Into the Lion's den

BPOV

The tension in our small apartment was unbearable. Rosalie and I had lived together long enough to know when things were off, and tonight, everything felt like it was teetering on the edge of chaos. The revelation about Tanya, the strain of Edward's arrest, and the constant bickering between Rosalie and Emmett were pushing us all to our limits.

Rosalie was pacing the length of the living room, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her expression stormy. Emmett, leaning against the wall with his arms folded, looked equally frustrated. They'd been snapping at each other all evening, and it was only getting worse.

"This whole plan is ridiculous," Rosalie huffed, her voice sharp as she shot a glare at Emmett. "Sending you in to seduce Tanya? What if you screw it up?"

Emmett rolled his eyes, his patience clearly wearing thin. "I know what I'm doing, Rosalie. I'm not going to screw it up."

"Really? Because it seems to me like you're a little too eager to cozy up to Tanya," Rosalie snapped, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Emmett's jaw tightened. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"It means you're too damn charming for your own good," Rosalie retorted, crossing her arms even tighter. "You act like this is just some game, but this is serious, Emmett. Edward's life is on the line."

"I know it's serious!" Emmett shot back, his voice rising. "Do you think I don't care about what's happening to my brother? I'm doing this because I have to, not because I want to!"

Rosalie scoffed, her frustration spilling over. "You're enjoying this way too much for someone who's supposedly doing it out of duty."

Emmett's eyes flashed with anger. "You don't know what the hell you're talking about, Rosalie. You're just looking for an excuse to be pissed at me."

"Maybe I wouldn't be so pissed if you didn't flirt with every woman who crosses your path!" Rosalie fired back, her voice filled with accusation.

Emmett pushed off the wall, stepping closer to her, his expression hard. "That's not fair, and you know it. This isn't about flirting—this is about getting the truth and helping Edward."

Rosalie shook her head, her eyes narrowing. "Just make sure you remember that when Tanya starts batting her eyelashes at you."

Before the argument could escalate further, I stepped between them, holding up my hands. "Enough! Both of you!"

They both fell silent, though the tension between them was still thick. I turned to Emmett, knowing I needed to talk to him before things spiralled out of control.

"Emmett, can I talk to you for a second?" I asked, my voice calmer than I felt.

He nodded, still glaring at Rosalie as he followed me to the kitchen, where we could have a little privacy. Once we were out of earshot, I turned to him, lowering my voice.

"Emmett, are you okay? You seem… off," I said, my concern for him outweighing my frustration with the situation.

Emmett let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I'm stressed, Bella. Really stressed. This whole thing with Edward… it's tearing me apart. I'm worried about him, about how he's holding up in there. He's always been the strong one, you know? The big brother who could handle anything. But this… this is different."

I nodded, understanding the weight he was carrying. "We're all worried about him, Emmett. But we're going to do everything we can to help him. We'll get through this."

He managed a small, grateful smile. "I know. And I appreciate everything you're doing, Bella. Really, I do. It's just… everything feels like it's falling apart. And Rosalie… we've been arguing non-stop. It's like everything that could go wrong is going wrong."

I glanced back toward the living room where Rosalie was pacing again, clearly still fuming. "She's stressed too. We all are. But you two need to stick together. You're not official yet, but it's clear you both care about each other."

Emmett sighed again, his gaze softening as he watched Rosalie from a distance. "Yeah, we haven't made it official, but I want to. I've been thinking about it a lot lately. I just hope we can get through this mess so I can make things right with her. I mean, she's amazing, and I'm an idiot for not making it official sooner."

He paused, his eyes meeting mine, and for a moment, the weight of his words hung heavy between us. "Bella, I want you to know something. I love my brother, and I love you too. You're good for him. He's been different—better—since you've come into his life. I'm glad he has you. He needs someone like you by his side, especially now."

The sincerity in his voice brought a lump to my throat, and I had to blink back the tears threatening to spill. "Thank you, Emmett. That means a lot. I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

He nodded, his expression softening further. "I know. And when all this is over, I hope we can all be a family—Rosalie, Edward, you, and me. But for now… let's just get through this."

I smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, if you play your cards right, maybe the make-up sex will be worth all the stress."

Emmett chuckled, a hint of his usual humour returning. "Yeah, I'm counting on that. But first, let's get through this. We've got to clear Edward's name and take these bastards down."

"Agreed," I said, squeezing his arm. "We'll make it through this, Emmett. All of us."

Rosalie and I sat in the car parked across the street from the cafe where Emmett was meeting Tanya. The engine was off, and the recording device was set up, capturing every word inside. Through the large glass windows, we could see Emmett already seated at a small table, waiting for Tanya to arrive.

The silence between us was thick, filled with the kind of tension that only comes from too much stress and too many unspoken words. Rosalie gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white from the pressure, and I could tell she was barely holding it together.

I shifted in my seat, glancing at her out of the corner of my eye. "Rosalie, are you okay?"

