Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Spy Games

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 19:

I had never given much thought to how I would die, even though I had plenty of reasons to lately. Somehow dying from diarrhea and projectile vomiting never crossed my mind as a possible cause of death.

Lying in bed with Arial it was painfully clear that death was a possibility. We lay side by side, a small trashcan in each of our arms. One eye watching Live with Kelly and Michael, the other on the bathroom door in case I had to beat her to it.

“How are my two pretty girls doing?”

Arial and I both looked at Uncle Jack, the wretchedness in our features obvious and one of us at least wishing I had access to my sidearm.

“If you had never brought me here, I wouldn’t be this sick. There are no stomach flus in Florida. This is your fault Uncle Jack.”

Sasha had decided after the tenth panicked call from Charlie, who had never dealt with a sick child, that she would take over my treatment and recovery. Connolly arrived, threw me roughly over his shoulder, waved bye to Charlie and deposited me on the bed next to Arial.

“And yet you want to become directly involved in the werewolf investigation.” Jack reminded me.

“If I live, then yes I would like to become actively involved.”

“Why? You told me your buddy Jake has probably turned. Based on how often Sam has been in his house the last two days, according to Dante, I would be inclined to agree. So we have another wolf. None of us think the wolves are to blame for the disappearances, meaning if they are changed due to the presence of vampires like Sasha thinks there is probably a vampire around. We can sit back and let them handle it. What could you do?”

“I can get inside info on the dogs. Find out how they work, how they communicate, how they kill vampires if you really think they can.”

“You think this Black kid will tell you?”

“He wants me so fucking bad; I could make him fuck a sheep if I wanted to.”

Both Arial and Jack gave me strange looks.

I suppose I could understand why.

“Look I’m delirious okay? I think of barn sex when I get delirious. I don’t know why and I don’t approve but ever since we saw that video of the horse and the chick in that barn… you remember that foreign movie, right Arial? Anyway, ever since we saw that, the worst thing I can think to make someone do is to fuck an animal. It’s sick so I use that to prove a point. Don’t judge me, okay? I’m not thinking straight.”

“Arial you saw this movie?” Jack asked. Of course the corruption of his angel of death would be first on his mind.

“I have no clue what she is talking about Daddy. She’s delirious. We probably shouldn’t pay attention. I’ll knock her out before she can say anything else stupid.”

“You hit me Arial and I swear I will vomit all over your pillow.”

“Girls, play nice.” Sasha said walking in with chicken broth. I didn’t think I could handle it though. The smell alone had me ready to run to the toilet.

“Yes Mom.” we both sang.

“Sasha, what do you think about Bella becoming involved?” Jack asked her.

“I think Bella and Arial should be concentrating on what college they want to attend.”

“We are. We have our choices narrowed to Tulane, Cal Santa Barbara, Georgia, Florida State and USC.” Arial informed Auntie Hotness.

“Any particular reasons for those schools?” Jack asked, already knowing. I decided to explain anyway.

“Tulane has been ranked the number one party school in the US for 2018. It’s New Orleans, right? Bourbon Street, gambling, getting beads thrown at you. Georgia and Cal Santa Barbara are 2 and 3 respectively. Florida State because of the completion on an unrealized dream of mine to live in Florida and USC because it’s LA, sun, sand, Hollywood, Beverly Hills. Getting the idea yet?”

The smell of the broth under my nose made me vomit into my trashcan. Arial can’t stand the sound of someone upchucking so she followed suit.

“I don’t suppose academics have any bearing on what school the two of you plan to attend?”

I wiped my mouth with the offered warm wet towels Sasha handed to me and my girl and gave Jack an answer that explained our feelings on that subject.

“No.”

“I didn’t think so.”

“Look,Dad we already have careers picked out. You guaranteed Bella a job in the CIA or your alien hunting club and the two of us are…”

“Arial you said you… what about being a teacher? You talked about that once!”

“I was joking, Dad. I thought you would have caught the sarcasm. You can be as clueless as Charlie sometime.”

“Your mother was a teacher.”

“Yeah and my father was a highly trained professional killer. Guess which side I fell off the block? I don’t even like kids. Why the hell would I want to teach them while Bella is running around the world kicking ass? Are you out of your mind?”

“Fine, but you need good educations if you want to get into any field, especially ours.”

“Where did you go to college Dad?” Arial asked.

Jack face went blank, much like the constant state mine used to be in.

“Besides the point. You two are not going to New Orleans or Georgia of all fucking places or anywhere else based on where the best parties are. Figure out what you want to major in, if you are set on careers in our field Sasha can make some recommendations on courses of study and then find the best colleges for those studies.”

“What about Oxford?” I asked. Great Britain countryside could be cool. Get in touch with my inner party girl. I never fucked a Brit. Or a Britney come to think of it.

“No, you are staying on American soil.”

“You said any college I wanted Uncle Jack.” I reminded him.

“Fine, but I didn’t make Arial the same promise. Maybe some time apart would do you two and the innocent people of the world some good.”

