Hello!

First, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and happy holidays! May each and every one of you stay healthy and happy, surrounded only by people you love and who love you. I wish you a more successful year ahead, and may all your wishes come true!

Secondly, I want to thank everyone who shared their opinions in the reviews. It is extremely important for me to receive feedback and know how I'm doing. I agree that the previous chapter is confusing, and I promise that at the first opportunity and with a little more free time, I will revise it to make it better!

Last but not least - my Christmas gift for you is here. Enjoy! ;)

Chapter 9

EPOV

Heart-wrenching cries and sobs echoed in the room. There was no one around me, and only a small light from the window illuminated the room. However, the moans seemed to be close to me and sounded familiar. Murmurs from other voices, quieter and calmer, could also be heard. I approached the door, slowly opened it, and before me was a corridor that felt familiar. Numerous rooms, some with familiar large windows and drawn blinds, others closed with only ordinary wooden doors.

Yes, this place was familiar to me—the FBI office in Seattle. Despite my short time there, I could already say that I knew the place because at the end of the corridor was Liam's office, where we were given our current task.

"No... Edward" the same sobbing sounded again, echoing with repeated "no" and "this can't be true" "he's not there" could also be heard. And suddenly, as if a light bulb went off in my head, this voice became too familiar. It was the voice of the person who was increasingly playing a significant role in my life, despite my efforts to mentally reject this possibility.

Liam's voice confirmed my suspicions when Bella's name also echoed in the corridor, as if suddenly something changed. Without even thinking, I rushed to Liam's door, but just before I opened it, Emmett opened it, breathing heavily and looking as if he might start vomiting any moment. He raised his head, directed his gaze towards me, and then turned and forcefully punched the wall several times, leaving a huge hole in the plaster.

"Emmett, what's happening? Is Bella okay?" I asked, approaching him, but he didn't even flinch. The only action was the repetitive pounding on the wall.

"Call an ambulance" came from the other room, and that was enough to divert my attention from Emmett and enter Liam's office. Behind his desk, Bella was lying on the floor, soft moans and the repeated "no", "stay" and "Edward" could still be heard faintly. Liam was kneeling beside her, and Jacob was talking on the phone, probably with 911.

I knelt beside her and began to run my fingers through her soft hair. "Bella, love, what's happening? What hurts you?" I asked, now deeply concerned. However, there was no reaction from her. I looked at Liam, but his attention was also focused on Bella, who was curling up more and more, wrapping her arms around herself.

"The ambulance will be here in 5 minutes." Jacob said, then bent down and lifted Bella in his arms, carrying her to the leather black sofa in the back of the office. However, I noticed that on the floor, where Bella had been lying seconds earlier, there was a small bloody stain.

At that moment, Bella screamed again, and then cried, clutching onto Jacob's arms.

The last scream jolted me awake, drenched in cold sweat in bed. My heart was racing in my chest, and I barely managed to breathe. This was probably the most vivid nightmare I had ever had. It took me a while to calm my breathing, and with a quick glance at the windows, I noted that it was still dark outside. However, I didn't want to lie down again, so I got up and quietly went out into the hallway on the floor to make coffee. But before doing that, the vivid memory of the injured woman who had already found a place in my heart wouldn't let me be at peace. So, quietly closing my door and opening hers, I looked at the sleeping and quiet form of Bella, who had hugged the pillow and pressed it to herself. Her hair was loose and scattered on her face and back, and as always, my heart raced faster with just a glance at her. The calmness she radiated transferred to me, so I closed the door and went down to the kitchen.

When the coffee was ready, I opened the door and went out into the yard, where just a few days ago Bella and I shared a kiss. A kiss that meant more than a mistake caused by a few glasses of alcohol. The time spent with Bella made me contemplate every day more and more to cross the boundary between my professional and personal life. Bella was an enigma to me—a beautiful and wonderful woman who had experienced more than a person should, but it didn't break her over time; on the contrary, it gave her the strength to move forward.

Outside, the weather was cold, sending chills through my body, which wasn't the only reason I shivered. My dream seemed too real, which worried me. Bella's cries were so heart-wrenching and seemed to come from her soul. One thing I didn't understand—why did no one react to what I was saying? Why did she repeat my name countless times? What was wrong with her, and why did that spot on the floor bother me so much?

