16

"She still pissed?"

Bella shoved her phone into her pocket as she looked to see Alice walking down the hallway toward her. "Yep. Can't say I blame her, though. We did just interrupt her life."

"Suppose so. Though, some might argue we're saving her from a worse fate."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Brandon."

Alice grinned. "Damn, I missed you and your sass, Bee. Never thought I would see you back in the game."

"Didn't intend to return, but you know how my old man is."

"Yeah, the noob filled me and Newton in on his 'rescue' mission. What a dumbass coming in the middle of a fucking blizzard. Dude's lucky he didn't freeze to death."

Bella nodded.

"Cullen called me, too," Alice added, tilting her head to the side. "Said you insist on working with the noob."

"His name is Masen, not noob."

"Oh, my bad," she snickered. "You're insisting on working with Masen."

"Yep."

"Why?"

"Why not?"

"Because he's a noob!" Alice exclaimed. "And Cullen's been your partner since you joined your daddy's team."

"Yeah, well, things changed." Bella shoved her hands into her pockets. "Do we have eyes on Jessica's mother? He probably won't go after her, but then again, Dwyer's a fucking psychopath, so . . ."

"We do. She lives in an assisted living center over in Rolla. Have local P.D. staked out on a rotating shift while we can, at least. Can't keep them there forever, of course. Any idea what Dwyer's next move is going to be?"

"If I knew that, Brandon, I wouldn't be wasting my time here," she quipped before she turned and gripped the doorknob. "We'll take her back to D.C. with us."

"By us, you are including me and Newton, right?"

"No."

"Let me rephrase what I'm saying: Newton and I are going back with you. And before you argue, it's already been cleared by our boss and yours."

"So, Dad thinks I need two more babysitters. Just fucking great." She opened the door. "Have your shit together in half an hour. We can't sit around and wait."

"We're way ahead of you, Bee. Even have the cuffs ready for when it's time to get on the plane."

Laughing, Alice headed back down the hallway while Bella entered the interrogation room again. Jessica was pacing along the back wall, though she stopped when Bella entered. The fear and anger in her eyes rocked through Bella, and she hated that her past had put a target on Jessica's back. It wasn't fair that her life was being upended, but then again, it wasn't fair that Dwyer had killed her husband just to hurt her, either.

"We have people keeping an eye on your mother. Phillip Dwyer won't go near her. I'll personally see to it that she gets anything she needs."

"Why?" Jessica asked. "Why do you care what happens to me? Not like we're friends. You've made it very clear, Bella, that you don't want me as a friend."

Sighing, Bella sat and placed her elbows on the table. "It's not that I don't want you as a friend. I . . . I walked away from my life, Jessica. Left my team, left my family behind, because I was done. I just wanted to be alone, so I could . . . I was going to say deal with my husband's death, but that's a lie. I walked away from everyone I loved because I wanted to die, too. I'm just too much of a coward to end my own life."

Jessica frowned and sat across from her. "This Dwyer guy . . . he's really that dangerous?"

"Yeah, yeah, he is. He, um, he tortures the women he takes."

"Tortures them how?"

"You don't want to know."

"Yes, I do. You've locked me away in this room, away from my life, so yeah, I want to know why."

Bella nodded before she pulled her phone from her pocket. Eyeing Jessica again, she opened her photos and scrolled to the ones she had taken of Bree Tanner's body. Then, taking a deep breath, she turned it around and laid it in front of her.

"Bree was his first victim. She was twenty-two years old, a virgin when he kidnapped her and held her for a month while he raped her multiple times. He robbed every ounce of dignity that girl had. He beat her so badly that the humerus bone in her left arm was shattered. Both her hips had been dislocated, her pelvis crushed. And while she was alive, he carved a four-leaf clover into the side of her breast. She had it easier than his youngest victim, Heidi, who was seventeen when he took her. Like Bree, he raped her numerous times, but when he wasn't tearing that little girl's soul apart, he locked her inside an Iron Maiden for so long her skin was permanently scarred. After he raped her the first time, he carved the word whore into her forehead. He cut off two of her fingers and pulled several of her teeth. He left her alive, though you could hardly call what she's doing as living. She's too afraid to even leave her bedroom."