We both glared at him. A plan had already been in place to get Arial to Florida before all this crap had happened. It involved setting a small but containable fire at the football field leading to her expulsion and subsequent apology and promise to Jack that she would stay out of trouble if she could live in Florida with me.

“I can’t go to Oxford, Daddy? Don’t you think I’m smart enough?” Arial asked in her innocent voice he hasn’t bought since she was ten.

“No! It’s hard enough covering up both your crimes in the US without Interpol becoming involved. Just give it some thought. In the meantime Bella, you can give the werewolf thing a shot but don’t push. If they close ranks don’t take chances, just let it go. Understand?”

“Got it, Jack. I just need to… Sasha I really can’t eat this right now. Could you give me a sponge bath? I feel icky.”

“No Bella. I will bring back your soup when you are hungry.”

“My wife isn’t going to give you a sponge bath.”

“Especially with me here.” my buzz kill best friend agreed.

“Take these and get some sleep. Both of you.”

Jack handed Arial and me two pills.

“What are these?” she asked.

“Phenergan. Helps with nausea. Relax and try to get some sleep. Maybe you two will be hungry when you wake up.”

We woke up alright. Separate beds. I looked at the clock and judging by daylight outside I was guessing it wasn’t 10 PM at night. I had slept 18 hours and my head felt… my ear… no that motherfucker didn’t!

“JACK!”

“Stop screaming.” he told me walking. “Feeling better?”

“What did you do?”

“You said you wanted to be a part of the wolf intelligence gathering mission. That means the com goes back in.”

“I have a portable com!”

“That they would be able to hear, if Sasha’s theory about their enhanced senses is true. It will have to be buried deep. Sorry but you asked for this.”

“No, I didn’t! Not this!”

“You don’t want in; say the word and I can have the doc take it out in a day or so. What’s it going to be?”

Damn it. I should tell him to go fuck himself. Offer to help, and then he pulls this shit. I should kick back and relax for the rest of the school year and pick the most obnoxious, least academic school I can find and park myself for the next four or five years. Maybe six years since he is paying. But then I would spend the rest of the year thinking about Angela breaking my fucking heart. I needed a target, something to do badly.

“Fine but you are a huge asshole. You could have told me before you had a doctor put a piece of plastic in my head. Where is Arial?”

“Recovering nicely. The pill we gave her has really helped with the nausea. The pill we gave you just pretty much knocked you out. Still, you look better. Arial has been kept pretty sedated as well so she wouldn’t hurt herself trying to stop us. You want to try to eat?”

“I fucking hate you, Jack.”

“I love you too Bella.” He picked me up in his arms and carried me to Arial’s room where she was sipping broth. The hurt look on her face told me she had already discovered the foul deed her father had committed. I curled up into her side while she fed me spoonsful of soup.

“Arial?”

“Yeah sweetie?”

“Your Dad is a sorry motherfucker. Calling him that is an insult to sorry motherfuckers everywhere.

“I know sweetie.”

My phone buzzed and I saw I had a text… from her.

/I heard you were sick. I hope you are feeling better- A/

“Ahh, isn’t she sweet?” Arial asked.

“Yeah, she really is.” I admitted.

/Get your Daddy to pray for me and go fuck yourself if you aren’t 2 uptight-xoxo- B/

“You’re a sweetheart too. At least she knows you are feeling better.”

Yeah, I was feeling better. It was time to get to work. The Phoenix had been distracted for far too long. Fuck Angela, fuck piece of shit motorcycles, and fuck Angela again.

I managed to make it home under my own power. At least I didn’t have to have Hawk carry me to my truck and once he drove me home, I was able to walk on my own inside. I made it as far as the couch and reached the remote. That was it.

Charlie woke me up a few hours later. My fucking ear still hurt.

“Hey, how you doing kid?”

“You would know if you hadn’t shipped me off at the first sign of trouble.” I grumbled. So maybe I was still irritated by life.

“Uh yeah, I’m sorry Bella, I just didn’t know what to do for you. I wanted to take care of you I swear but I… and Sasha suggested that she take over, she said she had gotten you and Arial through these things before because Renee sucked at them too. So I figured…”

“Dad, it’s okay, really. I’m just picking on you. You made the right call.”

Dad looked very relieved.

“I’m glad, Bella. So I was thinking instead of me trying to make something edible I could pick you up one of those grilled chicken salads you like from the diner tonight.”

“Sure.”

Daddy smiled.

“Hey Dad?”

“Yeah?”

“The first, and I mean the first, time you forget something simple that you should remember, or have trouble getting up from your chair without moaning or have a heart problem or, you get the idea, I am putting you in the crappiest nursing home I can find.”

“Oh… that’s… all right then. I’ll get you that salad Bella. I love you, you know that right?”

“Oh Daddy, I love you too. I’m just kidding.”

“Oh good.”

“It will be a nice nursing home.”

“Thanks, I guess. Hey, Sasha said you and Angela, well she told me about it and I was wondering if you were okay?”

“Does okay involve wanting to burn a house down and wire a bomb to the ignition switch of a crappy foreign import?”

“Okay, so still a bit of anger there. Don’t be afraid to talk it out. If you need anyone to vent to… I’ll call Sasha.”

