ached.
I heard my bedroom door open and Jessica's voice call my name. I quickly opened the bathroom door and let her in. She handed me a bag full of medicines as I went through them looking for anything to help my head and stomach. I froze though when I noticed what was in the bottom of the bag.
I glanced at her, and she gave me a small smile. "I just thought, you know?" she said as I pulled the pink box out of the bag. Now I faced the one thing I didn't think of at all. Being pregnant.
"Did anyone see you get this?" I asked, knowing she had someone go with her to the store. Another thing I was proud of her for.
"No, I don't think so. Laurent mostly stayed near the front of the drugstore while I got all of this." I nodded at her words and smiled. She had told me yesterday that she and Laurent were still taking things slow but she was able to kiss him now and hug him without stiffening or getting upset. Apparently according to her, Laurent didn't want Edward to know yet. If Edward didn't already know I would be shocked but on the other hand a lot of things had been going on so he could possibly not know.
"There's no way I could be," I told her but then froze. Wait, I could though. When we were put in lockdown I didn't have my birth control pills. Edward and I had sex in that gym. Chills ran down my spine, oh shit.
Jessica seeing my face give away to realization, nodded, and walked out of the bathroom closing the door behind her.
"Don't leave," I said to the closed door. I knew she hadn't budged because I didn't hear the bedroom door open or close after she left.j
I quickly opened the package containing the pregnancy test and made my way to the toilet. After reading the instructions I waited. I couldn't be pregnant, right? This was just stress my body was feeling,l right? I didn't know if I was ready to be a mom again, not after last time. I thought maybe a few years but now?
It was such a bad time. All of this stuff going on with Edward and I still didn't know who the 'He' was they were talking about. I still hadn't been told but I wasn't going to push that for now, not when things were rocky between Edward and I. I couldn't think of that day, the betrayal in his eyes but I also thought he was exaggerating his behavior as well. I didn't ask Carlisle flat out but I wasn't entirely innocent. However, Edward said I betrayed him but yet I didn't feel that I did.
Honestly, it felt like Edward was trying to control everything including me and anything that I didn't do right in his eyes felt like automatic betrayal to him. I thought we would be on good terms after Alice's revelation how he spoke to me as his equal but after hearing that his father had passed, he had hardly uttered words to me and would come to bed late when he thought I was asleep.
On some level I had gotten used to this behavior but a part of me was tired of it, tired of secrets being kept from me, tired of being pushed away. I wasn't a submissive wife, and as per Edward I felt like I had to be. So, no if I was pregnant then it wasn't a good time at all. Not when this baby's parents were so damaged and conflicted.
I shook my head, I didn't even know if I was or not. I would worry when it was time to. Peeking down at the test, my heart dropped and I started to shake. Two lines stared back at me, I was pregnant. I don't know if I could go through this again, I don't know if I could handle it all. I shook my head, my mind overloaded after the events of the past few days. Then Carlisle's voice coming through like he was right beside me whispering in my ear. "I shouldn't have upset you especially in your condition." How did he know?
I let out a sob and tried to cover it, but it was too late. Jessica entered and approached me but I didn't have to say anything. She knew and collapsed in my arms. The cries let out, and I could no longer stop them.
EDWARD POV
I throw back the glass of whiskey and button the vest in my three-piece suit ready to leave for the service to bury my father. It has been a clusterfuck for the past few days. I've had old families reach out to me, some that I forgot existed. Mainly, those from Italy where my father was originally from. I also had been keeping tabs on inside information to find any trace of Demetri or Caius.
Caius went underground and I had Bernard and Benjamin stay behind to see if any surprises popped off at the estate. I had Peter take Alice to a location that only Em and I knew about. Jasper didn't want to know until he had the test results back. Dr. Stevens was supposed to meet them to take a test and per my orders watch everything Alice does to make sure she doesn't do anything to alter the results.
I'm allowing her to attend the funeral but she isn't meant to speak with anyone and she is to stay far away from Jasper. I feel sorry for the dude, I really do and have given him the option for divorce if he so wishes it. My sister has burnt him literally. Divorce isn't really an option in our family but considering everything I'll have Alice looked after until she dies and far away from my wife. I'll allow Jasper to.
