Chapter 23: The Price of Freedom

Edward's POV

The clang of the cell door echoed through the cold, sterile room, jolting me from the haze of thoughts swirling in my mind. I'd been sitting here for what felt like hours, the minutes dragging by like molasses. The weight of everything—of the charges against me, of the betrayal within my own company—pressed down on me, suffocating and relentless. But the one thought that kept gnawing at me, more than anything else, was that I hadn't heard from Bella since that night at the fashion show.

The door creaked open, and I looked up, expecting to see the same disinterested guard who'd been ignoring me all night. Instead, it was Alice, her small frame nearly dwarfed by the oversized jacket she'd thrown on in a hurry. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her face pale, but she held herself together with that same quiet strength she'd always had.

"Edward," she said softly, stepping into the cell. "I've posted bail. You're coming home."

For a moment, I could only stare at her, the words not quite registering. Then the reality of it hit me—Alice had somehow managed to pull together the money for bail. Of course she had. Alice always found a way.

k together. Now come on, let's get you out of here."

As I stepped out of the cell, the weight of the situation settled back onto my shoulders. The drive back to my house was tense, neither of us speaking much. I was lost in my thoughts, trying to piece together how I could clear my name and fix the mess I'd gotten myself into. But something about Alice's silence gnawed at me, a sense of unease creeping into my gut.

When we reached the house, Alice led me inside, her movements quick and purposeful. It wasn't until we were safely behind closed doors that she finally spoke, her voice low and urgent.

"Edward… there's something I need to tell you," she began, her eyes filled with worry. "It's about Bella."

I felt my stomach drop, a cold dread seizing my chest. "What happened?"

Alice took a deep breath, clearly struggling to keep her composure. "Bella's been taken. Dimitri grabbed her outside the café where Rosalie and Emmett were trying to get Tanya to confess. They took her, Edward. Felix and his men—they have Bella. It happened about two hours ago."

A surge of panic ripped through me, the cold dread in my chest turning into a roaring storm. "They have Bella?" I repeated, my voice strained, barely able to process the words. "I have to go—"

I pushed past Alice, heading straight for the door, my mind a chaotic mess of fear and fury. But before I could even reach the handle, Alice was in front of me, her hands on my chest, pushing me back.

"Edward, stop!" she demanded, her voice firm, though I could see the fear in her eyes. "You're not thinking straight. Running out there without a plan isn't going to help Bella. You need to calm down."

"Calm down?" I snapped, my voice louder than I intended. "They have her, Alice! God knows what they're doing to her right now. I can't just stand here!"

Alice held her ground, her grip on my shirt tightening as she met my gaze with a resolve that mirrored my own. "I know you're scared, Edward. We all are. But charging in blind will only get Bella—and you—killed. We need to think this through."

I forced myself to take a deep breath, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Alice was right—I couldn't afford to lose control, not now. Bella needed me to be smart, to be strategic. She needed me to get her back safely.

"Alice, we should tell Charlie," I said, the thought suddenly striking me. "He's the police chief—he could help us."

But Alice shook her head, her expression serious. "We can't, Edward. Charlie's too close to this. If we involve him, he'll go in guns blazing, and Felix will know. They've already threatened Rosalie not to go to the police. If we bring Charlie into this, they'll hurt Bella. We have to handle this on our own, at least for now."

I clenched my fists, trying to channel the overwhelming surge of emotions into something productive. "I won't let them hurt her, Alice. I can't. She… she means too much to me."

Alice gave me a small, understanding nod, her eyes filled with determination. "I know. And we'll do everything in our power to bring her back safely. But you have to trust us, Edward. We'll figure this out together."

Just then, the sound of the front door opening interrupted us, and moments later, Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper walked into the house, their faces set with the same mix of determination and worry that I felt. Emmett looked particularly tense, his usually easy-going demeanour replaced with a grim seriousness that I rarely saw in him.

"We came as soon as we could," Jasper said, his voice steady as he looked between Alice and me. "What's the plan?"

Rosalie's eyes were red, evidence of the tears she'd been shedding, but there was a fire in her gaze that told me she was ready to fight. "We need to get Bella back, and we need to make those bastards pay for what they've done."

Emmett placed a reassuring hand on Rosalie's shoulder before turning to me. "We're with you, Edward. Whatever it takes."

I looked around at the faces of the people who meant the most to me—my family, my friends—and I felt a renewed sense of purpose. We would get Bella back, no matter what. Felix and his men might think they had the upper hand, but they had no idea what they were up against.

"Alright," I said, my voice steadying as I looked at each of them in turn. "Let's come up with a plan. We're getting Bella back, and we're going to make sure Felix and his men regret ever coming after her."

Alice nodded, stepping forward to take charge. "First things first, we need to figure out where they're holding her. Emmett, do you have any contacts who might know where Dimitri and Felix are hiding out?"

