Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Twilight or Divergent. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and Veronica Roth. I do own the original characters created for this story line. Please support the official release!
Writer's Notes: I hope everyone had a great holiday! I wanted to bring everyone cheer with updates to Borderline Betrayal. This has been such a wonderful story and I am glad it was requested by Des. *smiles* I have a bunch happening in 2024 with some fresh stories. I am working through the request list and hope to have a ton more finished soon. I have some wonderful ideas coming shortly. I appreciate all the support from all you wonderful readers! If you want to keep in touch and up-to-date on things in my fanfic world, please join the discord. You can reach me through PM here or on discord kisake0110. AS always, don't forget to follow, favorite, and review!
[Abnegation]
Bella left early, taking Lukas with her along with a couple others from Dauntless to Abnegation to arrest Marcus Eaton and the Priors. She didn't have a choice but to play along with what was going on. Lukas was tense, knowing that a lot was riding on keeping their cover. Tris had already blown the lid off of some things, but Bella managed to convince Max some how that Tris was the crazy one. Or at least, that is what Max wanted them to think. Lukas still felt like Max was being too secretive and was laying a trap for Bella and he voiced that as much and Bella took that into consideration.
"Buggy, Darell, go to Marcus, take him in." Bella commanded and Buggy, the guy that literally got his nickname because he looked like a bug and Darell, the silent brooding type that only followed commands, nodded to her and split from Lukas and Bella.
"What's the plan?" Lukas asked as they stopped outside the Priors. His green eyes studied Bella, hoping that they didn't have to spill blood today.
"The plan is to follow the orders. Eric is in Erudite, so… we just… have to stall." Bella said and then she banged on the door.
Andrew opened the door, coming face to face with Bella and Lukas. "Isabella? What is going on, it's still dark out."
"Where's mom?" Bella asked, walking into the house, brushing past Andrew.
Natalie came from the other room, drying her hands. It looked like she was washing something or preparing food. "Isabella? What is going on?"
"I don't have time to explain." Bella said. "You're both under arrest."
"What?" Andrew's brows furrowed together.
"Jeanine and Max are making a powerplay. They want power in the city and that means taking care of the council. You're being detained for crimes against the city." Bella explained quickly.
Natalie shook her head. "Crimes against the city? What crimes?"
"Harboring Divergents." Lukas spoke and Natalie and Andrew looked at each other and then at Lukas.
"That's preposterous. I have never met a Divergent in my life." Andrew spoke, clearly upset.
Bella shook her head. "Doesn't matter the reason, that's the reason Jeanine and Max are giving. Now, I can't promise your safety. But I have to do my job. I have no choice and it'll make it easier if you don't fight me on this."
"Isabella we can't leave our home. We-"
"Mom?" A small girl walked in from another room, rubbing her eyes. Her hair was long, dark, her eyes round and dark. She was around five years old.
Bella frowned. "What?"
"Josie passed a couple months ago. Madeline was placed in our care. We adopted her." Andrew said, his voice low.
Bella looked at Lukas and then back at Andrew. "I'm sorry. I can't… I can't show pity." She said. "Turn around dad." She commanded, trying to put the authority back in her voice. Calling Andrew Dad felt unnatural to her. She had known Andrew as her dad her whole life, but after meeting Charles Swan and figuring out everything, she didn't feel the same way anymore.
"Andrew, just do as she says." Natalie said, her arms hugging Madeline's scared frame. Andrew scoffed a little, upset this was happening and turned around. Bella cuffed him and nodded to Lukas. "Take him to transport." She said and Lukas took Andrew away.
Bella turned and looked at her mother. "She can't come with."
"I know." Natalie said. "She's Divergent Bella. She needs to get to your father. I planned on getting her there later this week."
Bella felt shock. "What?"
"I know you know. I spoke to Charles already." Natalie said quickly.
"Andrew said-"
"Andrew doesn't know." Natalie interrupted.
"You're… you're Divergent…"Bella murmured.
Natalie nodded. "She has to be protected."
"Okay." Bella said. "Okay, I… I'll figure it out. Can we send her to Johanna?"
"She can hide her for a while." Natalie nodded.
Bella looked at the small girl. She remembered being that small once. Barely, but she remembered. "Okay. We don't have time. Let's go." She said and she cuffed Natalie.
Bella managed to get Madeline to Amity without issue, but she brought Marcus, Natalie and Andrew to Dauntless. Eric was back, so that put Bella at ease that he wasn't in danger anymore. He stood with her and Lukas in Max's office. Ready for whatever command came next.
"Did they give you any trouble?" Max asked Bella.
"Marcus had to be subdued." Bella relayed what Buggy and Darrell had told her. "Andrew and Natalie came willingly."
Marcus snorted. "Of course they did. They're trying to be diplomatic." He said. "Alright. Eric, kill the three of the them. Jeanine wants it done quickly."
Eric nodded. "Yes sir." He bowed and left the office, not sparing Bella a second glance.
Max stood and opened a file on his desk. "Tris is a problem."