However, Jasper is a made member of my family now, he's in this for life the only way out is death. I sighed, my head was too full. There is way too much going on that I can't even think. At this point, all I want to do is get through my father's funeral and hopefully see my wife. I've been so busy all I've seen is the back of her head after she has gone to sleep.
Things are tense between us, and we do need to talk. It's just I haven't found the time to. I may have gone overboard saying she betrayed me. I realized that now, but it still hurt that she did talk about my past with him. I shook my head, let me just get through this day and then I'll deal with my marriage.
"Bro," Emmett said as he entered the room. "I got Ma in my car. Rose too. Just waiting on you guys." I rose my eyebrow
"Bella isn't down there?" Emmett shook his head
"Jessica said she wasn't feeling well. Laurent and her went to the store earlier. Jess told me she was getting Bells ready," Emmett said in a robotic voice. He was upset, and he was trying his best to keep it together for everyone. He was closer to Carlisle than I ever was plus all that shit with Alice was affecting him as well.
"Let me get my wife and we'll leave," I said as Em nodded and made my way to my bedroom. I didn't have to move far, Bella was coming down the stairs as I headed towards them,
"Sorry but I'm ready now." My gaze traveled down her body. She had her hair curled with little makeup on. I could see the black dress she wore was slim fitting and hugged all of her curves. My dick started to get hard just looking at her.
"You feeling okay?" Bella's small smile vanished from her face. Why? "Em told me you weren't feeling well," I said, then Bella relaxed and I still felt confused by this behavior. I also realized that I didn't even know my wife was feeling sick and had to hear it from my brother.
"Yeah, I feel better," she said with force and I shook my head. We could discuss this later.
"Ready?" I asked and she nodded as we headed to the garage.
***** BID*****
Black bows were tied to each pew as we made our way down the aisle. My mother looked like a zombie as she walked ahead of Em and me. Rosalie and Bella escorted her and I kept my eyes on them and everywhere around me. I had Benjamin and Bernard staking the church out for any sign of Demetri and Caius. James and Laurent were keeping eyes inside the church.
As Rosalie and Bella helped mother sit down, she hadn't said a word since yesterday, Seth came up to me discreetly. I leaned my head his way so he could whisper in my ear.
"The Masen's are here, and Peter just arrived with Alice," Seth said "The Denali's are also here."
My eyes went wide at that one. I knew Eleazar would be here, it would be strange for him not to be. But considering how his shipments were on the FBI''s radar had me flabbergasted. Jasper could not find any trace of him being watched by the FBI which meant that they were probably working for the FBI. Last I heard Garrett had been in charge since Eleazar had been under the weather which was probably an excuse for his recent absences.
I nodded at Seth, "No shop talk, they could all be wearing a wire." He nodded, which meant he would let the others know. "Tell Jasper I need him to play nice today. We need to show a united front and tell Peter to bring Alice here and to remind her of how she is supposed to act." Seth nodded, and I hated to do this to Jasper but I needed to show everyone that we were strong and anyone else knowing that Alice and Jasper were separated wasn't a good start. "Tell Sean they are welcome to sit with us."
Seth nodded and took off. I made my way to the front pew to sit beside Bella who was beside my mother comforting her. Emmett and Rosalie on the other side. My mother was crying as she looked at the casket in front of her. However, she stayed silent as she looked on, wiping her tears. I put my arm behind me and laid it on the pew, my hand touching Bella's shoulder.
Jasper and Alice joined us shortly after that and I felt Bella's shoulders tense up. That was the only acknowledgement that Bella gave with Alice's presence. Her face stayed blank and I was proud of her for not showing any weakness.
*******BID*****
BELLA POV
After the service we made our way to the graveyard where we all threw in a flower as my father-in-law was laid in the ground. Everyone came up to pay their condolences but I kept my focus on Esme, it was the only thing that was keeping me still. I felt ill and uneasy. Edward had been stuck by my side and I didn't know if that was a good or bad thing. We were having a reception at one of Emmett's restaurants afterwards where normally we would have gone to the Cullen Estate. Considering the current predicament that wasn't going to happen.
On our way to the restaurant the uneasy feeling spiked and I grabbed Edward's hand. We were alone in the limo that was carrying us there.
