29

Bella couldn't shake the nagging feeling that leaving the cabin was a mistake. Maybe it was just because she'd finally gotten comfortable, found herself able to relax. Not one hundred percent, of course. She doubted there would ever be a time when she felt one hundred percent relaxed, yet she was ninety-nine percent relaxed and that had everything to do with Edward.

He'd rocked her world, made her laugh and smile. She'd kissed him, and for the first time in her thirty years of life, she wondered what it would be like if he touched her. Like really touched her. But would he ever see her like that? Sure, he said he loved her, and he held her hand and he kissed her, but would he ever be able to touch her without thinking back to their time inside the Gathering of Twilight. Would she?

"Bee, what are you doing out here?"

Startled, she brought her hand up to her chest, her fingers toying with the silver locket hanging around her neck. Edward was in the office with his father, his brothers, Charlie, Tyler, Garrett, and Felix, organizing their departure from the cabin while Esme and Alice prepped the cabin for their long absence. Emptying the fridge, lowering the thermostat, the usual.

"I don't know," she told Rosalie, unable to keep the tremor from lacing her words. "Couldn't breathe inside there."

Rosalie nodded and walked out of the house, leaning against the white railing with her ankles crossed and her arms folded in front of her. "It's been kind of intense, huh?"

"Yeah." Bella brought her hand up to her mouth. "I . . . I . . ."

But she couldn't explain what she was feeling, not without sounding like a blubbering idiot, and to be honest, she was tired of feeling like a blubbering idiot all the time. So instead, she pulled her knees up to her chest and tried to keep from weeping. Tried, but when Rosalie pushed away from the railing and sat in the white wicker chair next to her, she knew she failed.

"I'm scared, Ro. I'm scared to go back out there."

"Can't say I'm not scared, too," Rosalie admitted, lobbing her head to the side and looking at her. "I know you want to meet them, but are you sure it's not going to be too much?"

"No," Bella confessed breathlessly. "No, I'm not sure about anything right now."

"Except him. Except Edward, right?"

Bella felt her cheeks warm. "Yeah, except him."

"What makes him different?"

She opened her mouth once, twice, a third time before she shook her head and said, "I don't know. I really don't. He just . . . From the minute I saw him in his office, I was drawn to him, you know? I'd . . . I'd googled him, Ro. I fucking googled him like some . . . like some love struck teenager, and then I saw him at my show, remember?"

She nodded. "He's why you were so worked up, wasn't he?"

"Yeah."

"He's good for you," Rosalie admitted, giving her a small smile. "I'm mean, don't get me wrong, I have concerns. We all have concerns, but he's good for you."

"What concerns do you have?"

Rosalie sighed. "You rely on him. Like you've relied on me, on Charlie." She started to protest, but Rosalie put her hand up, stopping her. "There's nothing wrong with that, Bee, there's not, but Edward . . . Edward's been through everything you have, and I . . . we worry that you're latching on to him just because you share a past."

"And why is that wrong? He . . ." Bella tightened her arms around her knees, pulling them against her chest. "When I'm with him, I'm not scared to breathe. I don't feel . . . I don't feel people touching me who aren't there when's around me, and I've never not felt like that, you know?

Rosalie frowned, but nodded.

"He makes me laugh, like really laugh, and I feel beautiful and wanted . . . and needed." Bella paused, her eyes flickering from Rosalie to the front door and back. "Like how you feel with Emmett."

"Emmett?" she asked, her voice squeaking. "What . . . what are you talking about?"

Bella laughed. "Don't play dumb with me, Ro. I know you and Emmett are hooking up."

"We're not hooking up," she denied, though she refused to make eye contact with Bella.

"Then why were you were coming out of his bedroom last night?"

Rosalie's mouth fell opened.

"Attempting to put your shirt back on, too," Bella added with a laugh. "Backwards, I might add."

"You saw me?"

Bella nodded.