However, these questions would remain unanswered because it was just a dream. I repeated it enough times to divert my attention and notice that outside, the weather was already brighter.

It was a sign that the day had started, and it was time to move on. I needed more time alone, so I quickly changed and went for a walk in the awakening town with a clear goal — buying breakfast that Bella loved so much. In front of the store, there was no line. I quickly grabbed the favorite croissants and headed back before she woke up.

When I entered the house, I noticed that it was still quiet, so I left the breakfast on the table and went back to the yard with the remaining coffee to do some exercises. I needed to keep my mind occupied with other activities besides contemplating my vivid dream and Bella's anguished face, as well as my true feelings for her.

My exercises followed a familiar sequence with soft music playing from my phone, and the repetitions went smoothly. However, the opening of the door caught my attention, and even before I could fully turn towards it, something collided with me, specifically Bella, who wrapped her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist. She held me for a few seconds, pressed me against her, then pulled her head back and kissed my cheek. Slowly, she slipped away from me and stood up, and I wished to grab her again and embrace her around me. She sat so perfectly beside me, filling my soul and making it whole.

"Good morning!" she said with a gentle smile, and that was enough to bring a smile to my face as well. Even sleepy, she was a vision I admired.

"Good morning, lo... Bella!" I corrected myself, surprised by my own inclination to call her my love. This had never happened with Tanya, and I wasn't supposed to feel such emotions towards Bella. It was too early. Right?

"I wanted to thank you for the croissants. You didn't have to go out again, but I really appreciate it. Thank you!" she said and hugged me again. If a few Italian pastries could elicit such a reaction from her every time, I would buy only croissants for the rest of my life.

"No problem. I woke up too early and had time, plus it's a pleasure for me." I replied.

She just nodded, then took my hand and led me back to the kitchen. Bella had already set the table and divided the croissants. We both sat down to have breakfast, and I probably observed more of her amazement and delight than actually ate, but she didn't notice, which fortunately was the better option.

Both our phones signaled that we had messages. I picked up mine and looked at the screen. There was a message from L, stating:

15 m. 2. UR

After 15 minutes, both of you, urgent.

"What's happening?" Bella asked, sharing my thoughts.

"We'll probably find out in 15 minutes." I replied.

She got up and cleared the table, while I moved to the other room and turned on the laptop for our conversation with Liam. Bella entered the room and sat next to me.

"It's probably related to the murder. Maybe he wants us to investigate thoroughly what happened and who got hurt." I said.

"No, it won't be that. At least, he won't do it this way. I know Liam from my previous missions, and he knows very well not to search for us like this unless it's absolutely necessary."

At that moment, the laptop screen notified that there was a call, and I pressed the green button. Liam was in his office, and the surroundings reminded me of the time difference between us.

"Hello, Liam. Why are you looking for us?" Bella began.

"I don't know what you two are doing, but I received information from my source that someone is observing the situation and information among everyone and has become a target. I assume you understand who the target is."

Yes, the target is us. That was clear.

"How did they find out about us? Besides our chase a few days ago, there hasn't been another case where someone was around us." I explained.

"That's no longer relevant. The plan is changing now so that I can protect you enough, so when the time allows, I can pull you back safely."

Liam seemed concerned, which added to our worry. He probably knew more than he showed. How was it even possible, given that we were the ones who witnessed the movements of Enzo's men?

"What does it mean when the time allows? What exactly is the situation, Liam?" Bella asked.

"Bella, Edward, yesterday I received information that the target appears in places where dangerous activities take place. An order has been given that if they spot you, they should shoot first and ask questions later." This was a typical order in mafia circles, indicating that we had made fundamental mistakes in our work.

"From now on, my goal is to keep you alive, not to dig deeper into information about Enzo's family in Palermo. You will receive coordinates where you will find a key and new data on a list. Tonight, long after sunset, leave this house and head to the new location. There are enough supplies inside and the necessary equipment for at least a few months ahead. You are required to fix the house to make it look like no one has lived there, gather everything you have, and tonight go to the new place. Leave the car you are currently in at the end of the adjacent street; the keys should be in the compartment, and at the beginning of the same street, another car suitable for your new place will be waiting for you. If you go there, stay closed, and only if your life is directly threatened should you leave. Is that clear?"