Dad was gone. He is so paternal. The kind of father every little future serial killer girl needs.

I took the next day off and the next since who wants to return to school on a Friday. That weekend I felt strong enough to workout with Arial in the gym and go for a run. A little yoga on Sunday topped off with some ballet where I mostly went through the motions while I kept an eye on Sasha in her sports bra and spandex short shorts and all in all not a bad weekend.

Monday, Angela had the nerve to sit back at my lunch table.

I glared at her the whole time, watching her stuff food down her gullet quickly before she rushed off to the library with some half mumbled excuse about finishing an assignment.

Of course after school the little saint was waiting on me.

“Can I talk to you?”

“Move away from my truck, before I use it to crush your little foreign soda can.”

“I thought you liked my car.”

“I lied. You have ten seconds.”

“Please stop looking at me like you did at lunch today. I only have a few months of school left and I don’t want to lose the friends I have. My oldest friends. I deserve to sit with them without you staring at me like you want to… to…”

“Slit your throat? Strangle you with your stupid purple shoe strings? Make you eat those glasses you insist on wearing?”

“Yes! That is what I want you to stop! Please?”

I took a deep breath and felt my anger melt away.

“Whatever, Angela. It amazes me that with me you have no problem with confrontation when it comes to me. You like to yell at me for my secrets and the way I live my life and how much danger being with me puts you in with your family. You have never had a problem telling me exactly what you thought of Arial or how I acted towards people. But everyone else, you are afraid to show a little backbone to. You want to sit at the table, sit there. I won’t glare at you; I won’t so much as look in your direction. Just don’t try to start any conversations with me because I will make you look dumb and feel dumber. We understand each other?”

“Why are you being so hateful?” She looked like she as genuinely confused. How could she not get this.

“You would rather me be depressed? Or would it be better for me to be happy and act like you didn’t break my fucking heart? Act like what I thought what we had was nothing. How are you doing, Angela? Are you happy?”

“No! I didn’t want to but…”

“But you did. You made the decision and now I have to make mine. I have two choices, depression or anger. I will take anger every time. If that makes things tough on you too damn bad. I pretended to be someone I wasn’t for you. You told me to calm down, to not be a bitch, I did it. Now, you don’t get to tell me how to be. I need to go, get away from my truck.”

“Why the hurry? Hot date or something?” she asked suddenly, showing a bit of anger herself.

“That’s really none of your fucking business is it? Maybe I am going to Seattle tonight and banging every hot girl I find. Maybe I’ll be classy and take some girl to a hotel room. Either way, what I do has nothing to do with you. I have barely kept Arial arranging for you to have a tragic accident. Don’t push me. One thing I promise is the next girl I do will be a red head who looks nothing like you. Think about that when you try to sleep tonight.”

I had nearly forgotten the com in my ear. No one, not Jack, Sasha, Arial or Connolly had used it since it been implanted. I had assumed no one was listening.

“You doing all right kid?” my favorite schizo voice asked.

“Perfect, Uncle Jack. We have a phone call to make. I think it is time I checked on Jake’s health.”

The phone was picked up quickly. I suppose Wheels must have been right next to it.

“Hello?”

“Hello Billiam. How’s it going?”

“Billiam?”

“You like Bill or William better? I was thinking of something in the middle, trying out new things. How’s it been hangin? I’ve been sick for a week or so. Have you missed me?”

“Jake, isn’t here, Bella. I am not sure what sort of game you are playing but it stops now. You have developed quite the reputation in Forks. I don’t believe my son needs to be associated with your reputation.”

“Your son would be lucky to be associated with my reputation. As a matter of fact, at the movie last week he was telling me how great the two of us could be together. I’ve been giving it a lot of thought and I think he could be right. Let him know I’m on my way to see him now. The two of us have a lot to talk about.”

“You can’t come here. He is sick.”

“You just said he wasn’t home.”

“He isn’t. A family friend is taking care of him.”

“Who is the friend? I can go over and give him some TLC. I bet Charlie would like to check on him and probably visit with you. You two haven’t seen each other lately. I was talking to him about Jake yesterday and he thought the two of us would make such a good couple. What do you think Billster?”

“I think you need to stay away from my son Bella. He has come to see things differently now in regard to you and your past associations. I understand from Jacob you are still hurting over not becoming the next Mrs. Cullen?”

Whoa, Wheels had some bite. If I had given a damn that might have hurt.

“Wow, Wheels. Way to hit below the belt. I really have gotten under your skin, haven’t I? The sad part is, you know I’m right, Jake wants me. He wants me bad and you don’t know what to do with that, do you? I scare you, right? I think I will keep calling, maybe drive around some random day this week or next and see if I find him walking around. You take care, Billy. Don’t roll yourself off a cliff or anything. Remember, we are always watching you.”

I ended the call before he could have the last word.

“Well, it’s a good thing you didn’t antagonize him.” Jack complimented me.

“He thinks I fucked a vampire and he knows I willingly hung out with them. He wouldn’t like me regardless of what I say. If I can use that to put a wedge between him and Jake then I will. Jake wants me and he has to be tired of listening to his father’s shit.”

