Twenty Five

BPOV

As Jasper and Edward helped me down the corridor, the distant sound of sirens began to fill the air, growing louder with every step we took. My heart raced, still caught between the terror I'd just escaped and the safety I now clung to. The cold night air hit me as we exited the warehouse, and I was met with a chaotic scene.

Police cars surrounded the building, their lights flashing red and blue, casting eerie shadows against the darkened walls. Officers moved quickly, weapons drawn, shouting orders as they prepared to raid the warehouse. The tension was palpable, but there was also a sense of control—a sense that the nightmare was finally coming to an end.

Rosalie was the first to meet us outside, her face pale but determined. She rushed forward, throwing her arms around me and then Edward, her eyes shining with relief. "Bella, thank God you're okay," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

"Rosalie," I croaked, still struggling to find my voice. "How…?"

"I called Charlie," she admitted, her gaze flicking nervously to Edward. "I had to. I couldn't take the risk. I'm sorry, Edward, but I had to make sure we had backup."

Edward stared at her for a moment, then nodded slowly, his grip on me tightening. "You did the right thing, Rose."

Before I could process what was happening, more officers stormed into the warehouse, shouting orders as they cleared the building. The night was filled with the sounds of chaos—doors slamming, boots thudding against the ground, and the crackling of radios. I could see Dimitri's unconscious body being dragged out by two officers, his face bloodied and bruised. A small part of me felt a twisted sense of satisfaction, knowing that he was finally going to pay for what he had done.

But there was no sign of Aro.

Jasper and Emmett exchanged a look, their faces grim as they scanned the scene. "Aro must have escaped," Jasper muttered, his tone laced with frustration. "He's too smart to get caught up in this."

As if on cue, an officer jogged over to us, shaking his head. "We've got Felix and Dimitri in custody, but there's no sign of the third suspect. He must have slipped out before we arrived."

"Damn it," Emmett hissed under his breath, his fists clenching in anger. "That bastard's going to be harder to track down."

The officer nodded in agreement, then turned his attention to Edward and me. "Are you two alright?"

"We're fine," Edward replied quickly, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "Bella needs medical attention, though."

Before I could protest, another figure emerged from the chaos, his presence instantly calming the storm of emotions raging inside me. It was Charlie. His face was pale, his eyes wide with panic, but the moment he saw me, everything else seemed to fade away. He rushed forward, pulling me into a tight embrace, his hands trembling as they held me close.

"Bella… Oh, my God, Bella," he choked out, his voice breaking as he buried his face in my hair. "I thought… I thought I lost you."

I clung to him, the tears that had dried moments ago now flowing freely once again. "Dad…"

Charlie pulled back just enough to cup my face in his hands, his eyes scanning me for any signs of injury. "Are you hurt? Did they…?"

"I'm okay," I whispered, though the words felt like a lie. I wasn't okay—not really—but I was alive, and that was all that mattered right now.

Charlie's gaze shifted to Edward, and for a moment, I saw the raw gratitude in his eyes. He reached out, placing a hand on Edward's shoulder. "Edward… Thank you. Thank you for saving her. I don't know how to even begin to repay you."

Edward shook his head, his expression one of quiet resolve. "You don't need to, Charlie. I did what anyone would do."

"No," Charlie insisted, his voice firm despite the emotion that still clung to it. "You did more than that. You put your life on the line for her. I'll make sure that everyone knows you had nothing to do with Felix's crimes. I'll see to it that all the charges against you are dropped. The police will issue a public statement clearing your name."

Edward nodded, his expression softening as he glanced down at me. "Thank you, Charlie. That means more than you know."

For a moment, the three of us just stood there, wrapped in the relief of knowing that the nightmare was finally over. But I could see the exhaustion in Edward's eyes, the weight of everything he had been through. The adrenaline that had kept him going was beginning to wear off, leaving him looking worn and weary.

"Let's get you both home," Charlie said gently, his arm still around my shoulders. "You've been through enough for one night."

As we turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of Dimitri being loaded into the back of a police car, his head lolling as he regained consciousness. Felix was already cuffed and surrounded by officers, his face twisted in a sneer even as they pushed him into the vehicle. But there was no sign of Aro. The man who had orchestrated all of this was still out there, somewhere, a dark shadow lingering over everything.