Jessica's lips were trembling as she stared at Bree Tanner's body. "Why me? Why is he coming after me?"

"Because he thinks we're friends." Bella snatched her phone off the table before she stood. "I'm sorry this is happening to you, Jessica. I truly am, but I won't let him put his hands on you."

"Why do you care what happens to me?"

"Just because we aren't friends doesn't mean I want you to suffer. We leave in twenty minutes."

Turning, Bella walked out of the room, down the hallway, finding Edward leaning against Alice's desk while she and Newton were gathering files and shoving them into their bags. Edward stood, his eyes landing on her, but before he could say anything, she strolled past him into the lady's room. As soon as the door closed, she pulled her phone from her pocket and opened the text Dwyer had sent.

Biting the inside of her lip, she found herself replying: Let's end this now. Tell me where to meet you.

She had barely sent the message when he replied: Oh no, my love, I'm not done yet. You still haven't found her. Time's ticking away.

Furious, she once again found herself responding with: I'm going to make you suffer before I kill you, you sick, fucking bastard.

Dwyer immediately responded: I'm looking forward to it, my love. Now, get back to work like a good girl. I'm waiting.

"Swan, I'm coming in."

Bella quickly shoved her phone back into her pocket just moments before the door was pushed open, and Edward walked in — with his eyes covered, of course. He was a gentleman, after all. If Bella hadn't just been texting with a crazy, homicidal manic, she might have even given him crap for it, but even she didn't have the energy to give Edward a hard time.

"I'm dressed, Masen."

"Oh, okay. Sorry," he mumbled before dropping his hand and opening his eyes. "Are you all right?"

"No," she admitted. "What'd you want?"

"We're ready to head out. I called the office to let them know Jessica was safe and that Newton and Brandon were coming back with us. I don't like them, though."

"Why?"

"I don't know," he mumbled, the tips of his ears turning red. "They're just . . . They keep treating me like I'm an idiot. The little keeps calling me noob. It's unprofessional."

Bella nodded. Though, to be fair, she barely heard him. All she could think about were the messages from Dwyer.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she lied. "And Newton and Brandon are good agents, Masen. We could use all the help we can get."

"Are you afraid to get back on the plane?"

"What? Yeah, that's it. I just . . . you know how I feel about flying, so . . ."

Edward frowned and crossed his arms. "You're really scared, aren't you?"

As she nodded, she felt tears sprinkle down her face that had nothing to do with the airplane they were about to board and everything to do with the man they were chasing. Phillip Dwyer was in full control of their little game, making up the rules as he went along. How would Bella ever get ahead of him when he was cheating?

"I won't let you get hurt, Swan."

"You won't?" she whimpered.

"No."

Edward placed his hands on her shoulders before pulling her into his arms, nestling her against his firm chest. She couldn't stop from melting into his embrace, finding comfort in his soothing touch. It wasn't fair to him, she thought. He hadn't exactly hidden his feelings for her, the little crush he was harboring, and letting him hold her like this would only encourage him. But she was tired of being strong, tired of feeling out of control, tired of being afraid.

"You can trust me, Swan."

"I can't trust anyone, Masen," she whispered before pulling herself away from him. "Least of all you."

And without letting him respond, she pushed past him and out into the office. Newton and Alice were standing next to their desks with Jessica. She had her arms wrapped around herself, pure and utter terror written all over her face. Edward followed Bella but didn't call her out on her snide comment, which both made her happy and infuriated her at the same time.

"Let's get going," Bella said before any of them could speak.

Grabbing Jessica by the arm harder than she intended, she all but dragged the frightened woman to the elevator. Edward was the last to step inside; his eyes met hers, and Bella felt a flutter in her stomach for the first time in a long time.

—^—

Bella managed to keep her fear of flying under control as the five boarded the private plane waiting for them at the airport. Jessica settled into the back corner, her knees pulled up to her chest, her arms tucked protectively. Her whole life had been upended thanks to a psychological game of cat and mouse. When Bella found herself face to face with Phillip Dwyer, she would make sure he paid for everything he'd done to Jessica, Lauren, Heidi, Gianna, Chelsea, Jane, and Bree.