Unless his real name is Angela.

“If Jake is a wolf and it is pretty certain he is, then he is going to know the truth about the Cullens and that you knew about them and dated Eddie anyway.”

“Exactly. Everyone is going to tell him to stay away from me but the boy is a romantic. He will try to convince me that vampires are evil and he is the right choice. All I have to do is show that I need him. He thinks I’m upset about Cullen. I’ll use that. Relax Dodo. Phoenix is on the job.”

I called Jake every day after school. Everyday Billy told me Jake was sick and could not talk. Every day I called him a liar and read a list of things I planned to teach his son. Arial wrote the list for me and Sasha told Jack she did.

Billy called Charlie last night and told him I was trying to corrupt Jake and to keep me away. Charlie laughed and told Billy I could be a bit of a handful but that he was sure Jake would be a good influence on me.

Charlie is taking to his double life with a bit too much glee.

Sasha, Arial and I had a seduction team meeting and decided that I would lay off Jake till the next week. It was Thursday. Give him the weekend to wonder why I hadn’t called and then step up to the plate.

Saturday, I found myself bored, not hard to do in Forks. Arial wanted new trail shoes. I wanted to watch porn in my room and relax. I didn’t feel like going to Footlocker and Arial didn’t want to see girls showering together in locker rooms we went our separate ways. Porn for research wasn’t as captivating as I thought. I’m beginning to have a sneaking suspicion that some of these girls may be faking orgasms.

That left me plenty of time to chill. I thought of sending a porn bomb virus to Reverend Weber’s church email address but decided since I was in the middle of an active, if a bit boring mission, I should probably lay off.

Besides, I didn’t give a damn about her anymore. I’m not even sure who I’m not supposed to give a damn about anymore. What was her name? Didn’t matter.

Looking around my closet for something to do I found it. In the back, I had forgotten I stole these from Jack a couple weeks ago while he and Sasha were taking care of hetero business.

C 4 and blasting caps, guaranteed for a good time.

Now where I could I blow these fuckers that wouldn’t attract the attention of the National Guard?

Of course, a remote little meadow halfway up a mountain. I could wire the trees around it and knock them into the meadow. In the event Eddie returns in a hundred years, the next poor bitch he brings up here will have stumps to sit on at least.

“Where are you going, Bella?” Jack asked.

“You aren’t my Daddy and I don’t even tell him where I am going, Jack.”

“Where are you going, Bella?” Sasha asked.

“To that meadow Eddie used to take me too.”

“Why?” Jack asked

“Reliving old times? Again, my reasons are my own business.”

“Why are you going to the meadow, Bella?” Sasha asked.

“Because I stole C4 and blasting caps from Jack a few weeks ago and I want to blow them.”

Why can’t I lie to her!? Even when I can’t see her, I get lost in those gorgeous eyes.

“Fine, have fun and don’t blow yourself up okay?”

“Thank you, Sasha.”

“You owe me C4.”

“Keep hoping, Jack.”

It really wasn’t a bad hike. I suppose I could have run it but I was carrying explosives and in no hurry.

Monday, I planned to drive by Billy’s house and say hi to Jake in person. Today was just about me and blowing up Eddie’s favorite place.

Shit.

This meadow was dead as hell. I suppose Spring time has forgotten this area. The grass was dead, the trees around it were dead. It was like Eddie’s presence had poisoned this area.

It was so ugly I didn’t even want to blow anything else up. Maybe I should head up the mountain a bit more. I was in the mood to destroy something beautiful. This didn’t fit the bill.

Then I saw him.

“Motherfucker.”

I can’t believe it.

“What’s wrong? Blasting caps not working? Detonator broke? Too fucking bad, that’s karma when you steal someone’s explosives.”

I barely heard Jack’s bitching because across the meadow was a vampire I never thought I would see again.

“Laurent?”

He moved in front of me quickly. No slow motion this time.

“Bella. I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

“Oh fuck, get out of there Bella.”

No shit. Exactly how am I supposed to do that, Jack?

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to find you actually. I just left the Cullens and was disappointed to discover they left. I assumed they would take you with them. Weren’t you a family pet or Edward’s mate?”

“Neither asshole.” I gritted out. “Why were you trying to find me?”

“I came as a favor to Victoria. She wants you dead and has been having a difficult time getting to you. I thought I would visit the Cullens and see if I could offer her any advice or perhaps bring you to her myself.”

Great. Fuck my life.

“I thought you went to Alaska?”

“I was, but I am afraid their diet was not to my liking.”

Can’t blame him there. But he was with three hot blonde vampire whores. Isn’t sucking a few deer worth the price of admission? “Why does Victoria want me?” Keep him talking until you come up with a plan, Bella.

“Can you get the C4 on his body and run? Dante has a scope on him right now. Maybe the explosives can give you enough time to get away.” Jack suggested, not offering any ideas on how to stick C 4 to a vampire and then dive out of the way in time and avoid an explosion when a bullet struck it without third degree burns in the best outcome.