Bella nodded her agreement. "She is."
Max made a hmm sound. "I have gone through the reports several times. I wanted to be sure." He said and his dark eyes met Bella's. "Kill her."
"Yes sir." Bella didn't blink or hesitate. She didn't want to take a life. It wasn't in her plan, but she would if she needed to.
"Don't kill her." Max changed his mind.
Bella gave a nod. "Yes sir." She was confused, but she didn't let it show on her face.
Max studied Bella. "Prove to me, you're not Divergent." He said finally.
"How do I do that sir?" Bella asked.
Max looked at Lukas. "Divergents won't harm another person for no reason. Divergents have to have a cause. It's what drives them. Killing Tris would better your cause if you are Divergent."
Bella didn't like the way this was going. "Okay."
"I know that Lukas here, is the best of the best and that you two have been sleeping together." Max dropped the file on the desk and looked at Bella. "Divergents form attachments, Dauntless do not."
Lukas knew that wasn't true. Dauntless fell in love like any other. This was a bastardized way of thinking. It was understood that leadership didn't form attachments. They had to be cold and calculated to do their job, but there were plenty of families in Dauntless. How else would children grow up in this world. Dauntless didn't make you loveless. Dauntless made the leaders selfish and loveless. Which is why he never wanted to be a leader. He was content with being the best at what he was and working under leadership. But he remained quiet for now, not wanting to make a situation worse for Bella.
"Sleeping with someone does not constitute an attachment." Bella said, her voice was monotonous. She showed no emotion but inside she was raving.
Max smirked. "True. Sleeping with someone is to only satisfy urges. Urges to procreate, urges to please an animalistic instinct. We're human after all." He said. "You have no attachments to Lukas, then take your top off."
"Sir, that's highly inappropriate." Lukas spoke now.
"Are you telling me you have an attachment to Bella?" Max asked. "I have had my suspicions that you were Divergent. Even before Tris said something. But you see, I believe that it isn't Bella that is the one that I have to worry about. It's you." He said, his gaze turning dark. "Bella, Lukas is Divergent. Kill him."
Bella looked at Lukas, trying to keep the shock off her face. The truth was, Lukas wasn't Divergent. She was the Divergent one and Max was making it out that Lukas was the threat. "Yes sir." She said, keeping the emotion out of her voice. "Lukas-"
"Now. Right now." Max said, a smile on his face.
Lukas's green eyes studied Bella. He could sense her fear in what was about to happen, but there weren't many choices. "I admit I am Divergent." He lied. He wasn't Divergent. But he had to protect Bella. "I know of a secret plan to overthrow the city. I have a team and you won't get that information if you kill me now." He said.
Max's eyes lit up. "Perfect." He said and grinned. "Arrest him." He said and Bella moved, cuffing Lukas instantly. "Take him to lock up and come back to me Bella. I want to celebrate with a good fuck."
"Yes sir." Bella said with a nod and left with Lukas. They were silent as they walked down the stairs and towards lock up but she stopped. "Lukas." She whispered.
"We don't have a choice. He's testing you." Lukas said, his voice strained. "I love you. Bella, I would die for you. It might just come to that." He let out a nervous laugh.
"I won't let that happen." Bella whispered again, tears trying to threaten.
Lukas turned and looked at her, his arms cuffed behind him and he leaned down and kissed her fiercely. "God damnit it Bella, stay strong." He said when the kiss broke. "Stay strong."
"Why did you do that back there?"
"I didn't want you to have to blow your cover."
"I could have-"
"Could you shoot me?" Lukas asked. "Would you have been able to do it… right then and there?"
Bella's lip quivered a little. "I don't know."
"Exactly my point. I had to do something. Or we both would be in lock up right now." Lukas said.
Bella knew that he was right. That things could have gotten worse. "Lukas…."
"I love you. I wish so fucking much that you didn't have to go back in there. I heard-"
"I can handle Max."
"He wants to fuck you." Lukas said, his green eyes angry at Max, not at her. "I… I can't save you and I feel fucking useless."
Bella reached up and caressed his face with both hands. "I can handle Max." She reiterated. "I love you Lukas… so fucking much it hurts." She said and then kissed him and before she uncuffed him, a tear sliding down her face.
"What are you doing?"
"I need you to live. I need you to get back to my dad in Everett. Go to Amity, Johanna is going to get Madeline to Everett. You need to go with." Bella said, her voice waivering.
Lukas shook his head. "I'm not leaving you."
"I'm in more danger with you here." Bella said. "I can't do my job with you sitting in lock up waiting for one of Max's other men to put a bullet in your head. I can't function. So… hit me." She sniffed and wiped her face.
"I'm not hitting you." Lukas said, his eyes pleading.
"It has to look like you attacked me and ran off." Bella said and wiped her face again.
"He's not going to believe I got the jump on you." Lukas said. "You're the best in Dauntless for a reason."
Bella nodded. "Which is why I'm going to tell him you nearly knocked me off the catwalk."
"Baby…"Lukas murmured.