Emmett thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, I know a few people who might have some information. I'll start making calls. I worked on a guys car. He owes me one."

"Good," Alice said, then turned to Jasper. "You and I will start gathering any intel we can on Felix's operations. We need to know what kind of resources he has and how many men we're up against."

Jasper nodded, already pulling out his phone to make a few calls of his own.

"And Rosalie," Alice continued, her voice softening as she looked at her. "I know this is hard, but we need you to stay strong. Bella needs us to be focused, and that means keeping it together, okay?"

Rosalie took a deep breath, wiping away the last of her tears as she nodded resolutely. "I'll be okay. I just… I need to do something. I can't just sit here and wait."

Alice gave her a reassuring smile. "We're not going to sit and wait. We're going to fight."

As everyone got to work, I felt a glimmer of hope break through the cloud of fear that had been suffocating me. We had a plan. We had each other. And most importantly, we had a reason to fight—to bring Bella back home.

But even as I threw myself into the preparations, one thought kept echoing in the back of my mind. This wasn't just about saving Bella anymore. This was about making sure that Felix and his men would never be able to hurt anyone else again. And for that, I was willing to do whatever it took.


BPOV

My wrists were aching from the cold, metal cuffs that bound me to the desk, the rough surface digging into my skin every time I shifted. The room around me was sterile, impersonal—an office space, it seemed, but stripped of any warmth or comfort. The only light came from a single bulb overhead, casting harsh shadows across the walls. It felt more like a prison than any office I'd ever seen.

Dimitri was sitting across from me, his dark eyes fixed on mine with a cold, calculating stare. He hadn't spoken much since they brought me here, only giving orders to the men who had dragged me in. His presence alone was enough to keep me on edge, my heart pounding in my chest.

I tried to steady my breathing, forcing myself to think clearly despite the terror gnawing at my insides. I needed to stay calm, needed to figure out a way out of this. But for now, I was at their mercy, and that thought sent a chill down my spine.

The room was stifling, the tension thick in the air. My throat was dry, and I could feel a headache starting to form at the base of my skull. I needed water, something to keep me grounded, to give me a moment to think.

"Could I get some water?" I asked, my voice hoarse, breaking the silence that had stretched between us for what felt like hours.

Dimitri's gaze didn't waver, and for a moment, I wasn't sure if he was going to respond. But then he leaned back in his chair, his lips curling into a cruel smirk.

"You're in no position to be making demands, Bella," he said, his voice low and menacing. "But since you asked so nicely…"

He stood up, moving with a predatory grace as he crossed the room to a small fridge in the corner. He opened it and pulled out a bottle of water, holding it up as if considering whether or not to give it to me.

"Here," he said, his tone mocking as he unscrewed the cap. He walked back over to the desk and placed the bottle just out of my reach, his eyes glinting with amusement as he watched me struggle against the cuffs.

I glared at him, anger flaring up inside me despite the fear. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Dimitri's smirk widened, and he leaned down so that his face was level with mine. "What can I say? I like seeing people squirm. Especially people who think they're untouchable."

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "You won't get away with this, Dimitri. Edward will come for me."

He chuckled, the sound low and rumbling. "Oh, I'm counting on it. But by the time he does, it'll be too late. You see, this isn't just about you, Bella. It's about teaching Edward a lesson. One he won't forget."

I clenched my fists, the cuffs digging into my skin painfully. "What do you want from him? Just money? Control of his company?"

Dimitri's expression darkened, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something more—something deeper, more personal—beneath the surface. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by that same cold, detached cruelty.

"It's not about what I want," he said, his voice chillingly calm. "It's about what Felix wants. And what Felix wants, Felix gets."

He pushed the water bottle closer to me, still just out of reach, as if daring me to try and grab it. "But don't worry, Bella. I'll make sure you're well taken care of… for now."

I felt a wave of nausea roll through me, a sickening realisation that I was nothing more than a pawn in whatever twisted game they were playing. I needed to get out of here, needed to find a way to warn Edward before it was too late.

But for now, all I could do was wait, the cold metal of the cuffs biting into my wrists as Dimitri watched me with those cruel, unfeeling eyes.

Dimitri leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving me, a predator sizing up his prey. I could see the amusement in his eyes as he watched me struggle against the cuffs, and the thought of being at his mercy sent a cold shiver down my spine. He took a sip from his own bottle of water, seemingly enjoying my discomfort.

The minutes dragged on, each one feeling like an eternity. Dimitri's eyes began to droop, his head nodding slightly as exhaustion finally started to take its toll. He fought it at first, his gaze flicking back to me every few seconds as if to make sure I wasn't trying anything. But soon, he was struggling to keep his eyes open, and eventually, they closed altogether.

I held my breath, waiting to see if he would wake up, but his breathing soon became deep and even. He was asleep.

This was my chance.