“She blames you for the death of her mate. She feels it is only fair that Edward’s mate dies as well. Unfortunately for her, I won’t be able to take you to her. I am just so hungry and you smell divine.”

“Uh… I don’t suppose I could give you something, like a gift. It’s a type of modeling clay? I just need to get it out of my backpack.”

Shit, he just raised his hand.

“I am doing you a favor, Bella. What she has in mind for you is very, very painful. I will make this quick.”

“Doing me a favor would be not killing me you fucking asshole.”

He smirked and then his face froze. Maybe he gave it some thought?

“I can’t believe it.”

“I can’t either. What are we not believing?”

Against my better judgement I turned my back to him and saw…

Holy shit, they really were big.

I turned back to ask Laurent what he thought of their size but only saw Bob Marley’s ass as he had taken off at light speed. Then the wolves howled and went after him, moving just as fast as vampires.

“Bella, what is going on?”

“I just saw the wolves, Jack. They are huge. They just chased the French Jamaican bitch away. I’m going to run a little farther and see if they caught him.”

“The hell you are.” a voice said from behind.

I damn near pissed my panties. I was not used to being snuck up on by humans like myself.

Good looking guy, obviously Indian, long midnight black hair, dressed out in camo with a rifle in his hand.

“Dante, I presume?”

He took my pack without another word and pointed down the mountain. I took him to be a man of few words and ran. Halfway down the mountain I realized, he wasn’t running behind me. I suppose he stuck around to find out if Marley was dead. I wondered how he could sneak around the wolves and remembered he could sneak up on me. Of course I was a bit distracted, homicidal vampire and giant dogs and all.

Jack and Sasha met me in the next minute running up the mountain, fully armed with weapons that would do no good if Laurent got away.

“I don’t hear any thoughts. He is not behind you. Go Bella, do not stop.” Sasha ordered.

I would have taken that order from Jack at this point.

Reaching the truck I jumped in and pushed that ancient bitch for every bit of horse power it could put out.

Arriving at home I had decided to get Charlie out of town. If this Victoria bitch was in the area, he could be a target.

I ran into the kitchen and saw we were not alone.

Some Indian guy was sitting at the table.

“Bella? Everything okay?”

“Uh…” I looked at Charlie and then to whoever this guy was. He kind of looked like Billy Black but considering he was in a kitchen chair I assumed he could walk.

“This is my old friend Harry Clearwater. We were about to go hunting. Harry is convinced it is a grizzly that everyone has been sighting. I figured I could use a walk in the woods so…”

“It isn’t a grizzly. I just saw them. They are wolves Dad, very big wolves. Extremely big.”

“Are you sure Bella?” Henry asked in a tone that let me know he knew he wasn’t searching for a grizzly.

“Yep, sure as can be Henry. Hard to miss giant wolves. That’s not the kind of thing you aren’t sure about. I just saw a pack of them in the woods. I don’t think you should go alone. Dad.”

“I will be going with him Bella. I’m sure what you saw were…” Henry started to lie.

“Dad, I would suggest you take that guy with you from the Federal Fish and Games Department? Connolly, right?”

“You think it is that serious Bells?” The gravity of the situation may be sinking in since his face was turning red.

“Yeah, I do. You defintely don’t want to go into the woods without serious back up. Like I said, these WOLVES were huge.” I told him, glaring at Henry, or Harry or whoever the fuck he was. Billy Black on legs would work.

Charlie knew I wouldn’t suggest Connolly unless something bad was going on.

“Why don’t you come with me?”

“You want to take your daughter hunting, Charlie? I was under the impression she wasn’t into that sort of activity.”

“Bella is a better shot than either of us, Harry. Besides with dangerous wildlife around I would prefer to have my baby girl with me.”

“And I would prefer you find your buddy Connolly and do as he suggests in regard to how to handle this. I will be fine.” I stressed.

Charlie wasn’t happy but he wouldn’t argue. Not with his friend here.

“Maybe, you should go home Harry. I need to contact my colleague and see if he has any ideas. I also need to know exactly where you were, Bella.”

“I’ll text you the GPS coordinates from my phone, just go. I may have some old friends visiting later and I want to get the house ready. Maybe cook something special for them.”

I’m going to turn this place into a bomb. Get the fuck out of this house, Charlie.

Dad knew if I said Connolly he needed to leave. Why the fuck was he still here?

“C’mon Harry. I better get to work and my little angel needs to be alone right now I guess.”

Charlie walked out, but not without first giving me a look that made it clear he wasn’t happy. Try to save a guy’s life and this is the thanks you get.

“He is gone, Bella. You need to be as well. Get some clothes and get over here.”

“Can’t Jack. If she is watching then I can’t lead her to your place. You think the big dogs got Marley?”

“Dante said they were gone but he did find the smoldering remains of a human sized fire. I would say they got him.”

“Great, one less vampire to worry about. Now we just have to deal with the hot red head.”

“You still think she is hot? She is trying to kidnap, torture and kill you.”

“Yeah, but she still has great hair and an ass that looks like it was born in leather pants. Just because she wants to kill me doesn’t mean she isn’t hot. Now hush, while I wire this place. If she comes in, I’m jumping out a window, blowing the house behind me and hoping there is enough fire that some of it gets into her mouth and lights her spit on fire.”

