Let's get right to it!
"All of us?" Victoria asks incredulously as she follows Isabella and Rosalie out of the kitchen and down the narrow hallway towards the front door of Rosalie's place. "Why would Edward want me there?"
"You're just as much involved in this as we are now," Rosalie replies as she reaches for the knob, pulling the door open to overcast skies that still cause the three of them to squint their eyes in response. "You need to be there to hear what is decided."
Victoria says nothing in response as she weighs Rosalie's words. She knew coming back to Port Angeles would require crossing paths with her brother, and despite her role in the war with Edward and Marcus, she struggles with feeling comfortable sitting in on one of Edward's meetings. Those meetings are held with only those he trusts, and she doubts herself capable of living up to those expectations. Especially now since the reason they're having another meeting in the first place is because of her.
"Maybe being there can help you. And besides," Isabella says, pausing as they turn down the street towards The Lost Key. "I want you there, too."
"You're too good to me," Victoria answers with a sigh, leaning her head against Isabella's as they walk. "I destroyed your life, and you're the one trying to cheer me up."
"Yeah, look at this," Rosalie cuts in, tugging on Victoria's elbow to grab her attention. Following her line of sight, she sees the doors of The Lost Key open to the public, welcoming anyone with time on their hands inside for a drink or two. What she also sees, which has Rosalie chuckling as they walk closer to the pub, is Edward standing on the curb outside, obviously waiting for Isabella to arrive safely. "Poor Isabella."
For the first time in what feels like years, Victoria lets out a loud laugh. The kind of laugh where she can feel years of uncertainty melt off her shoulders. She isn't blind; she knows Edward is one of the most sought-after men in Port Angeles, and it's not just because of his success as the owner of one of the most respected pubs in the city.
Despite the heartache in Isabella's life, having Edward Cullen as the one to help alleviate some of that stress must make it all a little easier to wade through. Yes, Rosalie is right.
Poor Isabella.
Even Isabella can't keep the giggles away as they approach Edward at the entrance. And in typical Edward fashion, he doesn't ask. Instead, he finishes his cigarette and doesn't speak, opting to motion the women inside with one arm. He follows after them, leaving the doors open for other guests. There aren't too many people inside, as it is still relatively early in the day; before the lunch hour, so the meeting must be taking place in Edward's office. One of Edward's men remains on watch in a secluded booth while they make their way to the back of the pub, prepared for anything.
Emmett is already in Edward's office when Edward opens the door, and they waste no time saying what they have to say. Edward, leaning on the front of his desk, clears his throat.
"It ends with us," Edward states to the quiet room. He says nothing more than that; he doesn't need to. Everyone knows what and who he is talking about.
Emmett nods. "And it stays with us. No one else can know."
"Tell me now if you disagree." Edward moves from his place on his desk and turns in a slow circle to catch the eye of everyone standing around him. Isabella can see their seriousness when they land on her, and she nods at him in return like the rest. The air is quiet, full of the weight of their words, and Edward nods in satisfaction. "Good."
"So what's next?" Rosalie asks.
Edward turns toward her. "That's it. What we know of James' murder stays here in this room."
"It's best if that's all you know," Emmett adds, and the heavy cloud above them suddenly feels suffocating. It is clear this is the only information they will be given. There is already a plan in place, but if the girls aren't privy to that knowledge, what they don't know cannot hurt them.
"Are we safe?" Isabella asks, preferring to know the least amount of information possible. Talking like this and its implications remind her of how different she is from the rest of them. Knowing now, for sure, what Marcus is capable of makes her scared for the people she cares about. Her eyes flit to Edward's only to find him already looking at her. "Are you safe?"
"Extra measures have been put in place," Edward replies, his eyes softening briefly at her words, before hardening again. "But it's important that nothing changes. Everything needs to look and feel the same."
She wants to believe him; every fiber in her body tells her she should. Believe him, believe in him, and trust him.
But she knows nothing will be the same, no matter what Edward demands. When she leaves his office a few minutes later, Victoria staying behind at Edward's request, she knows she'll worry about it throughout her shift today.
Isabella isn't the only one digesting the events of the meeting. Now, as Victoria plops into the worn leather chair across from Edward's desk, she can only imagine what's about to happen next.
…Especially now that it's only the two of them.
"I'll save you some time," Victoria sighs, crossing her arms over her chest as she waits for her brother's lecture. "I should have told you. All of it. I know."
"I didn't push you to tell me why you came back to Port Angeles," Edward says, smoke filtering through his every word. "I knew you had your reasons and would never tell me. And I accepted it, Victoria. I accepted years ago that there would be parts of your life you would never tell me. I just kept hoping that one day, one day, you would."
"It's hard for me to trust anyone besides myself. You know that." Victoria clears her throat and continues. "But I'm…learning that keeping secrets does more harm than good."
"What happened to James would have happened no matter what or no matter where. Marcus knows you've always been one of his top girls, and he made sure James wouldn't be in the way of his profit. I'm sorry you had to grieve him alone. And with a child."
"After seeing what he did to James, I knew I had to keep her existence as far from here as possible."
"Why did you come back if it meant leaving your daughter behind?"
"I didn't deserve her. I was too distraught to get out of bed most mornings. Going back to work for Marcus was the only way I could provide for her."
"She's my niece," Edward says harshly. "If you had let me, I would have given her anything you needed. Both of you."
"Just like you've been waiting for me to confide in you, I've been waiting for the day when you don't have to rescue me. I've been in your shadow and dependent on you since the day I was born," Victoria replies.