To Garrett…

Bella moved to the front of the plane where Edward, Newton, and Alice were gathered, each of them analyzing the files they had on Phillip Dwyer. They, unlike her, didn't know them front to back. She had memorized every detail of them, and that's what bothered her. What had she missed? Who was the girl they hadn't found? Was there another missing girl, or was Dwyer just playing his fucking mind game with her?

"He has another girl out there."

The three looked at her, raising an eyebrow in perfect sync. It was almost enough to make her laugh, but there was nothing humorous about the situation.

"And I think she's still alive," Bella added.

"What makes you think that?" Alice asked.

"Just . . . I don't know. Just my gut," she lied.

There was no way she could tell them about her exchange of text messages, though she wasn't sure why. They would freak out, never give her a moment of peace. That was the lie she told herself to justify it, but she knew she was being stupid and irresponsible.

"He left a note for me where he left Gianna Roman's body. She was number six, but at the time, there were only five: Bree, Jane, Heidi, Chelsea, and Gianna."

"And Garrett," Newton said, raising an eyebrow.

"He doesn't count," Bella quipped. "He has another girl, and we need to find her before it's too late."

And leaving them alone, she moved to the back of the plane and settled next to Jessica.

Their flight landed in Washington well past midnight. Seeing it was so late, Newton and Brandon headed to their hotel while Edward, Jessica, and Bella made the drive to her parents' house in Chevy Chase. It wasn't the most ideal place to hold up, but Bella knew even though her mother wouldn't like having her house invaded, Renee would do everything she could to keep Jessica safe while they hunted their prey . . . or while he hunted them.

Renee was polite and ushered Jessica inside, offering her the guest room across from Bella's. Charlie stood in the living room, his eyes locked on his daughter. Her anger at her father was misplaced, but it was the only way she could justify staying when everything inside her was screaming to run and hide.

When Jessica was settled, Bella walked Edward back outside to her truck, once again handing him her keys.

"You know you can tell me anything, don't you?" Edward asked, spinning the keyring on his index finger. "And I do mean anything."

"Can I?" she countered, leaning against the side of the truck.

"Yes." He stepped toward her. "You can trust me, Swan."

"I barely know you."

"Doesn't mean you can't trust me."

"Doesn't mean I can, either."

Edward shook his head. "You say that, but you insist on partnering with me. And don't give me that bullshit about teaching me."

"And the potty mouth returns. What would your mother think, Masen?"

"She'd probably put a bar of soap in my mouth, but she's not here, Swan." Edward took another step toward her. "What did she tell you inside that room that has you so scared? And don't deny it. I can see it in your eyes."

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes, I do." He stepped even closer. "If you don't feel safe here, you can come back to my place."

"Trying to get me in bed when I just told you not to have feelings for me? You are slow."

Edward grinned. "Well, as much as I'd like to take you to bed, as you word it, I would be a gentleman, Swan, and sleep on the couch."

"Masen," she whispered, shaking her head. "Why do you care what happens to me?"

"Because you're important."

"To the team. You mean I'm important to the team, don't you?"

"Well, yes, you are, but that's not what I meant." He placed his hand on her hip, sliding it around until it rested on the small of her back. "You're important to me."

"I shouldn't be."

"But you are." Edward leaned down, and for a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her. Instead, he brushed his lips against her ear and whispered, "I won't let anyone hurt you, Swan. Not again."

Releasing his hold on her, he took several steps backward before climbing into the driver's seat. Bella wrapped her arms around herself as she moved away. Part of her wanted to go with him, to feel safe with him, but she couldn't allow herself the comfort of his arms. Not when her husband died because of her negligence.

So, instead of going home with Edward Masen, she turned and walked back into the house, past her father and mother, and into her bedroom. Closing the door behind her, she slid to the floor and pulled her phone from her pocket.

Staring at the text messages from Phillip Dwyer, for a moment she found herself replying:

Why me?

He responded in haste, sending shivers down her spine when he said:

Because, my love, I knew you were meant to be my greatest prize the very first moment I saw you.

Thank you for all the AMAZING reviews. Big thank you to Sunflower Fran for cleaning up my mess. Imma go into hiding… I mean working on the next chapter.