“Don’t wire the place. She isn’t around. I have multiple satellites in the area. If she comes within ten miles of you, we will know.”

“And if she drives a Volvo? She could drive right up into my drive way and you wouldn’t have a clue until it was too late.”

“Good point. Still if she wasn’t afraid of the dogs she wouldn’t have sent in Marley. Relax, she isn’t going to make a move now. You can come here if you want.”

“I’m not taking the chance. Your house if off limits now. We are going back to the Cullen protocols.”

“Okay, but one of us will be watching your residence. I’m calling everybody back in.”

“I thought everybody was here?”

“Ty is coming back too.”

“That will solve everything. I can’t stand his voice in my head.”

“I’ll keep him off the com, relax.”

Relax? This was going to suck. As if I didn’t have enough problems.

I need to force the issue with Jake. I have to become involved with them. The more I am around them the harder it will be for Victoria to get to me.

“Jack, I really need your nerds to work harder. We need something to kill these things.”

“I know, Bella. We have the smartest people on the planet working on it. As soon as I have something, you will have something.”

Charlie came back later that afternoon and bitched at me for kicking him out. Connolly had informed him of what happened and he was having a panic attack over my most recent encounter with a vampire. I suppose hearing about the Cullens after the fact was one thing. Knowing there are still monsters out to get me has him shook up.

I’m taking it better than he is.

That Monday, Arial and I sat at a separate table, explaining we were planning a party and needed alone time. Honestly, I just didn’t want to sit next to Angela. I also noticed she was smiling at Ben Cheney. He was smiling back. I don’t know what kind of fucked up game she thinks she is playing. Does she really expect me to be jealous of a guy? What a dumb fucking bitch.

“What a dumb fucking bitch.” Arial agreed.

“I know, right?”

“So why are we sitting here and not over there? She is not forcing us away from our table.”

“I know but for today we need to talk business. I’m going to see Jake today. How do you think I should handle this?”

“Act very upset that he has been ignoring you. Basically become a clinger. He seems like the type that will strive for that. I’m also betting any one as easy going as him is probably pissed that he turned into a werewolf. He probably has all of the cult telling him it’s too dangerous to be around you. Play to his emotions. Make him think he is abandoning you the same way Sparkles did. He will eat that shit up.”

“Sounds good. What if his buddies are around?”

Arial reached into her purse and slid a hunk of metal across the table to me.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Brass knuckles?”

“They may not be as hard as vampires since they are still mostly flesh and blood but you can bet they are tough. You are going to need back up. I would wear a coat and keep a tire iron inside it was well. Remember no matter how big they are go for the side of…”

“The knee and kick down and at a 60 degree angle. You act like this is the first time I’ve snapped someone’s knee before. Besides the tendons may be as strong as the rest of them. Who knows what we are dealing with? These fuckers can turn from flesh and blood into furry giants. I get vampires and the venom and all. I have no idea how this is even physiologically possible. Bones growing, popping, intestinal system, spinal column and nervous system, the brain shifting places, the skull growing, lung capacity. I can even kind of see a normal or human size wolf but to be that damn big is ridiculous.”

“I know right?” Arial agreed. “Maybe it is just magic and the gods or whatever are compensating for something.”

“Anything else?”

“How are you doing with emotions? Think you got your full range back after the months of suppressing them?” she asked.

“I think Angela has helped me greatly with anger.”

“Can you cry?”

Oh… uh…

“I did. Hawk saw me. It was embarrassing and I would prefer not to again.”

“Bella, tears are going to be a tractor beam to this sap. You are going to have to show a little waterworks. Also don’t wear a bra and make sure your shirt is white and tight. It’s supposed to rain later. Use your rain jacket but make sure he gets a look at the goods. This shouldn’t be hard. He has the libido of a normal 16 year old male. You had Eddie ready to hump your leg and he was a Victorian prude.”

Fine.

That afternoon Angela was not waiting for me. I was almost looking forward to our argument.

I drove home and changed into my jeans and a tight tank, deciding to actually wear a bra but making sure it was black. That would give Black something to spank his meat over but not show too much. I did have class.

Driving up to his house, for once I was in luck. Not only was it raining harder than usual, Jakey was chillin outside his little mechanics shop.

Also the Village People were nowhere in sight.

Disco.

“Jake? Why the hell have you been avoiding me?”

My hair was already soaked seconds out of the truck. Jake turned towards me and looked in pain. Damn, he changed his style. I approved. Much better than the flower child cut he had before.

“You cut your hair? Wait is that a tat? Sweet, I love the design. What does it mean? Is it like Quileute for sexy or something deeper like flow like water? I like the circle and the little symbols. Would you mind if I borrowed this design? I will change it up a bit but the general idea is sick.”

“Bella you can’t be here. You need to leave.”

“Kick your jacket back and soak that shirt, sexy.” my bestie told me. “You’ve been in wet tee shirt contests before. You’ve been hopelessly outgunned int hose contests but you still played.