She didn't answer immediately, her eyes glued to the cafe entrance. Finally, she let out a slow, frustrated breath. "No, Bella. I'm not okay. This whole situation is fucked, and I don't like any of it."

I nodded, understanding her frustration. "None of us do. But we need to stay focused. This is the only way we can get the confession and help Edward."

Rosalie's jaw clenched, and she shook her head, more to herself than to me. "It's not just about that. It's about Emmett. I can't stand seeing him with her, even if it's just an act."

I turned to face her more fully, sensing there was more she needed to get off her chest. "Rosalie, what's really going on? You've been on edge ever since we came up with this plan."

Rosalie's grip on the steering wheel tightened as she kept her gaze fixed on the cafe. "It's just… I don't know, Bella. I've never been good at this relationship stuff. I've always kept things casual, easy. But with Emmett… it's different. He's different."

I listened quietly, letting her find the words. It wasn't often that Rosalie opened up like this, and I knew how much courage it took for her to admit these feelings.

"I care about him," she continued, her voice softer now. "A lot. But that scares me. What if I get hurt? What if I'm not enough for him? What if this thing between us doesn't work out?"

I reached over and gently touched her arm. "Rosalie, you're more than enough. Emmett cares about you too—I can see it in the way he looks at you, the way he talks about you. But you have to let him in. You have to trust that he feels the same way."

Rosalie's eyes flickered with emotion, and for a moment, I thought she might cry. But then she blinked, hardening her expression as she forced the feelings back down. "I just… I don't know if I can. I've been independent for so long, keeping people at a distance. Letting him in… it feels like giving up control, and I hate that."

"You don't have to give up control to let someone in," I said gently. "You just have to let yourself be vulnerable. It's scary, but it's worth it when you find someone who makes you feel like you're not alone."

Rosalie nodded, but I could tell she was still wrestling with her fears. Before she could say anything else, Tanya walked into the cafe, and both of our gazes snapped to the scene unfolding in front of us.

Emmett greeted Tanya with a charming smile, one that made my stomach twist—not because I doubted him, but because I could see the effect it had on Rosalie. She watched, her jaw tightening as Tanya sat down, leaning in close to Emmett as they talked.

"This is bullshit," Rosalie muttered under her breath, her voice thick with frustration. "He's laying it on too thick. She's going to think he actually likes her."

"Rosalie, calm down," I urged, trying to soothe the growing tension. But my words seemed to have little effect. Rosalie was spiralling, her emotions getting the best of her.

"It's not fair," she continued, her voice growing more agitated. "She doesn't deserve his attention. She's just a snake, trying to ruin everything. And what if… what if he starts liking her? What if she gets into his head?"

I frowned, not entirely sure how to reassure her. "Rosalie, Emmett cares about you. He's doing this because he has to, not because he wants to. Trust him."

Rosalie shook her head, more to herself than to me. "I want to trust him, but it's hard when I see them together. It just… it hurts."

Before I could respond, Tanya suddenly leaned in and kissed Emmett. It wasn't just a peck on the cheek, either—it was a full, lingering kiss, and I could feel Rosalie's anger spike immediately.

"He kissed her!" Rosalie spat, her voice filled with betrayal as she unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the door handle, ready to storm into the cafe.

"Rosalie, no!" I hissed, grabbing her arm. "You can't go in there! You'll blow everything!"

But she was too far gone, her emotions boiling over. "I'm not letting that bitch get away with this!"

She yanked her arm free and pushed the door open, stepping out onto the street with a fierce determination. I scrambled to follow her, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to keep up.

"Rosalie, stop!" I pleaded, but it was too late. She was already halfway across the street, her eyes locked on the cafe entrance, when I noticed a man standing nearby, watching us intently.

At first, I didn't recognise him—his presence seemed almost casual, as if he were just another pedestrian. But then something about his cold smile, the way his eyes tracked Rosalie's every move, sent a chill down my spine. There was something off about him, something dangerous.

Before I could piece it all together, Rosalie stormed toward the cafe entrance, her anger driving her forward. I was right behind her, desperately trying to stop her from causing a scene, when the man suddenly stepped into our path.

"Excuse me," I said, trying to sidestep him, but he blocked our way, his expression turning sinister.

"Get out of my way!" Rosalie snapped, but before she could push past him, he moved swiftly, grabbing me by the arm with a grip like iron.

"Bella!" Rosalie shouted, trying to reach me, but another man appeared out of nowhere, grabbing her and holding her back as she struggled against him.

I thrashed in the man's grip, panic flooding my system. "Let me go!"

The man—a stranger to me—grinned, his eyes cold and calculating. "You're coming with us, sweetheart. And don't worry—your boyfriend will be joining us soon enough."

He dragged me toward a black SUV parked a few meters away, shoving me inside and slamming the door behind us. The sound of the door locking was like a death knell in my ears.

"Rosalie!" I screamed, but my voice was lost in the darkness of the car.

As the SUV sped off, leaving Rosalie and Emmett behind, a cold dread settled in my chest. This wasn't just about Edward anymore—this was about survival. And I had no idea how we were going to get out of this.