I was speechless... The situation sounded too dangerous. Bella and I nodded to show Liam that we understood the information so far.

"From now on, don't contact me until you receive additional information from me about the next actions, which will likely be about your return to the States. The equipment you have placed so far will remain in these places, but you should not trace the information. The necessary team has taken over your actions here in Seattle."

"Do you have any idea how long we will stay at the new location?" I asked.

"No. It could be a week, it could be several months."

Again, both of us nodded. If we had to be cautious, so be it. That would be our main goal. Even in the previous days, I knew that only the two of us were not enough to cover every connection between the Italian family and the Volturi, as well as everything illegal happening here. I didn't expect such a turn, but rather the arrival of the necessary support to strengthen the team.

"If everything is clear to you, expect a courier to deliver a letter to your box today. Barely when he leaves, only one of you should go and take it, and after sunset, go to change cars, take the key, and move. Until then, I wish you success. Take care of the house, and when you leave, leave the keys in the mailbox. Try not to leave any fingerprints."

"All right, thank you, Liam. We'll wait for the delivery." I concluded, ending the call. A minute later, neither of us said anything. Suddenly, different moments from my dream started playing like frames in my head, and the situation took on an entirely different scale. Everything seemed too real. What if something really happened to one of us? What if they find both of us? It wasn't about whether we were trained agents or ordinary citizens, like everyone else living all over the world. It was simply about two lives that were currently in danger. These thoughts again caused my heart to race, and Bella stood up next to me as if mechanically and headed to the bathroom. I stayed on the couch a little longer, and when she returned and handed me gloves, I lifted my gaze to her face and noticed that large tears were streaming down her cheeks.

"Bella, look at me." She shook her head, left the gloves on the table, and turned to the other things she had taken from the bathroom and was preparing part of the supplies. I approached her and took her hands. She lifted her face towards me, and her eyes showed so much concern but also determination. Too many emotions passed through her eyes in a short time. Her eyes were so expressive, but right now I just can't pinpoint all of them.

"Edward, I'm scared. But not just for myself. Something significant happened in the last twenty-four hours, without us knowing. They've probably gained information about us and know who we are; Liam just didn't tell us. If they find us, that will be the end. I'm sure of it. I'm not afraid of death but the idea that the things I set as goals for my future will remain unfulfilled. No one else will seek vengeance for my family, no one will be able to help in the investigation to stop the destruction of ordinary lives..."

With each word she spoke, she started sobbing more and more, and tears flowed down her face endlessly. Without saying anything, I pulled her towards me and embraced her tightly. In that moment, I knew that even when the time comes, and the real danger is in front of us, I would sacrifice my life for this determined and brave girl. Her tears weren't from the genuine fear of her life; rather, they were nerves and the weight of the looming threat over us.

"Bella, listen to me. No one, absolutely no one, will find us. The FBI office has taken actions to protect us. When a more suitable moment comes, we'll return to Seattle, and you will continue your personal mission, but from there. For now, the only thing we need to focus on is staying alive and healthy to reach that other point. I want you to think only about something more positive the entire time. For your family, for your friends, for everyone who loves you and is waiting for you to come back. Do you hear me?"

She nodded, and her sobbing slightly subsided. I gently kissed her forehead, and she smiled faintly, giving me hope that she felt better. We remained embraced for quite some time, and I enjoyed the moment, without putting more thoughts into the unknown – that didn't matter at the moment.

She pulled away slightly. Bella and I remained seated in silence, looking into each other's eyes. Despite everything, we were united and ready to face the difficulties. The important thing was that we were together and supporting each other.

"It's time to get to work. Maybe we should fix the luggage first."

"Okay, let it be. I'll take a shower, and then I'll fix the luggage. If the courier arrives while I'm in the bathroom, don't go out. Wait for me and come tell me."

"Okay. Thank you." she said, wiping the remaining tears. "I'm going to fix the luggage."

We both went up the stairs and went to our rooms. I took out my suitcase and looked at which clothes to pack and which ones to leave for today. Then I took my towel and went to the bathroom. The water was pleasant, and I stayed longer than necessary, but a lot was ahead of us, and it seemed like one of the last moments of tranquility. I hoped I was wrong...