"You alright?" he said and I nodded but it was a lie. I didn't know what was wrong with me. My anxiety was through the roof! Was it because I was afraid of something happening? Was it because everything seemed so fake and exhausting right now? Was it because I had started to remember my mother and how she died today of all days? Or was it because I'm currently carrying the Cullen Heir in my womb and haven't told the father yet?
I just needed to get back home, I needed to get through the rest of the day and tell Edward.
The limo came to a stop and I knew we were at the restaurant. "Hey," I said in a quiet voice looking at Edward. His eyes flickered to me. "I need to talk to you about something when we're alone, okay?" He looked into my eyes acting like he wanted to ask me something but all he did was nod.
EDWARD POV
To say I was mourning was a lie. I didn't feel anything for the old man right now and I don't know what that makes me. An evil person? No, at the moment I was only concerned for the people around me. The restaurant was full of people and Emmett had it all done up. It was his Italian restaurant and it contained two floors. There was also an outside gazebo done up too. It was very private and in a location where we could have eyes and ears outside.
I was more worried about the inside. The Denalis' were here and were acting like nothing was wrong, except for Eleazar and Irina. She looked troubled and afraid and I don't know why that had me concerned. Elezear looked very sick and my assumptions from earlier were true. Carmen on the other hand, looked very well put together and was making her way around like she was the queen bee or some shit.
Sean and Bree came up to me and started pulling me from the room as they said their condolences once again. I saw my wife perk up a bit when Bree started speaking about the twins who were not with the couple but back in Chicago with Old Ed and Elizabeth. Bree and Bella started walking away from us and I noticed it was towards the restroom. I motioned for Seth to follow and I saw Sean look at Donald, Bree's guard from the corner to go as well.
"How are you holding up?" Sean asked with his hands in his pockets. I shrugged; I really didn't know how to feel.
"How are my godsons?" I asked him, wanting to avoid any conversation about Carlisle at this point.
"Growing like fucking weeds, man." He brought out his phone and showed me pictures. They were still looking like Sean and I could barely see any of Bree's features. She was going to have her hands full if they were anything like this fucker. Hopefully they inherited their mother's personality.
"By the way, thanks for letting us stay at the penthouse, man," Sean continued.
"No problem, glad it's getting put to use." I still didn't know If I was going to keep my penthouse. Not after everything and I know Bella probably wouldn't want to go back there.
Before I could say anything else Eleazar made his way towards me.
"Mind if I have a word?" he said to me and I nodded. So, we were going to do this now? I told him to follow me and we made our way to Em's office. Sean followed; Laurent was also on my tail. I glanced at Emmett when I saw him and he followed too. I sent a quick text to James to keep eyes and ears out.
Laurent quickly shut the door behind him after all of us entered the office leaving Em, Sean, Eleazar and I alone in the big office.
"So what's up?" I said trying to keep everything nonchalant while I stared down at this rat. He didn't say anything before he started stripping his clothes off in front of us. What the fuck? He stripped down to his boxer briefs and turned around in a circle. The Don of the Denali Family was really standing (almost) naked in my brother's office.
"So, you know I'm not wearing a wire," he said before facing me again. I nodded and he put his clothes back on.
"You have my attention," I said as he finished dressing. He did look frail, like he hadn't been eating.
He coughed but took a seat while we stood. "I know you are aware of the ships at my port being taken over?"
"You know we are, now get to the point," Emmett said and he was right. Garrett told us.
"They were being taken over by a rat working with someone overseas." He looked around the room but we didn't acknowledge that statement. I had a feeling after learning that Demetri was alive and was using Liam's ports that it was possible he was working with someone in the Denali Family on having whatever he could shipped to Eleazar's port in Miami. It made the most sense and the cops shut it down.
"I wasn't sure of who my rat was at first, but after everything going on in the other families it became clear who it was."
"Charles," I said for him and he nodded, however he looked calm. I had a feeling it was after his little show of attention not too long ago.
"So, I staged with the feds to find the shipment and stop what was being brought in from overseas."
My eyes bugged out. Staged? It was all fake?
"The cops in Miami were on my payroll. I also made it look like I had been taken in. If I know you as well as I think I do, you had me searched for arrest records."
I nodded because at this point why lie?