"Oh, my God, Bee." Rosalie covered her mouth with her hand before she looked over at the door, like she was expecting him to walk right out. She dropped her hand as she smiled. "Fine, yes, he and I are. . . I don't know. Hooking up as you called it."

"You like him."

Rosalie nodded, her cheeks turning pink. "I do. I really, really do, Bee. He's . . . And I . . . God, why is it so hard to explain how he makes me feel?"

"Do you love him?"

"Love?" Rosalie shook her head. "I don't know that I know what loves feels like." She tried to be discrete as she brought her hand up, wiping away a tear that trickled down her face. "I want someone who will love me the way my daddy loved my momma. You know, what I mean?"

Bella nodded. "He did love her."

Rosalie tilted her head to the side and looked over at her. "He beat cancer for her. He would have said it was for both of us, but it was for her, because he couldn't live without her, and she couldn't live him without him. I want someone to love me who would fight cancer for me."

"I'd fight cancer for you."

Startled, Bella and Rosalie scrambled to their feet and turned toward the garage, where they saw Emmett, Jasper, Edward, and Alice standing, each of them with their hands full of suitcases. While Jasper and Alice looked from Emmett to Rosalie, Edward's eyes were locked on Bella's. That was until Emmett dropped the suitcases he was holding and walked around the porch, up the few steps and reached for Rosalie's hands.

"I'd fight cancer for you, Ro."

"You . . . you would?" she asked, placing her hands in his and letting him pull her toward him.

"I hope I never have to, of course, but yeah. I . . ." Emmett released one of her hands and brought it up to her face, pushing her blond hair behind her ear before he leaned his forehead against hers. "I just found you, Ro. I can't . . . I can't lose you. I. . . I love you."

"You love me?" Rosalie whimpered, turning and placing a kiss against the palm of his hand. "You really love me?"

"Yeah, I really love you."

"I love you, too." She leaned up on her toes, pressing her lips against his. Emmett moaned, his arm wrapping around her as his lips parted and he shoved her tongue into Rosalie's mouth.

Bella grimaced and snuck around them, down to where Edward, Alice, and Jasper were watching them with equal looks of horror on their faces. While Bella was happy that her best friend finally found the love of her life, just like Bella had, she didn't need to see them all over each other. It was nauseating, and disgusting.

"What the fuck?"

Bella felt herself tense as she looked behind her, finding Charlie standing with Carlisle and Esme, the latter two looking amused, while Charlie shared the same look of disgust that Bella probably did, she thought. Rosalie was like a daughter to him, too. Had been since Rosalie fought to keep Bella safe at school, since the night her parents were killed in a car accident. Emmett and Rosalie jumped apart, the first looking scared for his life and the latter turned five shades of red as they faced their parents.

"I will never get that image out of my head," Charlie grumbled before he turned and walked over to the black SUV and tossed his bag into the back.

Carlisle and Esme laughed, while Rosalie buried her face in her hands.

"You okay, sweetheart?" Edward asked, wrapping his arm around Bella, pressing his lips against the outside of her ear.

She bit the inside of her lip before she turned and faced him. "I don't know. Just kind of scared to go back. It's going to be different, isn't it? People watching, expecting so much out of me all the time. I don't know that I can do it."

"We'll do it together, sweetheart. Now and forever."

"Ain't that sweet."

Bella felt her shoulders tense at the sound of Felix's voice and when she looked back, she saw him, Garrett, and Tyler walking out of the garage.

"Can we go now? Since you've decided to put a target on all of our backs," Felix added.

"Nobody said you had to go with us," Bella quipped. "You can go back to Hell for all I care."

Felix smiled. "Happily."

"Enough," Carlisle said, rolling his eyes as he dropped his suitcase next to him and placed his hands on his hips. His eyes shifted from him to her and back. "Enough of this bullshit, nitpicking between the two of you." Carlisle turned toward Bella. "I know you don't want him here, I get it, I do, but we need the added protection. Especially since your tour starts tomorrow."