I turned off the water and stepped out of the bathroom, changed into the clothes I had prepared in advance, and got busy packing everything else. Half an hour later, everything was in its place, and I went back downstairs to grab the gloves and put them on. Then I went back upstairs and took off my sheets, gathered the towels, and headed to the laundry room. After starting the washing and drying program, I went to check on Bella. I knocked on her door, and I heard her voice before opening it.

"I started the washing machine. I go downstairs and begin with the kitchen and all the dishes that could be used. Then we'll continue with the everyday stuff." I saw that she was almost ready with her luggage. Bela raised her head and looked much calmer.

"Alright, I'll be there in max 10 minutes. I'll also prepare things from the laundry room. The courier still thinks he hasn't passed or at least I haven't heard."

"Good. I haven't heard anything either, we'll wait for him."

I went back downstairs and dealt with the tasks for the day. Bela came a little later and started cleaning the remaining rooms, and after about an hour, I joined her. A noise in the yard caught our attention, and both of us pulled behind the wall so as not to be recognizable if someone tried to see us through the window. The mailbox door opened, which was our signal that our package was here, and then the noise of the departing car signaled that we could organize our exit. My gun was tucked behind my back, and I took it out, then moved it to the pocket of my pants for easier extraction if necessary. Bela stayed by the door, and she also had her weapon. There was nothing special around the house. There was no movement on the small street, which was also usual, so I approached the fence.

In the mailbox, there was only a small white envelope. I quickly took it in my hands and returned to her. In the envelope, there was a note with coordinates that we could input into GPS, along with a small key. Just one. Liam evidently wanted to show us that either no one was leaving the house, or both of us would do it together, as per his commands. I took out my phone and entered the coordinates, with Bella sitting beside my left shoulder, observing what would come up.

On the map, a location appeared in the lower part of the island, somewhere deep in the woods. Probably a safe house. But how could Liam have access to such a house in Italy? They are generally intended for different purposes.

"The situation will be different, but I hope the cover of the place is good."

"At least it looks that way from the map. We'll find out soon." Bella said, then took the serum again and started with our urgent task. I also put away my phone, and we continued with the cleaning.

The day passed quickly, and soon the sunset signaled that our time for action was approaching. We had dinner with leftovers from the fridge and cleaned again the places we touched. Upstairs was fixed, the sheets and towels left as we found them on the first day, the lower floor was also in decent condition. We took the suitcases and again, in tandem, loaded them into the car, trying to touch everything with gloves and not attract unnecessary attention in case someone was watching.

Around us, everything was still so deserted, so with a final inspection of the house, we locked it and left the key according to Liam's instructions. I started the car and headed to the adjacent street for its replacement. It was also dark and small, but just in case, I drove slowly to inspect the cars and neighboring houses for anything unusual. Both of us were on edge and particularly cautious, but fortunately, there were no signs of trouble.

Again, following the established plan, we exchanged our car for a new off-road-ready jeep. Yes, we would definitely be somewhere hidden. I moved our suitcases to the trunk, and we got into the car and found the new keys in the glove compartment as was said earlier.

Up to this point, the plan was going smoothly and without obstacles.

"Bela, please put the coordinates into your phone, and let's go before something new comes up." I said.

"Okay, one moment." she said and took out her phone. After entering the coordinates, we set off, with me staying alert the entire time, watching all the mirrors for a repeat of our incident from a few days ago. Fortunately, there was nothing suspicious, and half an hour later, we could breathe more easily. According to the phone map, the journey would take nearly two hours or more due to the winding and narrow road, not conducive to high speeds. At least the traffic wasn't heavy, which was in our favor.

We didn't talk much in the car, and the atmosphere felt tense. However, both of us carefully tried to avoid additional unpleasant feelings. Around 2 am, we reached the last turnoff, which was almost invisible from the main road we had been traveling so far. About 10 kilometers inward, a small hidden cottage emerged in colors that blended perfectly with the surrounding environment.

There was a small garage on the right side of the cottage, its door raised, so I parked the car directly inside.

"Take out your weapons, and let's first check the perimeter." I suggested, and she nodded.

Both of us got out of the car, closed the garage door, and slowly made a circuit first around the house and then inside. The first floor had a small entrance, a combined kitchen and living room equipped with a large fireplace loaded with wood, a small room filled with supplies, including a huge refrigerator meant to hold our provisions for the coming days, and narrow stairs leading to the upper floor. The furniture wasn't new, but it seemed well-maintained, which didn't concern me at all. The upper floor consisted of two small rooms, each with a double bed and a wardrobe, and a shared bathroom.