I scanned the room, searching for anything that might help me. The door was heavy and looked solid, but there was no lock on this side, just a handle. Even if I could get out of these cuffs, I'd have to get past Dimitri—and he was blocking the only exit. The window behind the desk was small and barred, offering no escape route.

But the most important thing I noticed was Dimitri himself. He was slumped in his chair, his gun holstered at his side. If I could just get that weapon…

I studied him carefully, noting every detail—the rise and fall of his chest, the way his fingers twitched slightly as he slept. His keys were clipped to his belt, and I could see the outline of a knife in his boot. This was a man who was always prepared for a fight.

But before I could formulate any kind of plan, the door creaked open, and I quickly straightened in my chair, trying to appear as unthreatening as possible.

A tall, imposing figure stepped into the room. He was impeccably dressed in a tailored black suit, his hair slicked back, and his eyes were a piercing, icy blue. There was an air of authority around him that made Dimitri, even in his sleep, stir uneasily.

The man's eyes landed on Dimitri, and his expression immediately darkened. "Dormendo sul lavoro, Dimitri?" he muttered in a thick Italian accent, his voice low and filled with irritation. "Inaccettabile!" He kicked the leg of Dimitri's chair sharply, jolting him awake.

Dimitri's eyes flew open, panic flashing across his face as he scrambled to his feet. "Aro, I—"

"Silenzio," Aro snapped, his voice as cold as ice. "You should be ashamed, Dimitri. Sleeping on the job like some lazy fool. You forget who we are? Who I am?"

Dimitri stood there, stiff and uncomfortable, clearly intimidated by the man before him. "Mi dispiace, Aro," he stammered. "It won't happen again."

"Non succederà mai più," Aro corrected sharply, his gaze like a blade. He turned his attention to me, his expression softening slightly, though it was no less menacing. "Ah, and you must be Bella. Piacere di conoscerti. Allow me to introduce myself—I am Aro."

I swallowed hard, the name unfamiliar to me, but the menace in his tone unmistakable. "What do you want with me?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the terror gnawing at my insides.

Aro chuckled softly, as if he found my question amusing. "It's not about what I want with you, cara mia. It's about what I want with Edward. You're simply the… incentive I need to ensure his cooperation."

He walked slowly around the desk, his eyes never leaving mine. His presence was overwhelming, suffocating, and the way he switched so effortlessly between Italian and English only added to the sense of disorientation and fear I felt.

"Edward has something I want—la sua compagnia. Unfortunately, he's been rather stubborn about relinquishing control, so I'm here to make sure he sees reason."

I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to keep my fear from showing. "What do you want with his company?"

Aro's smile widened, and he straightened up, his gaze turning cold. "His company has access to certain… resources, certain clients, that could be very useful to me. Unfortunately, Edward's refusal to cooperate has forced my hand."

He paused, his smile turning almost gentle, though it was anything but reassuring. "So, I'm giving him an ultimatum. He can either hand over the company willingly, or I will take it by force. E fidati di me, Bella, you do not want to see what happens if I have to resort to force."

My heart pounded in my chest as I listened to his words. Aro wasn't just planning to take Edward's company—he was planning to use it for something far worse, something that could destroy not only Edward but everyone connected to him.

"What… what are you going to do?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Aro's eyes gleamed with a sadistic satisfaction. "Oh, nothing too drastic. Just a little financial manipulation, a few strategic moves that will leave Edward's clients ruined, and his reputation in tatters. But that's only if Edward refuses to cooperate. If he does as I ask, well… we can avoid all that unpleasantness."

He glanced at Dimitri, who was now fully awake and standing rigidly at attention, his bravado from earlier completely gone. "Dimitri, caro, feel free to do as you wish with our guest. Just don't damage her too much. We still need her alive… for now."

Dimitri's expression shifted instantly, a predatory grin spreading across his face as he turned to look at me. The glint in his eyes sent a wave of terror through me, and I instinctively pulled back, trying to press myself as far away from him as the cuffs would allow.

Aro watched the exchange with mild interest, as though observing a predator toying with its prey. "Remember, Bella," he said softly, his voice a chilling contrast to the horror in his eyes, "this is all on Edward now. What happens next is up to him."

With that, Aro turned and left the room, leaving me alone with Dimitri, whose grin had only widened at Aro's departure. He took a step closer to me, his movements slow and deliberate, as if savouring the fear he could see in my eyes.

"Well, Bella," Dimitri said, his voice low and menacing, "it looks like it's just you and me now."

I tried to keep my composure, tried to steel myself against the panic rising inside me, but it was no use. Dimitri's presence was suffocating, and the look in his eyes told me that he was about to unleash a nightmare I wasn't sure I could survive.

I was trapped, cuffed to this desk, with nowhere to run and no one to save me. And as Dimitri's shadow loomed over me, I knew that whatever happened next, I would have to fight with everything I had just to stay alive.