"Made it look like I took a deal, huh?" He smiled, however it wasn't a real one. "I had to do that to keep the real rats off my back and make it look like I was in hot shit." I froze. The real rats? How was Charles not the real rat? "It didn't make sense why Charles would turn on me though, but then you helped me get my answer." He looked at me and I gave him a look. Now I was lost.
His eyes looked somber then, sad even but he looked at me. "You have to know I didn't know anything at the time when I called you that day. It was all a coincidence," he said sadly.
"What day?" Emmett asked but I already knew, my heart dropped.
"The day my son died," I said for Eleazar and he slowly nodded.
"It was your comment about your wife being pregnant and my daughter's reaction to it that had me pause."
"What do you mean, El? Tanya was jealous?" Emmett said but that's not what he meant. I remember Tanya's face; it was a face of guilt and surprise and I never knew why.
"So Tanya was working with Charles?" I said my fists clenched and we sent that bitch to Alaska.
"No, not her but she was aware of her mother's dealings," Eleazar said and told sighed he looked tired. He seemed so tired
"Carmen!?" Emmett exclaimed wide eyed, answering the unspoken thought. "But why?"
"I don't know. I still haven't figured that part out but I think she wanted to rule my empire," he said with an evil laugh. "I loved that bitch with everything and then I found out she's fucking my right-hand man behind my back."
I knew something was up with Carmen, I just knew it. The way she tried to run over Eleazar, the way she oozed with power or thought she did. I just knew something was going on.
"So, they were working with Black? They notified him of where I was so he could grab Bella?" I said. I already knew my answer. It was too close to comfort that day for that just to randomly happen but I also think Caius was involved in Bella's kidnapping as well now that I knew he was a rat.
"They were working with someone else as well. I don't know who, that's why I staged the cop hit and had Garrett take control. He was to flush whoever that was out. It never worked or I never had a chance to make it work before I started getting sick," he said as he coughed but he didn't look weak at this moment.
"My wife has been poisoning me since the cop hit. Garrett is aware as well. I didn't know for a while but now I try to be busy without letting her know I'm onto her." Carmen was Eleazar's life, if he just suddenly stopped showing her affection, she would know something was up.
"Shit, and she's out there," Sean said, speaking for the first time since we had been in my office.
"She won't try anything with all those people," Eleazar said and he may have been right before. Carmen liked to keep up appearances but with all this shit going down I wasn't taking any chances.
"I still don't know who they were working for. I thought maybe she might slip up and call him whoever he was but she never did, and I had her phone tapped," El said coughing. "When I do I'll kill her and Charles," he vowed with an angry snarl.
"Charles is mine," Sean said and my eyebrows rose. I knew this fucker was nuts but I also knew he wasn't going to forget that comment Charles made at his house the day of the shower.
"I feel like we're still missing parts of the picture," Emmett said. "They were working with someone about having supplies shipped? Why tip Black off to where Bella was? I mean how did he even know where Bella was?"
A chill went down my spine, suddenly all the pieces fit. I gasped. No! how could I have not seen it?
"He wants her," I said, making my way to the door of the office.
"Who?" Eleazar asked
"Demetri."
BELLA POV
I had Bree's phone looking at pictures of Tanner and Riley. They were growing and it made me smile to know they would have a friend to play with in a few months.
We entered the bathroom to learn we were not alone. Irina sat on the couch at the other end wiping her eyes. Why was she crying? She suddenly stood up when she saw us. I handed Bree back her phone.
"Mrs. Cullen, Mrs. Masen," she greeted us as she made to leave but I stopped her.
"Irina," I said. Something about her told me something was going on or about to happen. I had felt uneasy since leaving the church. I trusted my feelings, something was happening for sure.
"Remember at the baby shower you started to tell me something but your mother stopped us," I started and Irina looked at me shaking her head from side to side.
"I can't," she said, tears pouring down. "She'll kill my father, I'm sorry."
"Who?" Bree said but I knew the answer.
"Your mother!" I answered for her and Irina nodded looking to and through everywhere like something was going to pop out of the shadows and hurt her.
"You have to leave Mrs. Cullen now. He's coming for you," she said as she wiped at her eyes.
"Who is?" Now I didn't know who she was speaking about.