I casually did as Arial instructed and was rewarded by Jake’s eyebrows shooting up to his hairline.

“Why do I have to leave Jake? I thought you wanted to… you know… what we talked about at the movie.”

“Bella, I can’t be with you. It’s dangerous for me to be around you.” he tried to sound firm while keeping his eyes off my chest. He failed on both counts.

“Blame yourself.” Arial told me.

“Is it something I did? Tell me, Jake. I know I said we could just be friends but maybe we could try to be together? I don’t want to lose you. You can’t cast me aside like Ed… Ed… Edward!”

God, I hated saying that name.

“Edward? Edward? I can’t be around you because it is dangerous to you. If you want someone to blame start with those leeches you love so much!”

Wow. Way to play it cool with your knowledge Jake. This guy would never make it as a spy, or even a guard dog.

“What are you talking about?”

‘Don’t play dumb, Bella. You know what I’m talking about.”

Okay, where to go from here?

“Bella? Listen to me and do not react in front of Jake. I want you to hear this from me, before you hear it before anyone else. Angela had a car accident on the way home from school, Bella. It was bad, head on collision. She didn’t make it. Dad is getting the details from Charlie now.” Arial told me.

What?

No.

“No.” I mumbled. Oh God, I felt like I had been stabbed. Somewhere I heard Sam Uley’s voice calling Jake.

Jake asked me not to cry. Was I crying? Did it matter?

Angela was dead?

I felt a hot hand wiping what must have been a tear on my face off.

I was on my knees. My stomach… I think I just sobbed but I couldn’t tell. I just heard that she was dead. That isn’t supposed to happen. A fucking car wreck? Angela was dead!

“I’m so sorry, Bella. I promised myself once, that I would never hurt you like Edward did. This is me keeping my promise.”

Who gives a fuck Jake? Just go somewhere and die.

I put my head in my hands and cried. Really cried.

No please, not her. The last thing I told her… I told her…

“Okay, he is gone. Great job, Bella. Those wails are something else. Academy award winning material. You had me getting emotional.”

Wait, what?

“Arial, Angela is dead! How can you be so callous?! She is gone! Do you know the last thing I said to her? Do you?!”

“She is fine Bella. She didn’t have an accident.”

“What do you mean she is okay? You just told me she was dead.”

“Yeah,I felt that you needed a final hook to sink into him. The tears have done it. He will sneak away to see you later. I knew you weren’t going to cry so I needed to motivate you. You did great.”

“You fucking whore bitch! I’m going to fucking kill you!”

“Hey, we got the job done! You’re welcome!”

“Seriously?! That’s what you use to make me cry? What about a dead Kate Upton? What about your Dad? There are a million ways you could have made me cry and that is what you use! What if something happens to her now because of what you said? Damn it Arial! You could have jinxed her! What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Sorry, she was the only one you cared about that you had fought with recently. I didn’t want to use your Dad because I’m not that cruel. Besides she broke up with you. If something happens to her karma is a bitch!”

“Damn you Arial! That was fucking cruel!”

“I got you to cry, didn’t I? You will be thanking me when Fido sneaks into your window tonight.”

This fucking bitch.

“I told you Jake had come to see you differently, Bella.”

I saw a smirking Bill Black on his porch.

Unfortunately for him he caught me at the end of an emotional fuck you from my best friend. I gave him my sweetest smile. I tried to make it sweet but I suppose it looked a bit evil because he seemed concerned.

The closer I got the more nervous he was.

“Get away from me! What are you doing?!”

I turned his chair and started pulling him off the porch. He tried to hit the wheel brakes but I lifted the front, causing him to hold on rather than trying to grab anything.

“Put me… Stop! It’s raining.”

“No shit, Chief.”

I dragged him about fifteen yards from his porch in the pouring rain into the middle of some very soft sand that had turned into very soft mud. Letting the chair go I walked away while he took a bath with his clothes on.

“Bella, get me back under my porch! I can’t roll myself through this!”

Perhaps I shouldn’t walk away just yet.

“I would suggest you get stronger arms or used to the rain. Fuck with me again and see what I do with your chair next time old man. You talk anymore shit to Jake about me, I will hurt you. Not Charlie, not Sam Uley and certainly not Jake is going to be around to save you. Understand?”

Billy said nothing.

“I asked if you understood me fucker! I’m not playing games. I don’t appreciate people getting involved in my relationships that don’t belong there, especially fathers. You are going to start being nice to me. You are going to stop telling Jake how bad I am for him. If you don’t you will fall asleep one night and wake up somewhere else completely under my power. That is somewhere you don’t want to be. Do we fucking have an understanding!?”

“Yes.” Billy was finally giving me the look I wanted to see on his face. Fear and respect.

“Remember Billy, I will be watching you personally. You Billy. You have my undivided fucking attention now. I hope you like it, because I will.”

“Will you please push me back to the porch?”

“No. I’m sure Jake will be back soon. When he does you tell him you wanted to take a stroll and got yourself stuck. Got it?”

“Yes, Bella.”