"Lukas you have to." Bella said. "Please." Her blue-green eyes were serious, staring at him, pleading with him to do as she asked.
Lukas closed his eyes and took in a breath. He nodded and then he hit her, busting her nose. "Bella-"
"I'm fine." Bella said holding her hand up. Her nose was bleeding. It's possible it was broke, but she shooed him. "Go now." She said and tossed him her gun. "Now."
Lukas hesitated a moment but he left her. Everything in him wanted to fight to stay there, but he was following her orders because that's the only thing he knew to do.
[Infirmary]
Bella sat on the table and looked at Eric when he walked in, concern on his face. "I'm fine."
"You're not fucking fine." Eric growled out and looked at Denise and she left without him having to say a word. "Max is up in arms about Lukas. There is a literal manhunt right now."
"Well, I couldn't have him sitting in lock up Eric." Bella said and took the tissue out of her nose and looked at the blood. "Did you-"
"Kill the Priors and Marcus?" Eric asked and she nodded. "Yes. Andrew and Natalie are on safe passage to Everett and so is Marcus. Lukas should rendezvous with them later in Amity."
"Thank you." Bella said, her eyes softening.
Eric shook his head. "I have Four watching recruits right now. He's looped in since Marcus was his dad."
"Wait."
Eric sighed. "Four is Tobias Eaton. Lets not get hung up on the details."
"Is Four-"
"Yes." Eric answered her Divergent question without her actually saying the words.
"Is this how you saved Divergents before?"
"Sending them to Amity?" Eric asked and Bella nodded again. "Yes. Johanna does whatever she does. I know now that it was sending them to Everett with our dad." His tone was clipped. He was still obviously irritated that Charles Swan had faked his death and had left him there with no real direction.
Bella sniffed a little. Her face hurt, but her chest hurt more. "I have to report back to Max."
"For him to take what he wants this time? No. You're never going to be alone with him." Eric said, his tone harsh.
"Eric-"
"I said no." Eric's voice authoritative.
Bella pressed her lips into a line. "Eric, I have to do my job. Max is already suspicious that I just let him go. I'm not one to be sucker punched."
"I talked to Lukas before he made it to Amity. He told me what Max wanted to do with you and I promised him I wouldn't let that happen. Not because he asked me, but because you are MY little sister. MY family. I am not going to let you be subjected to Max's perversions."
"I still have to do my job." Bella pointed out. "You can't protect me all the time."
Eric studied his sister. She was so headstrong and stubborn. "Bella… I need you to be safe."
"I need Max and Jeanine to go fuck themselves but we don't always get what we want." Bella said and got off the bed, wobbling a little.
Eric steadied her. "You need to rest."
"I need to get back to work." Bella said. "I'm fine." She said and the room spun and Eric caught her before she fainted and hit the ground.
"Damnit." He cursed and laid her back on the bed. He grabbed the file off the counter and his eyes danced through it.
Dehydration
Anemia
Pregnant
"What?" Eric's brows furrowed together. Did Bella not know? He looked at the dates. The pregnancy test was just done recently. That meant Max knew if Denise was sharing any of this information. He looked back over at his sister laying on the bed. There was no way she would keep this from him.
Bella's eyes fluttered open and Eric was right there to help her up. "Sorry." She muttered. "Water?"
Eric grabbed a water thermos and handed it to her. "Do you know about this?" He asked and grabbed her medical file and handed it to her.
Bella took it but didn't look inside. "It says I'm pregnant." She set it on the bed beside her.
Eric's mouth dropped open a little. "You knew?"
"I know." Bella said. "Denise didn't tell Max." She said. "Eric, I can't focus on a baby right now."
"Does Lukas know?" Eric asked incredulously.
"No." Bella said. "Eric. I have a mission and a job to do. I'm not-"
Eric cut her off again. "This is fucking stupid. Do you not care about your child?"
"Not right now and if that makes me a bad person, then it does. There is more things that are pressing… war Eric." She shook her head. "I can't… I can't have distractions and a baby is a distraction."
"You're pregnant."
"No, I'm not now." Bella said.
Eric blinked, confusion hitting him. "What? You…"
"I can't bring a baby into this world right now." Bella got up, "I had the procedure done before arresting the Priors and Marcus." She said. "There are some side affects."
"I can't believe this right now. Who are you?" Eric shook his head. "You-"
"I'm doing my job." Bella said, swallowing. "Let me." She said and walked away. Lying to Eric was the hardest thing for her. Eric was good at picking up cues if someone wasn't being truthful. She couldn't bring herself to get rid of her baby. Something in her stopped her from going through with the procedure. She was counting on Eric's willingness to believe her and that shock factor that she would do something like that to hide. The truth was… she was scared. She was scared that everything her dad worked for would crumble. That more lives could be loss. This was bigger than her and her unborn child. She couldn't tell Lukas because then he wouldn't have left. SO many things hung in the balance and right now, no one needed the distraction of a baby. Even her, but she would protect her baby. She was doing it the only way she knew how.