She rolled her eyes. "I don't trust him, and I can't have someone around me that I don't trust, someone who makes it their mission to hurt me, to hurt Edward. And don't shake your head, motherfucker," she added, gesturing to Felix, who was indeed shaking his head. "All you've done over the last few days was try to break me down. You're not the first bully I've encountered."

Felix's grin grew. "Do you understand why I've pushed you like that, Bella?"

"Because you're an asshole?"

While Garrett and Tyler laughed, Felix simply shook his head. "Because you need to be angry, and if making you angry at me is how I get you mad, then I will keep doing everything I can to piss you off."

"Why do you want me angry?"

Felix walked over so that he was standing a few feet in front of her, close enough to make her uncomfortable, but still giving her the space she needed. He folded his arms in front of him and leaned in toward her. "Because sooner or later, the person stalking you is going to make their move, Bella. It will happen, and when they do, when they make their move, I need you so angry, so pissed off, that instead of laying down and being their victim, you fight. You fucking fight for your life, for your boy's life, for the life you want together."

He leaned away. "I'm fighting for you both to have a life together, because while it's nauseating to watch you making goo-goo eyes at each other, given everything you've been through, it gives me hope that maybe there is something such as a life worth living."

Turning, Felix walked over to his truck and tossed his bag into the bed before climbing in behind the wheel. Garrett and Tyler followed, leaving all of them standing there. Maybe Felix was as big of an ass as she thought. Then again, as he honked the horn, maybe he was.

—TB—

The closer they got to Los Angeles, the more anxious Bella found herself feeling. She was seated in the backseat of the large, black SUV with Emmett and Rosalie in the front seat, Jasper and Alice in the third row, much to Charlie's irritation, of course. He wanted Bella to ride in the same car as him, Carlisle, and Esme, but there wasn't room for Edward, and she refused to let go of his hand. He was the only reason she could leave the cabin in the first place.

Emmett pulled up in front of Sin Records, though none of them moved. Her hands were clenched into tight fists, her jaw was so tight, she had a headache, and her heart was beating furiously against her ribs. She had a one o'clock meeting with Jacob Black, a two o'clock meeting with Mike Newton, and a three-thirty meeting with Kate Denali — all under the guise of preparing for her tour, though the idea of sitting in the same room with any of them had her apprehensive, nervous, and a dozen other adjectives that described the feelings inside of her. Was she making a mistake? Would it have been better not to face any of them, not to meet her half-brother? She wasn't sure, and that scared her.

"You ready, Bee?"

Bella shifted her eyes to Rosalie. "No, but let's do it anyway."

Rosalie nodded and climbed out. Emmett followed and then Edward, who reached out for her hand. She dragged her fingers across the palm of his hand, letting her fingers wrap tightly around his as she scooted across the seat and climbed out, moving so that she was standing behind him. Where Jasper followed, Alice climbed out and headed back to Carlisle's car, climbing in the passenger seat next to Esme, who was driving. Charlie, Carlisle, Felix, and Garrett met them in front of the building, leaving Tyler to head back to the office with Alice and Esme. They were going to meet up with Sam and start the preparation for her tour.

Bella closed her eyes behind the dark sunglasses she was wearing, taking a deep breath before she slipped her hand out of Edward's and said, "I'm ready."

Her entourage nodded, and led the way to the front of the large, glass building. Emmett and Felix walked in front of her and Rosalie. Jasper was on Rosalie's left, Edward on Bella's right, and Charlie, Carlisle, and Garrett were behind them. The large crowd drew the attention of everyone around them, and Bella smiled as she heard, "Oh my God, it's Isabella Swan!" being screamed around her. They always screamed her full name, the two words filled with excitement and joy. Bella, of course, smiled and gave them a subtle wave, trying to keep the panic inside her from showing.