I pulled my Sig from the inside pocket of my jacket. Billy’s eyes went even wider

“Charlie and you have been best friends for a long time but I am his little girl, his only child. If a home invasion should happen while Jake is away I promise you I will never be a suspect. I already hinted that you are stalking me. Say something to him and he won’t believe you. He will ask me about it though and I will visit you. Understand?”

“What are you?”

“I’m a fucking predator and you are the fucking prey. Wolves aren’t the top dogs around this area. Tell Jake to call me when he gets back. If I were you, I would do my very best to encourage him to do so. You really don’t want me to visit you again, Billy.”

I made it to my truck and checked on him one more time as I was backing up. I was pleased to see his eyes were still the size of half dollars and he was getting soaked. Overreaction? Yeah, probably.

“Glad to see you handled that with grace and subtly. You know he is going to tell those guys.”

“No, he won’t. You didn’t see his face Jack. He is scared to death of me and that is exactly what I need.”

“Go home and relax Bella.”

“I want to speak to Arial. Please tell her to meet me at my house.”

“Arial said no.”

“Tell that bitch to meet me at my house or I am hunting her down!”

“Bella, she did what she had too. You should be thanking her. Besides you don’t care about Angela anymore. She dumped you, remember?”

“Fuck you, Jack.”

Heading straight to the shower to warm up and get out of these clothes I didn’t even bother to pretend that Sasha was listening. I sat on my bed afterward and contemplated my next move. I was dressed in a tiny satin nightgown and thong so was obviously in no mood to go out even though it was only 9 PM.

Fine.

I picked up my phone and texted her.

/U OK? Not hurt? No accidents today right?/

It took a few minutes for her to respond. If that bitch didn’t respond I would shove her phone up her ass tomorrow.

/Im fine. Why? where is Arial? What is she going to do?/

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Fucking Arial.

/Nowhere. No problem. Leave me alone./

Bitch.

I can’t believe she almost fake died today.

“Bella?”

“What the fuck?”

Jake had gotten into my room. I really needed to nail that window shut.

“Sorry. I don’t have much time. I’m not supposed to be here.”

Okay, I give Arial credit. She has some serious heterosexual skills.

“Then what are you doing here? You told me to stay away and then you break into my room? How the hell did you even do that?”

“I can’t say.”

Want to bet? I stood up from my bed, my nighty barely covering my panties and I knew my nipples were hard. Every time I text Angela even though I hate her I still get a little excited.

Jake’s eyes were as big as his father’s but for very different reasons.

“Jake? Jake, up here. What is it you can’t tell me? Why are you hanging out with Sam? You told me you hated Sam and his gang.”

“I was wrong about Sam. He is a good guy, Bella. He has helped me…”

“Jake, what is going on? Tell me.”

“Bella remember the talk we had on the beach. When I told you the history and legends of our tribe?”

“You mean the talk about the Cold Ones?”

“That would be what you remember. Do you remember the rest?”

“The rest? Jake what have you gotten yourself into?”

“I can’t tell you. Believe me I wish it had never happened.”

“If you are in trouble we can run. We can go Jake. Just you and me.”

Straight to a government lab where we can figure out how you change your body to a big fucking dog and maybe get an idea on how to kill vampires. Robotic wolves anybody?

“It’s not something I can run from, Bella. I’m in it for life. But if I could run, then I would with you. I have to go or they will be looking for me. Please think about the talk we had. Remember the history of my tribe. You know the answer.”

No shit I know the answer. I suppose I should play a bit hard to get. With a last look he used to take in what little I had on with his big wolf eyes he jumped out my window. I ran to check it out and was impressed to see he had some pretty nice agility and speed as he ran off.

“Aren’t you glad you cried now?”

“Fuck you Arial. So you were right, but it was still cruel.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“No, you aren’t. What is our next move?”

“Tomorrow after school go and see him. Tell him you remembered and get him to confess. For some reason he can’t tell you, almost like he can’t physically. Sasha is brainstorming now. Dad is watching her brainstorm. Get some sleep and we can deal with Jake tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow is too soon. I’m going to wait for the weekend. I need to relax.”

“Oh I’m sorry. I thought we were working a case?”

“Fine. Tomorrow we will deal with puppy. I need to lock this window. I may sleep in the closet tonight. I do have a vampire after me.”

“Hawk is outside watching your window. If any blood sucker or bat flies near your window he is going to light her up. He may not be able to hurt her but he will defintely draw the attention of everyone in Forks and hopefully the noise will scare her off. Besides Ty will be here tomorrow and swears he has something to stop vampires, not kill them but hurt them at least.”

“Ty?”

“Yep.”

“Bullshit.”

‘”Hey, I’m just telling you what Dad told me. He said Ty isn’t as stupid as he acts.”

“Bullshit.”

“That’s what I said and he told me to watch my language like I haven’t learned everything from him.”

“Okay, talk to you in the morning. Love you Arial.”

“Love you Bella.”

I turned out my lights and relaxed, trying to reach my Zen state.

I didn’t give a damn about Angela. Tomorrow I would visit Jake again and let him know I figured his secret out. He would spill everything. Piece of cake. What could possibly go wrong?