"And I've had to pick up Mother's slack since before you were born," Edward reminds her. "Don't you think I want my life to be different too? Of course, I do. But the point is, I can't. These are the cards we've been given, Victoria. I can't change our past, and I can't promise that it won't happen again. But what I can promise is that I won't ever give up on you. And at this moment, I don't care if that's what you want or not. You're my sister, and I cannot and will not allow you to live your life so carelessly anymore. We have too much at stake. We deserve the good things in life, too. Not just the bad."
"I know," Victoria says, ignoring the emotion swelling in her throat. "I know what that feels like now. Or I think I'm starting to."
Edward nods at this, grateful for the headway he has made with Victoria. It may be small, but it's more progress than they've made in years.
"Bella is incredible, Edward," Victoria gushes with a smile. She knows a lot of walls had to come down to get her brother to open his life to someone else, and she is proud of him for making that change, and allowing Bella inside. "She's good for you. Don't let her go."
——-TLK——-
Later that night, besides the sound of her dresser banging against the wall in front of her, Victoria's room is relatively quiet. He makes the occasional grunt every minute or two from behind her, too lost in his own head to remember anything else. Victoria prefers her men this way. She would easily take the quiet, almost silent type over the loud, sometimes violent, and entitled men she has no choice but to entertain.
It's a routine job — easy enough for her to disassociate and keep her mind on other things.
And tonight, her mind is everywhere. Scattered, but all her thoughts come back to Marcus.
…And how to kill him before Edward does.
An idea tumbles in her head, and eventually, when the man behind her finishes and offers her some snow, she can see it clearly now.
No, she won't take the snow tonight, but she will take the other substances she knows he has access to.
And she'll keep her plan entirely to herself.
——-TLK——-
With two guests still sitting in silence on opposite ends of the bar, Edward comes out of his office and rubs tired eyes with the back of his hand. When the blurred edges of his vision clear, he watches as Isabella wipes the day's work off the counters. He can hear her humming to herself as she works, and he can involuntarily hear the sound accompanying him in various stages of his life — most of which hasn't even happened yet. It's a sound of stability and comfort he never thought he needed. Nodding at the guests and pointing to the clock, he heads behind the bar and grabs a glass Isabella has missed.
"Come home with me tonight," Edward whispers, his breath dancing across the back of her neck as she discards the cloth. His gaze never leaves the glass in his hand, and his words are unheard by anyone but her. It sends a delicious chill down her spine, knowing she's the only one to hear him like this.
"What will people think?" Isabella asks coyly, even though she doesn't actually care what anyone in the city thinks about her or Edward.
"Does it matter?" He asks, stepping to the side of her and making eye contact with the two men at the bar. They take it as their cue to leave, finish the last of their drinks, and toss their money onto the bar before disappearing through the front doors.
"No," Isabella replies as she turns to face him. Now that they're finally alone, he doesn't hesitate to slip his arms around her waist and pull her to him as they stand behind the bar. "No, it doesn't matter what people think. I know where I want to be, and that's with you. Wherever it is."
"Let's go then," he answers, holding her hand in his as they make their way to the exit.
She can't deny how safe she feels as she walks with him back to his place. She is very aware of the danger lurking behind every corner, but she's also mindful of the way he stands between her and whatever potential harm might threaten them. She can see the way his eyes dart at every flash of light. She feels the way his grip on her waist tightens at every burst of sound coming from the apartments they pass as they continue walking.
"You're safe here," he whispers against her mouth when she's finally in his bed again, and he vows to spend as long as it takes to convince her of that. She believes him an hour later when his legs are coiled around her in the bathtub, her back against his chest as the water trickles lazily around them. They sit quietly, tired from the day, eyes closed as they revel in the peace they have managed to create away from the rest of them.
"I could get used to this," Isabella murmurs as she feels Edward's fingertips splash water down her neck and shoulders. She sits up and lets his fingertips trace the droplets of water down her back, trying to imagine a single moment in her life better than this one.
She comes up empty-handed.
"You should stay then," Edward says, his voice sincere though muffled in exhaustion. "Every night."
"That'll really have everyone in the city talking," Isabella laughs, turning in the tub so she can now see his face. She loves the smile on his lips, the one where he wants to show more but still finds a way to hold the rest back. His eyes lock with hers, and even though he never thought he would ever be in this position, it dawns on him how calm he feels right now. Isabella sits across from him, her long brown hair tied above her neck, her face pink from the heat of the water, and he knows that even though he has traveled the world, the sight before him is one that will always leave him mesmerized.
Reaching a hand under the water to find her own, he presses a kiss to her fingertips. "What will they say when they find out I've asked you to be my wife?"
Hmmm what will they say?
Thanks for being so patient. My two boys were on six baseball teams this spring between the two of them. I've spent the last several months (since December) either on a baseball field somewhere in New Jersey or PA or driving to and from a baseball field in NJ or PA. We're down to 2 teams now and it's much more manageable!
Also, one more day of work for me and I'm out for the summer - so that means more updates! There aren't too many chapters left in this one. I'd love to wrap it up before I leave for TFMU!
Speaking of, I hope I see you in Minneapolis this year for the meetup! Let me know if you're going!
Also, one more thing, I know, I know. My collab account, Nerdy Lil Darlins, launched a new fic this week, Taking the Horizon! We've had a blast writing it so far and hope you tag along with us on this journey. And also, don't worry about Invisible. We got you :)
See you soon!