When they walked into Sin Records, the noise level from outside dissipated entirely, and Bella released a deep breath that lasted all of one second because she found Heidi Crawford hurrying across the lobby. Tall, curvy with long brown hair with bright red streaks, the woman had one of those voices that irked her, that annoyed her before she even said anything because the sound of her voice was too pleasant? Heidi was nice, but too friendly, grabby.

"Isabella, we hope you've enjoyed your vacation," Heidi gushed all but elbowing Felix in the gut as she pushed through him and Emmett and stopping in front of her when they grabbed her arms, pulling her a sudden stop. Bella scooted backward, a small squeak leaving her lips when she bumped into someone, turning and finding Garrett standing there with his hands out to catch her.

"I'm sorry," Bella whispered, her eyes burning with tears.

"Don't be." Garrett put his hands in front of him, clearly showing her that he wasn't going to touch her, but his eyes shifted to those on the other side of her. "She's not there, they moved her away from you."

Bella nodded, blowing out a deep breath before she turned and faced Heidi again, who as Garrett said, was now standing several feet and three bodyguards away from her. "I'm sorry."

"No, I . . ." Heidi clamped her lips shut and shook her head before saying. "Sorry. I forgot you don't like being touched." She smiled. "I've been instructed to take you to the conference room on the fifth floor."

"That won't be necessary," Rosalie quipped. "But thank you. We'll take it from here."

"Yes, of course," Heidi gritted out through clenched teeth as her eyes flickered from Bella to Rosalie and back to Bella. "If I can get you anything, please let me know."

"Thank you," Rosalie added, her tone making it clear that they were done. She waited until Heidi was out of ear shot before she shifted so that she was facing Bella. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"No," Bella admitted. "But yes."

"Bee." Rosalie shook her head. "Okay, let's go."

Rosalie reached out, but didn't take hold of her arm as she gestured for them to keep moving. Bella could feel her hands shaking, feel her legs heavy as she followed Felix, Emmett, and Rosalie to the elevator that would take them to the fifth floor. The doors slid open and they all stepped inside. The minute the doors were closed, Edward turned and was facing her, his hands coming up to either side of her face, and his lips pressing down against hers.

"I'm right here, sweetheart. I'm right here."

"Stay right here. Promise you'll stay right here."

"I promise," he whispered as the elevator jerked to a stop and he pulled his hands away from her face, but gave her a wink, his way of reminding her that he was right there, always right there.

The doors opened and they stepped out, drawing the attention of everyone on the fifth floor, where all of the crew gathered and worked when they weren't on the road. On the far side of the floor stood the four members who used to work her security team: Quil Ateara, Paul LaHote, Jared Cameron, and Embry Call. They were standing with a tall, thin man with spiky blond hair, who when he saw her, smiled and started toward them, but was stopped when the head of security, a man with dark black hair and thick black glasses stopped him, and drew his attention away from her.

"Isabella?"

Bella turned and looked past Rosalie and Jasper, finding Angela Weber walking down the hallway to her. Her hair and make-up artist stopped and looked from her and the men around her, her smile growing and she laughed before saying, "Damn, Isabella, aren't you a lucky bitch."

Angela smirked before she veered to the right and out the door leading to the stairs. Bella bit her lip to keep from snorting. Leave it to Angela to see her surrounded by men and smirk.

"This way, Bee," Rosalie whispered and gestured toward right.

She followed them down the hallway, stopping outside of a conference room with two double doors. Emmett and Felix looked back at her before Emmett reached out and pushed the doors open and led all of them into the room.

On the far side of the room stood a tall, russet skinned man with long black hair and dark eyes. Like the picture she had seen, he was tall, broad in the shoulders. His eyes trickled from Emmett to Felix to Edward, then Carlisle, Charlie, Jasper, Rosalie, and then finally onto Bella. The way his eyes widened, the way they all but lit up, told Bella one thing: Jacob Black knew for sure that he was her half-brother.

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