But for now, I pushed that thought away. I needed to focus on what mattered—Edward and the fact that we had survived. Together.

As the police cars began to pull away, their sirens fading into the night, I felt Edward's hand slipped into mine, his grip firm yet gentle, as if he was reassuring both of us that we were still here, still together. The chaos around us seemed to blur, the sounds of police radios and distant sirens fading into the background as we stood there, holding on to each other.

Charlie led us to his car, his protective instincts still in full force. "Let's get you home," he repeated, his voice thick with the weight of everything that had happened. "You need to rest, both of you."

Edward squeezed my hand, his eyes meeting mine with a look of deep concern. "Bella, are you sure you're okay? You've been through so much."

I nodded, though my voice came out shakier than I intended. "I'm just… glad it's over. I was so scared, Edward. I didn't know if I'd ever see you again."

His expression softened, and he pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me in a protective embrace. "You're safe now," he whispered into my hair. "I won't let anything happen to you. Not ever."

I melted into his embrace, finding solace in his words and the warmth of his arms. But beneath the surface, I could still feel the tremors of fear and the lingering shadows of everything I'd been through. Dimitri's rough hands, the cold touch of the desk against my skin, the sheer terror that had gripped me when I thought I'd never escape… It was all still there, haunting the edges of my mind.

As we reached Charlie's car, I glanced back at the warehouse one last time. Officers were still moving in and out, securing the scene, but the sight of it filled me with a deep sense of unease. Aro was still out there. The man who had orchestrated this entire nightmare had slipped away, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. And though Dimitri and Felix were in custody, the danger was far from over.

Charlie opened the car door for me, his eyes filled with concern. "Come on, Bella. Let's go home."

I hesitated for a moment, glancing at Edward. "What about you? Are you coming with us?"

Edward looked torn, glancing back at the warehouse as if he was still searching for something—or someone—in the shadows. "I need to make sure everything's handled here. But I'll be right behind you. I promise."

I didn't want to let go of him, didn't want to be separated even for a moment after everything that had happened. But I knew he was right. He needed to see this through, to make sure there were no loose ends.

"Okay," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "But don't take too long."

He cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the remnants of tears that still clung to my cheeks. "I won't. I'll be right there with you."

Reluctantly, I let Charlie guide me into the car, the door closing with a soft thud that seemed to echo in the quiet of the night. As we pulled away, I watched Edward through the rear window, standing tall amidst the chaos, his eyes following the car as it drove off.

The drive back to the house was silent, the weight of the night pressing down on all of us. Charlie's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white with tension. I could see the worry etched on his face, the way his eyes darted to the rearview mirror every few seconds as if checking to make sure we weren't being followed.

I leaned my head against the cool glass of the window, my mind replaying everything that had happened. It felt surreal, like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from, and yet it was all too real. The pain in my wrists, the bruises on my skin, the echo of Dimitri's voice in my ears—it was all a stark reminder of how close I had come to losing everything.

But I had Edward. And that was all that mattered right now.

When we finally pulled up to the house, the familiar sight of it brought a rush of relief. I had never been so glad to be home, to be away from the horror of the warehouse. Charlie helped me out of the car, his hand on my back as he guided me toward the front door.

"Let's get you inside, get you cleaned up," he said, his voice gruff but gentle. "You've had a rough night."

I nodded, allowing him to lead me inside, but my thoughts were still with Edward. I wouldn't feel truly safe until he was here, until I could hold him again and know that we were both okay.

As I stepped into the house, the warmth of it enveloping me like a blanket, I felt a small measure of the tension begin to ease. But it wasn't until I heard the sound of another car pulling up outside that I truly began to relax.

Charlie looked up, his expression softening when he saw the headlights through the window. "That'll be Edward."

I rushed to the door, my heart pounding in anticipation. As soon as I opened it, I saw him—Edward, stepping out of his car, his gaze immediately locking onto mine. Without a word, he crossed the distance between us, his arms wrapping around me as soon as he reached the door.

"I'm here," he whispered, his voice filled with a mix of relief and love. "I'm here, Bella."

I held onto him tightly, the last of my fears melting away in the safety of his embrace. For the first time since this nightmare began, I felt like I could finally breathe.