"My mother and sister are fucking him. They have been this whole time. They are the ones that told him you were eating that night you got carried to the police station. My mother was also working with someone from the Cullen Family the day Black took you." She started crying again "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Cullen."
I tried to process all of this but all I could stay on was the word 'he'.
"Who is, Irina?"
"The leader of the Volturi," Irina said and she started crying again. "He wants you, he's wanted you for a while," Irina sobbed and it clicked in place.
"Demetri," I answered and Irina sobbed. That was answer enough for me.
Suddenly a large bang sounded out from the hall and I heard gunshots. Irina looked at me wide eyed in fear. Shaking my head, I went into action pulling Bree and Irina down to the last stall with me and hiding in it. Seth and Donald were right outside, no one was going to get us in here.
My fears came real though when the bathroom door opened and Seth was pushed in covered in blood by Caius. Seth had been shot while Caius held his arm with a menacing smile on his face.
Looking at Seth he aimed for Caius but missed his shot and Caius fired and all I could do was stare at Seth and the bullet holes in his stomach and the blood seeping out of them.
"NO!" I screamed while leaving and heading for him as Bree followed me.
Seth hit the floor, and I grabbed whatever towels were on the floor that had fallen from Seth being pushed into them.
I noticed in the corner of my eye Bree pulling something out of her shoe and aiming it towards Caius. She threw it and it landed on his cheek. Caius let out a loud shriek as I saw what appeared to be a knife sticking out with blood dripping down. He then pulled it out and ran towards her but I tried to grab him before he punched Bree in the face knocking her out cold.
"Bree!" I tried to go to her but was roughly grabbed by Caius. I knocked my head back towards his nose and his grip on me loosened. I tried to go for the bathroom door and let out a scream which was silenced by Caius' hand.
He pulled me towards him and his grip on my waist tightened while he had his other arm around my mouth as he moved us out of the bathroom. I saw Bree's guard Donald lying on the floor covered in blood and he wasn't moving.
Caius dragged me towards the end of the hall where an exit sign was. I struggled against his grip but it only tightened, the shit. I needed to be careful, I didn't want to lose my baby. Edward would come, right? Someone would, right? This whole place was full of mafia men, right?
As he kicked open the exit door I noticed the grip on me loosen and I was pulled out of his arms by none other than Bernard who didn't even give Caius a chance and shot him in the head.
Caius' body landed with a plop and Bernard pulled me to him. "Are you okay?" he said in his calm voice.
"Yes, I think so but we need to get help for Seth, Bree, and her guard." I tried not to cry but it was hard not to.
"I have Benjamin alerting the others," Bernard said as we moved away from Caius' body.
"How did you know he was going to come from that door?" I asked as we moved to the back of the restaurant and became nervous of the direction he was taking me.
"I saw him sneak in. I alerted James to tell Edward and waited. I knew he came back out the same door," he said as he sent a text to someone and looked at me. "Are you okay?"
"How did you know?" I asked and became defensive and we quit walking.
"Listen, I've worked with him for years and he has the same getaway route."
I just stared at him but then Carlisle's words came back in my mind. Trust Bernard.
I nodded at him and we kept walking until Bernard hit the ground in front of my feet. I froze, it took me a minute to realize what had happened but Bernard was staring up at me eyes wide with a bullet hole in the center of his head. I gasped and ran but it was too late.
A dark menacing man wearing half of a mask stepped out of the shadows and I backed up trying not to go towards him. It was irrelevant because I backed up into someone's chest. I quickly turned and looked and it was that cop that harassed me the night I went to the police station. Hawkins or something. I quickly turned back to the man in the mask who looked very familiar.
The mask was black with half of it covering up his face while the other half looked at me with a proud smirk and grin. Why did he look so familiar I know I've seen him before "I finally got you." He said and his voice had me shiver. Now I knew who It was by his voice. Jessica was right you would never forget a voice like that. A voice of someone who was supposed to be dead.
Demetri.
-End of Before I Die
SOOO yes there will a sequel and I plan to take a break for a few weeks and then start writing again but this time I'm going to write multiple chapters before posting so you don't have to wait! Thank you to all who read, review, and love my story. I read every review and try to comment on each one! Thank you so much keep me on your author updates!