Conditions were good, and we weren't here for a vacation. Indeed, Liam was right, and as far as I could see, we had absolutely everything we needed to survive the coming days.

"Edward, come to me," I heard Bella calling me. I returned to the lower floor and noticed she was holding a small note with something written on it.

"What is this?"

"It was left on the table. Take a look! I assume it's from Liam or whoever prepared the house for us."

The note only had "-1. Below the square" written on it.

"For the first time, I don't understand what this means." she said, handing me the note. She then began to look more carefully around us. It was another coded message. Hmm, what can be? – I thought to myself.

"Given our situation and the location we're in, as well as its purpose, I think it directs us to another room or an underground level." I shared. Bella's eyes lit up in understanding, but the second part of the note remained a mystery—what square?

"Edward, look!" Bella exclaimed, and when I looked at her, she was sitting near the sofa, and under it was a square-shaped carpet.

"Ah! I think that's what it meant. Well done, Bella!" I moved to her, and we started rearranging the furniture. Under the carpet, there was a small door that, once opened, revealed small stairs leading to the lower floor—apparently, the only entrance and exit. Both of us descended slowly, and before us appeared a small room with several screens showing surveillance footage—of the main road where we made the turn, several of the other busier nearby roads, and about 10 live feeds around the house and inside, including one from the garage.

On the back wall, additional weapons and ammunition were hung, next to them were stocked more food items and canned goods, and piles of wood for the fireplace. The FBI office had taken good care of us; that much was clear. Now our safety was in our hands, and I was ready to take all measures to keep it that way.

"We have everything we need. Now the only thing expected of us is to sit here." I told Bella, who was still observing the camera recordings.

"Yes, I see. I just hope we won't get bored quickly because otherwise, it will be a tense situation."

"Impossible, or at least I hope so…" I said, laughing because she had a different perspective on the situation than I did. I was glad that it was so because this was the better option compared to the crying Bella, with whom I didn't want to become acquainted again in the future.

We returned to the upper floor and covered the little door. We would use the hiding place probably once a day, just to check if there was an immediate danger or when we needed more supplies.

On the upper floor, Bella had knelt near the television and was browsing the collection of books and DVDs sitting there.

"I don't think it will take us much time to go through all of these." she pointed to the two rows of the small shelf on which the television was placed.

"Better these than nothing."

"Yes, you're right too."

I took some time to look around me carefully. Heavy and dense curtains were fastened around the windows, as well as thick drapes to hide the light from inside. Our concealment would be good thanks to them. In the kitchen, there were enough plates and glasses, as well as a small coffee machine—for our common happiness—additional pots and pans according to our needs, and a small oven with two burners on top. The living room had a sofa and a smaller armchair near the fireplace.

"Edward, let's bring in the suitcases."

"Wait here, I'll bring them."

I returned to the garage and brought out all our belongings, checked the garage door, and went back to Bella.

"Come to the upper floor." she said quietly. She came to me and took some of the bags hanging from my arms. The stairs creaked slightly, which annoyed me, and maybe in the next few days, I would take care to fix or at least check them to see if I could do something about them. I noticed that there was also a box of tools in the garage, probably intended for such cases.

"Which room do you want?" I asked.

"I'll take the right one; let's use the same arrangement as before." Bella suggested.

"Fine, I agree. Come on, go in." I left her things by the door and moved to the adjacent room.

"Edward?" I heard and turned towards the door where she was sitting.

"Yes?"

"Thank you for everything!" Bella said and hugged me again. I enjoyed the moment again, but parts of my body began to react to the proximity with Bella, so I stepped back. Now, with the long day behind us and my consciousness functioning more clearly, Bella in my arms acted in a completely different way.

"Today was a long enough day, beautiful. Let's go to sleep."

"Okay, I wish you a good night." she said and hugged me faster this time. I seized the moment and kissed her hair once.

"Good night to you too, Bella." I wished and smiled; she responded with a small smile and closed the door.

Suddenly, another thought occurred to me—how would I now manage to maintain the line between professional and personal?

I hope you liked it! Next chapter will be soon, I promise!