Epov

Bella's old bedroom was a snapshot of her teenage years, a mix of pastel walls and posters of bands I vaguely recognised. There was a shelf crammed with old books and knick-knacks, a few stuffed animals perched precariously on the edges. It was like stepping into a time capsule, and despite everything that had happened, it brought a smile to my face.

Bella sat on the edge of the single bed, her fingers tracing the pattern on the faded quilt. She looked up at me, a mix of exhaustion and contentment in her eyes. It was a relief to see her like this, safe and in familiar surroundings. After the nightmare we'd just escaped, being here felt almost surreal.

I leaned against the doorframe, crossing my arms as I took in the room. "So, this is where Bella Swan, the teenage rebel, planned all her mischief?" I teased, a grin tugging at the corners of my mouth.

Bella rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile there too. "There wasn't much mischief, to be honest. Just a lot of late-night reading and sneaking out to meet friends."

"Ah, the classic teenage experience," I chuckled, pushing off the doorframe and walking over to sit beside her. The bed creaked slightly under our combined weight, and I raised an eyebrow at her. "A single bed, huh? We're going to be very close tonight."

Bella blushed, her smile widening as she leaned into me. "We'll manage. It's not like we haven't been closer before."

I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into my chest. The feel of her against me, her warmth, her scent—everything about this moment felt right, like the universe had finally decided to give us a break.

We sat there in comfortable silence for a few minutes, just holding each other, letting the events of the day slowly fade into the background. But I knew there was more to discuss, things we needed to plan for. And I wanted to share some good news with her—news that, for the first time in a long while, felt like a glimmer of hope.

"There's something I need to tell you," I said softly, my fingers idly playing with a strand of her hair. "Something good, for a change."

Bella looked up at me, curiosity and a hint of worry in her eyes. "What is it?"

I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of excitement I hadn't felt in weeks. "After everything that happened today, some investors reached out to me. They saw the news about the raid, about Felix and Dimitri, and they know the kind of man I am. They believe in my vision, in what I've been trying to build. They've banded together to help save my company."

Bella's eyes widened, a smile spreading across her face. "Edward, that's amazing! What does it mean for you, for the company?"

"It means we're going to be okay," I said, relief washing over me as I spoke the words. "They've already pledged the funds we need to get back on track, to start rebuilding. And that's not all… I've been enlisted for a massive project in Dubai. A skyscraper, the kind that defines a skyline. It's going to be huge, Bella. The kind of opportunity I've always dreamed of."

Bella's smile grew, her eyes shining with pride. "Edward, that's incredible! I'm so happy for you."

I reached out, cupping her face in my hands. "I'm happy for us. Because I don't want to do this alone. I want you to come with me to Dubai, Bella. We'll be there for a few months, working on the project. It's a chance to start fresh, to leave all this behind for a while and focus on something good."

She blinked, clearly taken aback by the offer. "You want me to go with you?"

"More than anything," I said, my voice sincere. "I don't want to be apart from you, not after everything we've been through. I want us to build something together, to see the world and make new memories. What do you say?"

Bella's expression softened, and she nodded, her eyes filling with emotion. "I'd love that, Edward. I'd love to go with you."

The relief that flooded through me was overwhelming. I leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips, tasting the sweetness of the moment. This was what I wanted—a life with Bella, no more secrets, no more fear. Just us, together, facing whatever came our way.

When we finally pulled back, I couldn't resist the playful grin that tugged at my lips. "So… how thin are these walls?" I asked, my voice low and suggestive.

Bella's eyes widened slightly, a flush creeping up her cheeks. "Edward…"

I chuckled, pressing another kiss to the side of her neck. "I'm just saying, your dad's home, and this bed is small… Can you be quiet?"

She swatted at me playfully, but I could see the spark in her eyes, the way her body responded to my touch. "You're terrible."

"And you love it," I murmured, my lips brushing against hers again.

"I do," she whispered, her voice barely audible, but I heard it all the same. The way she said it, with such certainty, sent a thrill through me.

I kissed her again, more deeply this time, my hand sliding down to her waist, pulling her closer. She responded eagerly, her hands threading through my hair, her body pressing against mine in a way that made me forget everything else. The worries, the dangers, the fears—they all melted away in that moment, leaving only us.